AU2005217997A1

AU2005217997A1 - A support for a cover over a trailer

Info

Publication number: AU2005217997A1
Application number: AU2005217997A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Reid James Yates
Original assignee: Yates Reid James Mr
Current assignee: Yates Reid James Mr
Priority date: 2004-09-28
Filing date: 2005-09-28
Publication date: 2006-04-13

Description

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Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: Reid James YATES Invention Title: A SUPPORT FOR A COVER OVER A TRAILER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 o A SUPPORT FOR A COVER OVER A TRAILER c Field of the Invention C The present invention relates to the transport DO industry. It has a particular application to trailers for 00 5 trucks.

Background of the Invention In a typical situation where it is necessary to transport a load, a cover such as a tarpaulin is used to 0protect the load from damage or contamination by weather or transit conditions. Thus for a truck with a trailer tl load of material the trailer may be provided with a steel obow extending from one side of the trailer to the other and all the way along the trailer. The tarpaulin is rolled over the steel bows and is suspended above the load to minimise contact between the tarpaulin and the material.

In wet weather conditions however water may be retained on top of the canvas stretching the tarpaulin.

This may result in the tarpaulin contacting the top of the load. Furthermore while in transit the load may be liable to strong wind flow thus causing the tarpaulin to be loosened to create friction between it and the load being carried. In addition when the material is loaded into the trailer the steel bows can be damaged and bent downwardly and or out of shape causing the tarpaulin protecting the load to stretch and slacken continually during transit.

As a result of the above problems the tarpaulin is subjected to stresses which eventually lead to tears in the canvas and leaves the load subject to weather conditions and contamination. Consequently it is necessary to replace the tarpaulin and the bows. This adds to overall transportation costs.

Although the above problems are primarily associated with road transport, similar problems may be experienced by rail transport or even sea transport.

The present invention provides an alternative support, device and system for supporting a cover on a iH: \SeS\Keep\spec\PS-424 .SPEC.doc 27/OS19/9 3 O trailer or other load bearing carriage or similar device Sused in transportation.

Summary of the Invention I According to one aspect of the present invention 00 5 there is provided a support for a cover over a trailer comprising a holder and-a plurality of cables held together in a middle region of the cables by the holder wherein each cable has first and second ends which are 0" attachable to respective opposite sides of a trailer wall so that in use a cover is able to be suspended by the Vsupport above a load carried in the trailer.

oIt is preferred that the holder comprises a tube through which the cables extend.

Alternatively the holder comprises a clamping means.

According to an alternative embodiment the holder comprises a crimping means.

According to another embodiment the holder comprises a tying device.

According to a further embodiment the holder comprises a connection means.

According to an additional embodiment the support comprises a plurality of holders with each holder holding a plurality of cables together in a middle region of the cables.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in supporting a cover on a trailer, comprising a tube and a plurality of cables extending through the tube, wherein each cable has first and second ends which each include an attachment portion for attaching the end to a side wall of a trailer, whereby the first end of each cable is able to be connected to one side of the trailer and the second end of each cable is able to be connected to the opposite side of the trailer.

Preferably the tube is located approximately midway between the ends.

\SueB\XKeep\spec1;\P 5424 SPECdoc 27/0I9/L 4 o The tube may be located in a central region of C the cables.

a The device preferably comprises two cables.

VI The attachment portion may comprise an angled 00 5 portion which orients the cable upwardly.

The attachment portion may comprise a sleeve with a bend.

The sleeve may be rigid.

The sleeve may be crimped onto the end of the 10 cable.

ci V)The attachment portion preferably connects to a oconnection portion of the trailer.

Ci The attachment portion preferably comprises a tube with a bend of greater than 900.

If the connection portion is oriented at an angle with respect to the vertical, the bend in the tube could be at an angle less than The connection portion may comprise a seat or tubular member adapted to receive the attachment portion therein.

According to one embodiment a pin or pins may be used to keep the attachment portion in the tubular member.

It is preferred that the cables diverge from the holder.

The support may be resiliently flexible.

It is preferred that a cable includes any line, ligament, rope, wire or other linear device which is adapted to have inherent strength and flexibility when held with another cable by the holder.

It is preferred that the support forms an arcuate structure on which part of a cover is able to be supported.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for supporting a cover over a trailer, comprising a plurality of supports for supporting part of a cover, each support comprising a holder and a plurality of cables held together in a middle H:\St.B\Keep\spsc\rS&44.SECCFOc 27/O~.IO! 5 O region of the cables by the holder wherein each cable has c- first and second ends which are attachable to respective C opposite sides of a trailer wall, whereby the supports Co form a support structure with a plurality of apexes to 00 5 enable a cover to be placed over the apexes.

