US 2011/0254310 A1Published application

Device for manipulating a tarpaulin

OwnerReal Royerinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A device for manipulating a tarpaulin across a top aperture of a container, the tarpaulin defining a tarpaulin first end section and a substantially opposed tarpaulin second end section, the container defining a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly from the bottom wall, the peripheral wall delimiting the top aperture substantially opposed to the bottom wall, the container defining substantially opposed container first and second ends, the tarpaulin first end section being secured to the container substantially adjacent to the container first end. The device includes: at least two arms defining respective substantially opposed arm bottom and top sections, the arm bottom sections being each pivotally coupled to the container through a respective pivot, the pivots being provided at substantially spaced apart locations along the container between the container first and second ends substantially adjacent to the bottom wall, each of the arms being pivotable about the respective pivot between respective arm first and second positions, the arm top section of each of the arms being closer to the container first end in the arm first positions than in the arm second positions; at least two tarpaulin mounting elements each extending from a respective one of the arms substantially adjacent the arm top sections for securing the tarpaulin thereto; at least two biasing element each operatively coupled to a respective one of the arms for biasing independently from each other each of the arms toward the arm first positions; and an actuator for selectively moving the arms between the arm first and second positions.

A device for manipulating a tarpaulin across a top aperture of a container, said tarpaulin defining a tarpaulin first end section and a substantially opposed tarpaulin second end section, said container defining a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly from said bottom wall, said peripheral wall delimiting said top aperture substantially opposed to said bottom wall, said container defining substantially opposed container first and second ends, said tarpaulin first end section being secured to said container substantially adjacent to said container first end, said device comprising:

at least two arms each defining respective substantially opposed arm bottom and top sections, said arm bottom sections being each pivotally coupled to said container through a respective pivot, said pivots being provided at substantially spaced apart locations along said container between said container first and second ends substantially adjacent to said bottom wall, each of said arms being pivotable about said respective pivot between respective arm first and second positions, said arm top section of each of said arms being closer to said container first end in said arm first positions than in said arm second positions;
at least two tarpaulin mounting elements each extending from a respective one of said arms substantially adjacent said arm top sections, said tarpaulin being securable to said tarpaulin mounting elements;
at least two biasing element each operatively coupled to a respective one of said arms for biasing independently from each other each of said arms toward said arm first positions;
and
an actuator for selectively moving said arms between said arm first and second positions;
whereby said tarpaulin is configurable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein, in said extended configuration, said arms are in said arm second positions and said tarpaulin substantially covers said top aperture, and in said retracted configuration, said arms are in said arms first positions and said tarpaulin is substantially retracted from said top aperture.

3 more elements

Abstract

Claims16