Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Apparatus For Connecting And Anchoring Tarpaulins
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for
connecting and anchoring tarpaulins and, in particular,
connecting adjoining bulbous edges of tarpaulins and anchoring
the tarpaulins to scaffolding or other structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The term "tarpaulin" originally was used to indicate a
canvas covering coated with a waterproofing compound. It has
come, through usage, to indicate waterproof coverings
generally, most of which are no longer made of canvas.
Tarpaulins are commonly manufactured with a rope sewn into
the edge seam, to form a bulbous edge. Adjoining edges of
these tarpaulins are held together with connectors. These
connectors commonly have bodies "C" shaped channels, which are
adapted to receive the bulbous edges of the tarpaulins.
When enclosing scaffolding, it is not sufficient to merely
connect adjoining tarpaulins; there must also be means for
anchoring the tarpaulins to the scaffolding and achieving the
maximum air/moisture seal in the connection. Most systems rely
upon grommets or other fasteners spaced at varying intervals.
There is one apparatus that has been developed and is sold
under the Trade Mark "SAIL SYSTEMS", which is capable of both
connecting tarpaulins and anchoring them to scaffolding. This
product requires its own supporting structure and some
cumbersome hardware to mechanically anchor to a scaffold.
SU'NIbiARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for connecting and
anchoring tarpaulins which is readily adapted to suit a wide
variety of scaffolding applications and tarpaulin materials.
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According to the present invention there is provided an
apparatus for connecting and anchoring tarpaulins which
includes an elongate body having a first end, a second end, a
first side, a second side, and a longitudinal axis. A first
connector extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first
connector is adapted to receive and retain a first bulbous edge
of a first tarpaulin. A second connector extends parallel to
the longitudinal axis. The second connector is adapted to
receive and retain a second bulbous edge of a second tarpaulin.
Anchoring wings protrude past both the first side and the
second side of the elongate body. The anchoring wings have
openings adapted to receive fasteners.
The anchoring wings of the apparatus, as described above,
are capable of anchoring the elongate body to a wide variety
of different scaffolding configurations. It is preferred that
the anchoring wings are angled outwardly and downwardly
relative to the elongate body. This enables the anchoring wings
to adapt to different sizes from rosette style to tubular
style. It is also preferred that the anchoring wings define
a substantially concave engagement surface. This enables the
anchoring wings to readily engage both tubular members and
rosettes. It is further preferred that the anchoring wings
extend for substantially the entire length of the elongate body
from the first end to the second end. This enables attachment
to be effected by using selective openings. It also allows the
wings to be used as sliding surfaces for horizontal fasteners
that join top and bottom edges of adjacent tarpaulins.
Although the style of connector can vary, it is preferred
that the first connector and the second connector are "C"
channels that extend for substantially the entire length of the
elongate body from the first end to the second end. These "C"
channel connectors are the most common form of connector for
engaging the bulbous edges of tarpaulins. It is preferred that
the first connector extend from the first side and the second
connector extends from the second side of the elongate body.
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It is also preferred that connectors be symmetrically
positioned with the first connector and the second connector
being in opposed relation on a common plane.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the apparatus, as described above, forming an enclosure
above the scaffolding is often a problem. Even more beneficial
results may, therefore, be obtained when the elongate body is
resiliently deformable longitudinally to assume an arcuate
shape. This enables the elongate body to be formed into an
arch to enclose the space above the scaffolding. The material
found to be most suitable for making an elongate body that is
resiliently deformable is polymer plastic.
Scaffolding and enclosures differ in height. In order to
fit scaffolding of differing height, an alignment guide is
provided to join adjacent elongate bodies in end to end
relation with the first "C" channel connector and the second
"C" channel connector of the adjacent elongate bodies aligned,
whereby an edge of a tarpaulin freely passes between the
adjacent elongate bodies. It is preferred that the alignment
guide engage and secures in end to end relation the anchoring
wings of adjacent elongate bodies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose
of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit
the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or
embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is perspective view of an apparatus for
connecting and anchoring tarpaulins fabricated in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of two adjacent
tarpaulins connected with the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE
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1.
FIGURE 3 is an end elevation view, in section, of the
apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, anchored to a tubular-style
scaffolding.
FIGURE 4 is an end elevation view, in section, of the
apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, anchored to a rosette-style
scaffolding.
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, in section, of the
apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, used to connect tarpaulins
both vertically and horizontally.
FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated
in FIGURE 1, connected to another of the apparatus by a
connector.
FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view of the apparatus
deformed into an arch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for connecting and
anchoring tarpaulins generally identified by reference numeral
10, will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through
7.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Referring to FIGURE 1, apparatus 10 includes a polymer
plastic elongate body 12 that has a first end 14, a second end
16, a first side 18, a second side 20, and a longitudinal axis
22. A first "C" channel connector 24 extends from first side
18 parallel to longitudinal axis 22 for substantially the
entire length of elongate body 12 from first end 14 to second
end 16. Referring to FIGURE 3, first "C" channel connector 24
is adapted to receive and retain a first bulbous edge 26 of a
first tarpaulin 28. Referring to FIGURE 1, a second "C"
channel connector 30 also extends from second side 20 parallel
to longitudinal axis 22 for substantially the entire length of
elongate body 12 from first end 14 to second end 16. Referring
to FIGURE 3, second "C" channel connector 30 is adapted to
receive and retain a second bulbous edge 32 of a second
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tarpaulin 34. In the illustrated embodiment, first bulbous edge
26 and second bulbous edge 32 are created when a cord 36 is
fitted within a hem 38 of first tarpaulin 28 and second
tarpaulin 34. First connector 24 and second connector 30 are
5 symmetrically positioned and are in opposed relation on a
common plane 40.
Referring to FIGURE 1, anchoring wings 42 extend for
substantially the entire length of elongate body 12 from first
end 14 to second end 16. Anchoring wings 42 protrude past both
first side 18 and second side 20 and angle outwardly and
downwardly away from elongate body 12 to define a substantially
concave engagement surface 44. Referring to FIGURE 3, anchoring
wings 42 have openings 46 that are adapted to receive fasteners
48 which enable apparatus 10 to be secured to a variety of
different scaffolding configurations, such as a tubular style
scaffold member 50. Referring to FIGURE 4, fasteners 48 can
also be used to secure apparatus 10 to different scaffolding
configurations, including a rosette style scaffold member 52.
Referring to FIGURE 6, an alignment guide 54 is provided
that engages and secures in end to end relation anchoring wings
42 of adjacent elongate bodies 12. First "C" channel connector
24 and second "C" channel connector 30 of each of adjacent
elongate bodies 12 are aligned, whereby bulbous edge 26 of
first tarpaulin 28 and bulbous edge 32 of second tarpaulin 34
freely pass between adjacent elongate bodies 12.
Operation:
The use and operation of apparatus for connecting and
anchoring tarpaulins 10 will now be described with reference
to FIGURES 1 through 7. Referring to FIGURE 2, there is
provided a scaffolding, generally referenced by numeral 56 that
has a plurality of vertical support members 58 with a network
of horizontal support members 60. First tarpaulin 28 is
provided that has bulbous edges 26 and second tarpaulin 34 is
provided that also has bulbous edges 32. Apparatus 10 as
described above, is provided for connecting and anchoring first
tarpaulin 28 and second tarpaulin 34 adjacent to each other.
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Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, fasteners 48 are extended through
openings 46 on anchoring wings 42 to secure elongate body 12
in a substantially vertical orientation to one of vertical
members 58 of scaffolding 56. Referring to FIGURE 3, in the
illustrated embodiment, fasteners 48 are plastic ties, however
other fasteners such as cables or wires could also be used.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 6, as scaffolding 56 differs
in heights, elongate bodies 12 also differ in lengths. As
such, adjacent elongate bodies 12 can be secured in end to end
relation with alignment guide 54 to enable elongate bodies 12
of varying lengths to be combined to suit the dimensions of
particular configurations of scaffolding 56.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 5, where a pair of elongate
bodies 12 are secured in a substantially vertical orientation
to parallel spaced apart vertical members 58 of scaffolding 56
and a third elongate body 62 is positioned in a substantially
horizontal orientation spanning between pair of elongate bodies
12, third elongate body 62 is able to slide vertically along
wings 42 of pair of elongate bodies 12 in response to movement
of first tarpaulin 28.
Referring to FIGURE 7, as elongate body 12 is made of
resilient material such as polymer plastic, elongate body 12
is resiliently deformable longitudinally to assume an arcuate
shape. To form an enclosure 64 above scaffolding 56, elongate
body 12 can be deformed longitudinally to form an arch
generally referenced by numeral 66, to enclose space 68 above
scaffolding 56, where scaffolding is adjacent to a structure
such as a building wall 68.
The above described apparatus provides a number of
advantages:
- it is modular and light weight
- it is flexible and relatively easy to install
- fire retardant can be added to the polymer plastic
- non-conductive
- rust resistant
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- easily attachable to scaffolding using cable ties
- connects to tarpaulins both vertically and horizontally
- will cold bend around a radiused profile
- will connect to all common scaffold enclosures
- superior ability to retain edge of tarpaulin as compared
to grommets and other fasteners
- profile can be supplied in any desired length
- profiles can be joined end to end
- material can be easily drilled or cut
- provides a substantially better seal to the elements
compared to grommets or other fasteners
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word
are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article
"a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the
element is present, unless the context clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
