Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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ARTICULATED PRt'~TECTIfVE TARPAULIN FO_R_TOWED VEHICLE
BI~CKGROUNO OF THE INVENTION
Field of the invention
The invention relates generally to protective covers and tarpaulins but more
particularly to a protective cover for a towed vehicle.
Background of tike invention
Motorized camping is a popular activity and presents certain drawbacks
depending
upon the type of camper one uses. In the case of a fi'l'th wheel type trailer,
a user can
separate the pickup truck from the trailer and use a much lighter and less
cumbersome vehicle to run errands while the trailer itself is left at the
campground.
However, when one uses a tnotorhome, one has the choice to constantly travel
around with the full motorhome even to rvn errands or else, tow a second
vehicle
which can be a motorbike or a car, or such vehicle. Of course, when towing a
vehiGe
over Tong distances, the towed vehicle can be subjected to damage which would
not
readily be noticed by the motorhome occupants. Indeed, due to certain
aerodynamic
characteristics of motohomes in general, there is a large amount of dirt and
debris
which can be projected fmm underneath the motorhome onto the towed vehicle. In
order to avoid that, the prior art teaG7es the arse of protective shields. The
drawbacks
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of such shields has to do with size, weight, lade of flexibility, and
complexity in the
dismantlement of such shields which can be necessary when one wants to untow
the
towed vehicle.
There are some instances where flexible tarplike shields have been descxibecf
in the
prior art, for example, US patent 5,181,734 describes a shield device for
protecting
the front lower portion of a boat or automobile which is towed behind a towing
vehicle
by way of a tongue frame member constructed of an elongated rigid bar whose
extremities pendantly hold paired resilient shield members. Elastic tethers
extend
from each extremity of the bar to the corresponding extremity of the rear
bumper of
the towing vehicle. By virtue of such construction, the shield members stay
directly
behind the near wheels of the towing vehicle, even on curved roads_
US patent 6,022,038 describes a protector for positioning in a space between
two
vehiGes, one positioned behind the other. The protector inducting a protective
member configured to ~t into and substantially fill the space between the two
vehicles,
and movement apparatus connected to the protective member for accommodating
relative movement between the twa vehides. In one aspect the protector is
fom~ed of
flexible materfal such as screening, mesh, metal fail, cloth, canvas, fencing,
fiberglass, nylon and plastic. In another aspect the protector has a sub-
member
formed of or secured to the protective member and positioned to protect the
protective member from effects of a vehicle exhaust adjacent the protective
member
when the protector is emplaced between two vehicles.
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US patent 6,196,587 describes a tow shield and underskirt device comprising a
~exible deflecting member that is adapted to be attached to the towing vehicle
and the
vehicle in tow to protect bath vehicles and the tow bar from road debris that
is thrown
by moving vehicles during travel. Tensioned elastic members an the forward and
rearward edges of the deflecting member hold the respective edges adjacent to
the
rear of the towing vehicle and adjacent to the front of the towed vehicle. The
longitudinal sides of the defecting member are supported by additional elastic
members which lengthen and shorten as the vehicles maneuver around comers.
The major drawback in the prior art appears when the tracing vehicle makes a
tum.
In such a situation, which can occur quite frequently to varying degrees, as
the
trading vehicle makes its turn, the towed vehicle has a delay before it starts
its tum,
this changes the configuration of the tarp_ One side of the tarp is stretched
with
perhaps only the underlying string structure, which presents stretchable
characteristics, being pulled out. This leaves an opened space between the
tarp and
the rear of the trading vehicle ,while the other side becomes loose and may
start fo
flap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIf~N
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the !mown devices nvw
present in
the prior art, there is a need for an improved protective tarp for towed
vehicles.
Although the prior art appears to provide solutions to complex installation
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4
deinstallation, weight issues, storage issues, there is still the issue of
changes in
direction which is not addressed properly. The present invention, which will
be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages
which
are:
To provide a protective tarpaulin that protects at all times, even during
turns by
eliminating opened gaps early in the tum when the towed vehide can still
receive
damage.
To provide a protective tarpaulin that is easily installable and dismountable.
To provide a protective tarpaulin that is foldable for easy storage
To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises two elements
which
are allowed to overlap when the towing vehide is making a tum, one element
being
connected to the towing vehicle while the other element being connected to the
towed
vehicle.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of
the
invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be
better
understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be
better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be
described
hereinafter and which will form the sut~ject matter of the claims appended
hereto.
