Tarpaulin bracket system
AssigneePrecision Tarp Inc.
InventorJohnny Philavong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tarpaulin system for an open cargo hold. The tarpaulin system includes a tarpaulin, a plurality of bows, a plurality of connectors, a cable, and a tail end system. The plurality of connectors connects the plurality of bows to the cable while the tarpaulin is draped atop the plurality of bows. The tarpaulin bracket system allows for quick, and easy, replacement, or fixing, of the plurality of connectors or damaged bows allowing for much easier and efficient replacement while traveling in harsh environments.
Claims10
A connector for attaching a bow to a cable assembly in a movable tarpaulin system, the connector comprising:
- a first plate member having a planar surface with an aperture, two opposing upturned sidewalls along at least a portion of opposing sides of the planar surface so as to define a channel, and a first curved flange portion extending in a curve from an end of the planar surface positioned between the upturned sidewalls;
- a second plate member having a planar surface with an aperture therein and a second curved flange portion extending in a curve from the planar surface along an end;
- a fastener for connecting the first and second plate members to a bow;
- wherein the apertures in the respective planar surfaces of the first and second plate members align with one another and an aperture in an end of a bow to allow the fastener to pass through the three aligned apertures so as to sandwich the end of the bow between the first and second plate members, and
- wherein when the apertures are aligned, the first curved flange portion of the first plate member and the second curved flange portion of the second plate member form a cylindrical passage.
A tarpaulin bracket system for attachment to an open cargo hold for a vehicle, the tarpaulin bracket system comprising:
- a cable system comprising a right and left first end pulleys, right and left second end pulleys, a first cable connecting the right first end pulley to a right second end pulley, a second cable connecting the left first end pulley to the left second end pulley, and a drive for moving the right and left first end pulleys simultaneously;
- a plurality of bows for supporting a tarpaulin and having an aperture in each of two opposing ends;
- a plurality of connectors, wherein a first end of each bow is detachably connected to the first cable by a connector and a second end of each bow is detachably connected to the second cable by a connector;
- wherein each connector comprises:
- a first plate member having a planar surface with an aperture, two opposing upturned sidewalls along at least a portion of opposing sides of the planar surface so as to define a channel, and a first curved flange portion extending in a curve from an end of the planar surface positioned between the upturned sidewalls;
- a second plate member having a planar surface with an aperture therein and a second curved flange portion extending in a curve from the planar surface along an end;
- a fastener for connecting the first and second plate members to a bow from the plurality of bows;
- wherein the apertures in the respective planar surfaces of the first and second plate members align with one another and an aperture in an end of a bow from the plurality of bows to allow the fastener to pass through the three aligned apertures so as to sandwich the end of the bow between the first and second plate members, and
- wherein the first curved flange portion of the first plate member and the second curved flange portion of the second plate member form a cylindrical passage through which one of either the first cable or the second cable is positioned during use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.