GB2154970A - Cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover (15) of a portable or transportable nature comprises at least one end frame or post (16) which may be free standing or attached to a vehicle (10) so that the cover (15) overlies a load or container (13). To facilitate loading or unloading the cover (15) has a covering structure (18) hingedly attached to each side of a central spine (17) which is attached to the end frame or post (16). In addition the spine (17) may pivot upwardly in the post (16) and/or the post (16) may pivot laterally about either a horizontal axis or about its own axis. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cover This invention relates to covers, and in particular to covers of a portable or transportable nature intended for covering relatively large items or floor or ground areas. The invention has particular although not exclusive application in relation to covers comprising a nonrigid sheet material which is supported by a frame.

The invention provides a cover comprising at least one end frame structure disposed at one end of said cover, a spins member secured to the or each end frame structure to extend longitudinally of said cover, and a covering structure disposed to each side of said spins member to extend outwardly therefrom, said covering structures each being hingedly secured to said spins member so as to be movable upwardly relative thereto from a closed covering position to an upwardly extending open position.

Each covering structure may comprise a covering frame and a sheet material covering said covering frame. Said sheet material may be non-rigid.

The or each end frame structure may be pivotally mounted on a support therefor so as to be pivotal laterally of said spine member.

Said cover may comprise one end frame structure, in which case said spine member may be pivotally secured thereto so as to be pivotal between a closed position, in which it extends transversely of said end frame structure, and an upwardly extending open position. Alterriatively said one end frame structure may comprise a swivel joint whereby said spine member and covering structures may swivel about a substantially vertical axis, thereby to reduce the wind loading on the covering structures when the covering structures are in their upwardly extending open position.

The cover may also comprise a wall structure depending from each covering structure.

Each wall structure may comprise a wall frame and a sheet material covering said wall frame.

Each of said covering frames and the respective wall frame depending therefrom may be covered with a common sheet material. Preferably at least part of each wall structure is hingedly mounted relative to said respective covering structure.

The invention also provides a vehicle having a load carrying surface and a cover as aforesaid overlying said surface and spaced therefrom, wherein the or each frame structure is secured to said vehicle. Said spine member may extend longitudinally of said vehicle, and said covering structures may extend laterally of said vehicle.

Embodiments of covers in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 to 3 are perspective views of a first embodiment in closed, partly open and fully open positions respectively, Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of modified forms of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a second embodiment in closed and open positions respectively, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 in closed and open positions, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment, Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 9 in closed and open positions, Figs. 11 and 1 2 are end views of the embodiments of Figs. 6 to 8 and Figs. 9 and 10 respectively in progressively opening positions, Fig. 1 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of cover in a fully open position, and Fig. 14 is an end view of the cover of Fig.

13.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown a vehicle 1 0. The particular vehicle 10 shown is a refuse container vehicle which has arms 11 and chains 1 2 by means of which a refuse container or skip 1 3 may be loaded onto or from the load carrying surface 1 4 of the vehicle 1 0. However the invention is equally applicable to any lorry-type of vehicle, for example a conventional tipper lorry as is clearly seen having regard to Fig. 3.

Conventionally vehicles of these types have been covered with sheets of tarpaulin, plasticised canvas or the like. Other vehicles have fixed roofs and have curtains at each side depending from curtain rails secured to the roof. In the former case the fitting and removal of the sheets is inconvenient and in the latter case removal of the load by tipping or by container removal is not readily possible.

In the present case however such drawbacks are obviated.

Secured to the vehicle 10 is a cover 1 5 comprising an end frame in the form of an upstanding post 16. Pivotally secured to post 16 is a spine member 1 7 and hingedly attached to each side of spine member 1 7 is a covering structure 18. Each covering structure 1 8 is pivotal between a closed position as shown in Fig. 1 to an upstanding open position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In addition the spine member 1 7 is pivotal between a closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and an upwardly extending open position as shown in Fig. 3. In the closed position the covering structures 1 8 are spaced from but overlie the load carrying surface 14 of the vehicle 10 to cover the load carried thereon.

In the case of a container the covering structures 1 8 can rest on the top edges of the container to retain therein the contents thereof during transportation. For containment purposes only the covering structures 18 may be open frameworks as shown, but if it is desirable or necessary to prevent small items, particulate materials or the like from being shaken or blown out of the container, or to prevent rain from contacting the load, the frames of covering structures 18 may themselves be covered with a sheet material of tarpaulin, plasticised canvas, polythene or the like. If a load other than a container is carried, or the vehicle 10 is not provided with a side walled body, such sheet material as covers the frames of covering structures 18 may be of a size such as to provide for side wall depending portions.The sheet material may of course be marked with advertising material for commercial vehicles or camouflage for military vehicles, if desired.

