CA2166031A1 - Retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriers - Google Patents
Retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriersInfo
- Publication number
- CA2166031A1 CA2166031A1 CA 2166031 CA2166031A CA2166031A1 CA 2166031 A1 CA2166031 A1 CA 2166031A1 CA 2166031 CA2166031 CA 2166031 CA 2166031 A CA2166031 A CA 2166031A CA 2166031 A1 CA2166031 A1 CA 2166031A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- walls
- cover
- luggage
- main panel
- carrier
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
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
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
Abstract
An aircraft luggage carrier provided with a tarpaulin cover retractable by way of a roller assembly is used to transport luggage from airport terminals to aircraft loading areas. The luggage carrier, in the form of an open-ended box-shaped container mounted on wheels and adapted to be hitched to a motor vehicle, comprises a floor, a pair of short longitudinal vertical side walls, and a pair of higher vertical end walls. The roller assembly for the retractable cover is secured to one of the end walls and the retractable cover is mounted at one end thereof to a spring-loaded rotatable drum of the roller assembly. The opposite end of the retractable cover is provided with handles such as to allow the cover to be unwound from the roller assembly and secured to the end wall located opposite the end wall carrying the roller assembly.
The retractable cover comprises a central section adapted to extend horizontally between the upper edges of the end walls and a pair of foldable side flaps which, when the cover is in its extended position, can be lowered along the sides of the carrier and secured to the side walls such as to define a closed chamber for efficiently containing the luggage. As the longitudinal side walls are shorter than the end walls, the side flaps are required to close the rectangular openings defined above the upper edges of the side walls and below the horizontally extending central section of the cover.
The retractable cover comprises a central section adapted to extend horizontally between the upper edges of the end walls and a pair of foldable side flaps which, when the cover is in its extended position, can be lowered along the sides of the carrier and secured to the side walls such as to define a closed chamber for efficiently containing the luggage. As the longitudinal side walls are shorter than the end walls, the side flaps are required to close the rectangular openings defined above the upper edges of the side walls and below the horizontally extending central section of the cover.
Description
2l66o3l -RETRACTABLE TARPAULIN COVER FOR
AIRCRAFT LUGGAGE CARRIERS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to luggage carriers of the types used in airports and, more particularly, to a retractable cover for such luggage carriers to protect luggage carried thereby between the airport terminals and the aircrafts.
AIRCRAFT LUGGAGE CARRIERS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to luggage carriers of the types used in airports and, more particularly, to a retractable cover for such luggage carriers to protect luggage carried thereby between the airport terminals and the aircrafts.
2. Description of the Prior Art Luggage carriers are used in airports to carry luggage from the airport terminals to the aircrafts. These luggage carriers normally resemble a trailer hitched to an appropriate motor vehicle and sometimes a series of such luggage carriers can be successively connected one to the other, in a train-like manner. Each luggage carrier normally has the shape of an open-ended box mounted wheels and adapted to be pulled by the motor vehicle. The carrier is adapted to receive therein luggage, normally in the form of a large number of suitcases, which become subject to rain, snow, wind, etc., when transported from the airport terminal to the aircraft loading area. Furthermore, if the luggage carrier is sufficiently filled with luggage, some suitcases can fall off the luggage carrier during the conveying of the luggage. To protect the luggage, it is known to lay a plastic cover over the carrier which can easily be blown away by the wind as it is often not tied to the carrier. Also, hooks are sometimes employed to hold down the plastic cover, but these hooks are often inadequate and allow the cover to release at least partly from the carrier and the cover can get caught in the -wheels of the carrier and tear; the cover can even fly into the aircraft's engines and cause damage thereto.
Accordingly, there is a need for a closure to cover the open-ended box during the transport of the luggage. For instance, United States Patent No.
Accordingly, there is a need for a closure to cover the open-ended box during the transport of the luggage. For instance, United States Patent No.
3,383,133 issued to Dean on May 14, 1968 discloses a cover for aircraft luggage carriers of the type having a V-shaped bottom wall 11 and a pair of parallel and rectangular end walls 13 and 14. A
reel 25 is longitudinally mounted atop the end walls 13 and 14 and a flexible cover 52 is mounted thereto. The reel can be unwound to seemingly cover the luggage carrier and can further be wound and stored around a shaft 28 thereof.