The system preferably enables a cover placed over the system to be supported above and out of contact with substantially all of the load carried by the trailer.

Each support may comprise a pair of cables held 10 together in a middle region of the cables.

ci The ends of the cables are preferably provided with elbow portions which are adapted to be connected to C an adjacent wall of a trailer.

It is preferred that the elbow portions are rigid and orient the cable upwardly when the cable is connected to the trailer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a support comprising an elongate member having first and second end portions, at least one end portion branching into at least first and second branch portions, wherein each end portion is attachable to respective opposite sides of a trailer wall so that in use a cover is able to be suspended over the support above a load carried in the trailer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention a middle region of the elongate member comprises a support portion.

The support portion may be a generally thin flat body.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a support comprising a middle support portion with elongate end portions extending from respective ends and attachable to respective opposite sides of the trailer wall so that in use a cover is able to be suspended over the middle support portion.

Preferably a plurality of end portions extend from each end of the support portion.

IL \5ueE\Ke.~ptspec:\E<~424.SF-~C.dOC 21/09/)5 -6o Preferably the first and second branch portions Ci extend away from each other.

a Preferably each of the first and second end portions comprise first and second branch portions.

00 5 It is preferred that the branch portions diverge from each other.

It should be understood that a trailer includes any carriage for a transportable load.

SBrief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention f will now be described by way of example only with 0reference to the accompanying drawings in which: C Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a support system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an end view of a support system of Figure 1 connected to a trailer; Figure 3 shows a schematic end view of a further embodiment of a support system according to the invention; and Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the support system of the invention in an angled end view.

Detailed Description of the Drawings As shown in Figure 1 in one form a support consists of a cylindrical metal tube 11 with two cables 12 and 13 extending therethrough and terminating in tubular sleeves 14 which are attached to the respective ends 16, 17, 18.

The metal cylindrical tube is located approximately at the centre of both of the cables 12 and 13 and the left side ends 15, 16 of the cables 12, 13 are inserted into corresponding left side holes 20, 21 in the left side wall 22 of a trailer 19. The opposite ends 17, 18 of the cables 12, 13 are inserted through holes 23, 24 in the right side wall 25 of the trailer 19.

The sleeves 14 may be in the form of crimped metal tubes which fit into tubular sockets forming the H:\SueB\Keep\specl\PSa424.StiC.aoc 21/09/5 7 o holes 20, 21, 23, 24.

C As shown in Figure 2, both cables 12 and 13 curve a upwardly and have an apex corresponding to the position of Sthe cylindrical tube 11. This position 11 also 00 5 corresponds to a centre line down the length of the trailer 19.

Each of the cables 12 and 13 also diverge away from each other from the cylindrical tube 11.

SThe sleeves 14 provide a rigid end support to each of the ends 14, 15, 17, 18 and in combination with Sthe holes 20, 21, 23, 24 orient the cables upwardly to the oapex at the cylindrical tube 11.

C In Figure 3 the cables 12 and 13 are provided with different types of end pieces 26. These end pieces are in the form of elbow shaped metal sleeves which have their outermost ends 27 fitting inside a connecting tube 28 attached vertically to the side wall of the trailer 19.

The end pieces are made of a rigid material such as hardened steel and fit into the tube 28.

The angle of the elbow is greater than 900 so that the inner section 29 of the end piece is angled slightly upwardly towards the centre of the trailer 19 (when the end piece is connected to the tube 26). A pin may be inserted through the combined tube and end piece to keep the cable in place or alternatively a clip or similar device may be used to prevent the outermost end of cables 12 and 13 from passing through the tube 26.

In Figure 4 the end pieces are in the form of a metal sleeve which may have an elbow shape but which fit into vertical holes in a top edge of each side wall 22, 23 of the trailer 19.

Regardless of the shape of the end pieces they may be provided with washers which can be welded over them to allow for height adjustment of the cables. Therefore depending where the washers-are welded the metal sleeves will be limited to the extent to which they can fit into the receiving holes in the side walls of the trailer. A H:\S-se\Keep\p c-\PS 424 SPErCi4 c SPEiC, J 8 o similar objective may be achieved by using pins which fit Cl through side walls of the sleeves.

