Covering apparatus for open-topped containers
AssigneeWastequip, LLC
InventorNicholas W. Alder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring-loaded covering apparatus. The covering apparatus can include a drive screw and a carriage threadably engaged with the drive screw. Rotation of the drive screw can affect translation of the carriage, such that the position of the carriage is adjustable along the length of the drive screw. Moreover, the carriage can include a spring, which can be attached to the extendable cover via a pivot arm. The cover can be wound onto a roller and, when a length of the cover is unwound from the roller, the spring can pivot the arm to pull the cover into an extended configuration.
Claims26
An apparatus for moving a cover over a bed of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a pair of longitudinal drive screws positionable on opposite lateral sides of the bed;
- a pair of motors, wherein each of the motors is coupled to one of the longitudinal drive screws;
- a pair of longitudinally translatable carriages, wherein each of the longitudinally translatable carriages is threadably engaged with one of the longitudinal drive screws;
- and
- a pair of spring-loaded arms, wherein each of the arms extends from one of the longitudinally translatable carriages, and wherein each of the arms is attachable to the cover.
An apparatus for moving a cover over a bed of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a longitudinal drive screw;
- a motor coupled to the longitudinal drive screw;
- a longitudinally translatable carriage threadably engaged with the longitudinal drive screw, wherein the longitudinally translatable carriage comprises a spring-loaded attachment element, and wherein the longitudinally translatable carriage is configured to translate along the longitudinal drive screw;
- and
- an arm mounted to the spring-loaded attachment element, wherein the arm is configured to pivot relative to the longitudinally translatable carriage.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- an extendable cover;
- an actuator mounted to the chassis, wherein the actuator comprises:
- a longitudinal drive screw;
- a motor coupled to the longitudinal drive screw;
- and
- a longitudinally translatable carriage threadably engaged with the longitudinal drive screw, wherein the longitudinally translatable carriage comprises a spring having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is fixed to the longitudinally translatable carriage;
- and
- an arm mounted to the second end of the spring, wherein the arm comprises an attachment portion attached to the extendable cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.