United States Patent No. 4,563,034 issued to Lamb on January 7, 1986 shows a retractable cover 10 for covering the bed of pick-up trucks wherein the bed is shaped as a rectangular open-ended box such that the retractable cover 10 must basically be able to close a horizontal and rectangular opening with the upper edges of the side walls of the open-ended box all extending in a common horizontal plane. One end of the cover 10 is fixed to a spring-loaded roller or drum 22 which is rotatably mounted at the front of the truck's bed and below the aforementioned horizontal plane and thus below the extended truck cover 10. The cover 10 includes longitudinal beaded side edges 12 and 14 adapted to be engaged in and to slide along C-shaped openings defined at the inner upper ends of the longitudinal sides 28 and 30 of the truck bed 32.
British Publication No. GB-2,118,115-8 published on October 26, 1983 in the name of Taylor et al. discloses a flexible cover 11 for vehicles which is rectangular in shape with opposed triangular side flaps lla,llb hanging from each of its respective opposite longitudinal edges. The cover is secured to a roller about which it can be rolled and unrolled. A hood 27 is provided at the distal end of the cover to secure the unrolled cover to an end region of an object to be covered thereby.
The side flaps hang from the central region of the cover to provide at least a partial protection for each side of the covered object.
British Patent Specification No. 693,979 published on July 8, 1953 in the name of Cates discloses a cover A attached at one end thereof to a spring-loaded roller B with a rope line F being provided at the distal end of the cover sheet A for drawing the sheet over the body of the vehicle and with cleats G being fitted at the rear of the vehicle body to hold the rope line F for retaining the sheet A in its extended position. Spring-loaded hooks H are fitted along the upper longitudinal sides of the vehicle body and are adapted to engage in eyelets J provided along the longitudinal edges of the sheet A in order to hold the same down when extended over the vehicle body.
British Patent Publication No. GB-2,243,849-A
published on November 13, 1991 in the name of Green discloses a retractable cover 26 mounted on a roller with the cover 26 comprising a pair of optional side panels 28 provided with securing means 30 at the lower ends thereof.
West German Publication No. DE-27 49 560-Al published on May 10, 1979 in the name of Seitz discloses a luggage cover comprised of a spring-loaded roller on which is wound a flexible cover.
The cover once extended can be attached to the side of the vehicle by way of a support bar 20 provided at the front edge of the cover and defining recessed 2l66o~l catches 22 adapted to be engaged to hooks. The roller is of the ratchet type.
United States Patent No. 4,968,085 issued on November 6, 1990 to Stann teaches a truck bed cover having a rectangular center section of a size adapted to cover the truck bed, surrounded by four outwardly extending panels or flaps which can be secured to the truck body at various locations such as to cover and protect loads of varying height.
United States Patent No. 5,423,588 issued on June 13, 1995 to Eglinton discloses a cover for use with a load-carrying area of a vehicle, wherein a web retractably mounted on a spring-loaded roller comprises a pair of folded-back wings which can be pulled down to cover the sides of the load and then tied in place once the web has been pulled out from the housing in which the roller is located.
