Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MANUAL TARP ENCLOSING SYSTEM
FOR FL~T BED TRUCKS
Scope of the Invention
This invention relates to a tarp enclosing system
and, more particularly, to a manually operated tarp
enclosing system for beds of trucks and trailers and the
like.
Background of the Invention
Trucks, trailers, rail cars, baggage carts and the
like have beds, frequently flat beds, upon which cargo is to
be carried.
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Frequently, the bed must be open for loading and
unloading but needs to be covered otherwise as during
transportation and storage to keep rain, snow and dirt from
the cargo or to assist in keeping dust, debris and the like
of the cargo from escaping.
Many tarp enclosing systems are manually applied
and removed. Frequently, this requires extensive climbing
up onto the truck bed to implant bows and manually wrestle
with heavy tarps to fold or unfold the same and tie them
down. Such systems have the disadvantage that they are time
consuming and difficult to use. Frequently, elderly or
disabled drivers fully capable of driving a transport, are
unable, unassisted, to apply and remove known manually
operated tarp enclosing systems.
Many tarp enclosing systems suffer the
disadvantage that they do not permit easy access to the
truck bed other than by removing the tarp.
Summary of the Invention
To at least partially overcome the disadvantages
of known tarp enclosures, the present invention provides a
tarp system having bows guided in parallel tracks on each
side of the bed, movable manually by a closed loop cable
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system, and including doors on the rearward most of the
bows.
An object of the present invention is to provide a
simple tarp enclosing system for flat beds. Another object
is to provide a tarp enclosing system in which tarp
supporting bows move in tracks along the sides of the bed
yet permit easy entry through rear doors.
Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present
invention provides a retractable tarp enclosing system for
covering a bed of trucks and trailers and the like
comprising:
two elongate track means, one on each side of the
bed,
a plurality of U-shaped bow means, each having two
legs connected by a central bight, and guide means at each
end of the legs,
each bow means hridging the bed from one track
means to the other with guide means retainably received in
the track means on each side of the bed for movement0 longitudinally in the track means,
flexible cover means secured at one end to a
rearward most one of said bow means and secured to
successive bows means at spaced intervals along the cover
means, whereby moving rearward most bow along the track
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collapses or expands the cover means in an accordian-like
fashion,
the rearward most bow means carrying door means
comprising two rigid panels, one hinged to each of the legs
of the rearward most bow means for pivoting about a
generally vertical axis between a closed portion in which
the door means close the end of the bed and an open position
in which the doors lie along the sides of the bed so as to
not interfere with longitudinal movement of the rearward
most bow means in the tracks in collapsing or expanding the
cover means.
In another aspect the present invention provides a
retractable tarp enclosing system for covering a bed of
trucks and trailers and the like comprising:
two elongate track means, one on each side of the
bed,
a plurality of U-shaped bow means, each having two
legs connected by a central bight, and guide means at each
end of the legs,
each bow means bridging the bed from one track
means to the other with guide means retainably received in
the track means on each side of the bed for movement
longitudinally in the track means,
flexible cover means secured at one end to a
rearward most one of said bow means and secured to
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successive bows means at spaced intervals along the cover
means, whereby moving rearward most bow along the track
collapses or expands the cover means in an accordian-like
fashion,
a bow-like door support member fixed to the bed to
bridge the bed from one side to the other at the rear of the
bed rearward of the rearward most bow means,
door means carried by the door support member for
movement between an open position and a closed position to
open and close the end of the bed,
means for releasably coupling in substantially
weather sealed relation the rearward most bow means to the
door support means.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further objects and advantages of the present
invention will appear from the following description taken
together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment
of a tarp enclosing system in accordance with the present
invention on a flat bed trailer with the tarp enclosing
system in a collapsed position;
Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 also showing
in dotted lines the tarp enclosing system in an extended
position;
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Figure 3 is a schematic pictorial view of the
