FR2840569A1 - Transport vehicle tarpaulin has supple metal security mesh between lower part of outer layer and inner liner to prevent break-in - Google Patents

Abstract

The tarpaulin cover, comprising a main outer layer (10) with a liner (13) against the inner surface of its lower part, has a supple metal security mesh (17) between the outer layer and liner. The upper edge, and optionally the lower edge too, of the security mesh is embedded locally in a fastening strip (18) which is joined by a hot-melt adhesive to the inner surface of the liner. The dimensions of the liner and metal mesh are designed so their upper edges are above the height of a man when in place on the vehicle.

Description

the back of the backrest (2) by a zipper (33).

  J i The present invention relates to the design and production of tarpaulins for closing transport vehicles, such as trucks. The transport vehicles under consideration comprise a loading platform on which the goods to be transported are placed, enclosed behind one or more tarpaulins which are developed to close the vehicle by forming at least its dimensions, the case also affecting its tone. To provide access to the goods and to allow loading of the tray, such a tarpaulin can be opened, generally by sliding it laterally so that it can be rolled up or folded back on itself towards the front or rear ends of the tray. In the deployed position, the tarp closes the tray on the sides is generally held by means of straps fixed in the part

  lower of the tarpaulin and hanging on the loading platform.

  When the goods transported have a high value, they are of particular interest to thieves. In general, criminals start by seeking to know the content of transport vehicles. For this purpose, by passing quickly along the stopped vehicles, they punctually puncture the tarpaulin by means of a knife or a cutter and peeking inside the vehicle through the opening thus made. They can thus know the nature of the goods presented on the loading platform before deciding, if necessary, to continue their wrongdoings or, possibly, to organize the theft of these goods when the vehicle is stopped. for a long time in a

unsupervised location.

  The above stealth examination is quickly carried out systematically on all vehicles, for example in a parking lot. The consequences are serious for the owners of the vehicles and for the transporters who use them. It is not only that the tarpaulins damaged in this way can then be repaired or changed. The problem that the invention proposes to solve is mainly related to the fact that thieves have an easy way to select the loads to which they will devote their efforts, while avoiding to run the risk of being done - take for loads which not worth it. In other words, attempts to destroy the tarpaulin, even though there is not necessarily theft. wind all the more damaging when the products loaded in the vehicle sells goods of low value, which do not merit other forms of protection against theft. It is therefore desirable to dissuade the perpetrators of this type of break-in by preventing them from knowing that the goods have been loaded into the truck, which is why the invention intends to protect the lower part of the tarpaulins, substantially up to man in their closed position of the vehicles, against deterioration of the fabrics constitute them by sharp tools. But the form of protection to be implemented must not prevent the storage of the tarpaulin by winding or folding in on itself. Wile must not be able to injure workers handling the covers or move around inside the vehicle, nor risk tearing or damaging the fabrics

  or damage the goods or their packaging.

  To meet these practical needs and others which will emerge more clearly below, the invention proposes a tarpaulin for the closure of transport vehicles, such as trucks, which is of the type with burglary protection by the fact that it incorporates, in the exposed area, a metal grid avoiding it which is easy to tear by the action of sharp manual tools, such as knives

and cutters.

  In accordance with the invention, such a tarpaulin comprises, between an external main canvas and an internal lining canvas, which is pressed against the internal face of the main canvas along its lower part and fixed to the latter at least by its upper longitudinal edge, a flexible metal grid of which at least one longitudinal edge is locally embedded in an upper fastening strip or, if applicable, the two longitudinal edges are thus locally embedded, respectively in an upper fastening strip and in a strip of lower fixing, said fixing strips being intimately linked to the lining fabric on the internal face of the latter by heat sealing a

  through the meshes of said grid.

  The choice of a grid as a means of protection doubling the main fabric on its internal face has the advantage of a flexibility which allows not to stiffen the plug as would a solid plate. The grid's fixing method prevents wires or strands of metal wires from protruding inside the vehicle and may injure the personnel loading it or damage the products transported. It also has the advantage, compared to a seam fixing for example, of ensuring a waterproof fixing which protects the edges of the grid against humidity and prevents water dripping on the internal face of the tarpaulin. condensation or water infiltration from above

from the tarp, reach the grid.