United States Patents No. 5,054,840 issued on October 8, 1991 to Wilhite and No. 3,774,958 issued on November 27, 1973 to Thorpe disclose further retractable covers for open-ended truck beds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriers.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a retractable cover for aircraft luggage carriers which comprises a substantially horizontally extending section and a pair of depending vertical side sections for closing the side of the luggage carrier, specially in the case of luggage carriers having longitudinal side walls which are shorter than their end walls.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover assembly for ~lfi6031 use on luggage carriers of the type having a floor and side walls extending upwardly therefrom such as to define an open-ended luggage receiving chamber, the side walls including at least one shorter wall and at least two higher walls, comprising roller means adapted to be mounted to the luggage carrier and retractable flexible cover means attached to said roller means and adapted for displacement between a retracted position which permits access to the chamber for loading the luggage in the carrier and for unloading the luggage therefrom, and an extended position for substantially covering the carrier and isolating the luggage contained therein from the outside, said cover means comprising a main panel and at least one dependent panel and being adapted to be secured to the carrier in said extended position with said main panel extending substantially between upper ends of the higher walls and said dependent panel extending from said main panel downwardly to an upper end of the shorter wall for substantially closing an opening defined between the higher walls, said main panel and the shorter wall.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover assembly in combination with an aircraft luggage carrier of the type having a floor mounted on ground engaging wheels and walls extending upwardly from said floor such as to define an open-ended luggage receiving chamber, said walls including at least one shorter wall and at least two higher walls, said cover assembly comprising roller means adapted to be mounted to said luggage carrier and retractable flexible cover means attached to said roller means and adapted for displacement between a retracted position which permits access to said chamber for ... 2l66o3l loading the luggage in said carrier and for unloading the luggage therefrom, and an extended position for substantially covering said carrier and isolating the luggage contained therein from the outside, said cover means comprising a main panel and at least one dependent panel and being adapted to be secured to said carrier in said extended position with said main panel extending substantially between upper ends of said higher walls and said dependent panel extending from said main panel downwardly to an upper end of said shorter wall for substantially closing an opening defined between said higher walls, said main panel and said shorter wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable tarpaulin cover for open-ended aircraft luggage carriers in accordance with the present invention, wherein the retractable cover is shown in a fully retracted position thereof;
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the retractable cover of Fig. 1 but shown in a partly extended position thereof, i.e., in the midst of closing the open-ended luggage carrier; and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retractable cover of Fig. 1 but shown in an almost completely extended position thereof for closing the luggage carrier.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 illustrates an open-ended box-shaped luggage carrier C which is provided on its underside with four wheel assemblies (not shown) to allow the luggage carrier C to be displaced, when hitched to a motor vehicle between airport terminals and aircraft loading areas. More particularly, the luggage carrier C comprises a bottom wall 10, a pair of longitudinal side walls 12 extending vertically from the bottom wall 10 in a spaced-apart and substantially parallel relationship, and a pair of parallel and vertical end walls, namely, a front end wall 14 and a rear end wall 16. The wheel assemblies are normally mounted on the underside of the bottom wall 10. A hitch (not shown) is normally provided on the outside surface of the front end wall 14 to allow the luggage carrier C to be connected to an appropriate motor vehicle.
The front and rear end walls 14 and 16 are typically fixedly secured to the bottom wall 10 and extend vertically in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship. In contrast, at least one of the side walls 12, and in the present embodiment both side walls 12, are pivotally mounted to the bottom wall for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. The side walls 12 and the front and rear end walls 14 and 16 in concert with the bottom wall 10 form an open-ended box-like container defining therein a horizontally extending right rectangular parallelepiped-shaped receptacle which vertically terminates at the level of upper longitudinal edges 18 of the side walls 12 as the side walls 12 are vertically shorter than the front and rear end walls 14 and 16. The receptacle is aimed at receiving luggage to be carried by the carrier C typically from the airport terminals to the aircraft loading areas. In view of the substantially large dimensions of the suitcases, luggage can be accumulated in bulk in the luggage 21~fi~1 carrier C past the upper edges 18 obviously as long as the luggage is substantially stable in the aforementioned receptacle. The side walls 12 are made pivotable with respect to the bottom wall 10 in order to facilitate the discharge of the luggage from the carrier C. Accordingly, each side wall 12 is connected to the bottom wall 10 by way of a pair of hinge assemblies 20. Cooperating catch assemblies 22 are provided on the side walls 12 and on the front end wall 14 for retaining the side walls 12 in the locked vertical position thereof shown in the drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, the carrier C is provided with a closure or cover assembly M which comprises a roller mechanism 24 secured to the rear end wall 16 and a retractable flexible tarpaulin cover 26 which is illustrated in Fig. 1 in a rolled attitude around a rotatable drum (not shown) of the roller mechanism 24. More particularly, the retractable cover 26 is fixedly secured at one end thereof to the rotatable drum which is adapted to be rotated, either manually or by way of an electric motor, such as to cause the retractable cover 26 to wind around or unwind from the drum. The retractable cover 26 can be made of a variety of materials, e.g. fabric, rubber-based, plastics, etc., which can have a number of properties such an imperviousness to water (i.e.
rain), high resistance to tearing, etc.
