Patents by Inventor Mark E. Beam

Mark E. Beam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250026189
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment to a cargo box of a pickup truck including a support frame assembly and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected rigid panels that can be folded up and secured to the cargo box such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation. The tonneau cover apparatus further includes a mechanism for securing the at least two of the plurality of rigid panels in the upright folded orientation. A method of removably securing the tonneau cover apparatus to the pickup truck is also described, as is an alternate embodiment of the tonneau cover apparatus, wherein the cover assembly includes first and second pivotally interconnected rigid panels and a pair of hinge support mechanisms that generally restrict the way the second rigid panel pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Patent number: 12109874
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment to a cargo box of a pickup truck including a support frame assembly and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected rigid panels that can be folded up and secured to the cargo box such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation. The tonneau cover apparatus further includes a mechanism for securing the at least two of the plurality of rigid panels in the upright folded orientation. A method of removably securing the tonneau cover apparatus to the pickup truck is also described, as is an alternate embodiment of the tonneau cover apparatus, wherein the cover assembly includes first and second pivotally interconnected rigid panels and a pair of hinge support mechanisms that generally restrict the way the second rigid panel pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Patent number: 11642948
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment to a cargo box of a pickup truck including a support frame assembly and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected rigid panels that can be folded up and secured to the cargo box such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation. The tonneau cover apparatus further includes a mechanism for securing the at least two of the plurality of rigid panels in the upright folded orientation. A method of removably securing the tonneau cover apparatus to the pickup truck is also described, as is an alternate embodiment of the tonneau cover apparatus, wherein the cover assembly includes first and second pivotally interconnected rigid panels and a pair of hinge support mechanisms that generally restrict the way the second rigid panel pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Publication number: 20230121434
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment to a cargo box of a pickup truck including a support frame assembly and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected rigid panels that can be folded up and secured to the cargo box such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation. The tonneau cover apparatus further includes a mechanism for securing the at least two of the plurality of rigid panels in the upright folded orientation. A method of removably securing the tonneau cover apparatus to the pickup truck is also described, as is an alternate embodiment of the tonneau cover apparatus, wherein the cover assembly includes first and second pivotally interconnected rigid panels and a pair of hinge support mechanisms that generally restrict the way the second rigid panel pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Publication number: 20220219516
    Abstract: A folding tonneau cover apparatus including a cover assembly and a support frame assembly. The cover assembly having a plurality of rigid panels interconnected in series by a series of flexible hinges. Elongated support members having hinge support flanges help to secure the flexible hinges to the rigid panels. In preferred embodiments, the support flanges of the elongated support members cooperate with the underside of the respective rigid panels to which the support members are secured, to form a partial enclosure within which a side portion of the respective flexible hinge is secured. The cover assembly is secured to the support frame assembly to cover a cargo box of a pickup truck by a plurality of locking members when the support frame assembly is secured to sidewalls of the cargo box. Methods of making a tonneau cover apparatus and methods of folding and unfolding the cover assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Patent number: 11292324
    Abstract: A folding tonneau cover apparatus including a cover assembly and a support frame assembly. The cover assembly having a plurality of rigid panels interconnected in series by a series of flexible hinges. Elongated support members having hinge support flanges help to secure the flexible hinges to the rigid panels. In preferred embodiments, the support flanges of the elongated support members cooperate with the underside of the respective rigid panels to which the support members are secured, to form a partial enclosure within which a side portion of the respective flexible hinge is secured. The cover assembly is secured to the support frame assembly to cover a cargo box of a pickup truck by a plurality of locking members when the support frame assembly is secured to sidewalls of the cargo box. Methods of making a tonneau cover apparatus and methods of folding and unfolding the cover assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Agh-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Publication number: 20210114446
    Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment to a cargo box of a pickup truck including a support frame assembly and a cover assembly. The cover assembly includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected rigid panels that can be folded up and secured to the cargo box such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation. The tonneau cover apparatus further includes a mechanism for securing the at least two of the plurality of rigid panels in the upright folded orientation. A method of removably securing the tonneau cover apparatus to the pickup truck is also described, as is an alternate embodiment of the tonneau cover apparatus, wherein the cover assembly includes first and second pivotally interconnected rigid panels and a pair of hinge support mechanisms that generally restrict the way the second rigid panel pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon
  • Publication number: 20200331329
    Abstract: A folding tonneau cover apparatus including a cover assembly and a support frame assembly. The cover assembly having a plurality of rigid panels interconnected in series by a series of flexible hinges. Elongated support members having hinge support flanges help to secure the flexible hinges to the rigid panels. In preferred embodiments, the support flanges of the elongated support members cooperate with the underside of the respective rigid panels to which the support members are secured, to form a partial enclosure within which a side portion of the respective flexible hinge is secured. The cover assembly is secured to the support frame assembly to cover a cargo box of a pickup truck by a plurality of locking members when the support frame assembly is secured to sidewalls of the cargo box. Methods of making a tonneau cover apparatus and methods of folding and unfolding the cover assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Agri-Cover, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Schmeichel, Brendan T. Bohn, Mark E. Beam, John W. Simon