  For the same purpose, the lining fabric is advantageously fixed to the main fabric, above the grid, by heat sealing, and this preferably along a continuous fixing zone running against its upper edge. In all cases, this lining fabric usefully participates with the metal grid to take over from the main canvas and preserve the functions of the tarpaulin, in mechanical resistance, watertightness and closure to view, when the main external canvas has undergone a stabbing which, due to the structure of the tarpaulin according to the invention, will have been stopped by the security grid, advantageously metallic, which it comprises. In addition, the inner lining fabric constitutes a protective lining which ensures that no metal part of the security grid protrudes inside the tarpaulin, so as to avoid any injury to the

  personnel or any deterioration of the products transported.

  The fact that the safety grid is fixed only on the lining fabric, and not on the main fabric, considerably facilitates the manufacture of the tarpaulin assembly. The same is true of the fact that the lining fabric is preferably fixed to the main fabric, firmly by a continuous heat-sealing joint, only at its upper longitudinal edge. If necessary, it is a solitary fixing by points, for example by riveting, in points advantageously regularly spaces, which retains it more

  loosely attached to the main fabric near its lower edge.

  The characteristics of the burglar-resistant security grid can easily be determined to provide the desired resistance to burglary attempts while generally keeping the sheet sufficient flexibility so that it can be stored in the open position, which is achieved by preferably by folding it laterally in accordion. And these wind conditions compatible with a mesh allowing the material of the fixing strips to pass through during fixing by heat-bonding. The dimensions of the safety grid, as well as the position of the lining fabric by which it is fixed, pressed against the internal face of the main fabric, are advantageously chosen so that the grid covers a height that is at the height of a man when the sheet is in position on a vehicle, so as to eliminate the possibility of a stealth examination by means of a cutting tool, while limiting the height of the security grid and that of the lining fabric, so as to reduce the cost of the tarp. On the other hand, the slight stiffening that can result from the presence of the grid only

on a limited part of the tarpaulin.

  The liner is advantageously fixed on the main liner by heat bonding, that is to say by softening and partial melting on the surface of the two facing cloths, applied suitably one against the other. , along its upper longitudinal edge (the upper horizontal edge of the lining fabric in the position of use of the tarpaulin), so as to produce a continuous waterproof seal above the grid. Its thickness can advantageously be thinner than that of the main fabric, insofar as it does not need to ensure the same mechanical resistance to achieve its protective function against the parts

  metal of the security grid.

  The tarpaulin according to the invention is advantageously completed by retaining straps which stretch vertically on the supporting structure of the vehicle. In this case, the attachment of the lining fabric to the main fabric is preferably carried out on the one hand along its upper edge by heat sealing to obtain a continuous waterproof seal, and on the other hand only by points near its lower edge, in particular by riveting at regularly spaced points at the tarp holding straps on the sides of the vehicle. A particularly advantageous arrangement in practice consists in combining such a fixing with that of loops ensuring the tension of the fabric vertically and for

  keep this behind closed on the loading platform.

  The invention will now be more fully described in the context of its preferred characteristics and their advantages, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transport vehicle seen from the rear, with a partial tearing off of the tarpaulin closes it on the visible side; - And Figure 2 is a sectional view of this tarpaulin in its lower part, where it is reinforced against break-ins

in accordance with the invention.

  We fly in Figure 1 the rear of a transport vehicle 1, illustrated by the trailer of a truck, whose loading platform 2 is closed at the rear by a double door 3 and all along by a tarpaulin closure 4 reeiisee in accordance with ['invention, which is mounted falling on each side from the tone'. In certain cases, the tarpaulin also constitutes the tone, passing over the upper longitudinal members of the support structure which have not been shown. In others, as illustrated in the figures, closing the truck involves two different tarpaulins, mounted drooping from side to side. Anyway, the sheet 4 will be described here only for the side visible in Figure 1, the other

dimension being symmetrical.

  The tarpaulin 4 suspended from the tone is maintained by means of vertical straps 5 which are mounted to slide at their upper end and stretched by fixing under the plate 2 at their lower end. As can be seen in the general view of Figure 1, but also in the section of Figure 2, the upper end of the main strand of each strap 5 is fixed on a paste 19 which slides by rollers 6 in a rail horizontal longitudinal 7, part of the fixed structure of the truck. At its lower end, a loop 8 comprising a clamping device ensures the connection with the end of a secondary strand constituted by a small strap 11, the other end of which hangs under the plate 2 by a hook 9. The lower edge of the sheet 4 is plate at this level against a vertical plate 12 forming a side member or side panel along the lateral edge of the loading platform 2 (see FIG. 2). The set is eventually

  covered by a drop side not shown.

  The different blood streams are fixed to the tarpaulin 4 on its external face, at least in places, mainly at the two ends. The preferred method of fastening is gluing, for sealing reasons, but it is also possible to use fastening by sewing or fixing by rivets. In the case of the advantageous example, although not limiting, considered in the present

  description, check strap, in its main strand 4, is glued on the

  main canvas over the entire height, and the cover is thus suspended from the upper rail 7 by the set of straps attached to their respective pastes 19, in accordance with a solution which has at least

the merit of simplicity.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tarpaulin 4 is constituted by a main canvas 10, locally supplemented by a fabric of lining 13, which is fixed over the entire length of the main canvas 10 in the lower part of the tarpaulin. check

from the truck.

  The upper horizontal edge 14 of this lining fabric 13 is fixed over its entire length to the internal face of the main fabric 10. This fixing is preferably carried out by heat sealing, so as to form a continuous tight seal between

  the coatings opposite the two fabrics.

  The lower horizontal edge 15 of the lining fabric can also be fixed on the main fabric 10, but it is advantageously sufficient for a point fixing, made for example during the mounting of the straps 5, by means of rivets 16 passing through the strap and two canvases. This attachment could be located at the level of the lower secondary strands, but in the case described, it is preferred to profile it to fix the part of the loop in the same place.

  8 which belongs to the main strand of the strap.

  The two fabrics 10 and 13 frame a strip of burglar-resistant security grid 17 which is supported and protected by the lining fabric 13. The dimensions and the height position of the lining fabric 13 and the security grid 17 are such that the upper edge of this behind is at least at breast height when the tarpaulin 4 is installed on the truck 1, so that

  provide the burglary protection sought according to the invention.

  The grid 17 is made of a flexible mesh of metal wire. Wile is fixed on the inside of the lining fabric

  13, that is to say its face which is directed towards the main fabric 10.

  In some embodiments of a tarp using the

  present invention, this fixing of the grid 17 is carried out along its horizontal edges, over the entire length of the lining fabric 13, by means of two fixing bands 18, one upper and the other lower. However in the example described here as being often preferable, there is provided a single fastening strip 18, which runs along the upper edge of the canvas.

  lining, while its lower edge is left to fall freely.

  In all cases, these bands are themselves fixed to the internal lining fabric 13 by a heat-bonding procedure involving the softening of its material through the mesh of the grid so that the threads are located on the edges.

  horizontal sty grid find drowned.

  The tarpaulin closing trucks, and other goods transport vehicles likely to attract thieves, who

  has just been described, can be manufactured in the following manner.

  The lining fabric 13 is first placed on a horizontal surface with its internal face facing upwards. The grid 17 is placed above, then the fixing band or bands 18 overlapping the longitudinal edges of the security grid 17. A heat-bonding of the band or bands 18 is then carried out on the opposite face of the fabric 13 under the effect of a hot air blowing directs at these bands. These back wind made of a thermoplastic polymer which softens sufficiently hot to penetrate through the meshes of the grid 17 until it is welded with the material of coating of the lining fabric 13. After cooling and hardening, a bond is obtained. intimate bonding between each strip 18 and the fabric 13, while the longitudinal edge of the security grid 17 remains entirely embedded in

  the corresponding strip thickness.