At the longitudinal end of the retractable ^over 26 which is opposite its end secured to the drum, there are provided a pair of handles 28 such that, when pulled in the direction shown by arrows 30 in Fig. 2, they cause the retractable cover 26 to rotatably unwind from the drum as per arrow 32 with the unwound portion of the retractable cover 26 displacing substantially horizontally and translationally along arrow 34 above the receptacle and towards the front end wall 14. The outer surface of the front end wall 14 is provided with a pair of fingers 36 which are adapted to engage V-shaped hooks 38 provided in the handles 28, as seen in Fig. 3.
Typically, the drum carrying the retractable cover 26 is spring-loaded in the roller mechanism 24 whereby, to unwind the retractable cover 26 from the roller mechanism 24 (see Fig. 2), one must pull on the cover 26 while exerting a force greater than that of the return spring force acting on the drum.
Once the hooks 28 have been engaged around the fingers 36, the same return spring force ensures that this connection remains secure. Upon release of the hooks 38 from the fingers 36, the spring force will cause the retractable cover 26 to wind around the drum of the roller mechanism 24. Typical spring-loaded roller assemblies can be used, such as those disclosed in aforementioned United States Patent No. 4,563,034 to Lamb and United States Patent No. 5,423,588 to Eglinton.
As seen in Fig. 2, the retractable cover 26 comprises a main central section 40 which is substantially rectangular and which extends substantially horizontally between upper edges 42 of the front and rear end walls 14 and 16. The retractable cover 26 also comprises a pair of side sections or flaps 44 which, when the retractable cover 26 is at least partly rolled around the roller mechanism 24, are folded atop the central section 40 and extend thereabove in a substantially parallel and overlying relationship. As also seen in Fig. 2, rectangular openings are defined between the upper edges 18 of the side walls 12 and the central 2l6~o~l -section 40 of the cover 26 and both end walls 14 and 16 due to the difference in height of the side walls 12 with respect to the end walls 14 and 16.
Therefore, once the retractable cover 26 has been completely unwound from the roller mechanism 24, the side flaps 44 are unfolded, that is, removed from the central section 40 and allowed to drop outwardly along the sides of the side walls 12 thereby closing the aforementioned rectangular openings, as seen at the right hand side of Fig. 3.
As seen in Fig. 2, the upper side of the side flaps 44, when folded over the central section 40, are each provided with a pair of female VelcroTM
sections 46 with cooperating male VelcroTM sections 48 being provided on the outer surfaces of the side walls 12. Accordingly, when the side flaps 44 are unfolded, such as in Fig. 3, they can be secured to the side walls lZ by way of their cooperating Velcro TM sectionS 46 and 48.
With the hooks 38 secured to the fingers 36 and with the side flaps 44 secured to the side walls 12, the luggage carrier C defines a closed chamber extending between the front and rear end walls 14 and 16, the bottom wall 14 and the central section 40 of the retractable cover 26, and the opposite composite side walls formed by the cooperating rigid side walls 12 and the side flaps 44 of the retractable cover 26. This closed compartment or chamber protects the luggage provided therein and carried by the luggage carrier C from being damaged by various elements, e.g., wind, snow, rain, etc., and also substantially prevents the luggage from falling off the luggage carrier C.
To discharge the luggage carrier C, the side flaps 44 are first disengaged from the side walls 12 and folded above the central section 40 such as to 21~S031 _ be supported thereby in a horizontal manner, and then the hooks 38 are disengaged from the fingers 36 thereby allowing the spring-loaded drum of the roller mechanism 24 to gradually cause the retractable cover 26 to wind therearound until it reaches its retracted position shown in Fig. 1.
reel 25 is longitudinally mounted atop the end walls 13 and 14 and a flexible cover 52 is mounted thereto. The reel can be unwound to seemingly cover the luggage carrier and can further be wound and stored around a shaft 28 thereof.
United States Patent No. 4,563,034 issued to Lamb on January 7, 1986 shows a retractable cover 10 for covering the bed of pick-up trucks wherein the bed is shaped as a rectangular open-ended box such that the retractable cover 10 must basically be able to close a horizontal and rectangular opening with the upper edges of the side walls of the open-ended box all extending in a common horizontal plane. One end of the cover 10 is fixed to a spring-loaded roller or drum 22 which is rotatably mounted at the front of the truck's bed and below the aforementioned horizontal plane and thus below the extended truck cover 10. The cover 10 includes longitudinal beaded side edges 12 and 14 adapted to be engaged in and to slide along C-shaped openings defined at the inner upper ends of the longitudinal sides 28 and 30 of the truck bed 32.
