GB2128563A - Stowable cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover for the open part 11 of a vehicle comprises a frame-work including inverted U-shaped support members 22 extending transversely over the open part, there being two transversely spaced rails 20, 21 at each side of the open part to which the depending limbs of the frame members are connected for sliding movement therealong. A sheet-like cover 50 is provided which forms a tunnel-like enclosure when the members are in their operative position. Ball bearings 28 are provided between the rails and connection members secured to the depending limbs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATIUN Stowable cover THIS INVENTION concerns a stowable cover adapted to be fitted over the normally unenclosed part of a wheeled vehicle such as a pick-up truck or lorry or the open top of a trailer, for example.

Such unenclosed parts or open tops will be referred to hereinafter simply as open parts of the kind referred to.

Many kinds of cover for open parts of the kind referred to are known, including enclosures of canvas or similar sheet material adapted to be supported by a framework which may be either removable or fixed and more elaborate prefabricated enclosures, such as fibre-glass reinforced resin mouldings for example, which need to be lifted into and out of position, often by more than one person.

Generally these prior known covers are timeconsuming to erect and dismantle, somewhat costly and in many cases difficult and bulky to store when not in use. This is especially true of those kinds of cover which cannot be stowed on the vehicle when they are not in use.

There is also known various covers for an open part of the kind referred to comprising a plurality of inverted U-shaped hoops slideable over the open part and secured beneath a cover of flexible weatherproof material. The lower ends of the opposed limbs of each hoop either connect with complex and therefore expensive means which support them for sliding movement, or even worse are attached to parts which contact with members, such as side walls defining the boundries of the open part with the risk of damage thereto such as scratched paintwork as they are slid often with difficulty, therealong.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cover for open parts of the kind referred to which is particularly convenient and readily moved between its erected and stowed conditions without the disadvantages aforesaid.

According to the invention there is provided a cover for an open part of the kind referred to, comprising a pair of parallel transversely spaced rail members adapted to be secured along each of the two longitudinal sides of the said part, a plurality of supporting frame members of generally inverted U-shape extending transversely between said two pairs of rail members, on the free end of each depending limb of each said frame member two connection members at least partially surrounding said rails respectively for sliding movement therealong, ball or roller bearings between said connection members and the rails, and a sheet of material resistant to penetration by water bridging the spaces between said frame members, the frame members being movable from a position wherein they are packed together at one end of the rail members, to leave the open part substantially unenclosed and a position where they are spaced from one another so that said sheet forms a tunnel-like enclosure over the open part.

Preferably there are two sets of ball or roller bearings in at least one of said connection members said sets being spaced from one another longitudinally of the rail.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to and as illustrated by the several figures of the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, two forms of stowable cover, fitted to the open part of a motor driven pick-up truck and embodying the invention.

Of the drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of the truck with the cover in its erected position, but with the sheet partly cut-away to reveal the underlying framework; Figure 2 shows a rear view of the truck with the cover in its erected position, again with the sheet partly cut-away; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale, of the connection between the lower end of one of the depending limbs of a supporting frame member and the rail pair at one side of the truck; Figure 4 shows a cross-section on the iine Ill-Ill of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a view similar to that of Figure 3 of a modified connection.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the stowable cover generally indicated at 10 is fitted to and over an open back part 11, of a pick-up truck 12, having a driver's cab 13, forwardly of the part 11. The cover comprises a pair of parallel transversely spaced rails 20 and 21, secured to each of the opposed longitudinal sides of the part 11, by means of brackets 20a and 21 a at their forward and rearward ends, and a plurality of supporting frame members 22, each of generally inverted U-shape having opposed limbs 23 and 24 depending from a connecting horizontal top portion 25. The frame members 22 extend transversely between the two pairs of rails on the opposite sides of the part 11 and have the free ends of their depending limbs connected to said rails for sliding movement therealong.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the lower end of each of the depending limbs of each frame member 22, carries a pair of annular connecting members 26 and 27 which surround the rails 20 and 21 respectively. A plurality of ball bearings 28 are provided between the inner periphery of the members 26 and 27 and the outer periphery of the rails 20 and 21. The rails may be in the form of tubes (as shown for the rail 20) or rods (as shown for the rail 21). In at least one and preferably both of the members 26 and 27 the ball bearings 28 are divided into two sets which are spaced from one another longitudinally of the rails and which are held captive between caps 29 and 30 having inwardly directed flanges and a central barrel 31 onto whose opposed ends at the caps 29 and 30 screw.