  The grid 17 and its support fabric 13 form a complex which can be handled and transported before coming to complete the main fabric 10 of the tarpaulin. It is then laid flat on this main canvas, more precisely on the internal face of the latter, the grid being between the two fabrics, and the two fabrics are fixed to one another by heat bonding. at the upper longitudinal edge 14 of the lining fabric. Thermobonding is preferable to other methods of fixing, for example by sewing, because it leads to a continuous waterproof seal which effectively protects the grid. As the weld between the two fabrics is away from the grid, the absence of metallic components makes it possible to use a heat bonding process under high frequency radiation. To finish the cover 4, the straps 5 a are then fixed

  regular intervals on the external face of the main fabric 10.

  This fixing is advantageously carried out by heat sealing the main strand of the strap check at the top on the sides of the truck. Finally, the lower edge of the lining fabric 13 is fixed by means of the rivets 16, or if necessary by sewing,

  a thermobonding solder being less useful at this level.

  In the case chosen as a preferred example, the rivets are used simultaneously to fix the corresponding part of the strip 8. In this way, the method of fixing fulfills several functions in combination. On the one hand, the burglar-resistant security grid is effectively pressed against the main one. On the other hand, the rigid connection thus produced at regularly spaced points in correspondence with the straps facilitates the storage of the accordion tarpaulin. On the other hand, the entire lining fabric with the grid that it supports participates with the main fabric in the resistance of the tarpaulin when it is placed under vertical tension when connecting the small straps.

  attached to the supporting structure of the truck.

  The main canvas of the tarpaulin is produced in a conventional manner, to be moisture-proof and to have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the effects of lateral wind and relative wind when the truck is traveling. It is advantageously a polyester fabric coated on both sides with a waterproof coating of polyvinyl chloride. The thickness of the main fabric 10 is determined to obtain the mechanical resistance necessary for the effects of the wind. Advantageously, the lining fabric 13 is produced with the same material, but with a fabric of significantly smaller thickness. Finally, the fastening strip (s) 18 are made of a polymer compatible with the fabrics to allow welding by heat-bonding, in particular made of polyvinyl chloride in the mass. Their thickness is sufficient to ensure that no wire of the metal grid exceeds one

  once the fixing by heat-bonding carried out.

  According to an exemplary embodiment of the tarpaulin according to the invention, the thickness of the fabrics translates for the main fabric by a surface density of 900 g / m2, and for the lining fabric by a surface density of 500 g / m2. As for the fixing strip (s) 18, they have a thickness of 900 g / m2 and a width of 50 millimeters. Of course, these values may vary depending on the particular circumstances of each case of application of the invention. However, the fact remains that, in accordance with the invention, it is always desirable to use webs of threads or fibers of artificial polymer coated with a coating of thermoplastic polymer impermeable to moisture. It facilitates assemblies by heat bonding between the various elements of the sheet by choosing a thermoplastic polymer of the same nature, or failing this at least one compatible thermoplastic polymer, for

  make the fixing strips of the metal grid.

  The above description clearly explains how

  [The invention achieves the goals it set for itself. In particular, the security grid makes it possible to avoid a furtive examination by potential thieves since the blade of the knife or the like used to split the tarpaulin is blocked by the security grid, which prevents the lining fabric from being torn apart and prohibited So see what is inside the truck while preserving the waterproofing of the tarpaulin. In addition, the lining fabric avoids any risk of the grid hooking by the personnel or the goods inside the truck, in addition to the security provided by the fact that the edges of the grid wind drowned

  in the fixing strips by heat-bonding.

  The fact that this lining fabric is continuously fixed to the main canvas on its upper edge makes it possible to effectively protect the metal grid, including against water runoff, while the discontinuous fixing method, by occasional riveting at the place of the straps, adopted for its lower edge, facilitates interventions for repair when the main fabric has been cut and allows to limit the stiffening of the assembly, in such a way that the tarpaulin can be folded in accordion along the truck by sliding the rollers 6 in the rails 7. The safety grid is itself a wire mesh sufficiently flexible to allow this folding movement in

tarpaulin accordion.

  It appears nevertheless from the above that the invention is not limited to the modes of implementation which have been specifically described in the course of the example above and that it extends on the contrary to any variant passing by equivalent means. It will be understood in particular that in certain application cases, it may be more advantageous to firmly bind the burglar-resistant security grid to the lining fabric tent by its lower edge than by its upper edge. Thanks to the presence of two fixing strips in which the edges of the grid are embedded locally, respectively at the top and in teas, all risks of catching by loose ends of the wind are all the more reduced and the handling of the link is more convenient until it is placed on the outside tarpaulin. It will also be understood that, depending on the case, it may be desirable to make a firm and waterproof connection between the two fabrics not only at the top, but also at the bottom, at an edge of the lining fabric which sufficiently exceeds for this purpose of the intermediate grid. However, the preferred embodiment which has been preferred in the particular case of the described truck, in particular as a function of the method of attachment by straps chosen, consists in leaving the lower edges of the two elements, grid and lining fabric, to sink freely. against the main canvas (if necessary beyond

  rivets 16) over a sufficient height to get stuck behind it

  Ci against the plate 12 forming a side wall. And en-quite, we can dispense with adding a curtain the overlapping of the terminal hooks 9 of the straps if, as it is supposed for ia Figure 2, the connection loops of the straps are locked after closing, so prohibit the release of square brackets by

thieves to lift the tarp.

Claims (10)

  1. Tarpaulin for the closure of transport vehicles, characterized in that it comprises, between an outer main fabric (10) and an inner lining fabric (13) pressed against the internal face of the main fabric (10) along of its lower part and fixed thereto at least by its upper longitudinal edge, a flexible metal safety grid (17) including at least the upper longitudinal edge, the case also falling on the lower longitudinal edge, wind drowned one and / or the other each locally, in a fastening strip (18), said strip being intimately connected to the lining fabric, on the internal face of   the latter, by fusing through the meshes of said grid.   2. Tarpaulin according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimensions of said grid (17) and the position of said lining fabric (13) are chosen so that the grid covers a height lying at human height when the tarpaulin is up on a vehicle.   3. Tarpaulin according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lining fabric (13) at its upper edge is fixed to the main fabric (10) by thermal bonding, so as to   create a continuous watertight seal above the grid.   4. Tarpaulin according to claim 1 or 2 'characterized in that the lining fabric (13) is fixed to the main fabric (10) firmly by a continuous heat seal at its edge   upper and only by points near its lower edge.   5. Tarpaulin according to any one of claims 1 a   4, characterized by a point fixing of the lining fabric on the main fabric which is produced at regularly spaced points at the level of the tarpaulin holding straps on the vehicle dimensions.   6. Tarpaulin according to claim 5, characterized in that said point fixing is provided at the strap check at a lower end of a main strap strand connected by a strip fitted with a tension tightening device of the tarpaulin on a strand of secondary strap hanging on a support structure transport vehicle.   7. Tarpaulin according to any one of claims 1 a   , characterized in that the lining fabric (13) is thick   thinner than the main fabric (10).   8. Tarpaulin according to any one of claims 1 a   7, characterized in that the main fabric (10) and the lining fabric (13) are coated with a coating of thermoplastic polymer that is impermeable to moisture and in that said fixing strips (18, 19) are produced in a polymer of the same nature or, failing this, a compatible polymer authorizing fixing by heat sealing.   9. Tarpaulin according to any one of claims 1 a   8, characterized in that the lower longitudinal edge of the lining fabric (13) is punctually fixed on the main fabric (10) by riveting.   10. Tarpaulin according to any one of the claims   previous characterized in that the grid and the wind lining fabric dropped falling against the main canvas to get stuck behind it against a plate (12) forming ridged