C In use a series of supports 10 are connected to Sthe sides 22, 23 of a trailer 19 and provide a support 00 5 structure over which a tarpaulin can be supported.

Prior to attaching a tarpaulin over the trailer, it is possible to load the trailer if the trailer is being loaded with material such as earth or grain etc. and this material can pass over the top of the supports 10 and the supports will be able to flex as the material strikes the I supports. The tarpaulin can then be stretched over the o supports and tied down around the edges of the trailer 19.

CAs each of the supports 10 have a similar centrally positioned apex, the tarpaulin is maintained above the height of the loaded material which helps maintain the integrity of the tarpaulin while the load is in transit.

It is expected that the supports may be preformed so that they can be simply attached to fixing points on the trailer as desired. A trailer may be specially configured with appropriate fixing connectors to make it easy to connect the supports.

In an alternative embodiment cables may be connected together by a suitable connector which serves the same purpose as the cylindrical tube 11.

It is also envisaged that the support may be connected to vehicles or any other structure where it is desired to provide a support for a sheet of material.

Thus the support could be connected to side railings on a vehicle over the top of a roof rack loaded with luggage to help suspend the cover above the luggage.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the cylindrical metal tube 11 which holds cables together is crimped to prevent sliding movement of the tube 11.

According to further embodiment of the present invention each of the cables are coated with a polymer material, resin or equivalent which increases the I1;Sue'A~ep\pe~\F4I~S~D~dQ /'A 9 durability of the cable and reduces surface friction.

C- This assists with reducing any wear as a result of contact a with the sheet of material which covers the load in the trailer.

00 5 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part Sof the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding f description of the invention, except where the context orequires otherwise due to express language or necessary Ci implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

FI:\5ue\eeri.cl\SFSCi\L124.SECdOc 2C10,9/uL

Claims

2. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein 10 the holder comprises a tube through which the cables Cl Sextend. 8 3. The support as claimed in claim 1 or 2 Cl wherein the holder comprises a clamping means.
4. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a crimping means. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a tying device.
6. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a connection means.
7. The support as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of holders with each holder holding a plurality of cables together in a middle region of the cables.
8. A device for use in supporting a cover on a trailer, comprising a tube and a plurality of cables extending through the tube, wherein each cable has first and second ends which each include an attachment portion for attaching the end to a side wall of a trailer, whereby the first end of each cable is able to be connected to one side of the trailer and the second end of each cable is able to be connected to the opposite side of the trailer.
9. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the tube is located approximately midway between the ends. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tube is located in a central region of the cables.
11. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the attachment portion comprises an angled portion which H:\SueTh\?~ecp\speC1\P%-l24AFtC.dOC 27/0911Th 11 o orients the cable upwardly. C 12. The device as claimed in claim 8 including a two cables.
13. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein 00 5 the attachment portion comprises a sleeve with a bend.
14. The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sleeve is rigid. The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sleeve is crimped onto the end the cable. 10 16. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein ci V)the attachment portion comprises a tube with a bend of ogreater than 900 C 17. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connection portion comprises a seat adapted to receive the attachment portion therein.
18. The device as claimed claim 8 wherein at least one pin is used to keep the attachment portion in the tubular member.
19. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 8 wherein the cables diverge from the holder. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support is resiliently flexible.
21. The support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cables and holder form an arcuate structure on which part of a cover is able to be supported.
22. A system for supporting a cover over a trailer, comprising a plurality of supports for supporting part of a cover, each support comprising a holder and a plurality of cables held together in a middle region of the cables by the holder wherein each cable has first and second ends which are attachable to respective opposite sides of a trailer wall, whereby the supports form a support structure with a plurality of apexes to enable a cover to be placed over the apexes.
23. The system as claimed in claim 22 comprising a pair of cables held together in a middle region of the cables. if:\S~ue0\Keep\peckr.A424.&rECoc 27/A-5/05 12 o 24. The system as claimed in claim 23 wherein C the ends of the cables are provided with elbow portions aL which are configured to be connected to an adjacent wall of a trailer. 00 5 25. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the elbow portions are rigid and orient the cable upwardly when the cable is connected to the trailer.
26. A support for a cover substantially as 0 hereinbefore described with reference to the any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. Cl l 27. The system substantially as hereinbefore Sdescribed withe reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 of Cl the accompanying drawings. Dated this 28th day of September 2005 Reid James YATES By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\SueD\iKeep\apecl6 r".1 24,5PEC.doc 24/I9/r