CA1143412A - Cover assembly for truck body - Google Patents
Cover assembly for truck bodyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1143412A CA1143412A CA000354949A CA354949A CA1143412A CA 1143412 A CA1143412 A CA 1143412A CA 000354949 A CA000354949 A CA 000354949A CA 354949 A CA354949 A CA 354949A CA 1143412 A CA1143412 A CA 1143412A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- cover
- truck body
- cover assembly
- spring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
- B60J7/085—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position winding up, e.g. for utility vehicles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wrappers (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A cover assembly for an open top truck includes a cover defined by a sheet of tarpaulin or the like connected to the front end of the body, with longitudinally extending coil springs sewn therein for biasing the sheet into a rolled up position; and draw strings connected to the rear end of the tar-paulin sheet and passing around pulleys at the rear end of the body for pulling the sheet to the extended position in which it covers the open top end of the truck body. The assembly may also include a slightly domed cover support frame defined by a transversely extending truss, and longitudinally and transversely extending support rods on the open top end of the truck body.
A cover assembly for an open top truck includes a cover defined by a sheet of tarpaulin or the like connected to the front end of the body, with longitudinally extending coil springs sewn therein for biasing the sheet into a rolled up position; and draw strings connected to the rear end of the tar-paulin sheet and passing around pulleys at the rear end of the body for pulling the sheet to the extended position in which it covers the open top end of the truck body. The assembly may also include a slightly domed cover support frame defined by a transversely extending truss, and longitudinally and transversely extending support rods on the open top end of the truck body.
Description
~ 3~ 2 This invention relates to a cover assembly for a ~ruck body9 and in particular to a self-rolling cover for an open top truck body The patent art contains many examples of covers or cover assem-bl;es for open top truck bodies, including those disclosed by ~.S. Paten~s Nos.
759,62~, issued to N. Nicolai on May 10, 1904; 3,179,464, issued to F. M.
Mc~urney et al on April 20, 1965; 3,366,41~, issued to A. L. Thompson et al on January 30, 1968; 3,964,7~1, issued to R. R. Fenton on June 22, 1976; 4,030,780,issued to R. H. Petretti on June 21, 1977; 4,032,186, issued to P. A. Pickering et al on June 28, 1977; and 4,067,603, issued to R. R. Fenton on January 10, 1978. In general, the supports and the mechanisms for retracting and extending the covers are somewhat complicated, and consequently expensive to produce and install. Moreover, in every case, it is necessary to provicle a source of power or a strong winding device to move the cover between the retracted position, in which the truck body is uncovered and the extended position, in which the truck body is covered.
The object of the present invention is to solve, or at 1east allevi-ate some of the problems encountered with available truck body covers by providing a relatively simple, at least partially self-rolling cover assembly for a truck body.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a cover assembly for an open top truck body comprising cover means including sheet means for covering open top of the truck body, spring means attached to said sheet means biasing said sheet means to a rolled or retracted position, and draw string means for causing`said spring and sheet means to unroll to an extended position, whereby, when the cover is placed on a truck body with one end of the sheet means and spring meansattached to one end of said body, the sheet means and spring means normally assume the retracted position, and pulling of said draw string means causes the spring and sheet means to assume the extended position in which the sheet means covers the truck body.
In a further aspect of the invention, the cover assembly includes 3~2 cover support means for mounting on the open top of a truck body, said support means may include a truss extending transversely of the open top of said truck body and transversely extending rods supported by said truss, whereby said truss and rods define a slightly domed support for the cover.
The invention will now be described in grea~er detail with refer-ence to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preFerred embodiment oF
the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a truck body with a cover assembly in accordance with the present invention mounted thereon, with a cover in the retracted position;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the ~ruck body and cover assembly of Figure 1, with the cover in the extended position;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a cover For use in the cover assembly of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a perspective view from above o~ the truck body and cover assembly of Figure 1, with the cover in the extended position, i.e. cover-ing the truck body.