tracks, bow and cable positioning system of the first
embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a schematic rear view similar to
Figure 4 but of a trailer with permanent rigid sides;
Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional rear view
of the area indicated as VI in Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a pictorial partial sectional view of
the mounting member and track in the first embodiment;
Figure 8 is a partial side view of the mounting
member and track in the first embodiment;
Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figures 7
and 8 but of mounting members and a double track system in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 11 is a partial pictorial view of a front
end of the first embodiment of Figure 1 with a removable
track exterior shown attached;
Figures 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are schematic side
views of the first embodiment of Figure 1 varying only in
respect in the manner in which the tarp may be collapsed;
and
Figure 17 is a pictorial view of three concrete
beds having removable tarps in accordance with a third
embodiment of this invention;
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Figure 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional rear view
similar to Figure 6 but showing a modified form of the
track;
Figure l9 is a partial side view similar to Figure
8 of the mounting member and track of Figure 18;
Figure 20 is a pictorial view of a fourth
embodiment of the present invention showing the tarp in a
fully covered position;
Figure 21 is a schematic side view of the fourth
embodiment showing the tarp in a fully covered position;
Figure 22 shows a configuration of the fourth
embodiment in which the rear door supporting bow is fixed to
the trailer and the tarp is collapsed;
Figure 23 shows a configuration of the fourth
embodiment in which the rear door supporting bow is movable;
Figure 24 shows a pictorial view of a fifth
embodiment similar to the fourth embodiment; and
Figures 25 and 26 show two arrangements for
securing a rearward most bow to the rear door support member
in the fifth embodiment.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Reference is made to Figure 1 showing a pictorial
view of a flat bed truck trailer 10 in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Trailer 10
has a flat bed 12 with sides 14 and 16, a rear 18 and a
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front 20. In Figure 1, a retractable, flexible tarp, tarpaulin
or cover 22 is shown in a retracted position. Cover 22 is
secured at intervals to a plurality of bed bridging bows 24.
Bows 24 have mounting members 26 at each end received
in parallel tracks 28 and 30 mounted under each side of the bed
so that the bows may be moved forwardly and rearwardly guided
by the tracks.
Cover 22 is secured at its rear end to a first bow
24a and at its front end to a last bow 24b which is preferably
fixed to the bed. Cover 22 is also secured at spaced intervals
to successive of the intermediate bows as by the bows passing
through loops in the cover. On moving the first bow 24a
rearwardly or forwardly, the cover extends or collapses in an
accordian-like manner.
Figure 3 shows a cable positioning system. The
system comprises a closed loop of cable 32 which extends about
wheel pulleys located near the corners of the bed. Two loop
ends 34 and 36 are engaged about single wheel pulleys 38 and 40
at the rear end of each track 28 and 30. The cable extends
forwardly from ends 34 and 36 as two sets of double parallel
strands 38, 4n, 42 and 44 to pulley wheels 46, 48, 50 and 52
and, hence, across the width of the bed as strands 54 and 56.
Pulley wheels 46, 48, 50 and 52 are at the respective rear ends
of each track 28 and 30 near the rear corners of bed 12.
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Each of the lowermost strands 40 and 44 on each
side are securely fastened to first bow 24a. As is to be
appreciated, by the crossover of strands 54 and 56, on
movement of cable 32 about its loop, both lowermost strands
40 and 44 will move in the same direction at the same speed.
Preferably, pulley wheels 38 and 40 are supported
in a sliding manner with tension in the loop being able to
be adjusted by threaded tension adjusting nut and bolt
assemblies 58 as seen in Figure 3.
Figures 4, 6, 7 and 8 best show the construction
of the bows, their mounting means and the tracks. As seen,
each bow 24 comprises a rod of tubular metal preferably
aluminum, bent to have a generally U-shape with two vertical
legs 60 and 62 and central bight joining them formed as two
portions 64 and 66 rising to a central apex. To the lower
end of each leg, the mounting members generally indicated 26
are secured. The mounting members 26 shown comprise a
bracket member of sheet metal of generally triangular shape
in side view, widening downwardly from apex at its top. In
end view as seen in Figure 6, the bracket members 26 have an
upper vertical portion 70, an intermediate inwardly angling
portion 72 and a lower vertical portion 74. Bolts 76 secure
the legs 60 of the bow 24 to upper bracket portions 70.