British Publication No. GB-2,118,115-8 published on October 26, 1983 in the name of Taylor et al. discloses a flexible cover 11 for vehicles which is rectangular in shape with opposed triangular side flaps lla,llb hanging from each of its respective opposite longitudinal edges. The cover is secured to a roller about which it can be rolled and unrolled. A hood 27 is provided at the distal end of the cover to secure the unrolled cover to an end region of an object to be covered thereby.
The side flaps hang from the central region of the cover to provide at least a partial protection for each side of the covered object.
British Patent Specification No. 693,979 published on July 8, 1953 in the name of Cates discloses a cover A attached at one end thereof to a spring-loaded roller B with a rope line F being provided at the distal end of the cover sheet A for drawing the sheet over the body of the vehicle and with cleats G being fitted at the rear of the vehicle body to hold the rope line F for retaining the sheet A in its extended position. Spring-loaded hooks H are fitted along the upper longitudinal sides of the vehicle body and are adapted to engage in eyelets J provided along the longitudinal edges of the sheet A in order to hold the same down when extended over the vehicle body.
British Patent Publication No. GB-2,243,849-A
published on November 13, 1991 in the name of Green discloses a retractable cover 26 mounted on a roller with the cover 26 comprising a pair of optional side panels 28 provided with securing means 30 at the lower ends thereof.
West German Publication No. DE-27 49 560-Al published on May 10, 1979 in the name of Seitz discloses a luggage cover comprised of a spring-loaded roller on which is wound a flexible cover.
The cover once extended can be attached to the side of the vehicle by way of a support bar 20 provided at the front edge of the cover and defining recessed 2l66o~l catches 22 adapted to be engaged to hooks. The roller is of the ratchet type.
United States Patent No. 4,968,085 issued on November 6, 1990 to Stann teaches a truck bed cover having a rectangular center section of a size adapted to cover the truck bed, surrounded by four outwardly extending panels or flaps which can be secured to the truck body at various locations such as to cover and protect loads of varying height.
United States Patent No. 5,423,588 issued on June 13, 1995 to Eglinton discloses a cover for use with a load-carrying area of a vehicle, wherein a web retractably mounted on a spring-loaded roller comprises a pair of folded-back wings which can be pulled down to cover the sides of the load and then tied in place once the web has been pulled out from the housing in which the roller is located.
United States Patents No. 5,054,840 issued on October 8, 1991 to Wilhite and No. 3,774,958 issued on November 27, 1973 to Thorpe disclose further retractable covers for open-ended truck beds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriers.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a retractable cover for aircraft luggage carriers which comprises a substantially horizontally extending section and a pair of depending vertical side sections for closing the side of the luggage carrier, specially in the case of luggage carriers having longitudinal side walls which are shorter than their end walls.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover assembly for ~lfi6031 use on luggage carriers of the type having a floor and side walls extending upwardly therefrom such as to define an open-ended luggage receiving chamber, the side walls including at least one shorter wall and at least two higher walls, comprising roller means adapted to be mounted to the luggage carrier and retractable flexible cover means attached to said roller means and adapted for displacement between a retracted position which permits access to the chamber for loading the luggage in the carrier and for unloading the luggage therefrom, and an extended position for substantially covering the carrier and isolating the luggage contained therein from the outside, said cover means comprising a main panel and at least one dependent panel and being adapted to be secured to the carrier in said extended position with said main panel extending substantially between upper ends of the higher walls and said dependent panel extending from said main panel downwardly to an upper end of the shorter wall for substantially closing an opening defined between the higher walls, said main panel and the shorter wall.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cover assembly in combination with an aircraft luggage carrier of the type having a floor mounted on ground engaging wheels and walls extending upwardly from said floor such as to define an open-ended luggage receiving chamber, said walls including at least one shorter wall and at least two higher walls, said cover assembly comprising roller means adapted to be mounted to said luggage carrier and retractable flexible cover means attached to said roller means and adapted for displacement between a retracted position which permits access to said chamber for ... 2l66o3l loading the luggage in said carrier and for unloading the luggage therefrom, and an extended position for substantially covering said carrier and isolating the luggage contained therein from the outside, said cover means comprising a main panel and at least one dependent panel and being adapted to be secured to said carrier in said extended position with said main panel extending substantially between upper ends of said higher walls and said dependent panel extending from said main panel downwardly to an upper end of said shorter wall for substantially closing an opening defined between said higher walls, said main panel and said shorter wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable tarpaulin cover for open-ended aircraft luggage carriers in accordance with the present invention, wherein the retractable cover is shown in a fully retracted position thereof;
