AU2008202258A1

AU2008202258A1 - A Cover System

Info

Publication number: AU2008202258A1
Application number: AU2008202258A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Thomas James Blakely
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-22
Filing date: 2008-05-22
Publication date: 2009-12-10

Description

ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "A COVER SYSTEM" Applicant: THOMAS JAMES BLAKELY Associated Provisional Application No.: The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "A COVER SYSTEM" 5 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cover for sealing across an opening of a receptacle. 10 Background to the Invention The use of open topped receptacles for transporting materials is common. For example, ore from mining sites is often loaded into steel tubs for transporting by train or truck to a location for processing. 15 The open tops of such tubs are usually covered with a flexible covering such as a tarpaulin stretched and secured from one end to the other in order to prevent loss of the material during transit. While such as arrangement is reasonably effective, there is still the possibility of escape of material from 20 under the unsecured sides, particularly when the cover is subject to the force of wind while moving. Physically securing these sides may overcome this problem however would add significantly to the time required for preparing the tubs for transport. 25 The present invention relates to a cover system for providing improved sealing along the unsecured sides of such a cover. References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is 30 part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

3 5 Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover system comprising: a flexible cover having first and second opposed ends secured in use adjacent first and second ends of the opening respectively; 10 first and second ribs extending adjacent respective first and second sides of the opening; and first and second beads on the cover; wherein the first and second beads engage against outer sides of the first and second ribs respectively. 15 Preferably, the first and second ribs and first and second beads each extend from the first end of the opening to the second end. In a preferred embodiment, the first end of the flexible cover is secured 20 adjacent the first end of the opening and the second end is securable adjacent the second end of the opening and tension is applied by pulling the second end of the flexible cover away from the first end of the flexible cover. In one embodiment, a lip extends outwardly around the opening providing a 25 generally horizontal surface on which is mounted the first and second ribs. Preferably, the first and second ribs have a semi-circular longitudinal cross section. Preferably, the first and second ribs include a tapered portion adjacent the first and second ends of the opening such that the flexible cover 30 approaches and engages with the lip adjacent the first and second ends of the opening.

4 A rod may be provided secured to the flexible cover adjacent the second end thereof such that rotating the rod in a first direction rolls the flexible cover onto the rod and rotating the rod in a second opposite direction unrolls the flexible cover from the rod. The rod may be provided with a handle pivotally 5 connected to a first end thereof. In one embodiment, the handle is connected to the first end of the rod by a universal joint. A flexible connecting member may be provided connecting between a second end of the rod and the receptacle adjacent the second end of the opening to 10 pull the rod towards the second end. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but 15 not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention. 20 Brief Description of the Drawings The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the cover system, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of the cover system from a first 25 side in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an upper perspective view of the cover system of Figure 1 from the first side showing the cover extending only partially across the opening of the receptacle; Figure 3 is an upper perspective view of the cover system of Figure 1 30 from a second side showing the cover partially extending across the opening; and 5 Figure 4 is a close up view of the engagement between a rib on the receptacle and a bead on the flexible cover. 5 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments A preferred embodiment of a cover system 10 in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, comprises a flexible cover 12 provided to cover across an opening 14 of a receptacle 16. The flexible cover 12 may comprise a tarpaulin of suitable size and strength. 10 In the embodiment shown, the vessel 16 comprises a standard steel transport tub of the type commonly used to transport materials from a mine site. The receptacle 16 has a generally rectangular opening 14 defined by first and second opposed ends 18 and 20 and first and second opposed sides 22 and 15 24. The flexible cover 12 is sized to generally correspond with the shape of the opening 14 and therefore is generally rectangular having first and second ends 19 and 21 arranged in use adjacent the first and second ends 18 and 20 of the opening 14 and first and second sides 23 and 25 arranged in use adjacent the first and second sides 22 and 24 of the opening 14. 20 The first end 19 of the flexible cover 12 is secured in use adjacent the first end 18 of the opening 14. The second end 21 of the flexible cover 12 is securable adjacent the second end 20 of the opening 14. A rod 26 is secured along the second end 20 of the flexible cover 12 such that rotating the rod 26 in one 25 direction causes the flexible cover 12 to be rolled onto the rod 26, thereby moving the rod 26 towards the first end 18 of the opening 14 and exposing the opening 14. Rotating the rod 26 in the other direction unrolls the flexible cover 12 across the opening 14. The rod 26 can be secured adjacent the second end 20 of the opening and applies tension to the cover 12 by pulling the 30 second end 21 away from the first end 19.