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Lower vertical portion 74 carries two wheels 78 and 80
journalled on axle forming bolt members 82.
Wheels 78 and 80 are received in track 28
consisting of a generally U-shaped member. Track 28 is
shown as having a base portion 90 upon which wheels 78 and
80 run. Inner wall 91 extends vertically upwardly to a top
portion 92 secured to a U-beam 86. A retaining wall portion
93 extends downwardly from the outer edge of top portion 92
and serves to constrain wheels 78 and 80 in running
alignment, engaged within the track and close to wall 91. An
outer wall 94 extends upwardly to an inturned top edge 95.
The track 28 is preferably formed from sheet metal
of sufficient thickness to carry the weight of the tarp and
bows.
Track 28-has openings 96 in base portion 90 to
permit water, dirt, snow and the like to escape. To assist
in preventing water, dirt and snow from being caught in
track 28, the cover 22 extends down so that its lower side
edge 97 overlaps outer wall 94 of track 28 when in use.
Preferably, as seen in Figure 6, a thin rod 98 is welded to
the underside of the trailer along its length. Elastic
bungie cords 99 with hooks at each end engage between
eyelets 100 in cover 22 and rod 98 to draw the sides of
cover 22 down and securely into outer wall 94.
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The width of the opening between the outer wall 94
and wall portion 93 is preferably sufficiently large to
permit a person's hand or a tool such as a scraper to enter
track 28 and easily scrape out or remove any accumulated
snow, dirt or debris.
As seen in Figure 6, track 28 is located
underneath the truck bed, mounted on the underside of a
trailer side channel beam 86 forming a side of the bed. A
typical trailer pocket member 88 is provided laterally outside
beam 86 with a trailer rub rail 87 attached. Cables strands
38 and 40 extend parallel to track 28 in a space defined under
beam 86 and between beam 86 and bracket 28.
A bolted C-clamp is shown for clamping lower
cables segment 40 to intermediate portion 72 of bracket 26.
- Upper bracket portion 70 is located close to rail
87 so as to minimize the extent to which the width of the
bed is increased.
As seen in Figure 8, wheels 78 and 80 are spaced
longitudinally relative to track 28 from each other. This
assists in keeping the bows normal to the track on each side
and is of assistance in preventing jamming. The spacing of
the wheels does increase, however, the extent of the track
occupied when the cover is in a fully retracted position.
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To manually operate the cover, with bungie cords
99 removed, a person need only manually draw on the
forwardmost bow or mounting member 26 on one side of the bed
so as to move the mounting member 26 and thereby the cable
about its loop and thereby move the first bow 24a towards
the fully extended or fully retracted position. While
normal manual grasping and drawing is sufficient, if
desired, a friction engaging winch whether manually powered
or electrically or hydraulically powered can be provided.
In the discussion of the embodiment of Figures 1
and 2, cable strands 40 and 44 have been indicated as
fastened to rearmost bow 24a with the forwardmost bow 24b
secured near the front of the trailer. Figures 12 and 13
illustrate another configuration in which the cable strands
40 and 44 are secured to the forwardmost bow and the cover
22 collapses towards the rear. Figure 14 illustrates
another configuration in which a central bow may be secured
to the trailer, forwardmost bow 24b to cable strands 38 and
42 and rearmost bow 24a to cable strands 40 and 42.
Reference is now made to Figures 11 and 16
illustrating the use of a track extension 110. Extension 110
is removably secured to the trailer so as to form an
extension of the track onto which all the mounting members
can be rolled. This permits full lateral access to the
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trailer which may be of assistance in some loading
situations. As well, once all the mounting members are
rolled onto the extensions 110, the entire tarp system may
then be conveniently removed from the trailer maintained on
the extension by mere disengagement of the extensions from
the trailer. The two extensions 110 may be joined together
to provide a structural unit to support the tarp system if
total removal from the trailer is desired.
