US 5,186,231 A · Tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus

Abstract

In summary, the present invention contemplates an improved tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus which includes a plurality of removable or permanent tracks installed at intervals over the load carrying compartment of a vehicle. A leading edge slider travels to and fro on the tracks under the influence of deployment/retraction mechanism. A ridgepole slider is towed to a mid-deployment position due to a latch on the ridgepole slider engaging a towing pin on the leading edge slider. Upon reaching the mid-deployment position, a de-coupling pin upon each of the tracks cooperates with a camming surface on the latch to disengage the ridgepole slider from the leading edge slider. The leading edge slider then is further urged to a fully deployed position. A leading edge pole, to which is attached the leading edge of a tarpaulin, is connected to the leading edge sliders on the tracks. As the sliders are urged into their deployed positions the tarpaulin is unfurled from its stowed position. A ridgepole connected to the ridgepole sliders creates a pitch in the deployed tarpaulin. Upon retraction, the tarpaulin is furled by the deployment/retraction mechanism. The furling action of the tarpaulin urges the leading edge slider towards a stowed position during which the leading edge slider comes in contact with the ridgepole slider. The respective pairs of sliders on each track are then further urged towards a fully retracted or stowed position.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An improved tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus comprising:

a leading edge slider, the leading slider including a towing pin;
a ridgepole slider, the ridgepole slider including means for latching;
a first track, the first track including a fixed pin interposed between the ends of the first track
a second track;
a tarpaulin with a leading edge and a winding edge;
a ridge pole wherein one end of the ridge pole is restrained in a portion of the ridgepole slider and the other end is supported in the region of the second track;
a leading edge pole wherein one end of the leading edge pole is restrained in a portion of the leading edge slider, the leading edge of the tarpaulin is proximately joined therewith and the other end of the leading edge pole is supported in the region of the second track;
deploying means for urging the leading edge slider along the first track from a stowed position with the towing pin cooperating with the latching means to tow the ridgepole slider along the first track until the latching mechanism engages the fixed pin whereby the ridgepole slider is decoupled from the leading edge slider and engages the fixed pin, and the deploying means further urges the leading edge slider towards a fully deployed position;
and
retraction means for urging the winding edge of the tarpaulin into a stowed position, urges the leading edge slider towards the stowed position, the towing pin with the latching means cooperates to decouple the ridgepole slider from the fixed pin, the further movement of the leading edge slider urging the ridgepole slider towards a fully stowed position by contact between adjacent portions of the sliders.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus

Life of this patent

Tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11