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US 11,529,853 B2Granted
Modular containment system and method
OwnerAaron D. Deckard, Jason L. Bennett +1inventors
InventorsAaron D. Deckard, Jason L. Bennett, Terrence D. Moncure
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method operable with a vehicle to selectively enclose a portion of the vehicle with a containment system. The containment system may be optional and/or configurable by a user. The containment system may be modular or configurable and may be used to cover any appropriate portion of the vehicle.
Claims31
A configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame assembly configured to be connected to an upper surface of the vehicle;
- a panel member having a frame connection system configured to couple the panel member to the frame assembly;
- an extension assembly connected to the frame assembly having a flexible side to expand and enclose an area between the frame assembly and the panel member;
- and
- a vehicle connection system configured to selectively connect the panel member to the vehicle and at least partially enclose a volume of the vehicle;
- wherein the extension assembly connected to the frame assembly having a flexible side to expand and enclose an area between the frame assembly and the panel member, comprises:
- a movement assembly to move the panel member away from the frame assembly;
- wherein the flexible side includes a fabric that expands as the movement assembly moves the panel member.
5 more elements
A configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- a panel member;
- and
- a vehicle connection system configured to selectively connect the panel member to the vehicle and at least partially enclose a volume of the vehicle;
- a frame assembly comprising:
- a first longitudinal frame member;
- a second longitudinal frame member;
- a first vertical frame member;
- a first horizontal frame member;
- and
- a second vertical member;
- wherein the frame assembly forms a panel receiving section by connection pf the first longitudinal frame member, the first vertical frame member, the second longitudinal frame member, and the second vertical member;
- and
- a frame connection system that includes a C-shaped channel extending from the panel member configured to engage at least one of the first longitudinal frame member, the first vertical frame member, the second longitudinal frame member, or the second vertical member.
10 more elements
A configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame assembly configured to be connected to an upper surface of the vehicle;
- a panel member having a frame connection system configured to couple the panel member to the frame assembly;
- an extension assembly connected to the frame assembly having a flexible side to expand and enclose an area between the frame assembly and the panel member;
- and
- a vehicle connection system configured to selectively connect the panel member to the vehicle and at least partially enclose a volume of the vehicle;
- wherein the panel member comprises a plurality of panel members;
- wherein the plurality of panel members includes at least one side panel and at least one top panel;
- wherein the at least one side panel comprises at least four side panels to enclose a perimeter of the selected volume.
5 more elements
A configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame assembly configured to be connected to an upper surface of the vehicle;
- a panel member having a frame connection system configured to couple the panel member to the frame assembly;
- an extension assembly connected to the frame assembly having a flexible side to expand and enclose an area between the frame assembly and the panel member;
- and
- a vehicle connection system configured to selectively connect the panel member to the vehicle and at least partially enclose a volume of the vehicle;
- wherein the panel member comprises a plurality of panel members;
- wherein the plurality of panel members includes at least one side panel and at least one top panel;
- wherein the at least one top panel includes a first top panel member and a second top panel member;
- wherein the first top panel member and the second top panel member are configurable in at least one of (i) a covering position when at least both the first top panel member and the second top panel member are connected to the frame assembly or (ii) an open position when less than both of the first top panel member and the second top panel member are connected to the frame assembly.
6 more elements
A method of forming a configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a frame assembly including a plurality of frame members, wherein at least a sub-plurality of frame members of the plurality of frame members are configured to be fixedly connected to the vehicle and define a side portion extending from the vehicle and an open top portion;
- providing a panel member configured to be connected to at least a portion of the frame assembly to cover at least a portion of the top portion over a void defined by the frame assembly;
- configuring the provided panel member to move relative to the provided frame assembly to move between an enclosed configuration and an open configuration over the top portion;
- configuring the frame assembly to be connected to the vehicle to cover at least a portion of a volume of the vehicle;
- providing the panel member as a first panel member and a second panel member;
- wherein both the first panel member and the second panel member are configured to move between the enclosed configuration and the open configuration over the top portion.
3 more elements
A method of forming a configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- assembling a plurality of frame members into a frame assembly having a side and a top above the vehicle and defining a void within the frame assembly;
- connecting the frame assembly to the vehicle to cover at least a portion of a volume of the vehicle;
- connecting a top panel member to at least a portion of the frame assembly to at least one of at least partially cover the top of the void defined by the frame assembly and entirely cover the top of the void defined by the frame assembly;
- wherein at least the top panel member is a flexible panel member that is operable to be rolled or folded to at least partially cover the top and unrolled or unfolded to entirely cover the top.
1 more element
A method of forming a configurable cover operable to be connected to a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a frame assembly configured to be connected to and extending from the vehicle and define a top void;
- providing a first panel member and a second panel member;
- configuring the first panel member and the second panel member to be hingedly connected to at least a portion of the provided frame assembly and to selectively extend over the top void;
- and
- configuring at least one panel of the second panel to hingedly move between a closed configuration and an open configuration;
- wherein the open configuration at least a portion of the top void is open.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.