: With reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the cover assembly of the present invention includes a support in the form of elements which are mounted on an open top truck body 1. The truck body l is defîned by a bottom wall 2, side walls 3, front wall 4, and rear wall 5. As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the support members include a truss 6 ex-tending transversely of the open top 7 of the truck body 1, between the centers of top edges 8 of the side walls 3. Ends 9 of the truss 6 are connected to such top edges 8 by screws 10. The centers of a pair of longitudinally extending guide and support rods 11 are supported by the truss 6 near each side thereof, approximately one quarter the distance in from each side wall 3 of the truck body 1. The ends of the rods 11 are mounted in brackets 12 on the front and rear end walls 4 and 5, respectively of the truck body 1. A plurality of ad-ditional support rods 13 extend transversely of the truck body 1 between the
759,62~, issued to N. Nicolai on May 10, 1904; 3,179,464, issued to F. M.
Mc~urney et al on April 20, 1965; 3,366,41~, issued to A. L. Thompson et al on January 30, 1968; 3,964,7~1, issued to R. R. Fenton on June 22, 1976; 4,030,780,issued to R. H. Petretti on June 21, 1977; 4,032,186, issued to P. A. Pickering et al on June 28, 1977; and 4,067,603, issued to R. R. Fenton on January 10, 1978. In general, the supports and the mechanisms for retracting and extending the covers are somewhat complicated, and consequently expensive to produce and install. Moreover, in every case, it is necessary to provicle a source of power or a strong winding device to move the cover between the retracted position, in which the truck body is uncovered and the extended position, in which the truck body is covered.
The object of the present invention is to solve, or at 1east allevi-ate some of the problems encountered with available truck body covers by providing a relatively simple, at least partially self-rolling cover assembly for a truck body.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a cover assembly for an open top truck body comprising cover means including sheet means for covering open top of the truck body, spring means attached to said sheet means biasing said sheet means to a rolled or retracted position, and draw string means for causing`said spring and sheet means to unroll to an extended position, whereby, when the cover is placed on a truck body with one end of the sheet means and spring meansattached to one end of said body, the sheet means and spring means normally assume the retracted position, and pulling of said draw string means causes the spring and sheet means to assume the extended position in which the sheet means covers the truck body.
In a further aspect of the invention, the cover assembly includes 3~2 cover support means for mounting on the open top of a truck body, said support means may include a truss extending transversely of the open top of said truck body and transversely extending rods supported by said truss, whereby said truss and rods define a slightly domed support for the cover.
The invention will now be described in grea~er detail with refer-ence to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preFerred embodiment oF
the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a truck body with a cover assembly in accordance with the present invention mounted thereon, with a cover in the retracted position;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the ~ruck body and cover assembly of Figure 1, with the cover in the extended position;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a cover For use in the cover assembly of Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a perspective view from above o~ the truck body and cover assembly of Figure 1, with the cover in the extended position, i.e. cover-ing the truck body.
: With reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the cover assembly of the present invention includes a support in the form of elements which are mounted on an open top truck body 1. The truck body l is defîned by a bottom wall 2, side walls 3, front wall 4, and rear wall 5. As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the support members include a truss 6 ex-tending transversely of the open top 7 of the truck body 1, between the centers of top edges 8 of the side walls 3. Ends 9 of the truss 6 are connected to such top edges 8 by screws 10. The centers of a pair of longitudinally extending guide and support rods 11 are supported by the truss 6 near each side thereof, approximately one quarter the distance in from each side wall 3 of the truck body 1. The ends of the rods 11 are mounted in brackets 12 on the front and rear end walls 4 and 5, respectively of the truck body 1. A plurality of ad-ditional support rods 13 extend transversely of the truck body 1 between the
- 2 -side walls 3. The rods 13, which are located between the truss 6 and the end walls 4 and 5, extend over the longitudinally extending rods 11.