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In this respect, before explaining at least one embodimerrt of the invention
in detail, it
is to be understood that the invention is not Ilmited in its applicatian to
the details of
consfiuction and to ~e arrangements of the components set forth in the
following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it
is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminofogy employed herein are for the
purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other
structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarc~d as
including such
equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and
scope of the
present invention.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of
novelty which characterize the invention, aria pointed out with particularity
in the
claims annexed to and fiorming a part of this disGosure. For a better
understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by
its uses,
r$ference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriiOtive matter
in
which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
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C,
BRIE= DESCRIPTION QF THE PREFEJ~RED EMBODiME,~T
Figs. 1abc top view of the articulated protective tarpaulin, straight, taming
left, and
taming right respectively.
Fig. 2a side view ofi the articulated protective tarpaulin.
Fig. 2b front view ofi an attachment irame_
Figs. 3ab side and front view respectively ofi attachment means to the towed
and the
towing vehicles.
DI=TAILED DESCRIPT10_N OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT'
An articulated protective tarpaulin (10) is comprised of two elements : A fret
element
(12) connected to a towing vehicle (14), and a second element (16) connected
to a
towed vehicle (18). The two elements (12, 16) are essentially separate and
distinct
except for a tensioning cable (34) and a string retainer (20} both of which
which
connect the two elements (12, 16} with the string retainer (20) anchoring at
anchoring
point (22) while string retainer (34) anchors at anchoring point (22', z2")
which are
also attached to one ofi a pair ofi attachment frames (24) and the third
anchoring point
(22) is siidingly attad~ed to a second element frame (26).
The first element (12) extends its tarp (11) from the pair of attachment
frames (24)
towards the towed vehicle (1$) until it ends at an end frame (30), Each of the
attachment frames (24) is attached to the towing vehicle (14) by attachment
means
(60) which can be any of a variety of means, by way of example, Figs. dab show
a
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7
ring (52) attached to a short strap (54) which is itself mechanically fastened
to a solid
part, usually on the frame of the vehicles (94, i8). The attachment frames
(24) or a
towed vehicle attachment frame (28) equipped with a standard hook {not shown}
can
hook into the ring (52). Any variations on suds a means is acceptable since
there is
no specfic way of attaching the attachment frames (2a) and towed vehicle
attachment
frame (28) because of variations in structures on both vehicles (14, 18).
The second element frame {26) can be made of either two rod like parts or a
single
bent rod like part. The second element (16) extends its tarp (17) from the
second
element frame {26) towards the towed vehicle (18) where it terminates on the
towed
vehicle attachment frame (28). The towed vehicle attachment frame (28) is
attached
to the towed vehicle (18) by the means described hereinabove. A secondary
cable
tensioner (32) retains the end frame (30) to the towed vehicle attachment
frame (28).
As can be seen on digs, lbc, when the towing vehicle (14) executes a tum, the
two
elements (12, 16), being separate, are allowed to pivot relative to one
another around
anchoring point (22). A tensioning cable (34) pulls on one side of the second
element
frame (26) while giving slack to the other side of the second element frame
(26). The
tensioning cable (34) passes through a set of pulleys (36) (in fact the
anchoring points
22' end 22"} and starts and ends at tie downs (38)_ Beyond a cerkain point in
the tum,
as Shown, there is a gap (15) between the two elements (12, 16) but at this
point, the
towed vehicle (18) is out of harm's way so any rocks or debris being projected
by the
towing vehicle (14} would not hit the towed vehiGe (18).
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A
During operation, when the towing vehicle is travelling at a sufficient
velocity, the
tarps (11, 17} are subjected to fluctuating wind loads and may as a result
flap or the
frames may twist out of plane. 1t has been found that these detrimental
effects can be
reduced by corrfiguring the ~trst element to have downwardly depending
triangular
extensions (40} at its lateral extremities (12) as shown in Figure 2a_ Such
extensions
(40) are created by 'L' shaped attachment frames (24) in which one leg of the
'L'
extends downwards at each of the lateral extremity. The tarp (11) at it's
fiarward most
edge then follows the attachment frames (24) while at the rear mast edge, the
tarp
(11 ) follows frame (30). A standard tow bar (42) passes over both the first
and second
elements (12, 16). Any one of a variety of means known in the art can be used
for
connecting the towed vehicle attachment frame (28) to the towed vehicle (18).
One
such means involves at least one hook (SO) which serves to attach the tow bar
(42) to
the towed vehicle (18).
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present
invention, the same should be apparent frbrn the above description.
Accordingly, no
further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be
provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum
dimensional relationships fvr the parts of the invention, to Include
vz~riations in size,
materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use,
are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the dranroings and described in the
specification are
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intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
There#ore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the
invention. Further, since numer4us modfications and charges will readily occur
to
those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the
exact construction
and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifrcations
and
equivalents may be resorted to, #alling within the scope of the invention.
