CA1276209C - Tarp roller latching device - Google Patents
Tarp roller latching deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1276209C CA1276209C CA000531284A CA531284A CA1276209C CA 1276209 C CA1276209 C CA 1276209C CA 000531284 A CA000531284 A CA 000531284A CA 531284 A CA531284 A CA 531284A CA 1276209 C CA1276209 C CA 1276209C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- roller
- tarp
- edge
- invention according
- box
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
- B60J7/085—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position winding up, e.g. for utility vehicles
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
Abstract
TARP ROLLER LATCHING DEVICE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A latch assembly for the tarp roller of a truck box tarp comprises a plurality of roller assemblies arranged in spaced relation along one side of the truck box. Each roller assembly includes a pair of brackets which support two rollers lying parallel to and along the outside edge of the truck box. A first roller is posi-tioned outwardly and downwardly from the outermost edge of the truck box and the second roller is positioned downwardly and inwardly relative to the first. A tarp roller when fully unrolled and bare engages between the two rollers of each roller assembly so that the rollers allow the tarp roller to freely rotate and tension the tarp while the tarp roller lies overcenter relative to force supplied by the tarp to hold it in latched position between the two rollers.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A latch assembly for the tarp roller of a truck box tarp comprises a plurality of roller assemblies arranged in spaced relation along one side of the truck box. Each roller assembly includes a pair of brackets which support two rollers lying parallel to and along the outside edge of the truck box. A first roller is posi-tioned outwardly and downwardly from the outermost edge of the truck box and the second roller is positioned downwardly and inwardly relative to the first. A tarp roller when fully unrolled and bare engages between the two rollers of each roller assembly so that the rollers allow the tarp roller to freely rotate and tension the tarp while the tarp roller lies overcenter relative to force supplied by the tarp to hold it in latched position between the two rollers.
Description
l.Z7~iZ~9 TARP ROLLER LATCHI~G DEVICE
.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIO~
This invention relates to a tarp roller latch-ing device which is particularly but not exclusively designed for use with a tarp for covering an open top of a truck box.
Many truck boxes define upstanding walls which leave a rectangular open top of the truck box. The rec-tangular open top must generally be covered in accordance with government regulations and generally a tarp has been used as the covering member. It is highly desirable to enable the tarp to be moved from a covering position to an open position in a most convenient and quickly oper-able manner so that the vehicle operator can simply uncover the open top for loading and then roll the tarp into place for transport.
One particular design has involved the mounting of tarp along one edge of the truc~ box with a roller mounted along an opposed edge of the tarp so that the roller can be rolled across the open top away from the first edge of the box toward an opposed edge with the tarp being unrolled as the roller moves across the open top. The initial design of this device required that the ~.2~762~9 roller, once it reaches the opposed edge is strapped into place to hold the tarp in tension. However this tech-nique is generally unsatisfactory in that it requires lengthy manual operation by the vehicle operator and it is difficult to tension the tarp accurately.
Various arrangements for latching the tarp roller at the opposed edge have therefore been proposed.
In United States patent no: 4,302,043 - Dimmer et al propose an elongate plate which extends along the full length of the truck box in an orientation which is canted outwardly and downwardly so that the tarp roller and the portion of the tarp are wedged up underneath the plate in the V-shape area defined by the downwardly canted plate and the side of the truck box.
In Canadian patent no: 1,132,168 - Michel pro-poses an arrangement of a similar construction defined by a flange which extends outwardly from the side of the truck box in a horizontal plane and in which the bare roller moves up underneath the flange and is tensioned in that location by rotation of the roller which causes tensioning on the tarp.
Neither of these devices is, however, entirely satisfactory since it does not allow proper and accurate tensioning of the tarp along its full length in a way l.Z762~t9 which provides sufficient and equalized tension to hold the tarp flat and free from wrinkles which can cause flapping and damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved tarp latching device which enables the roller to be latched in place while allowing easier tensioning of the tarp in the latched condition due to reduced friction.