The truss 6, and the rods 11 and 13 form a generally curving, sub-stantially convex frame work, which preferably domes at the top center oF the truck body 1 for supporting a cover generally indicated at 15 in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The cover 15 is a rectangular sheet 16 of tarpaulin with eyelets 17 along each side for securing the sheet in the extended position (Figure ~) over the open top 7 of the truck body 1. The front end 18 of the sheet 16 is securedto the front ~ of the truck body 1 by straps 19. As illustrated in Figure 3, a pair of substantially flat, elongate coil springs 20 are sewn into the sheet 16. One end of each spring 20 may be secured to the top eclge o-f the front wall4 of the truck body 1 by a bracket 21 (Figure 1). The springs 20 extend longi-tudinally of the cover 15 for biasing the sheet 16 into the retracted or rolled position (Figure 1).
Rods 22 (one shown) are, in the preferred embodiment, also sewn into pockets 23 in the sheet 16. The rads 22 extend transversely of the sheet for facilitating the formation of a roll 24. While the drawings show rods 22 near rear end 25 only of the sheet, such rods are advantageously provided along the length of the sheet 16. At~he rear end 25 of the sheet 16, the rods 22 are close to each other, but there are larger spaces between such rods 22 at the front end 18 of the sheet. It will be appreciated that as the sheet 16 rolls forwardly from the rear end 25, the rods 22 form a core in the same manner as a cardboard core in a roll of paper or carpet. Also sewn into the sheet 16 on the ends of the rods 22 are plastic end cap or tubes 26 (one shown) which reducethe possibility of tearing the sheet 16 during rolling or unrolling ~retracting or extending). Helical springs 27 with hooks 28 at their outer free ends are provided on the ends of some of the rods 22 which project outwardly through the sheet 16 so that the ends of the roll 23 formed by the sheet 16 in the retractedposition can be folded to form a tidy roll.
In the embodiment, according to Figure 1, cover 15 in its retracted ~3~
pocition, forms a roll which sits on top of the truck body. However, it is to be accepted that in certain circumstances, it may be required tc position the roll in an out-of~the-way location, for example, between the cab of the vehicle and the truck body in the case of a separate tractor trailer combination. In this case, it would simply be necessary to replace brackets 21 with a hinge member which would permit the cover 15, in its rolled state, to be pivoted about the hinge member into a stored position. This would also provide For un-obstructed access to the interior of the tractor or trailer body.
In the preferred embodiment, rings 29 are provided on the rearmost transverse rod 22 -For securing a pair of draw strings or ropes 30 to the rod.
The draw strings 30 extend around pulleys 31 on the top edge of the rear wall 5 of the truck body 1, and around pulleys 32 on the top edge of one side wall 3 of the body 1 to cleats 33 near the Front oF such side wall 3 for securing the cover 15 in any position. In the extended position (Figure 4) the sides and rear end 25 of the sheet 16 are held down by standard rubber straps 34.
In operation, with the cover 15 in the closed or extended position (Figure 4), the draw strings 30 are released from the cleats 33 and slowly Fed out to permit the sheet 16 to roll to the retracted or rolled position (Figure 1). During rolling, the sheet 16 under the action of the springs 20, rolls in-to roll 24 at the front oF the truck body. The springs 30 are secured around ; the cleats 33, and the truck body 1 is Filled, i.e. w;th grain. Upon completion of a filling operation, the strings are disconnected from the cleats 33 and pulled to cause the sheet 16 to unroll to the extended position. The strings 30 are again secured around the cleats 33, and the sides and rear end 25 of the sheet 16 are secured to the truck body using the straps 34.
Thus, there has been described a relatively simple, self-rolling cover for an open top truck body. While the sheet has been defined as being tarpaulin, it will be appreciated that other materials can be used in the cover sheet.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing descrip-tion. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art, the manner of carrying out the invention. It is further understood that the fom of the in-vention herewith shown and described is to be talcen as the presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in -the shape, size and general arrange-ment of components, for example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts may be used independently of the use of other features, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefits of the description of the invention.