It will be understood that the frame members 22 can be moved from a first or stowed position wherein they are all packed closely adjacent to one another at the forward end of the part 11, and a second or operative position wherein they are equally spaced along the length of the part 11.

Stabiliser bars 40 are provided and hingedly connected to the rearward face of each depending limb of each frame member 22 (except the rearmost) and adapted to be moved manually from depending vertical positions when the frame members are in their stowed position and horizontal positions, wherein they engage catches 41 on the adjacent rearward frame member 22 when the frame members 22 are in their operative positions.

It will be understood that when the frame members are in their second position and the stabiliser bars 40 are erected, the whole assembly described thus far, forms an extremely rigid cagelike structure which is constrained from tilting movement in any direction by virtue of the transverse spacing of the rail members at each side and the longitudinally spaced sets of ball bearing in the connecting members.

The cover 10 includes a sheet 50 of material which is at least resistant to penetration by weather such as canvas or impermeable such as textile reinforced plastics. The sheet 50 has a length equal to that of the part 11 and a width equal to the length of a frame member 22 measured along the limbs 23 and 24 as well as the top portion 25. The sheet 50 is secured over each of the frame members 22 and bridges the space 22 between the adjacent ones thereof. It will be understood that when the frame members 22 are in their second or operative position, the sheet 50 forms a tunnel-like enclosure to-the part 11. When the frame members 22 are in their stowed position the sheet 50 is loosely bunched up between them. Front and back flaps 51 and 52 are preferably provided to complete the enclosure.

The front flap 51 is secured as by stitching for example to the three forward edges of the sheet 50, whilst the back flap 52 is secured along its upper edge only so that it may be rolled up or pulled aside to give access to the interior of the enclosure.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Thus, for example, as shown in Figure 5 the connecting members 26 and 27 may be of partannular form enabling the rails 20 and 21 to be secured by ties 60 to the sides of the open space at positions intermediate their ends or the use of a rail which has an integral connecting web continuously of its length.

Again, for example, the frame members 22 may be relatively shallow and the cover fitted over the open top of a high-sided lorry or bulk carrier to form a removable top replacing, for example, a conventional tarpaulin.

Yet again, for example, the rails 20 and 21 may be of square section (either in the form of tubes or .bars), the parts 26 and 27 being replaced by rectangular parts which trap ball bearings between the upper and lower faces of the bar and their internal walls.

Claims (8)

1. A cover for an open part of the kind referred to, comprising a pair of parallel transversely spaced rail members adapted to be secured along each of the two longitudinal sides of said part, a plurality of supporting frame members of generally inverted U-shape extending transversely between said two pairs of rail members, on the free end of each depending limb of each said frame member two connection members at least partially surrounding said rails respectively for sliding movement therealong, ball or roller bearings between said connection members and the rails, ana'a sheet of material resistant to penetration by water bridging the spaces between said frame members, the frame members being movable from a position wherein they are packed together at one end of the rail members, to leave the open part substantially unenclosed and a position where they are spaced from one another so that said sheet forms a tunnel-like enclosure over the open part.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein each connection member completely surrounds the rail over which it slides.

3. A cover according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ball or roller bearings provided between at least one of the connection members of each depending limb and the rail over which it slides are divided into two sets spaced longitudinally of the rail.

4. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein each rail member is of circular crosssection.

5. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each rail member is of square crosssection.

6. A cover according to either claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each rail is in the form of a tube.

7. A cover according to any preceding claim, wherein each depending limb of each frame member except the rearmost is equipped with a stabilising bar hingedly connected thereto for movement from a depending vertical position and a horizontal position engaging clip means on the adjacent frame member to the rear.

8. A cover substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the several figures of the accompanying drawings.