According to the invention, therefore, there is provided apparatus for covering a rectangular open top of a truck box comprising a tarp shaped to cover the open top, means for fastening one edge of the tarp along one edge of the box, a roller attached to an opposed edge of the tarp, means for rotating the roller such that it can roll across the open top towards said one edge of the box in a tarp winding direction and away from said one edge to an edge of said box opposite to said one edge in a tarp unwinding direction, and means for latching the tarp roller at said opposite edge, said latching means com-prising roller means, bracket means for mounting the roller means on said opposite edge so as to lie parallel to said tarp roller and so that the tarp roller can lie ~.Z762Q9 in engagement therewith and bearing means mounting said roller means on said bracket means whereby said roller means can rotate in contact with said tarp roller to allow tensioning of said tarp on said tarp roller.
Preferably the roller means is divided into a first and second roller assembly each arranged adjacent a respective end of the tarp roller and having a length significantly less than the length of the tarp roller.
In some cases where the tarp roller is for example great-er than eighteen feet, a third roller assembly is posi-tioned centrally of the tarp roller.
Preferably each roller assembly includes a first roller and a second roller each lying parallel to the tarp roller and each mounted on bushings projecting coaxially into the roller from brackets at opposed ends of the rollers. ~he brackets are arranged to support the rollers on the outer edge of the open top of the truck box so that the first or upper roller is positioned slightly downwardly and outwardly of the outer edge and the second roller is positioned downwardly and inwardly relative to the first æo that the tarp roller can engage in the spacing between the two rollers in engagement with both of the rollers with the rollers thus providing bear-ings to allow the tarp roller to freely rotate in a ten-1 ;Z~762~9 sioning action. The position of the tarp roller in thespace between the two rollers allows it to contact both rollers and be held at a position effectively overcenter relative to the pull exerted by the tarp tension so that the tarp roller is held latched in that position by the tension in the tarp.
The contact of the bare tarp roller on the roller assemblies allows very effective and accurate tensioning of the tarp, with reduced physical effort, to prevent any wrinkles which can cause flapping and eventu-al damage.
With the foregoing in view, and other advan-tages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a truck box showing a tarp roller and roller latching arrangement according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the l Z'762i~9 lines 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the tarp roller in a latch-ed position and shown on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing one of the roller assemblies of Figure 1.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~
A truck box is generally indicated at 10 in-cluding upstanding sides defined by rails 11 and side panels 12. Upper rails 13 lie along the uppermost edge of the sides of the truck box and define a rectangular open top of the truck box generally indicated at 14.
As shown in Figure 2, the side rails 13 of the truck box are formed of tubular metal and carry the side walls 12 which are connected to the tubular rail and extend outwardly and downwardly to define a vertical side portion 12A directly underlying the outermost edge of the tubular rail 13.
The ends of the truck box indicated at 15 and 16 respectively are of a similar construction and include gable ends 17 so the open top is constituted by two down-wardly inclined portions which converge to an apex. The gable ends are generally separate from the box itself and supplied as part of the tarp system.
~.2762~9 A tarp is indicated at 18 and is attached to the remote upper side rail indicated at 13A by suitable connections schematically indicated at 19. The technique of connecting the remote edge of the tarp to the remote rail 13A is known in the art and accordingly the details are not described here. The edge of the tarp remote from the rail 13A is connected to a tarp roller 20 upon which the tarp can be wound so that as shown in Figure 2, an anticlockwise rotation of the roller 20 causes the tarp to be rolled onto the roller as the roller 20 moves to-wards the remote rail 13A. Conversely rotation of the roller 20 in a clockwise direction causes the tarp to be unrolled as the roller moves across the open top away from the rail 13A toward the rail 13.
Wire guides can be positioned at the front and rear edges of the tarp and wrapped around the tarp roller 20 so as to apply tension to the tarp roller as it winds or unwinds and to ensure that it is pulled toward the rail 13 at all times. The wires can be spring mounted so as to tension them toward the rail 13. A construction of this type is previously known and will be apparent to one skilled in the art and therefore is not described in detail here.
Rotation of the tarp roller 20 is obtained by a ~.'Z'i~6~:Ç9 suitable mechanism again of a type which is known gener-ally in the field and one example is indicated at 21 in the form of a hand crank which is coupled by a universal joint 22 to the end of the tarp roller 20.
