US 5,050,924 AGranted

Expandable tarpaulin assembly

OwnerGeorge G. Hanseninventor

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Abstract

The invention relates to an expandable tarpaulin comprising plastic or canvas materials, an X-pattern array of elasticized reinforcing and tie down straps or cords, and one or more elasticized perimeter cords. A problem with previous tarpaulins is that they are difficult to tie down over varying irregular sized loads. As a result, loose edges of tarp material flap in the wind causing distracting noise and damage to the vehicle, the load and the tarpaulin. Also the loose ends permit a wind tunnel effect which induces suction, loss of particulate loads causing road hazards. These problems are avoided by means of an expandable tarpaulin according to the invention which is characterized by a unitary expandable tarpaulin with elasticized reinforcing, tie downs, and perimeter hand holds, cord or straps. A safety reflective coating on selected portions of the tarp sheet may also be employed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An expandable tarpaulin assembly comprising in operative combination:

a) a tarpaulin sheet having a central area and at least one marginal edge;
b) at least one elasticized member disposed in association with the marginal edge of said sheet, each of said members having a retracted length shorter than the length of said marginal edge;
c) a plurality of elasticized reinforcing members attached to said tarpaulin sheet;
d) said elasticized reinforcing members extending in geometric, non-spider web paths across said tarpaulin sheet to provide reinforcing to said tarpaulin sheet;
e) the retracted length of said elasticized reinforcing members being shorter than the length of the tarpaulin sheet along the paths of attachment to said tarpaulin sheet;
and
f) said elasticized members in their natural retracted condition forming gathers in said tarpaulin sheet so that the elasticized members can be stretched to expand the tarpaulin sheet to cover and secure loads of varying size with reduced tendency for wind flap damage to said tarpaulin and wind loss of load material.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.