GB2495336A - Impermeable cover for stacked building materials - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided an impermeable shroud for outdoor use arranged to surround and cover a cuboid form structure, including handles 1 that may be extended beyond the structure's footprint in use. The handles may include extra weighting. Preferably, the shroud is formed from three main covering panels 2, joined by two seams 3, and having two handles. The shroud is preferably formed of woven polypropylene. The shroud may be used to cover a stack of building materials such as bricks or blocks.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

JOEY SHORT

FOR

AN IMPERMEABLE SHROUD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an impermeable shroud, more particularly an impermeable shroud for outdoor use.

Background

In many societies as prices of real estate rise and price of labour falls there is an increasing prevalence of home improvement.

Many homes or business owners are working on their properties, expanding, redecorating and remodelling their buildings.

At the same time, due to a lack of housing in many societies, those who are able are attempting to climb property ladders, and it is becoming increasingly difficult. In particular in northern climes where there is a preponderance of solidly built buildings, such as stone, concrete block or brick built, new buildings and home improvements can be very costly.

In particular this can be due to the cost of materials such as brick.

For example, in northern climes, and to an increasing degree, weather patterns are unpredictable and extreme.

Valuable building materials left outside may easily be damaged by an unexpected burst of inclement weather. At best the bricks are then made wet and may be unsuitable for use until they have dried.

Furthermore uncovered bricks also pose a safety risk as they are easier to get knocked and toppled, which can be particularly dangerous on scaffolding.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: Granted United States patent US 7 784 480 (SY-FACUNDA) discloses a collapsible canopy shelter including a plurality of corner support members and expandable and collapsible eaves connecting the plurality of corner support members such that the collapsible canopy has an expanded position and a collapsed position, the collapsible canopy shelter, comprising: a canopy cover, the canopy cover having at least one collapsible flap adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, such that the collapsible flap provides a ventilation path from the shelter when in the open position; and a canopy frame including a cover support member to support the canopy cover, the canopy frame comprising at least one pivoting support to open and close the at least one collapsible flap.

International patent application WO 2007 027 167 (GLYNJOS) discloses a protective tarp for covering a mass, which consists essentially of: a flat, flexible sheet material having a top and bottom and having a peripheral edge; a plurality of unconnected tank compartment anchors perrnanently attached to a said protective tarp and being separate and apart from one another and said peripheral edge, each of said plurality of tank component anchors having at least one fill orifice and having closure means for said at least one fill orifice and being arranged in a predetermined pattern.

Granted united States patent us 6 966 152 (GLYNOS) discloses a protective tarp for covering a mass, which cornprises: a flat, flexible sheet material having a top and a bottom and having a peripheral edge; a plurality of tank compartment anchors located along said peripheral edge and having at least one fill orifice and having closure means for said at least one fill orifice.

united States patent application US 4 682 447 (OSBORN) discloses a lightweight tarpaulin and weighting structure for superposition over an object or on a surface area, comprising, in combination; (a)a tarpaulin body portion constituted of a flexible sheet material, said sheet material having a plurality of apertures formed therein and spaced along the periphery of said body portion; (b)a plurality of disc-shaped gromrnets. each said grommet having a circular central opening therein and being adhesively fastened to said flexible sheet material such that the circular opening of the grommet is in alignment with respectively one of said apertures in said sheet material; (c)said weighting structure for said tarpaulin comprising a plurality of hollow container means tillable with a weighting material each being detachably fastened to respectively one of said grommets, each said container means including a cylindrical externally-threaded neck portion having an open end forming a filling spout, said externally-threaded neck portion being adapted to threadingly engage the inner circumference of the grommet aperture associated therewith; and closure cap means having an internal thread for sealingly engaging the threaded neck portion of said container means extending through said grommet aperture.

Granted Australian patent AU 552 571 (MONTGOMERY) discloses a shelter including: a cover having substantially rectangular corner' sections of fabric which is unstable on the bias, means for supporting the cover at the innermost corners of the corner sections, tensioning means, and attachment means for attaching the tensioning means to the outermost corners of the corner sections to stretch such corner sections on the bias in a downward direction relative to the point or points at which the shelter cover is supported.

