Abstract: A cover for enclosing a cargo box of a pick-up truck which is manufactured from an inventory of common parts. The cover is a pair of rectangular panels pivotally connected with a hinge for rotation about a transverse axis on the cargo box. Each of said panels is bounded by a pair of slender spaced apart side members, a slender inner transverse member and a slender spaced apart outer transverse member. The transverse and side members are cut from unspecified lengths of extruded stock to conform to the length and width of the cargo box. End portions of the transverse and side members are joined with molded plastic elbows to form outer corners. The hinge is covered with a thin rubber seal to prevent water from entering the cargo box. A plurality of slender longitudinal support members between the side members are joined to the inner and outer transverse members with S-clip fasteners. A safety latch limits the opening of an improperly latched cover.

Abstract: An auxiliary rear view mirror assembly for increasing a driver's lateral and rearward field of vision without adversely affecting the driver's forward field of vision. The auxiliary rear view mirror assembly is mounted at the rear of a vehicle in a location which is visible in a main rear view mirror of the vehicle. The auxiliary rear view mirror assembly is comprised of a pair of auxiliary rear view mirrors which are independently selectively adjustable about a pair of axes and selectively adjustable about a second axis which is in orthogonal relationship to the first pair of axis. In a first embodiment, the auxiliary rear view mirror assembly is mounted on a rear window of the vehicle. In a second embodiment, the auxiliary rear view mirror assembly is mounted on a rear brake light. In a third embodiment, the auxiliary rear view mirror assembly is combined with a rear brake light and is remotely adjustable by a set of controls which are accessible to the driver.

Abstract: A cargo cover for covering an open cargo box of a pick-up truck comprising a pair of similar pivotally connected panels extending from a forward portion of the cargo box to a rearward portion of the cargo box. Each of said panels is formed from a pair of thin spaced apart metal sheets joined together by folding an outer portion of one of the sheets over an outer portion of the other of the sheets. The panels are pivotally connected with a linear hinge which substantially extends across the full width of the cover. Several embodiments for locking the panels to the pick-up truck are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cover is locked by engaging thin transverse rods with strikers which are attached to opposite sides of the pick-up truck. In a second embodiment, a “pull” type solenoid mounted on a panel engages a plunger with a striker mounted on the pick-up truck. In a third embodiment, a single key lock unlocks the front and rear panels.

Abstract: A construction and method for reducing inventory and investment costs. The construction and method allow tonneau covers to be manufactured for a variety of pick-up trucks with standard machines from a common inventory of raw materials. The construction is comprised of thin rectangular panels mounted in tubular frames. The panels and frames are manufactured by cutting and drilling raw materials selected from a common stock of sheets and extruded aluminum tubes. The construction permits completed covers to be sold or as kits with instructions for assembly with common hand tools by ultimate purchasers. The construction and method further provide improvements for installing and removing tonneau covers from pick-up trucks.

Abstract: A lockable, light-weight pick-up truck tonneau cover comprised of a pair of pivotally connected panels which are rotatable about a common transverse axis. A distinguishing feature of the cover is that the panels generally consist of a continuous wall with narrow transverse depressions in top and bottom portions of the wall. The depressions divide the panels into a pluality of transverse cells which extend substantially across the widths of the panels. The panels are attached to the pick-up truck with a pair of slotted brackets which engage short inward extending mounting posts which are attached to the cargo box. At the four outer corners of the cover are hand operated latches for selectively retaining the panels in covering relationship to the cargo box. Adjacent to two of latches are key operated locks for selectively preventing releases of the adjacent latches.

Abstract: A lightweight tonneau cover for covering the open bed of a pick-up truck which can be easily and quickly installed and removed by one person. The cover has lockable front and rear panels joined together for rotation about an axis from an in-line arrangement to completely cover the bed of a pick-up truck and to a compact side-by-side arrangement for shipping, handling, installing, removal and storage. The cover is retained to the pick-up truck by a pair of caliper type latches mounted in the sides of the cover panels. The caliper latches are retained and released from retention posts in body side members of a pick-up truck by merely rotating the panels. When the panels are in-line and cargo bed covering relationship, the jaws of the caliper latches are closed and in locking engagement with the retention posts. When the front or both front and rear panels are rotated to a side-by-side relationship, the jaws of the caliper latches are opened and the cover can be installed or removed from the vehicle.