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the retractable cover of Fig. 1 but shown in a partly extended position thereof, i.e., in the midst of closing the open-ended luggage carrier; and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retractable cover of Fig. 1 but shown in an almost completely extended position thereof for closing the luggage carrier.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 illustrates an open-ended box-shaped luggage carrier C which is provided on its underside with four wheel assemblies (not shown) to allow the luggage carrier C to be displaced, when hitched to a motor vehicle between airport terminals and aircraft loading areas. More particularly, the luggage carrier C comprises a bottom wall 10, a pair of longitudinal side walls 12 extending vertically from the bottom wall 10 in a spaced-apart and substantially parallel relationship, and a pair of parallel and vertical end walls, namely, a front end wall 14 and a rear end wall 16. The wheel assemblies are normally mounted on the underside of the bottom wall 10. A hitch (not shown) is normally provided on the outside surface of the front end wall 14 to allow the luggage carrier C to be connected to an appropriate motor vehicle.
The front and rear end walls 14 and 16 are typically fixedly secured to the bottom wall 10 and extend vertically in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship. In contrast, at least one of the side walls 12, and in the present embodiment both side walls 12, are pivotally mounted to the bottom wall for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. The side walls 12 and the front and rear end walls 14 and 16 in concert with the bottom wall 10 form an open-ended box-like container defining therein a horizontally extending right rectangular parallelepiped-shaped receptacle which vertically terminates at the level of upper longitudinal edges 18 of the side walls 12 as the side walls 12 are vertically shorter than the front and rear end walls 14 and 16. The receptacle is aimed at receiving luggage to be carried by the carrier C typically from the airport terminals to the aircraft loading areas. In view of the substantially large dimensions of the suitcases, luggage can be accumulated in bulk in the luggage 21~fi~1 carrier C past the upper edges 18 obviously as long as the luggage is substantially stable in the aforementioned receptacle. The side walls 12 are made pivotable with respect to the bottom wall 10 in order to facilitate the discharge of the luggage from the carrier C. Accordingly, each side wall 12 is connected to the bottom wall 10 by way of a pair of hinge assemblies 20. Cooperating catch assemblies 22 are provided on the side walls 12 and on the front end wall 14 for retaining the side walls 12 in the locked vertical position thereof shown in the drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, the carrier C is provided with a closure or cover assembly M which comprises a roller mechanism 24 secured to the rear end wall 16 and a retractable flexible tarpaulin cover 26 which is illustrated in Fig. 1 in a rolled attitude around a rotatable drum (not shown) of the roller mechanism 24. More particularly, the retractable cover 26 is fixedly secured at one end thereof to the rotatable drum which is adapted to be rotated, either manually or by way of an electric motor, such as to cause the retractable cover 26 to wind around or unwind from the drum. The retractable cover 26 can be made of a variety of materials, e.g. fabric, rubber-based, plastics, etc., which can have a number of properties such an imperviousness to water (i.e.
rain), high resistance to tearing, etc.
At the longitudinal end of the retractable ^over 26 which is opposite its end secured to the drum, there are provided a pair of handles 28 such that, when pulled in the direction shown by arrows 30 in Fig. 2, they cause the retractable cover 26 to rotatably unwind from the drum as per arrow 32 with the unwound portion of the retractable cover 26 displacing substantially horizontally and translationally along arrow 34 above the receptacle and towards the front end wall 14. The outer surface of the front end wall 14 is provided with a pair of fingers 36 which are adapted to engage V-shaped hooks 38 provided in the handles 28, as seen in Fig. 3.
Typically, the drum carrying the retractable cover 26 is spring-loaded in the roller mechanism 24 whereby, to unwind the retractable cover 26 from the roller mechanism 24 (see Fig. 2), one must pull on the cover 26 while exerting a force greater than that of the return spring force acting on the drum.