A latching arrangement for the tarp roller is formed by a plurality of roller assemblies each of which is generally indicated at 23. Each roller assembly 23 comprises a pair of brackets 24 and 25 in the form of angle brackets defining a base plate 26 and an upstanding plate 27. The base plate 26 can be bolted to the outer surface of the tubular rail 13 as indicated at 28. When so bolted, the base plate 26 lies in a vertical plane and the outstanding plate member 27 also lies in a vertical plane at right angles to the side of the truck box. The outstanding plate 27 is of triangular configuration as shown best in Figure 2 and carries on an inner face thereof projecting toward the opposed one of the brackets a pair of tube bushings 29 and 30. The tube bushings are welded to the plate so as to extend from the plate at right angles thereto that is parallel to the side of the truck box. The upper bushings 29 are aligned so as to define a first axis of rotation for a tubular roller 31 with the axis lying horizontal and spaced outwardly from the outer edge of the trucX box and downwardly from the l.Z'~6Z~9 g uppermost edge thereof.
The bushings 30 are similarly aligned and define an axis of rotation for a second roller 32 which lies downwardly of the upper roller and slightly inwardly therefrom.
In one example, the rollers 31 and 32 are of two inches diameter with the ou~er periphery of the upper roller 31 spaced one inch from the uppermost edge of the rail 13 and outwardly one inch from the outer edge of the rail 13. The second roller is spaced so that its axis lies three inches downwardly from the axis of the roller 31 and an inch inwardly therefrom.
The length of the tarp 18 is chosen such that when it is fully unwound from the tarp roller 20, it just hangs over the upper roller 31 with the roller 20 depend-ing downwardly in the area of the space between the roll-ers 31 and 32. The distance between the outer surfaces of the rollers 31 and 32 is less than the diameter of the roller 20 so that it can move into contact with both of the rollers when further rotated in the unrolling direct-ion that is in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2. The rollers 31 and 32 thus act as bearings to allow complete rotation of the roller 20 without any binding of the roller 20 at any point along its length. This free 1.~'762~'9 or co~plete rotation thus acts to accurately tension the tarp 18 along the full length of the truck box to avoid wrinkles. The rotation is not however sufficient to draw the tarp itself into contact with the rollers due to the adjustment of the termination of the tarp.
It will be noted that a plane joining the axes of the rollers 20 and 31 lies at an angle to the tarp 18 in a clockwise direction around the axis of the roller 31. This acts as an overcenter latch arrangement so the tension in the tarp 18 pulls the tarp roller 20 into its engagement with the rollers 31 and 32. This retains the tarp roller 20 in its latched condition to hold the tarp in the tensioned state.
The triangular shape of the outstanding plates 27 allows the roller 20 to engage into the space between the roller 31 and 32 along the full length of the truck box so the roller passes by each of the brackets 24 and 25 of the roller assemblies 23 from one end of the truck box to the other end of the truck box.
In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the rollers are fixed, that is not mounted on bearings, thus defining cylindrical bodies having outer curved surfaces which act as bearing members for rotation of the tarp roller.
1 ~'762~9 Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIO~
This invention relates to a tarp roller latch-ing device which is particularly but not exclusively designed for use with a tarp for covering an open top of a truck box.
Many truck boxes define upstanding walls which leave a rectangular open top of the truck box. The rec-tangular open top must generally be covered in accordance with government regulations and generally a tarp has been used as the covering member. It is highly desirable to enable the tarp to be moved from a covering position to an open position in a most convenient and quickly oper-able manner so that the vehicle operator can simply uncover the open top for loading and then roll the tarp into place for transport.
One particular design has involved the mounting of tarp along one edge of the truc~ box with a roller mounted along an opposed edge of the tarp so that the roller can be rolled across the open top away from the first edge of the box toward an opposed edge with the tarp being unrolled as the roller moves across the open top. The initial design of this device required that the ~.2~762~9 roller, once it reaches the opposed edge is strapped into place to hold the tarp in tension. However this tech-nique is generally unsatisfactory in that it requires lengthy manual operation by the vehicle operator and it is difficult to tension the tarp accurately.
Various arrangements for latching the tarp roller at the opposed edge have therefore been proposed.
In United States patent no: 4,302,043 - Dimmer et al propose an elongate plate which extends along the full length of the truck box in an orientation which is canted outwardly and downwardly so that the tarp roller and the portion of the tarp are wedged up underneath the plate in the V-shape area defined by the downwardly canted plate and the side of the truck box.