Extensions 110 are shown telescopically received
in track 28 as one simple method of attachment. Extension
110 may have a si-milar profile to that of track 28.
Figure 5 shows a truck trailer with permanent
rigid side walls 114 in which bows 24 have shortened legs
and tracks 28 and 30 are mounted near the top of side walls
114 to carry similar mounting members 26.
-
Reference is now made to Figures 9 and 10 showinga second embodiment of the invention. For Figures 9 and 10,
the same reference numerals are used to refer to similar
elements in Figures 1 to 8. In Figures 9 and 10, the single
20 track 28 of the first embodiment is replaced by a double
trackway 128 formed by a lower track 28 identical to that of
the first embodiment but secured to beam 86 by an inverted
J-shaped member 130. As seen, a second upper track 132 is
formed between the top portion 92 of track 28 and side wall
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133, top portion 134 and retaining wall portion 135 of
member 130. Mounting member 26 carries rear wheel 80 above
front wheel 78 with the rear wheel 80 to be received in
upper track 132 and the front wheel 72 to be received in
lower track 28. As seen in Figure 10, this provides
stability to bows 24 by having the two wheels spaced, yet
provides for nesting of the mounting members 26 when the
cover 22 is collapsed so that the nested mounting members 26
take up a smaller length on the track.
Reference is now made to Figure 17 schematically
showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In
Figure 17, a bed or pad, such as concrete pads 140, 142 and
144 are each provided with the retractable cover system as
shown in Figure 1 with a tarp 22 supported on bows 24
carried by mounting members supported on tracks 28 disposed
along each side of each pad. The cover system provides a
simple and efficient system for enclosing the pads. Such
pads may have many uses, for example, as pads to store
vehicles, equipment, supplies and the like or as to form an
enclosure in which work can be performed away from weather
and secured to retain heat. One preferred use is as
retractable covers for casting beds to support moulds for
concrete castings. The cover can easily be closed after
pouring the concrete to keep of rain and retain heat, and
opened for removal.
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Figure 17 also shows a single interconnecting
closed loop cable system for all three beds whereby opening
of one bed may open all the others.
Figures 18 and 19 show another form for the track
and mounting member. Similar reference numerals are used in
Figures 18 and 19 to those in the other figures to indicate
equivalent elements.
In Figure 18, track 28 is modified so as to
provide base portion 90 with a concave, downwardly extending
curved wheel engaging groove 160. Groove 160 serves the
prupose of retaining the wheels 162 and 166 in a desired
longitudinal path of travel, particularly when a generally
square-ended wheel 162 is used as seen in Figure 18. Wheel
162 is preferably of hard rubber-like material, and may have
some resiliency to conform to the side surfaces of the groove.
In Figure 18, the groove 160 has inwardly angled
side surfaces which engage bottom surfaces of the wheel 162
on opposite sides thereof so as to guide the wheel 162
longitudinally in the track. The groove 160 also provides a
space 168 below the wheel which can accommodate dirt, snow
and the like without impairing operations.
Figure 18 shows the wheel 162 as bolted to
vertical portion 74 of member 26 by nut 170 and with axle
172 for the wheel having a grease nipple 174.
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Track 28 is shown as formed with retaining wall
portion 93 extending downwardly from the outer edge of top
portion 92 spaced from the wheel so as to keep the wheels in
the track only if the wheels become substantially out of the
groove 160 and do not otherwise contact the wheels.
Figure 19 shows mounting member 26 carrying three
wheels 162, 164 and 166. Lower surfaces of outer bottom
wheels 162 and 166 engage the upper surfaces of groove 160.
The upper surfaces of wheels 162 and 166 are spaced from and
do not engage top portion 92. The upper surfaces of middle
top wheel 164 engage the lower surfaces of top portion 92.
The lower surfaces of wheel 164 are spaced from and do not
engage groove 160. Vertical portion 74 of member 26 has a
vertical slot 176 for mounting of middle wheel 164 to permit
the vertical height of the middle wheel 164 to be adjusted.