In contrast the present invention provides an easily stowable, easily transportable and usable way of protecting stacks of blocks or bricks from adverse weather or conditions.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an impermeable shroud for outdoor use arranged to surround and cover a cubiform structure, including handles that may be extended beyond the structure's footprint in use.

In preferred embodiments this shroud is formed in woven polypropylene which material allows the shroud to have a strong and durable finish, resistant to water ingress andfor temperature variation.

The structure typically to be covered in use will be a stack or pile of bricks, although embodiments may be provided for blocks.

Further embodiments may use further materials, such as breathable waxed cotton webbing, and some embodiments may comprise a plurality of materials.

Also for example some embodiments may include further materials or substances such as wherein the handles are stuffed, filled with, include or contain a substance that provides weighting to the handles.

In preferred embodiments the handles serve to hold the shroud over the structure, by weighting it down and consequently preventing uplifts of air or wind, reaching beneath or being channelled under the shroud in use.

Therefore in use it may be envisaged that preferably the handles are located proximate to the ground in use.

Typically the handles may then have weighting applied or included to maintain them proximate to the ground under various circumstances.

In preferred embodiments the handles are at the shroud's periphery, wherein when not in use the shroud is a bag, with two handles at its own neck, and with a square or rectangular distal end.

In use this end forms one of five faces to the bag, wherein a sixth face is in use distal to the end, and open.

Preferably in order that a rectangular cuboid structure is effectively and comprehensively covered by the shroud it is envisaged that the shroud is provided with seams and/or panels that define and surround a rectangular cuboid lacuna.

This may be achieved typically by a shroud that is formed of at least three panels and at least two seams.

According to a second aspect of the present invention all faces of the shroud are substantially planar in use, the format combining with the material to provide flat, un-creased planes that are ideal for displaying safety, advertising and/or branding messages.

The shroud ideally will collapse or flatten for storage or transport, wherein the handles extend beyond the flattened bag so that the user may carry the shroud.

In some embodiments the shroud may include press studs or other connectors for attaching a folded bag to itself. these connectors are typically half way along the face or seam, in order that the shroud may be folded in half.

The seams will preferably run along a corner of the covered structure in order to ensure a tight fit.

These seams are ideally double seams, stitched andfor glued to minimise water ingress and any likelihood of tearing, for example wherein the panel is folded over the seam and stitched through.

In preferred embodiments three faces are formed from one panel, wherein the panel is passed over the top of the structure in use and seamed along its longest sides.

Further embodiments may use five panels with five seams wherein ton at least three sides of every face the panel is seamed at its periphery.

Some embodiments may have ventilation or aeration holes or spaces in the faces or panels.

Preferably such holes are shielded, cowled or otherwise disposed to prevent ingress of water from above when in use.

In some embodiments, pleats, folds or concertina parts may be provided in order to enable a user to ruck up the shroud in use, such as where a structure, or stack or pile of bricks, may be accommodated at varying heights, such as where the bricks are used through a day but not finished by the end.

Yet further embodiments may include zippers along the seams, so that the shroud can be reduced in size as appropriate to the size of stacked bricks.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the shroud; And Figure 2 shows a front view of a collapsed or flattened embodiment.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment discloses a weather and safety cover for bricks and blocks that are left outside after delivery, stacked and ready for bricklaying. Harsh weather conditions can cause delays in bricklaying due to wet or frozen bricks. This also requires the bricklayers to find makeshift covers.

The handles (1). panels (2) and seams (3) in the pictured embodiment are manufactured from woven polypropylene. The shroud therefore gives protection against wind, rain and snow or frost.

The size of the pictured embodiment is ideal for stacks of 96 standard sized bricks.

Embodiments may be toleranced to fit both metric and imperial bricks.

In further embodiments and in order to increase ease of transport or storage press studs, buttons, zippers, hook and loop portions or other means of fastening one section of the flattened shroud to another may be included.

Placing bricks on the handles ensures that the brick stacks stay covered and protected for future use.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. An impermeable shroud for outdoor use arranged to surround and cover a cubiform structure, including handles that may be extended beyond the structure's footprint in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A shroud according to claim 1 wherein the handles include extra weighting.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A shroud according to claims I or 2 including intermediately spaced fastening means.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A shroud according to claims 1, 2 or 3 formed of three main covering panels, joined by two seams and having two handles.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A shroud according to any preceding claim formed of woven polypropylene.B</claim-text>