In Canadian patent no: 1,132,168 - Michel pro-poses an arrangement of a similar construction defined by a flange which extends outwardly from the side of the truck box in a horizontal plane and in which the bare roller moves up underneath the flange and is tensioned in that location by rotation of the roller which causes tensioning on the tarp.
Neither of these devices is, however, entirely satisfactory since it does not allow proper and accurate tensioning of the tarp along its full length in a way l.Z762~t9 which provides sufficient and equalized tension to hold the tarp flat and free from wrinkles which can cause flapping and damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved tarp latching device which enables the roller to be latched in place while allowing easier tensioning of the tarp in the latched condition due to reduced friction.
According to the invention, therefore, there is provided apparatus for covering a rectangular open top of a truck box comprising a tarp shaped to cover the open top, means for fastening one edge of the tarp along one edge of the box, a roller attached to an opposed edge of the tarp, means for rotating the roller such that it can roll across the open top towards said one edge of the box in a tarp winding direction and away from said one edge to an edge of said box opposite to said one edge in a tarp unwinding direction, and means for latching the tarp roller at said opposite edge, said latching means com-prising roller means, bracket means for mounting the roller means on said opposite edge so as to lie parallel to said tarp roller and so that the tarp roller can lie ~.Z762Q9 in engagement therewith and bearing means mounting said roller means on said bracket means whereby said roller means can rotate in contact with said tarp roller to allow tensioning of said tarp on said tarp roller.
Preferably the roller means is divided into a first and second roller assembly each arranged adjacent a respective end of the tarp roller and having a length significantly less than the length of the tarp roller.
In some cases where the tarp roller is for example great-er than eighteen feet, a third roller assembly is posi-tioned centrally of the tarp roller.
Preferably each roller assembly includes a first roller and a second roller each lying parallel to the tarp roller and each mounted on bushings projecting coaxially into the roller from brackets at opposed ends of the rollers. ~he brackets are arranged to support the rollers on the outer edge of the open top of the truck box so that the first or upper roller is positioned slightly downwardly and outwardly of the outer edge and the second roller is positioned downwardly and inwardly relative to the first æo that the tarp roller can engage in the spacing between the two rollers in engagement with both of the rollers with the rollers thus providing bear-ings to allow the tarp roller to freely rotate in a ten-1 ;Z~762~9 sioning action. The position of the tarp roller in thespace between the two rollers allows it to contact both rollers and be held at a position effectively overcenter relative to the pull exerted by the tarp tension so that the tarp roller is held latched in that position by the tension in the tarp.
The contact of the bare tarp roller on the roller assemblies allows very effective and accurate tensioning of the tarp, with reduced physical effort, to prevent any wrinkles which can cause flapping and eventu-al damage.
With the foregoing in view, and other advan-tages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a truck box showing a tarp roller and roller latching arrangement according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the l Z'762i~9 lines 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the tarp roller in a latch-ed position and shown on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing one of the roller assemblies of Figure 1.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~
A truck box is generally indicated at 10 in-cluding upstanding sides defined by rails 11 and side panels 12. Upper rails 13 lie along the uppermost edge of the sides of the truck box and define a rectangular open top of the truck box generally indicated at 14.
As shown in Figure 2, the side rails 13 of the truck box are formed of tubular metal and carry the side walls 12 which are connected to the tubular rail and extend outwardly and downwardly to define a vertical side portion 12A directly underlying the outermost edge of the tubular rail 13.
The ends of the truck box indicated at 15 and 16 respectively are of a similar construction and include gable ends 17 so the open top is constituted by two down-wardly inclined portions which converge to an apex. The gable ends are generally separate from the box itself and supplied as part of the tarp system.
~.2762~9 A tarp is indicated at 18 and is attached to the remote upper side rail indicated at 13A by suitable connections schematically indicated at 19. The technique of connecting the remote edge of the tarp to the remote rail 13A is known in the art and accordingly the details are not described here. The edge of the tarp remote from the rail 13A is connected to a tarp roller 20 upon which the tarp can be wound so that as shown in Figure 2, an anticlockwise rotation of the roller 20 causes the tarp to be rolled onto the roller as the roller 20 moves to-wards the remote rail 13A. Conversely rotation of the roller 20 in a clockwise direction causes the tarp to be unrolled as the roller moves across the open top away from the rail 13A toward the rail 13.