For container removal or for roll-on, roll-off skip removal the partly open position shown in Fig. 2 may be adequate, whilst for tipping of a load the fully open position shown in Fig.

3 is appropriate.

Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown means by which movement of the covering structures 18 and the spine member 17 between the closed and the open positions may be facilitated. Attached to each covering structure 1 8 is a spigot 1 9 snd an extension spring 20 extends between the spigots 1 8. In the closed position the covering structures 1 8 extend slightly downwardly from the spine member 1 7 so that the spring 20 is extended and then contracts as the covering structures 1 8 are moved between the open and closed positions. With such an arrangement the raising of one covering structure 1 8 can cause automatic raising of the other covering structure 1-8 if the size of the spring 20 is adequate.An extension spring 21 is provided to extend between a bracket 22 affixed to post 1 6 and the free end 23 of spine member 1 7.

The force in spring 22 will assist in raising the spine member 1 7 to the open position, acting as a counter-balance for the weight of the spine member 1 7 and the covering structures 18.

As an alternative to the above spring assisted arrangement the movement of the covering structures 18 8 and spine member 17 may be effected by means of hydraulic or pneumatic jacks 24, 25 as shown in Fig. 5.

Jack 24 extends between the spine member 1 7 and a pair of links 26 which are attached to covering structures 18. As can be seen in Fig. 5 and in the scrap views included therewith, extension of jack 24 moves the covering members 18 from the,closed to the open positions. Jack 25 extends between brackets 27, 28 on the post 1 6 and spine member 1 7 respectively and as can be seen from Fig. 5, extension of jack 25 raisss the spine member 17 from the closed to the open position.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7.there is again shown a vehicle 10 having a load carrying surface 14. Secured to each end of the load carrying surface is a frame 29 comprising uprights 30 and a cross-member 31 extending laterally of the vehicle 10. Extending longitudinally of vehicle 10 between the mid-points of cross-members 31 is a spine member 1 7 and hingedly attached to opposed sides of the spine member 1 7 are two covering structures 18. In this embodiment each covering structure 1 8 comprises a roof part 32 and a wall part 33 which are hingedly secured to each other. Raising of the wall part 33 causes raising of the respective roof part 32 so that access may be had to a load carried on the load carrying surface 14.Such raising of the wall and roof parts 33,32 may be effected by means of hydraulic or pnUma- tic jacks 34, as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, in that the part of each wall part 33 above the hinge line at which it is attached to the respective roof part 32 in the Figs 6 and 7 embodiment is dispensed with in the modified form shown in Fig. 8. Another possible modification is also illustrated in that in Fig. 8 the end frames 29 are secured to a load carrying surface 14 which may be that of vehicle 10 or may be independent of such vehicle. In this latter case the complete structure may be carried on the load carrying surface of a vehicle or may stand on the ground. If the structure is stood on the ground it may be used simply as a temporary storage enclosure which may be moved from place to place as required.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further erribodi- ment of cover which is similar to that of Figs.

6 to 8 except in that in this case the roof part 32. and the wall part 33 of each covering structure 1 8 are flat structures which are hinged to each other at their adjacent edges, i.e. at the upper corner of the structure, whereas in the previous embodiment the hinge lines were below the top corners of the structure. The effect of this difference is explained below. However Fig. 9 illustrates a further use to which either embodiment, i.e.

that of Figs. 6 to 8 and that ofFig. 9 and 10, can be put. The size of the structure may be such that it can stand upon the ground snd serve as a temporary shelter for a vehicle or any other article or articles. In such cases, particularly if the framework of each covering structure and/or end frame is covered with a clear polythene or the like material the cover may be used as a cold frame or greenhouse.

Particularly when the cover is not attached to a vehicle or when no hydraulic or pneumatic power is available the covering structures 18 of the embodiments of Figs. 6 to 8 or Fig.

9 may be raised with the assistance of springs 35, as shown in Fig. 10 in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 1 2 illustrate the effect of the differing hinge line positions between the embodiments of Figs. 6 to 8 and Figs. 9 and 10.

In the former case the raising of the wall part 33 of the covering structure 18 does not encroach on the load space 36 so that fully sized rectangular section loads can be carried on the load carrying surface 14. However during the raising of the covering structure 1 8 the wall part 33 moves outwardly as shown in Fig. 1 1 and this may or may not be a disadvantage depending upon the location of the cover. If there is something which prevents the wall part 33 from moving outwardly then the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 is suitable since there is little or no such outward movement in that case, as shown in Fig.

1 2. However movement of the wall part 33 does encroach on the load space 36 at 37 so that the effective load volume enclosed by the cover is reduced.

Referring now to Figs. 1 3 and 14 there is shown a vehicle 40 similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, and the parts of vehicle 40 are numbered correspondingly. The covering structures 1 8 are pivotal between the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 1 3 and the upstanding open position shown in Figs. 2 and 14. In this case however the post 1 6 is pivotal about a horizontal axis 38 in a direction laterally of the spine 17, so that the covering structures 1 8 and spine 1 7 are in a position to allow filling of the container or skip 1 3 from a hopper 39.If the angle of lateral displacement of post 1 6 is sufficient that spine 1 7 and covering structures 1 8 are to the side of container or skip 13, then the container or skip 1 3 may be tipped for emptying as shown in Fig. 3. In addition tilting of the post 1 6 to the extent that post 1 6 and covering structures 1 8 are shielded by the container or skip 1 3 or have little vertical extent will reduce considerably the wind loading on the structure if the vehicle 10 is parked in a side wind.

Alternatively or additionally to either the tilting of post 1 6 as shown in Figs. 1 3 and 14, or the upward pivoting of the spine 1 7 as shown in Fig. 3, the post 16 may include a swivel joint (not shown) so that it can pivot about its own longitudinal axis. This will enable the spine 1 7 and covering structures 1 8 to move down wind, when the covering structures are in an upwardly extending open position as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 1 3 or 14, thereby reducing the wind load on the structure if the vehicle 10 is parked in a side wind.

Claims (22)

1. A cover comprising at least one end frame structure disposed at one end of said cover, a spine member secured to the or each end frame structure to extend longitudinally of said cover, and a respective covering structure disposed to each side of said spine member to extend outwardly therefrom, said covering structures each being hingedly secured to said spine member so as to be movable upwardly relative thereto from a closed covering position to an upwardly extending open position.

2. A cover according to claim 1 wherein each covering structure comprises a covering frame and a sheet material covering said covering frame.

3. A cover according to claim 2 wherein said sheet material is non-rigid.

4. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the or each end frame structure is pivotally mounted on a support therefor so as to be pivotal laterally of said spine mem ber.

5. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising one end frame structure, wherein said spine member is pivotally attached to said end frame structure so as to be pivotal upwardly from a closed position, in which it extends transversely of said end frame structure, to an upwardly extending open position.

6. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising one end frame structure, wherein said end frame structure comprises a swivel joint wherein said spine member and covering structures may swivel about a substantially vertical axis.

7. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising a wall structure depending from each covering structure.

8. A cover according to claim 7 wherein each wall structure comprises a wall frame and a sheet material covering said wall frame.

9. A cover according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 3 wherein each covering frame and the respective wall frame depending therefrom are covered with a common sheet material.

1 0. A cover according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein at least a part of each wall structure is hingedly mounted relative to the respective covering structure.

11. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the or each end frame structure comprises an upstanding post.

1 2. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the or each end frame structure comprises a rectangular frame.

1 3. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 1 2 comprising spring means operable to bias said covering structures towards said closed covering position when they are to one side, and towards said upwardly extending open position when they are to the other side, of an unbiassed mid-position.

1 4. A cover according to any one of claims 1 to 1 2 comprising at least one piston/cylinder device operable to move said covering structures between said closed covering position and said upwardly extending open position.

1 5. A cover according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon comprising spring means operable to bias said spine towards said upwardly extending open position.

16. A cover according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon comprising a piston/cylinder device operable to move said spine between said closed position and said upwardly extending open position.

17. A vehicle having a load carrying surface and a cover according to any one of claims 1 to 1 6 overlying and spaced from said surface, wherein the or each frame structure is secured to said vehicle.

1 8. A vehicle according to claim 1 7 wherein said spine member extends longitudi nally of said vehicle, and said covering structures extend laterally thereof from said spine member, when in said closed covering position.

1 9. A vehicle according to claim 1 7 or claim 1 8 having arms secured thereto and chains operable to load or unload a container onto or from said load carrying surface.

20. A vehicle according to claim 1 7 or claim 18 wherein said load carrying surface is movable relative to the remainder of said vehicle to an inclined, load tipping, position.

21. A cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, Figs. 6 and 7 and Fig. 8 and Fig. 11, Figs. 9 and 10 and Fig. 12, or Figs. 13 and 14.

22. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 6 and 7, or Figs. 1 3 and 14.