The truss 6, and the rods 11 and 13 form a generally curving, sub-stantially convex frame work, which preferably domes at the top center oF the truck body 1 for supporting a cover generally indicated at 15 in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The cover 15 is a rectangular sheet 16 of tarpaulin with eyelets 17 along each side for securing the sheet in the extended position (Figure ~) over the open top 7 of the truck body 1. The front end 18 of the sheet 16 is securedto the front ~ of the truck body 1 by straps 19. As illustrated in Figure 3, a pair of substantially flat, elongate coil springs 20 are sewn into the sheet 16. One end of each spring 20 may be secured to the top eclge o-f the front wall4 of the truck body 1 by a bracket 21 (Figure 1). The springs 20 extend longi-tudinally of the cover 15 for biasing the sheet 16 into the retracted or rolled position (Figure 1).
Rods 22 (one shown) are, in the preferred embodiment, also sewn into pockets 23 in the sheet 16. The rads 22 extend transversely of the sheet for facilitating the formation of a roll 24. While the drawings show rods 22 near rear end 25 only of the sheet, such rods are advantageously provided along the length of the sheet 16. At~he rear end 25 of the sheet 16, the rods 22 are close to each other, but there are larger spaces between such rods 22 at the front end 18 of the sheet. It will be appreciated that as the sheet 16 rolls forwardly from the rear end 25, the rods 22 form a core in the same manner as a cardboard core in a roll of paper or carpet. Also sewn into the sheet 16 on the ends of the rods 22 are plastic end cap or tubes 26 (one shown) which reducethe possibility of tearing the sheet 16 during rolling or unrolling ~retracting or extending). Helical springs 27 with hooks 28 at their outer free ends are provided on the ends of some of the rods 22 which project outwardly through the sheet 16 so that the ends of the roll 23 formed by the sheet 16 in the retractedposition can be folded to form a tidy roll.
In the embodiment, according to Figure 1, cover 15 in its retracted ~3~
pocition, forms a roll which sits on top of the truck body. However, it is to be accepted that in certain circumstances, it may be required tc position the roll in an out-of~the-way location, for example, between the cab of the vehicle and the truck body in the case of a separate tractor trailer combination. In this case, it would simply be necessary to replace brackets 21 with a hinge member which would permit the cover 15, in its rolled state, to be pivoted about the hinge member into a stored position. This would also provide For un-obstructed access to the interior of the tractor or trailer body.
In the preferred embodiment, rings 29 are provided on the rearmost transverse rod 22 -For securing a pair of draw strings or ropes 30 to the rod.
The draw strings 30 extend around pulleys 31 on the top edge of the rear wall 5 of the truck body 1, and around pulleys 32 on the top edge of one side wall 3 of the body 1 to cleats 33 near the Front oF such side wall 3 for securing the cover 15 in any position. In the extended position (Figure 4) the sides and rear end 25 of the sheet 16 are held down by standard rubber straps 34.
In operation, with the cover 15 in the closed or extended position (Figure 4), the draw strings 30 are released from the cleats 33 and slowly Fed out to permit the sheet 16 to roll to the retracted or rolled position (Figure 1). During rolling, the sheet 16 under the action of the springs 20, rolls in-to roll 24 at the front oF the truck body. The springs 30 are secured around ; the cleats 33, and the truck body 1 is Filled, i.e. w;th grain. Upon completion of a filling operation, the strings are disconnected from the cleats 33 and pulled to cause the sheet 16 to unroll to the extended position. The strings 30 are again secured around the cleats 33, and the sides and rear end 25 of the sheet 16 are secured to the truck body using the straps 34.
Thus, there has been described a relatively simple, self-rolling cover for an open top truck body. While the sheet has been defined as being tarpaulin, it will be appreciated that other materials can be used in the cover sheet.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing descrip-tion. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art, the manner of carrying out the invention. It is further understood that the fom of the in-vention herewith shown and described is to be talcen as the presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in -the shape, size and general arrange-ment of components, for example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts may be used independently of the use of other features, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefits of the description of the invention.
Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A cover assembly for an open top truck body compris-ing domed support means for mounting on the top of a truck body;
and cover means; said cover means including sheet means for covering said support means and said open top of the truck body with the cover resting on said support means; spring means attached to said sheet means biasing said sheet means to a rolled or retracted position, and draw string means for causing said spring and sheet means to unroll to an extended position, whereby, when the cover is placed on a truck body with one end of the sheet means and spring means attached to one end of said body, the sheet means and spring means normally assume the retracted position, and pulling of said draw string means causes the spring and sheet means to assume the extended position in which the sheet means covers the truck body.
and cover means; said cover means including sheet means for covering said support means and said open top of the truck body with the cover resting on said support means; spring means attached to said sheet means biasing said sheet means to a rolled or retracted position, and draw string means for causing said spring and sheet means to unroll to an extended position, whereby, when the cover is placed on a truck body with one end of the sheet means and spring means attached to one end of said body, the sheet means and spring means normally assume the retracted position, and pulling of said draw string means causes the spring and sheet means to assume the extended position in which the sheet means covers the truck body.
2. A cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support means includes a truss extending transversely of the open top of said truck body; and longitudinally and transversely extending rods supported by said truss, said truss and rods defining a slightly domed cover support.
3. A cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover means includes cross bars attached to said sheet means substantially perpendicular to said spring means for facilitating rolling of the sheet means.
4. A cover assembly according to claim 1, including pulley means for mounting on said truck body for receiving said draw string means to facilitate pulling of said draw string means.
5. A cover assembly according to claim 3, including a plurality of cross bars near said one end of said sheet means, whereby the cross bars near said one end form a core for the rolled sheet means in the rolled position.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000354949A CA1143412A (en) | 1980-06-26 | 1980-06-26 | Cover assembly for truck body |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000354949A CA1143412A (en) | 1980-06-26 | 1980-06-26 | Cover assembly for truck body |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1143412A true CA1143412A (en) | 1983-03-22 |
Family
ID=4117286
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000354949A Expired CA1143412A (en) | 1980-06-26 | 1980-06-26 | Cover assembly for truck body |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1143412A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4659134A (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1987-04-21 | Johnson Roy R | Roll up tarp assembly |
| US4707018A (en) * | 1986-02-07 | 1987-11-17 | Irvin Industries, Inc. | Free standing sunshade assembly |
| US4776625A (en) * | 1987-03-23 | 1988-10-11 | Irvin Industries, Inc. | Cargo cover accessory |
| AT390240B (en) * | 1987-07-02 | 1990-04-10 | Jocham Hans | COVER FOR CONTAINERS |
| US5125713A (en) * | 1991-08-28 | 1992-06-30 | Larry Willingham | Cover for open topped compartments which is movable between stowed and covering positions |
| NL2009484C2 (en) * | 2012-09-18 | 2014-03-19 | Kraker Trailers Axel B V | ROOF DEVICE AND TRAILER. |
| FR3018237A1 (en) * | 2014-03-06 | 2015-09-11 | Legras Ind | DEVICE FOR COVERING BUCKET BY WINDING AND SPINNING |
-
1980
- 1980-06-26 CA CA000354949A patent/CA1143412A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4659134A (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1987-04-21 | Johnson Roy R | Roll up tarp assembly |
| US4707018A (en) * | 1986-02-07 | 1987-11-17 | Irvin Industries, Inc. | Free standing sunshade assembly |
| US4776625A (en) * | 1987-03-23 | 1988-10-11 | Irvin Industries, Inc. | Cargo cover accessory |
| AT390240B (en) * | 1987-07-02 | 1990-04-10 | Jocham Hans | COVER FOR CONTAINERS |
| US5125713A (en) * | 1991-08-28 | 1992-06-30 | Larry Willingham | Cover for open topped compartments which is movable between stowed and covering positions |
| NL2009484C2 (en) * | 2012-09-18 | 2014-03-19 | Kraker Trailers Axel B V | ROOF DEVICE AND TRAILER. |
| FR3018237A1 (en) * | 2014-03-06 | 2015-09-11 | Legras Ind | DEVICE FOR COVERING BUCKET BY WINDING AND SPINNING |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |