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,
with particular applicability to securing tarpaulins to scaffolding.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Canadian Patent 2,359,515 (Layfield 2001), owned by the Layfield Group,
describes
an apparatus for connecting and anchoring tarpaulins which has an elongate
body with a first
side, a second side, and a longitudinal axis. The elongate body has a first
connector and a
second connector. The first connector extends parallel to the longitudinal
axis facing the first
side. The second connector extends parallel to the longitudinal axis facing
the second side.
Anchoring wings protrude past the first side and the second side. Openings are
placed in the
anchoring wings to receive fasteners. As described in the Layfield '515
patent, the use of the
term "tarpaulin" is intended in the broadest sense.
The Layfield '515 patent has been produced commercially as an inexpensive
polymer
plastic extrusion and has attained a measure of commercial success. However,
products made
2 0 in accordance with the teachings of the Layfield '515 patent experienced
some unanticipated
failures when exposed to high winds. In this context, the term "high winds"
refers to winds in
excess of SO kilometers per hour (30 miles per hour). The tarpaulin secured to
scaffolding acts
like a sail and captures the wind. The high winds exerted such force that it
caused ties, used
to secure the body to scaffolding, to pull through and destroy the anchoring
wings. If there
2 5 was any slack in the ties, the high winds caused the body to slap
violently against the
scaffolding; resulting in cracks and eventual failure where the first wing and
the second wing
join the body.
The problem was taken to the extrusion company doing the polymer plastic
extruding
3 0 for The Layfield Group. The extrusion company indicated that the problem
could not be
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solved merely by thickening the low cost polymer plastic extrusion. Their
recommendation
was to use alternative materials, such as aluminum or undertake a redesign of
the apparatus.
The use of aluminum would make the apparatus too expensive for the intended
market. The
Layfield Group, therefore, had no alternative but to undertake a redesign of
the apparatus for
connecting and anchoring tarpaulins. The inability to use the design described
in the Layfield
'515 patent, in applications which might become exposed to high winds,
eliminated too large
a segment of the market.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an apparatus for connecting and anchoring tarpaulins which
can
function without failure in high winds.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for
connecting and
anchoring tarpaulins, which includes a polymer plastic elongate body having a
first end, a
second end, a first side, a second side, and a longitudinal axis. An
integrally formed first
connector extends parallel to the longitudinal axis for the entire length of
the elongate body
from the first end to the second end. The first connector has an opening
facing the first side.
The first connector is adapted to receive and retain a first bulbous edge of a
first tarpaulin. An
integrally formed second connector extends parallel to the longitudinal axis
for the entire
2 0 length of the elongate body from the first end to the second end. The
second connector has an
opening facing the second side. The second connector is adapted to receive and
retain a
second bulbous edge of a second tarpaulin. An integrally formed first
anchoring wing
underlies the elongate body and extends from the first end to the second end.
The first
anchoring wing has a first side and a second side. The first side of the first
anchoring wing
2 5 protrudes past the first side of the elongate body. The second side of the
first anchoring wing
merges into a vertical plane positioned along the longitudinal axis of the
elongate body. An
integrally formed second anchoring wing underlies the elongate body and
extends from the
first end to the second end. The second anchoring wing has a first side and a
second side.
The first side of the second anchoring wing protrudes past the second side of
the elongate
3 0 body. The second side of the second anchoring wing merges into the
vertical plane.
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The problem with failures of the wings was resolved by having the wings
underlie the
main part of the body and merge into a vertical plane positioned on the
longitudinal axis of
the body. In this way the wings were better integrated with the main body and
less prone to
cracks that there were with a single point of attachment.
As will hereinafter be further described, the first anchoring wing and the
second
anchoring wing were also made of a thicker polymer plastic than the first
connector and the
second connector.
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 a perspective view of an apparatus for connecting and anchoring
tarpaulins constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
FIGURE 2 is an end elevation view in section of the apparatus illustrated in
2 0 FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 in use
securing tarpaulins to scaffolding rosettes.
FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 in use
securing tarpaulins to scaffolding tubing.
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
3 0 FIGURES 1 through 4.
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Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Refernng to FIGURE 1, apparatus 10 has a polymer plastic elongate body 12
having
a first end 14, a second end 16, a first side 18, a second side 20, and a
longitudinal axis 22.
An integrally formed first "C" channel connector 24 extends parallel to
longitudinal axis 22
for the entire length of elongate body 12 from first end 14 to second end 16.
Referring to
FIGURE 2, first "C" channel connector 24 has a slotted opening 26 facing first
side 18.
Refernng to FIGURE 3, first "C" channel connector 24 is further adapted to
receive and
retain a first bulbous edge 28 of a first tarpaulin 30. Referring to FIGURE 1,
an integrally
formed second "C" channel connector 32 extends parallel to longitudinal axis
22 for the entire
length of elongate body 12 from first end 14 to second end 16. Referring to
FIGURE 2,
second "C" channel connector 32 has a slotted opening 34 facing second side
20. Referring
to FIGURE 3, second "C" channel connector 32 is further adapted to receive and
retain a
second bulbous edge 36 of a second tarpaulin 38. Referring to FIGURE 1, an
integrally
formed first anchoring wing 40 underlies elongate body 12 and extends from
first end 14 to
second end 16. Referring to FIGURE 2, first anchoring wing 40 has a first side
42 and a
second side 44. First side 42 of first anchoring wing 40 protrudes past first
side 18 of
elongate body 12. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, second side 44 of the first
anchoring wing
40 merges into a vertical plane 46 positioned along longitudinal axis 22 of
elongate body 12.
2 0 Referring to FIGURE 1, an integrally formed second anchoring wing 48
underlies elongate
body 12 and extends from first end 14 to second end 16. Referring to FIGURE 2,
second
anchoring wing 48 has a first side 50 and a second side 52. First side 50 of
second anchoring
wing 48 protrudes past second side 20 of elongate body 12. Referring to
FIGURES 1 and 2,
second side 52 of second anchoring wing 48 merges into a vertical plane 46
positioned along
2 5 longitudinal axis 22 of elongate body 12. Referring to FIGURE 2 first
anchoring wing 40
and second anchoring wing 48 are angled outwardly and downwardly from elongate
body 12
to define a concave engagement surface 54. Further, body 12 has a second
underlying
curvature 56 that is more acutely angled than concave engagement surface 54.
First
anchoring wing 40 and second anchoring wing 48 are further adapted with a
reinforcing ridge
3 0 58 made of thicker polymer plastic and which runs along longitudinal
edges, 60 and 62,
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respectively. Referring to FIGURE l, each of "C" channel connectors 24 and 32
at first end
14 and second end 16 has a chamfer 64 to facilitate insertion of each of
bulbous ends 28 and
36 of each of tarpaulins 30 and 38 into each of "C" channel connectors 24 and
32, as
illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.
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Operation:
The use and operation of apparatus for connecting and anchoring tarpaulins 10
will
now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4. Refernng to FIGURE 1,
based
upon the nature and dimensions of the application, an appropriate number of
apparatus 10 in
appropriate lengths are provided. Referring to FIGURE 3, in the illustrated
embodiment,
where attachment to scaffolding or similar framework is required, apparatus 10
may be
positioned adjacent a scaffolding rosette 66. Referring to FIGURE 1, based
upon the
determination of attachment points, appropriate holes 68 may be drilled or
selected from
predrilled holes 68 into first anchoring wing 40 and second anchoring wing 48.
Referring to
FIGURE 3, a strap 70 may then be fashioned to secure body 12 to rosette 66.
Referring to
FIGURE 4, in the illustrated embodiment, where attachment to scaffolding or
similar
framework is required, apparatus 10 may be positioned adjacent a tubing 72.
Referring to
FIGURE 1, based upon the determination of attachment points, appropriate holes
68 may be
drilled or selected from predrilled holes 68 into first anchoring wing 40 and
second anchoring
2 0 wing 48. Referring to FIGURE 4, a wire 74 may then be fashioned to secure
body 12 to
tubing 72. It will be appreciated that various configurations of scaffolding
or framework are
adaptable and that other means of attachment may be used. Referring to FIGURES
3 and 4,
apparatus 10 receives bulbous end 28 of first tarpaulin 30 and bulbous end 36
of second
tarpaulin 38 at first end 14 or second end 16 as illustrated in FIGURE 1.
Chamfer 64 assists
2 5 the entry of bulbous ends 28 and 36 into first "C" channel connector 24
and second "C"
channel connector 32. Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, once positioned, each
apparatus is
interlocked with each tarpaulin, creating an expanded covering to protect or
define a work
space.
3 0 Referring to FIGURE 2, it is to be noted that concave engagement surface
54 of first
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anchoring wing 40 and second anchoring wing 48 matches that of a 5 inch
diameter
scaffolding rosette 66, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Referring to FIGURE 2, it
is also to be
noted that underlying curvature 56 of body 12 matches that of tubing 72 having
an outer
diameter of 2 7/8, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Refernng to FIGURE 3, plastic
tie straps 70
may be used. However, referring to FIGURE 4, due to failure of plastic tie
straps 70 in more
stressed situations, wire 74 may be used for attachment in demanding
applications. Referring
to FIGURE 2, reinforcing ridges 58 fortify each of peripheral edges 60 and 62
to permit
attachment by wire 74, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, resisting breakage.
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.
