Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover device includes two or more hard panels formed of thin-walled, friction welded polypropylene material hermetically enclosing extruded support beams. Each panel forms an upper surface falling on a common plane when in a deployed position. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a multi-pin hinge disposed entirely below the upper surface to provide a flat overall appearance. The hinge has a first flange carried by a first panel, a second flange carried by an adjacent second panel, and an elongated free-moving link mounted to the first flange for relative rotation about a first axis and mounted to the second flange for relative rotation about a second axis. The two axes are spaced from and parallel to one another, whereby the hinge enables 180° freedom of rotation between the adjacent panels when transitioning between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover apparatus includes two or more hard panels. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a hinge enabling transitioning the panels between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position. An opposed pair of headed cantilevered striker pins, are carried with an inner surface of the opposed pair of box panels and extend inwardly within said cargo box for selective engagement with an associated rotary latch when an associated panel portion is in the deployed orientation. A release mechanism carried with the lower surface of each panel portion interconnect a single release member with both associated rotary latch mechanisms carried with said common panel portion, wherein release of a panel can only be effected by manual operation of the release member subsequent to release of an adjacent tonneau cover panel or cargo box panel.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover apparatus includes two or more hard panels formed of thin-walled, friction welded polypropylene material hermetically enclosing extruded support beams. Each panel forms an upper surface falling on a common plane when in a deployed position. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a multi-pin hinge disposed entirely below the upper surface to provide a flat overall appearance. The hinge has a first flange carried by a first panel, a second flange carried by an adjacent second panel, and an elongated free-moving link mounted to the first flange for relative rotation about a first axis and mounted to the second flange for relative rotation about a second axis. The two axes are spaced from and parallel to one another, whereby the hinge enables 180° freedom of rotation between the adjacent panels when transitioning between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo box tonneau cover apparatus includes two or more hard panels. Adjacent panels are joined along their common edges by a hinge enabling transitioning the panels between a planer deployed position and a folded retracted position. An opposed pair of headed cantilevered striker pins, are carried with an inner surface of the opposed pair of box panels and extend inwardly within said cargo box for selective engagement with an associated rotary latch when an associated panel portion is in the deployed orientation. A release mechanism carried with the lower surface of each panel portion interconnect a single release member with both associated rotary latch mechanisms carried with said common panel portion, wherein release of a panel can only be effected by manual operation of the release member subsequent to release of an adjacent tonneau cover panel or cargo box panel.