Once the hooks 28 have been engaged around the fingers 36, the same return spring force ensures that this connection remains secure. Upon release of the hooks 38 from the fingers 36, the spring force will cause the retractable cover 26 to wind around the drum of the roller mechanism 24. Typical spring-loaded roller assemblies can be used, such as those disclosed in aforementioned United States Patent No. 4,563,034 to Lamb and United States Patent No. 5,423,588 to Eglinton.
As seen in Fig. 2, the retractable cover 26 comprises a main central section 40 which is substantially rectangular and which extends substantially horizontally between upper edges 42 of the front and rear end walls 14 and 16. The retractable cover 26 also comprises a pair of side sections or flaps 44 which, when the retractable cover 26 is at least partly rolled around the roller mechanism 24, are folded atop the central section 40 and extend thereabove in a substantially parallel and overlying relationship. As also seen in Fig. 2, rectangular openings are defined between the upper edges 18 of the side walls 12 and the central 2l6~o~l -section 40 of the cover 26 and both end walls 14 and 16 due to the difference in height of the side walls 12 with respect to the end walls 14 and 16.
Therefore, once the retractable cover 26 has been completely unwound from the roller mechanism 24, the side flaps 44 are unfolded, that is, removed from the central section 40 and allowed to drop outwardly along the sides of the side walls 12 thereby closing the aforementioned rectangular openings, as seen at the right hand side of Fig. 3.
As seen in Fig. 2, the upper side of the side flaps 44, when folded over the central section 40, are each provided with a pair of female VelcroTM
sections 46 with cooperating male VelcroTM sections 48 being provided on the outer surfaces of the side walls 12. Accordingly, when the side flaps 44 are unfolded, such as in Fig. 3, they can be secured to the side walls lZ by way of their cooperating Velcro TM sectionS 46 and 48.
With the hooks 38 secured to the fingers 36 and with the side flaps 44 secured to the side walls 12, the luggage carrier C defines a closed chamber extending between the front and rear end walls 14 and 16, the bottom wall 14 and the central section 40 of the retractable cover 26, and the opposite composite side walls formed by the cooperating rigid side walls 12 and the side flaps 44 of the retractable cover 26. This closed compartment or chamber protects the luggage provided therein and carried by the luggage carrier C from being damaged by various elements, e.g., wind, snow, rain, etc., and also substantially prevents the luggage from falling off the luggage carrier C.
To discharge the luggage carrier C, the side flaps 44 are first disengaged from the side walls 12 and folded above the central section 40 such as to 21~S031 _ be supported thereby in a horizontal manner, and then the hooks 38 are disengaged from the fingers 36 thereby allowing the spring-loaded drum of the roller mechanism 24 to gradually cause the retractable cover 26 to wind therearound until it reaches its retracted position shown in Fig. 1.
Claims (15)
1. A cover assembly for use on luggage carriers of the type having a floor and walls extending upwardly therefrom such as to define an open-ended luggage receiving chamber, the walls including at least one shorter wall and at least two higher walls, comprising roller means adapted to be mounted to the luggage carrier and retractable flexible cover means attached to said roller means and adapted for displacement between a retracted position which permits access to the chamber for loading the luggage in the carrier and for unloading the luggage therefrom, and an extended position for substantially covering the carrier and isolating the luggage contained therein from the outside, said cover means comprising a main panel and at least one dependent panel and being adapted to be secured to the carrier in said extended position with said main panel extending substantially between upper ends of the higher walls and said dependent panel extending from said main panel downwardly to an upper end of the shorter wall for substantially closing an opening defined between the higher walls, said main panel and the shorter wall.
2. A cover assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein the walls of the carrier comprise two opposed end walls and two opposed side walls extending therebetween, the side walls being vertically shorter than the end walls, said roller means being mounted at an upper end of a first one of the end walls such that said main panel, in said extended position, extends substantially horizontally at least between upper edges of the end walls, said cover means comprising two dependent panels disposed on each longitudinal side of said main panel and adapted to extend substantially vertically in said extended position height-wise between said main panel and respective upper edges of the side walls and length-wise between the two end walls.
3. A cover assembly as defined in Claim 2, wherein said dependent panels are adapted to be folded atop said main panel substantially until said cover means is in said extended position thereby allowing said cover means to be neatly wound around said roller means.
4. A cover assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein said roller means is spring-loaded.
5. A cover assembly as defined in Claim 3, wherein said main panel in said extended position is longer than a distance between said roller means and a second one of the end walls such that a distal portion of said main panel is folded over the upper edge of the second end wall and brought downwards along an outer surface of the second end wall and secured thereto with first attachment means, said dependent panels having substantially a length corresponding to said distance and terminating distally substantially at the second end wall.
6. A cover assembly as defined in Claim 5, wherein each said dependent panel is adapted to be attached in said extended position to the side walls of the carrier with second attachment means.
7. A cover assembly as defined in Claim 5, wherein a distal end of said main panel is provided with handles.
8. A cover assembly in combination with an aircraft luggage carrier of the type having a floor mounted on ground engaging wheels and walls extending upwardly from said floor such as to define an open-ended luggage receiving chamber, said walls including at least one shorter wall and at least two higher walls, said cover assembly comprising roller means adapted to be mounted to said luggage carrier and retractable flexible cover means attached to said roller means and adapted for displacement between a retracted position which permits access to said chamber for loading the luggage in said carrier and for unloading the luggage therefrom, and an extended position for substantially covering said carrier and isolating the luggage contained therein from the outside, said cover means comprising a main panel and at least one dependent panel and being adapted to be secured to said carrier in said extended position with said main panel extending substantially between upper ends of said higher walls and said dependent panel extending from said main panel downwardly to an upper end of said shorter wall for substantially closing an opening defined between said higher walls, said main panel and said shorter wall.
9. The combination as defined in Claim 8, wherein said walls of said carrier comprise two opposed end walls and two opposed side walls extending therebetween, said side walls being vertically shorter than said end walls, said roller means being mounted at an upper end of a first one of said end walls such that said main panel, in said extended position, extends substantially horizontally at least between upper edges of said end walls, said cover means comprising two dependent panels disposed on each longitudinal side of said main panel and adapted to extend substantially vertically in said extended position height-wise between said main panel and respective upper edges of said side walls and length-wise between said end walls.
10. The combination as defined in Claim 9, wherein said dependent panels are adapted to be folded atop said main panel substantially until said cover means is in said extended position thereby allowing said cover means to be neatly wound around said roller means.
11. The combination as defined in Claim 8, wherein said roller means is spring-loaded.
12. The combination as defined in Claim 10, wherein said main panel in said extended position is longer than a distance between said roller means and a second one of said end walls such that a distal portion of said main panel is folded over said upper edge of said second end wall and brought downwards along an outer surface of said second end wall and secured thereto with first attachment means, said dependent panels having substantially a length corresponding to said distance and terminating distally substantially at said second end wall.
13. The combination as defined in Claim 12, wherein each said dependent panel is adapted to be attached in said extended position to said side walls of said carrier with second attachment means.
14. The combination as defined in Claim 12, wherein a distal end of said main panel is provided with handles, and wherein said first attachment means comprise cooperating hook means provided on one and the other of said handles and said outer surface of said second end wall.
15. The combination as defined in Claim 13, wherein said second attachment means comprise cooperating male and female VelcroTM sections provided on one and the other of said dependent panels and said side walls.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2166031 CA2166031A1 (en) | 1995-12-22 | 1995-12-22 | Retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriers |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2166031 CA2166031A1 (en) | 1995-12-22 | 1995-12-22 | Retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriers |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2166031A1 true CA2166031A1 (en) | 1997-06-23 |
Family
ID=4157231
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2166031 Abandoned CA2166031A1 (en) | 1995-12-22 | 1995-12-22 | Retractable tarpaulin cover for aircraft luggage carriers |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2166031A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109368063A (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2019-02-22 | 钱文娟 | A kind of logistics container |
| CN110254981A (en) * | 2019-06-06 | 2019-09-20 | 大连中集特种物流装备有限公司 | Open top container |
-
1995
- 1995-12-22 CA CA 2166031 patent/CA2166031A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109368063A (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2019-02-22 | 钱文娟 | A kind of logistics container |
| CN110254981A (en) * | 2019-06-06 | 2019-09-20 | 大连中集特种物流装备有限公司 | Open top container |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |