GB1595792A - Vehicle freight-covering canopy - Google Patents

Description

(54) AN IMPROVED VEHICLE FREIGHT-COVERING CANOPY (71) We, C. J. KEEREN B.V., of Veegtesstraat 4a, Venlo, The Netherlands, a Dutch Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a freightprotecting curtain or canopy, the latter being usually known, and hereinafter referred to, as a vehicle tilt. The invention is directed more particularly, although not exclusively, to T.I.R. vehicles ond containers.

As is well known, in use, the tilt is mounted on the superstructure, or frame, of a freight-carrying vehicle and the lower edges of the side and end panels forming the tilt are provided with spaced eyelets which engage staples, or sealing rings, fixedly mounted on the vehicle body. In the case of T.I.R. vehicles, a wire is passed through the staples and the ends of the wire sealed in order to conform with Customs requirements.

In one known form, the outer surfaces of the side and end panels of the tilt are each provided with a horizontally extending strip of material, or skirt, positioned adjacent the lower edge thereof. Each skirt is provided with a plurality of horizontally spaced eyelets and, in use, a resilient thong is threaded through each eyelet and connected to a staple on the vehicle body in order to tension the tilt and reduce flapping thereof when the vehicle is in motion.

Alternatively, an elongated resilient cord is alternately passed through the skirt eyelets and drop staples for the same purpose.

Objections are now being raised to the use of such skirts on the ground that it is possible for the main tilt material lying under the skirt to be slit by unauthorised persons for the insertion of contraband and/or pilfering of goods without such slit being readily apparent during an inspection of the vehicle.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a freight-protecting tilt which, whilst obviating the necessity for a skirt, still provides adequate tensioning of the side and/or end panels thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a freight-protecting tilt which is of simpler construction and obviates the necessity for the use of thongs and the resultant high replacement cost thereof.

The present invention, provides in one aspect, a freight-protecting tilt at least one side and/or end panel of which is provided with a horizontally extending elasticated member above the hem, thereby permitting tensioning of the tilt in use, over a vehicle superstructure or container.

The invention provides, in a second aspect a freight-protecting curtain which is provided with a horizontally extending elasticated member above the hem, thereby permitting tensioning of the curtain, in use, from the roof of the vehicle to which it is attached.

The invention still further provides a freight-carrying vehicle having a tilt or curtain as referred to in the penultimate and immediately proceding paragraphs.

In the accompanying drawings : - Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a T.I.R.

vehicle having a tilt according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower end of the tilt shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical section, similar to Fig. 1, showing an alternative arrangement, Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the lower end of a tilt showing a further alternative arrangement In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, by way of example, as applied to a vehicle tilt 10, as shown in Fig. 1, the tilt is formed from a synthetic plastics or fabric material and comprises a pair of side panels 12, (only one shown) and a pair of end panels 14 (only one shown) all joined along their respective upper edges to an associated edge of a top panel 16, the lower edges of each panel being provided with spaced eyelets 18 for attachment to similarly spaced staples or sealing rings 20 fixedly mounted on the vehicle body 22.

Each side and/or end panel is provided with a horizontally extending strip of material 24 which is elasticated transversely of its length (i.e. it is extensible in the widthwise direction) so that when associated with the side panels of the vehicle tilt 10 as hereinafter described, such panels have a degree of extensibility in the vertical direction when the tilt 10 is positioned on the vehicle superstructure which enables tensioning of the panels to be effeoted when the eyelets 18 are engaged over the staples or sealing rings 20.

In one form as shown in Fig. 2, the strip of elasticated material 24 is applied to the back of the side panel 12 whilst, in the area covered by the elasticated material 24, the panel itself is provided with horizontally extending corrugations or wrinkles 26 which enable the required tension to be applied to the panel 12. Although it is envisaged that the elasticated strip 24 will be positioned adjacent the lower end of the panel 12, it will be appreciated that it may be positioned along the panel at any desired height.

Furthermore, although not so operationally convenient, the elasticated strip 24 may be applied to only one of the side panels 12.

In use, the other non-elasticated side panel 12 is first anchored to the body staples 20 and the required tension applied by pulling downwardly on the elasticated side panel 12 and anchoring to the body staples 20.

The alternatives set out above may be incorporated in the end panels 14.

In an alternative arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, the horizontally extending elasticated strip 24 is incorporated in the side panel 12 as a discrete member. The panel 12 then comprises spaced upper and lower portions with adjacent edges of the portions connected, respectively, to the opposite edges of the elasticated strip 24 by heatwelding or stitching.

In a still further arrangement as shown in Fig. 4, the elasticated member is formed by two elongated strips of synthetic plastics material 28 which are interconnected by spaced, transversely extending strips 30 of elasticated material, the extensibility of the elasticated strips 30 being normal to the elongated strips 28 of plastics material. In use, the elasticated member so formed is positioned horizontally on the panel 12 with the synthetic plastics strips 30 extending substantially the length thereof and fixedly connected to the panel 12 by heat-welding, stitching, or both. Alternatively, the strips of elasticated material 30 may be vertically positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the panel 12 with their upper and lower ends fixedly secured thereto. In both arrangements the panel 12 overlying the elasticated member is provided with the horizontally extending corrugations 26 as described above.

It will be readily appreciated that the present invention may also be utilised with the so-called curtains or panels, which are independently suspended from the fixed roof of a freight-carrying vehicle.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A freight-protecting tilt at least one side and/or end panel of which is provided with a horizontally extending elasticated member above the hem, thereby permitting tensioning of the tilt in use, over a vehicle superstructure or container.

2. A freight-protecting curtain which is provided with a horizontally extending elasticated member above the hem, thereby permitting tensioning of the curtain, in use, from the roof of the vehicle to which it is attached.

3. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said elasticatezd member is a strip of elasticated material which is elasticated transversely of its length.

4. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elasticated strip is applied to the back of said panel or curtain, said panel or curtain being provided with horizontally extending corrugations in the area covered by the elasticated strip.

5. A freight-protecting tilt of curtain as claimed in claim 3, wherein the panel or curtain comprises space- portions, the adjacent edges of said portions being connected, respectively, to the opposite edges of said elasticated strip.

6. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said elasticated member is applied to the back of said panel or curtain, the member comprising two strips of material attached to the panel or curtain and interconnected by spaced transversely extending strips of elasticated material.

7. A freight carrying vehicle having a tilt or curtain as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.

8. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. sealing rings 20 fixedly mounted on the vehicle body 22. Each side and/or end panel is provided with a horizontally extending strip of material 24 which is elasticated transversely of its length (i.e. it is extensible in the widthwise direction) so that when associated with the side panels of the vehicle tilt 10 as hereinafter described, such panels have a degree of extensibility in the vertical direction when the tilt 10 is positioned on the vehicle superstructure which enables tensioning of the panels to be effeoted when the eyelets 18 are engaged over the staples or sealing rings 20. In one form as shown in Fig. 2, the strip of elasticated material 24 is applied to the back of the side panel 12 whilst, in the area covered by the elasticated material 24, the panel itself is provided with horizontally extending corrugations or wrinkles 26 which enable the required tension to be applied to the panel 12. Although it is envisaged that the elasticated strip 24 will be positioned adjacent the lower end of the panel 12, it will be appreciated that it may be positioned along the panel at any desired height. Furthermore, although not so operationally convenient, the elasticated strip 24 may be applied to only one of the side panels 12. In use, the other non-elasticated side panel 12 is first anchored to the body staples 20 and the required tension applied by pulling downwardly on the elasticated side panel 12 and anchoring to the body staples 20. The alternatives set out above may be incorporated in the end panels 14. In an alternative arrangement as shown in Fig. 3, the horizontally extending elasticated strip 24 is incorporated in the side panel 12 as a discrete member. The panel 12 then comprises spaced upper and lower portions with adjacent edges of the portions connected, respectively, to the opposite edges of the elasticated strip 24 by heatwelding or stitching. In a still further arrangement as shown in Fig. 4, the elasticated member is formed by two elongated strips of synthetic plastics material 28 which are interconnected by spaced, transversely extending strips 30 of elasticated material, the extensibility of the elasticated strips 30 being normal to the elongated strips 28 of plastics material. In use, the elasticated member so formed is positioned horizontally on the panel 12 with the synthetic plastics strips 30 extending substantially the length thereof and fixedly connected to the panel 12 by heat-welding, stitching, or both. Alternatively, the strips of elasticated material 30 may be vertically positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the panel 12 with their upper and lower ends fixedly secured thereto. In both arrangements the panel 12 overlying the elasticated member is provided with the horizontally extending corrugations 26 as described above. It will be readily appreciated that the present invention may also be utilised with the so-called curtains or panels, which are independently suspended from the fixed roof of a freight-carrying vehicle. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A freight-protecting tilt at least one side and/or end panel of which is provided with a horizontally extending elasticated member above the hem, thereby permitting tensioning of the tilt in use, over a vehicle superstructure or container.

2. A freight-protecting curtain which is provided with a horizontally extending elasticated member above the hem, thereby permitting tensioning of the curtain, in use, from the roof of the vehicle to which it is attached.

3. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said elasticatezd member is a strip of elasticated material which is elasticated transversely of its length.

4. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elasticated strip is applied to the back of said panel or curtain, said panel or curtain being provided with horizontally extending corrugations in the area covered by the elasticated strip.

5. A freight-protecting tilt of curtain as claimed in claim 3, wherein the panel or curtain comprises space- portions, the adjacent edges of said portions being connected, respectively, to the opposite edges of said elasticated strip.

6. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said elasticated member is applied to the back of said panel or curtain, the member comprising two strips of material attached to the panel or curtain and interconnected by spaced transversely extending strips of elasticated material.

7. A freight carrying vehicle having a tilt or curtain as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.

8. A freight-protecting tilt or curtain substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.