Wire guides can be positioned at the front and rear edges of the tarp and wrapped around the tarp roller 20 so as to apply tension to the tarp roller as it winds or unwinds and to ensure that it is pulled toward the rail 13 at all times. The wires can be spring mounted so as to tension them toward the rail 13. A construction of this type is previously known and will be apparent to one skilled in the art and therefore is not described in detail here.
Rotation of the tarp roller 20 is obtained by a ~.'Z'i~6~:Ç9 suitable mechanism again of a type which is known gener-ally in the field and one example is indicated at 21 in the form of a hand crank which is coupled by a universal joint 22 to the end of the tarp roller 20.
A latching arrangement for the tarp roller is formed by a plurality of roller assemblies each of which is generally indicated at 23. Each roller assembly 23 comprises a pair of brackets 24 and 25 in the form of angle brackets defining a base plate 26 and an upstanding plate 27. The base plate 26 can be bolted to the outer surface of the tubular rail 13 as indicated at 28. When so bolted, the base plate 26 lies in a vertical plane and the outstanding plate member 27 also lies in a vertical plane at right angles to the side of the truck box. The outstanding plate 27 is of triangular configuration as shown best in Figure 2 and carries on an inner face thereof projecting toward the opposed one of the brackets a pair of tube bushings 29 and 30. The tube bushings are welded to the plate so as to extend from the plate at right angles thereto that is parallel to the side of the truck box. The upper bushings 29 are aligned so as to define a first axis of rotation for a tubular roller 31 with the axis lying horizontal and spaced outwardly from the outer edge of the trucX box and downwardly from the l.Z'~6Z~9 g uppermost edge thereof.
The bushings 30 are similarly aligned and define an axis of rotation for a second roller 32 which lies downwardly of the upper roller and slightly inwardly therefrom.
In one example, the rollers 31 and 32 are of two inches diameter with the ou~er periphery of the upper roller 31 spaced one inch from the uppermost edge of the rail 13 and outwardly one inch from the outer edge of the rail 13. The second roller is spaced so that its axis lies three inches downwardly from the axis of the roller 31 and an inch inwardly therefrom.
The length of the tarp 18 is chosen such that when it is fully unwound from the tarp roller 20, it just hangs over the upper roller 31 with the roller 20 depend-ing downwardly in the area of the space between the roll-ers 31 and 32. The distance between the outer surfaces of the rollers 31 and 32 is less than the diameter of the roller 20 so that it can move into contact with both of the rollers when further rotated in the unrolling direct-ion that is in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2. The rollers 31 and 32 thus act as bearings to allow complete rotation of the roller 20 without any binding of the roller 20 at any point along its length. This free 1.~'762~'9 or co~plete rotation thus acts to accurately tension the tarp 18 along the full length of the truck box to avoid wrinkles. The rotation is not however sufficient to draw the tarp itself into contact with the rollers due to the adjustment of the termination of the tarp.
It will be noted that a plane joining the axes of the rollers 20 and 31 lies at an angle to the tarp 18 in a clockwise direction around the axis of the roller 31. This acts as an overcenter latch arrangement so the tension in the tarp 18 pulls the tarp roller 20 into its engagement with the rollers 31 and 32. This retains the tarp roller 20 in its latched condition to hold the tarp in the tensioned state.
The triangular shape of the outstanding plates 27 allows the roller 20 to engage into the space between the roller 31 and 32 along the full length of the truck box so the roller passes by each of the brackets 24 and 25 of the roller assemblies 23 from one end of the truck box to the other end of the truck box.
In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the rollers are fixed, that is not mounted on bearings, thus defining cylindrical bodies having outer curved surfaces which act as bearing members for rotation of the tarp roller.
1 ~'762~9 Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
- 12 - (1) Apparatus for covering a rectangular open top of a truck box comprising a tarp shaped to cover the open top, means for fastening one edge of the tarp along one edge of the box, a roller attached to an opposed edge of the tarp, means for rotating the roller such that it can roll across the open top towards said one edge of the box in a tarp winding direction and away from said one edge to an edge of said box opposite to said one edge in a tarp unwinding direction, and means for latching the tarp roller at said opposite edge, said latching means comprising roller means, bracket means for mounting the roller means on said opposite edge so as to lie parallel to said tarp roller and so that the tarp roller can lie in engagement therewith and bearing means mounting said roller means on said bracket means whereby said roller means can rotate in contact with said tarp roller to allow tensioning of said tarp on said tarp roller.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in the bracket means is arranged to support said roller means downwardly and outwardly of said outer edge.