With the track and wheel configuration of Figures 18 and 19
substantially improved, rolling and alignment has been
experienced.
Figure 18 also shows a simplified construction for
the track with angle iron 180 secured to U-beam 86 and track
portions 90, 91 and 92 bolted to angle iron 180 with track
portion 93 formed from a separate sheet of metal.
Reference is now made to Figures 20 to 23 showing
a fourth embodiment of the present invention which operates
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substantially the same as with the first and second
embodiments but incorporates a construction providing end
doors. As with the first and second embodiments, trailer 10
has a number of mounting bows 26 received in parallel tracks
28 and 30 mounted under each side of the bed so that the
bows may be moved forwardly and rearwardly guided by the
tracks in the manner of the first and second embodiments.
At the rear end, a rear door support member 200 is
provided. At the front end, a similar front door support
member 201 is provided. Each end door support member 200
and 201 comprises two simple bows 202 and 204 joined
together to form a rigid bow-like truss. The two bows 202
and 204 are joined by panels 206, 208, 210 and 212 of sheet
metal. As well, a tubular cross-brace 214 is provided
across the top of bow 202 and a panel 215 of sheet metal
closes the triangular apex between cross-brace 214 and bow
202. Two doors 216 and 218 are secured by hinges 220 to the
sides of door support member 200 so as to be pivotable from
a closed position as shown in Figure 20 to an open position
in which the doors lie alongside the sides of the flat bed
lO as seen, for example, in Figure 22.
The door support members 200 and 201 may either be
secured to the trailer bed 10 against movement or be adapted
to be forwardly and rearwardly slidable in tracks 28 and 30.
When slidable in tracks 28 and 30, the support members may
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be either secured to cable strands 40 and 44 for movement
with the cable strands or unsecured to the cable strands and
optionally releasably locked by a locking mechanism to the
bed.
Whether or not movable, the door support members
preferably form a rigid truss-like member bridging the bed
from one track to the other and providing sufficient support
for the doors for movement of the doors between open and
closed positions without substantial deflection of the
support members. The support members 200 and 201 extend
over the tracks 28 and 30 a length greater than an
individual bow 26. By engaging the tracks at longitudinally
spaced locations, for example, as in the manner of two bows
202 and 204 secured together yet spaced, the door support
members increase their stability.
A first configuration of the fourth embodiment is
shown in Figure 22, the rear door support member 200 is
fixed to the bed 10 against movement and cover 22 is not
secured to rear door support member 200 but rather the rear
edge of the cover 22 is secured to the rearward most movable
bow 26. The rearward most movable bow 26 has been moved
- rearwardly away from the fixed rear door support member 200
so as to collapse the cover as shown and permit, for
example, loading from the side of the bed 10. To ensure a
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substantially weatherproof seal between the rearward most
movable bow 26 and the rear door support member 200J
latching and sealing devices such as hook 203 and rubber
seals 205, only seen in Figure 22, may be provided on the
fixed rear door member support 200 by which the cover 22 of
rearward most movable bow 26 may be latched and sealed to
support member 200 in the closed position.
A second configuration of the fourth embodiment is
shown in Figure 23. In this second configuration, the rear
door support member 200 is received in parallel tracks 28
and 30 for forward and rearward movement in the same manner
as the bows 26 and with the cover 22 secured to the rear
door support member 200.
In the second configuration of Figure 23, with
doors 216 and 218 open, rear door support member 200 may be
moved rearwardly from the fully covered position of Figures
20 and 21 to the fully collapsed postion of Figure 23 even
if articles are present on the trailer bed 10. In the
context of Figure 23, it is to be appreciated that the rear
door support member 200 functions the same as the bows 26 in
collapsing the cover and is accurately described as the
rearward most movable end bow.
In the second configuration of Figure 23, it is to
be appreciated that rear door support member 200 is secured
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to cable strands 40 and 44 such that the rear bow 200 is
drawn rearwardly. In Figure 23, the front door support
membes 201 is preferably locked to trailer bed by suitable
locking devices and not secured to cable strands 40 and 44.
In other configurations, the front door support members 201
could also be a movable bow.
Providing rear door support member 200 with its
doors permits the simple flat bed trailer to be used either
as a simple flat bed trailer or as a covered trailer. For
example, the trailer may be used as a normal covered trailer
merely by opening the rear doors, for example, for loading
of small boxed goods in poor weather through the rear
doors. The trailer can also be loaded from the side with
the cover collapsed for loading in difficult situations or
of large items.
The cover 22, bows 26, door support members 200
and 201 and the doors can be configured to ensure that all
goods are protected from weather during transit.
The door support members 200 and 201 provide
support for the doors which preferably are rigid panels in
the manner of conventional doors to facilitate opening and
closing and to enhance security. Latching and locking
devices generally indicated 230 and 231 are provided to
secure the doors closed in known manner. With the cover 22
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stretched to the covered position of Figure 21 and the door
support members 200 and 201 having their doors locked
together and to the truck bed 10, entry to the closed
trailer is prevented and any entry as by cutting through
cover 22 will be readily apparent. By incorporating a wire
netting into cover 22, indicated schematically as 232 in one
section of Figure 20, at least over the lowermost portion of
the cover, can further hinder unauthorized entry.
Figures 20 to 23 show both front and rear door
support members 200 and 201, however, it is to be
appreciated that only one may be provided.
Figure 20 schematically shows how the system of
the present invention can permit sides to be provided on the
flat bed trailer in a conventional manner without
interference with operation of the retractable cover. Bed
10 includes spaced holes 402 or ports to receive vertical
uprights 404 of rigid side panels 400 and thus secure the
side panels 400 to the bed in known manner. Bows 26 are
outside the panels 400 and do not interfere. Preferably,
panels 400 may be configured to fit between bows 26.
Reference is made to Figure 24 which shows a
pictorial view of a fifth embodiment of a trailer similar to
the fourth embodiment but notably having rectangular bows 26
so as to maximize the volume of the trailer as in the manner
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of a box van to take full advantage of the legal height of
trailers. In Figure 24, similar reference numerals are used
to indicate similar elements to those in other embodiments.
As with the fourth embodiment, the bows 26 are movable in
tracks 28 and 30 while the rear door support member 200 may
be permanently fixed or temporarily fixed and/or movable.
Figures 25 and 26 show cross-sectional plan views
looking down on the right-hand side member of support member
200. In each case, support member 200 comprises an extruded
aluminum or bent metal element 330. In both Figures 25 and
26, a rear end 332 of element 330 is bent so as to receive
hinge 22n to which rigid door 218 is secured, with the door
to seal against end flange 334 of element 330.
At the front end 336, the element 330 has a
perpendicular shoulder 338 and a parallel end flange 340.
With the cover 22 wrapped about the rearward most bow 26,
the bow is secured in sealed relation to element 330 via
bolts 342 passing through holes in cover 22, bow 26 and
shoulder 338 to wing nut 344. In this manner, bow 26 may be
secured more or less permanently.
Figure 26 shows the same configuration as in
Figure 25 but with a clamp provided for quick release, which
is useful when the support member 200 is not movable. In
Figure 26, the shoulder 338 has an enlarged hole 339 so as
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to permit bolt 342 and its nut 345 to pass without
engagement.
A clamp device 350 has an L-shaped arm 352 to
engage the end of bolt 342 and urge the bow 26 into sealing
engagement with shoulder 338 and flange 340. Arm 352 pivots
about pin 354 on lever 356 itself pvioted about pin 358
secured via boss 360 to element 330 in known manner.
Many advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example, the
bows illustrated may be easily fabricated from steel. The
tarp system of Figure l can easily be opened or closed by
one person from either side with the person on the ground
not having the need to climb on the trailer. The location
of the track in Figure 6 under the trailer protects it
against damage in collisions and loading. The track may be
made in inexpensive sections for replacement if damaged.
While the invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, it is not so limited.
Many modifications and variations will now occur to those
skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention,
reference is made to the appended claims.