6 The rod 26 is provided with a handle 28 extending from a first end thereof. The handle 28 is connected to the first end of the rod 26 by a universal joint 30 such that the handle 28 can be pivoted relative to the rod 26. The handle 28 can therefore be extended to be collinear with the rod 26 for rotation of the 5 rod 26 and can also be pivoted to extend parallel to the side of the receptacle and secured to the receptacle (as shown in Figure 1) for transport. A resilient connecting member 32 may also be provided extending between a second end of the rod 26 and a point below the second end 20 of the opening 10 14. The resilient connecting member 32 is arranged to provide a force on the rod 26 to pull it towards the second end 20 of the opening 14 to assist with extending the flexible cover 12 across the opening 14. First and second ribs 34 and 36 are provided extending along the first and 15 second sides 22 and 24 of the opening 14 respectively. The receptacle 16 includes a lip 38 extending around the opening 14 such that the lip 38 provides a generally horizontal upper surface adjacent each of the first and second ends 18 and 20 and first and second sides 22 and 24. The first rib 34 is provided on the upper surface of the lip 38 along the first side 22 of the 20 opening 14 and the second rib 36 is provided on the upper surface of the lip 38 along the second side 24 of the opening 14. The first and second ribs 34 and 36 have a generally semi-circular longitudinal cross section (as can be seen in Figure 4). The first and second ribs 34 and 36 also include a tapered portion 44 at each longitudinal end such that the cover 12 is held closer to the 25 upper surface of the lip 38 adjacent the first and second ends 18 and 20 of the opening 14. First and second beads 40 and 42 are provided extending along the first and second sides 23 and 25 of the flexible cover 12 respectively. The distance 30 between first and second beads 40 and 42 on the flexible cover 12 is such that first bead 40 engages with the outer side of the first rib 34 in use (as shown in Figure 4) and the second bead 42 engages with the outer side of the 7 second rib 36. The engagement is such that when the second end 21 of the flexible cover 12 is pulled away from the first end 19 to put the cover 12 under tension, the first and second beads 40 and 42 pull downwardly and are forced away from each other by the ribs 34 and 36 to tension the cover 12. 5 In this way, the ribs 34 and 36 and the beads 40 and 42 tension the cover 12 and provide a seal between the cover 14 and receptacle 16 along the first and second sides 22 and 24. The cover 12 approaches the lip 38 by virtue of the tapered end portions 44 of the ribs 34 and 36 to engage with the lip 38 along 10 the first and second ends 18 and 20. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic 15 inventive concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described and is to be determined from the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cover system for covering an opening of a receptacle comprising: a flexible cover having first and second opposed ends secured in use adjacent 5 first and second ends of the opening respectively; first and second ribs extending adjacent respective first and second sides of the opening; and first and second beads on the cover; wherein the first and second beads engage against outer sides of the first and 10 second ribs respectively.

2. A cover system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second ribs and first and second beads each extend from the first end of the opening to the second end. 15

3. A cover system in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the first end of the flexible cover is secured adjacent the first end of the opening and the second end is securable adjacent the second end of the opening and tension is applied by pulling the second end of the flexible cover away from the first 20 end of the flexible cover.

4. A cover system in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a lip extends outwardly around the opening providing a generally horizontal surface on which is mounted the first and second ribs. 25

5. A cover system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first and second ribs have a semi-circular longitudinal cross section.

6. A cover system in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the first 30 and second ribs includes a tapered portion adjacent the first and second ends of the opening such that the flexible cover approaches and engages with the lip adjacent the first and second ends of the opening. 9

7. A cover system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a rod is secured to the flexible cover adjacent the second end thereof such that rotating the rod in a first direction rolls the flexible cover onto the rod 5 and rotating the rod in a second opposite direction unrolls the flexible cover from the rod.

8. A cover system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the rod is provided with a handle pivotally connected to a first end thereof. 10

9. A cover system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the handle is connected to the first end of the rod by a universal joint.

10. A cover system in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a 15 flexible connecting member is provided connecting between a second end of the rod and the receptacle adjacent the second end of the opening to pull the rod towards the second end.

11. A cover system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference 20 to the accompanying drawings. Thomas James Blakely by his Patent Attorneys 25 Janet Stead & Associates