(3) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in said bracket means and roller means are arranged such that the tarp roller can engage around the roller means to an extent such that a plane joining centers of said tarp roller and said roller means lies at an angle of greater than 180° to the tarp whereby the tarp roller is held in latched engagement with said roller means by tension in the tarp.
(4) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein the roller means is short relative to the length of the tarp roller and includes a first roller means and a second roller means each arranged adjacent a respective end of the tarp roller for cooperating therewith.
(5) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in said roller means comprises a first roller and a second roller spaced from the first roller such that the tarp roller can lie between the first and second rollers in engagement therewith whereby the first and second rollers act as bearing surfaces for rotation of the tarp roller.
(6) The invention according to Claim 5 where-in the second roller is arranged downwardly and inwardly of the first roller.
(7) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in said bracket means comprises a pair of angle brackets each having a first plate for bolting to an outer surface of said opposite edge and a first plate integral there-with and at right angles thereto so as to extend in a vertical plane at right angles to the outer edge, said bearing means being mounted on one surface of said out-wardly extending plate so as to extend parallel to the outer edge toward a bearing means of the other bracket.
(8) Apparatus for covering a rectangular open top of a truck box comprising a tarp shaped to cover the open top, means for fastening one edge of the tarp along one edge of the box, a roller attached to an opposed edge of the tarp, means for rotating the roller such that it can roll across the open top towards said one edge of the box in a tarp winding direction and away from said one edge to an edge of said box opposite to said one edge in a tarp unwinding direction, and means for latching the tarp roller at said opposite edge, said latching means comprising a pair of spaced latch members each of which is of a length longitudinal of the roller which is short relative to the roller bracket means for mounting said latch members on said opposite edge, each of said latch members defining two surfaces which are curved about an axis parallel to the roller and are spaced to define a recess there between of a size to receive said roller in contact with both of said surfaces so that the roller can rotate in contact with the surfaces to allow tensioning of the tarp.
(9) The invention according to claim 8 where-in each of said curved surfaces as defined by the outer surface of a cylindrical body.
(10) The invention according to Claim 8 where-in the bracket means is arranged to support said curved surfaces downwardly and outwardly of said outer edge.
(11) The invention according to Claim 8 where-in said bracket means and an upper one of said curved surface are arranged such that the tarp roller can engage around the upper curved surface to an extent such that a plane joining centers of said tarp roller and said roller means lies at an angle of greater than 180° to the tarp whereby the tarp roller is held in latched engagement with said roller means by tension in the tarp.
(12) The invention according to Claim 8,9 or 10 wherein said curved surfaces are defined by a first cylindrical body and a second cylindrical body spaced from the first such that the tarp roller can lie between the first and second cylindrical bodies in engagement therewith whereby the first and second cylindrical bodies act as bearing surfaces for rotation of the tarp roller.
(13) The invention according to Claim 8,9 or 10 wherein said curved surfaces are defined by a first cylindrical body and a second cylindrical body spaced from the first and second cylindrical bodies in engage-ment therewith whereby the first and second cylindrical bodies act as bearing surfaces for rotation of the tarp roller and wherein the second cylindrical body is arrang-ed downwardly and inwardly of the first.
(14) The invention according to Claim 8,9 or 10 wherein said bracket means comprises a pair of angle brackets each having a first plate for bolting to an outer surface of said opposite edge and a first plate integral therewith and at right angles thereto so as to extend in a vertical plane at right angles to the outer edge, said curved surfaces being mounted on one surface of said outwardly extending plate so as to extend parallel to the outer edge toward a curved surface of the other bracket.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in the bracket means is arranged to support said roller means downwardly and outwardly of said outer edge.
(3) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in said bracket means and roller means are arranged such that the tarp roller can engage around the roller means to an extent such that a plane joining centers of said tarp roller and said roller means lies at an angle of greater than 180° to the tarp whereby the tarp roller is held in latched engagement with said roller means by tension in the tarp.
(4) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein the roller means is short relative to the length of the tarp roller and includes a first roller means and a second roller means each arranged adjacent a respective end of the tarp roller for cooperating therewith.
(5) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in said roller means comprises a first roller and a second roller spaced from the first roller such that the tarp roller can lie between the first and second rollers in engagement therewith whereby the first and second rollers act as bearing surfaces for rotation of the tarp roller.
(6) The invention according to Claim 5 where-in the second roller is arranged downwardly and inwardly of the first roller.
(7) The invention according to Claim 1 where-in said bracket means comprises a pair of angle brackets each having a first plate for bolting to an outer surface of said opposite edge and a first plate integral there-with and at right angles thereto so as to extend in a vertical plane at right angles to the outer edge, said bearing means being mounted on one surface of said out-wardly extending plate so as to extend parallel to the outer edge toward a bearing means of the other bracket.
(8) Apparatus for covering a rectangular open top of a truck box comprising a tarp shaped to cover the open top, means for fastening one edge of the tarp along one edge of the box, a roller attached to an opposed edge of the tarp, means for rotating the roller such that it can roll across the open top towards said one edge of the box in a tarp winding direction and away from said one edge to an edge of said box opposite to said one edge in a tarp unwinding direction, and means for latching the tarp roller at said opposite edge, said latching means comprising a pair of spaced latch members each of which is of a length longitudinal of the roller which is short relative to the roller bracket means for mounting said latch members on said opposite edge, each of said latch members defining two surfaces which are curved about an axis parallel to the roller and are spaced to define a recess there between of a size to receive said roller in contact with both of said surfaces so that the roller can rotate in contact with the surfaces to allow tensioning of the tarp.
(9) The invention according to claim 8 where-in each of said curved surfaces as defined by the outer surface of a cylindrical body.
(10) The invention according to Claim 8 where-in the bracket means is arranged to support said curved surfaces downwardly and outwardly of said outer edge.
(11) The invention according to Claim 8 where-in said bracket means and an upper one of said curved surface are arranged such that the tarp roller can engage around the upper curved surface to an extent such that a plane joining centers of said tarp roller and said roller means lies at an angle of greater than 180° to the tarp whereby the tarp roller is held in latched engagement with said roller means by tension in the tarp.
(12) The invention according to Claim 8,9 or 10 wherein said curved surfaces are defined by a first cylindrical body and a second cylindrical body spaced from the first such that the tarp roller can lie between the first and second cylindrical bodies in engagement therewith whereby the first and second cylindrical bodies act as bearing surfaces for rotation of the tarp roller.
(13) The invention according to Claim 8,9 or 10 wherein said curved surfaces are defined by a first cylindrical body and a second cylindrical body spaced from the first and second cylindrical bodies in engage-ment therewith whereby the first and second cylindrical bodies act as bearing surfaces for rotation of the tarp roller and wherein the second cylindrical body is arrang-ed downwardly and inwardly of the first.
(14) The invention according to Claim 8,9 or 10 wherein said bracket means comprises a pair of angle brackets each having a first plate for bolting to an outer surface of said opposite edge and a first plate integral therewith and at right angles thereto so as to extend in a vertical plane at right angles to the outer edge, said curved surfaces being mounted on one surface of said outwardly extending plate so as to extend parallel to the outer edge toward a curved surface of the other bracket.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000531284A CA1276209C (en) | 1987-03-05 | 1987-03-05 | Tarp roller latching device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000531284A CA1276209C (en) | 1987-03-05 | 1987-03-05 | Tarp roller latching device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1276209C true CA1276209C (en) | 1990-11-13 |
Family
ID=4135104
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000531284A Expired - Fee Related CA1276209C (en) | 1987-03-05 | 1987-03-05 | Tarp roller latching device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1276209C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019152637A1 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-08 | Roll Rite, Llc | Integrated top rail tension roller system |
-
1987
- 1987-03-05 CA CA000531284A patent/CA1276209C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019152637A1 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-08 | Roll Rite, Llc | Integrated top rail tension roller system |
| US11345222B2 (en) | 2018-01-31 | 2022-05-31 | Roll Rite, Llc | Integrated top rail tension roller system |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |