HEAVY DUTY GREEN TARPAULIN

BACHE VERTE EXTRA-ROBUSTE

English Abstract

The invention uses rubber sheeting manufactured from rubber recovered from the
recycling
of scrap rubber tires to fabricate tarpaulins with physical properties that
provide improved
protection for the objects and surfaces they cover. The component sheeting is
highly
durable, UV resistant, will not rot or mildew, is highly puncture and rip
resistant, and is
manufactured in an environmentally green process.
By itself, the sheeting is inherently stiff and not easily foldable into
portable, stackable
packages. The invention joins multiple small, easily manageable rectangles of
the sheeting
by means of a flexible hinge material, thus creating a relatively large
tarpaulin which can be
folded into a compact, uniform package that is easily stored, transported, and
re-folded
after use.
The invention makes practicable the use of recycled rubber sheeting to
fabricate heavy
duty tarpaulins with improved protective properties due to the inherent
resilience and
strength of the rubber sheeting.

Claims

7
The Embodiments Of The Invention In Which An Exclusive Property Or Privilege
Is
Claimed Are Defined As Follows:
1. A tarpaulin, fabricated from rubber sheeting manufactured from rubber
recovered
from the recycling of scrap rubber tires.
2. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is readily scalable as to size.
3. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is readily foldable.
4. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is storable and re-useable.
5. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. with a resilient, shock-absorbent
surface.
6. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is wind resistant.
7. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is puncture and tear resistant.
8. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is waterproof.
9. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which will not mildew.
10.A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which is UV resistant.
11. A tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. which can be reinforced internally to
span large
openings.
12. The properties of a tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. and claimed in claims
6., 8. and
11. where the tarpaulin is applied to the roof of a structure under
construction or
repair, to protect the roof from rain or snow, as in Figure 3., and where the
top
row(s) of sheeting of such a tarpaulin may be cast over the ridge of the roof
to both
seal the ridge and support the tarpaulin, and where multiples of such
tarpaulins may
be overlapped to cover large areas.
13. The properties of a tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. and claimed in claims
4. and 5.
where the tarpaulin is applied to cover a vehicle to protect the surface of
the vehicle
from hail damage.
14. The properties of a tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. and claimed in claims
2., 3., 5.,
6., 7., 8., 9., 10. and 11. where the tarpaulin is applied to cover the box of
a truck as
weather protection or for security, as in Figure 4..
15.The properties of a tarpaulin claimed in claim 14. where the tarpaulin is
applied to
cover a truck box carrying aggregates or refuse, to prevent spillage.

8
16. The properties of a tarpaulin as defined in claim 1. and claimed in claims
4., 5. and
7. where the tarpaulin is used to cover the jagged edges of a crash-damaged
vehicle to facilitate the removal of persons from the vehicle.

Description

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Background Of The Invention
Tarpaulins, or "tarps", have been in general use for many years. Most commonly
they are
used for temporary weather protection of construction materials, buildings
under
construction or repair, equipment, vehicles, boats, and cargo being
transported.
Presently on the market are tarpaulins manufactured from flexible polyvinyl
chloride (PVC)
and from canvas. PVC tarpaulins are relatively thin, light weight and
susceptible to
puncture and tearing. Canvas tarpaulins, while relatively heavy and stronger
than PVC, are
susceptible to mildew and gradual degradation in damp or wet environments.
The invention utilizes an environmentally green process to fabricate heavy
duty tarpaulins
that are puncture and rip resistant and impervious to water and mildew.
The following United States of America patents are typical examples of the
application of
tarpaulins and the use of recycled tire sheeting:
US5560384 OH SEI-YOON Recyclable tarpaulin sheet.
An outdoor sunscreen formed without rope or pole
connecting eyelets includes a fabric sheet having
a reinforced margin.
US5527409 LANPHIER Method of making recycled tire roof sheeting.
An inexpensive, durable, and easily applied
roofing material ...
US20090178346 DIAZ Roof tarp system and method for use.
The present invention includes a roof tarp system
and method for sealing an opening in a roof or
other opening in a building.
US20090208696 FROMMEYER Adjustable bush trimmings tarp.
The adjustable Bush Trimmings Tarp is made up
of six pieces of a heavy duty pliable material such
as heavy cloth, canvas, or a polyethylene type
material.
US20020095898 BETTENCOURT Modular-tarp building-roof/wall shielding & system.
An environmentally conservative and more cost-
effective apparatus and method for protecting

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architectural-building construction work in
progress ...
The present invention provides a heavy duty tarpaulin with improved protective
performance compared to other commercially available tarpaulins. An additional
advantage
of the invention is the environmental benefit that accrues from the recycling
of scrap rubber
tires.
Summary Of The Invention
The principal material used in the invention is sheets of masticated rubber
crumb
recovered from the recycling of scrap rubber tires. Such material is strong,
resilient,
waterproof, will not mildew, and is UV resistant. In sheet form it has a
minimum thickness
of approximately 0.080 inches and maximum width of approximately 48 inches.
Due to its
thickness it is not easily folded and due to its maximum width it is not
suitable for covering
large objects or openings.
The invention solves the problem of folding the sheets and of creating a wider
cover by
joining multiple smaller rectangular sheets of the material with a flexible
hinge, to create a
relatively larger sheet, or tarpaulin. Due to the thickness, resiliency and
strength of the
rubber sheets, such tarpaulins provide enhanced protection for the objects
they cover.
Sheets of the rubber material are cut into smaller rectangles, joined and
hinged together by
strips of flexible material such as, in one embodiment, ethylene propylene
diene rubber
(EPDM rubber) to form a highly durable, flexible and resilient tarpaulin that
is foldable and
can conform to the shape of the object being covered. Such tarpaulins are
scalable as to
size, depending on the size and number of small rubber rectangles joined and
hinged
together by the flexible strips. In the fabricating of the tarpaulins, the
size of the smaller
rectangular sheets can be varied to suit the end-use of the tarpaulin.
In the drawings, which form part of this specification:
Figure 1. is the surface view of a tarpaulin comprised of multiple relatively
smaller
rectangular sheets of recycled rubber joined by flexible hinge strips.
Figure 2. illustrates preferred methods of joining and hinging the rubber
sheets with strips
of flexible material. The illustration shows the hinge joining two edges only,
for clarity.

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Figure 3. illustrates an application of the invention as weather protection
for a roof under
repair or construction.
Figure 4. illustrates an application of the invention as a weatherproof,
foldable cover for a
truck box.
Detailed Description Of The Invention
The masticated rubber sheets are manufactured from recycled rubber crumb
incorporated
into a thermoplastic matrix. The manufacturing is a proprietary process using
recycled
content which is 49% post consumer tire-derived and 41 % post industrial tire
plant scrap.
These sheets exhibit performance characteristics associated with rubber, such
as
durability, resiliency, and toughness:
Tensile Strength, Min. ASTM D412 With grain: 697 PSI
Cross grain: 363 PSI
Tear Strength, Min. ASTM D624 With grain: 120 PI
Cross grain: 250 PI
Elongation, %, Min. ASTM D412 With grain: 15
Cross grain: 40
Low Temperature ASTM D2137 Not brittle at -40 C
Heat Aged % Change ASTM D573 Tensile Strength - 25
Elongation - 25
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, EPDM rubber is used as hinge
material.
EPDM rubber hinge strips are strong, resilient and flexible and may be adhered
to the
masticated rubber sheets in a strong, waterproof joint.
Tensile Strength, Min. ASTM D412 800 PSI
Elongation, %, Min. ASTM D412 300
Temperature Range -40 C to 121 C
Heat Aged % Change ASTM D573 Tensile Strength -25
Elongation -25

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In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the masticated rubber sheets
are 0.080
inches thick, and weigh 7.76 ounces per square foot; the EPDM rubber strips
are 0.045
inches thick, and weigh 4.26 ounces per square foot.
The weight and inherent stiffness of the rubber sheets make the fabricated
tarpaulins
highly wind-resistant in exposed locations, compared to PVC or canvas
tarpaulins. The
surface of the rubber sheets is resilient and shock-absorbent, compared to PVC
or canvas
tarpaulins.
Rectangular sheet component (1) in Figure 1. is cut to a size such that the
complete
tarpaulin may be easily folded, stored or transported. These smaller component
sheets are
separated by a gap (2) sufficient to allow the folding of the component sheets
of the
tarpaulin, one over the other, both longitudinally and transversely into a
uniform, compact
package.
Strips of flexible material (3) span the gap, overlap the edges of the smaller
component
sheets (1), and are joined to the smaller sheets at the overlapped joint (4).
The flexible
strips may be joined to the smaller sheets by heat or chemical vulcanizing,
thus creating a
waterproof joint, or they may be mechanically joined to the smaller sheets by
stitching. The
method of joining the flexible strips to the smaller sheets depends upon the
end-use
requirement of the tarpaulin.
The flexible hinge strips (3), in the preferred embodiment of the invention,
are cut from
EPDM rubber. The hinge may be a single strip, applied to one side of the
joint, or two
strips, one applied to each side of the joint, creating a double hinge joint.
This design adds
thickness and resilience to the hinge. A reinforcing bar (8) may be inserted
into the pocket
(7) formed in the gap of a double hinge joint. This design provides support
for tarpaulins
designed to span large openings in the object or area to be covered.
Grommet holes as in Figure 4. (5) on the edges of outside component sheets may
be used
in combination with bungee cords or other tie-down methods to secure a
tarpaulin.

Representative Drawing