Method and apparatus for lifting a vehicle load cover

Apparatus for selectively raising a cover for a vehicle, said raising being from a completely planar or partially planar cover configuration to a peaked cover configuration, said vehicle having opposite sides extending in a longitudinal axial direction to define a length of said vehicle and opposite ends extending in a transverse direction across said vehicle to define an open top container and a plane at tops of said sides and said ends, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongated web having a selected width in said axial direction and a length in said transverse direction sufficient to span said opposite sides, said web having opposite ends provided with extensions adapted to tightly secure said web to said container at a selectable position along the length of said container to form a transverse platform beneath said cover;
• an I-shaped cover lifter having a pivot bar provided with opposite ends, a web bar and a lifter bar, said pivot bar having a given length;
• said web having pairs of loops therein spaced axially from each other and centrally located between said sides, said loops being spaced by less than said given length to receive said opposite ends of said pivot bar and permit rotation thereof relative to said web from a position generally in said plane of said cover to a cover lifting position;
• a pull member adapted to extend under said cover and over said web and being connected to said cover lifter to rotate said pivot bar in said loops so that said lifter bar lifts said cover at said axial position;
• and
• a stop member connected between said web and said lifter bar to limit said rotation of said pivot bar relative to said web.

Apparatus for raising a cover into a peaked position, said cover being mounted over at least two top edges and opposite ends of a vehicle, said raising being into said peaked position from a completely planar cover configuration coincident with a plane defined by said top edges or from a partially planar cover configuration defined by both of said top edges and by load material carried by said vehicle wherein at least some of said load material extends above said top edges and prevents said cover from assuming said completely planar cover configuration, said opposite ends of said vehicle defining a length of said vehicle extending in a longitudinal axial direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a flexible web having a width that is narrow relative to said length of the vehicle, said web having opposite ends, said web being extendable under said cover transversely of said longitudinal axis between said opposite top edges under tension to form a platform under said cover and generally in said plane and transversely between said top edges;
• an elongated peak former having opposite ends;
• and a retainer secured to said web to receive one of said opposite ends of said peak former and permit movement of the other of said opposite ends of said peak former out of said plane and relative to said platform and against said cover to position said other opposite end of said peak former and said cover above said plane and cause at least a portion of said cover which was in said completely planar position to be in said peaked position.

Apparatus for raising a cover into a peaked position, said cover being mounted over at least two top edges and opposite ends of a vehicle, said raising being into said peaked position from a completely planar cover configuration coincident with a plane defined by said top edges or from a partially planar cover configuration defined by both of said top edges and by load material carried by said vehicle wherein at least some of said load material extends above said top edges and prevents said cover from assuming said completely planar cover configuration, said opposite ends of said vehicle defining a length of said vehicle extending in a longitudinal axial direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a flexible web having a width that is narrow relative to said length of the vehicle, said web having opposite ends;
• ties connectable to said opposite ends of said web and connectable to said container to position said web extending under said cover transversely of said longitudinal axis between said opposite top edges, said ties being connectable to tension said web to cause said web to form a platform under said cover and generally in said plane and transversely between said top edges;
• an elongated peak formed having opposite ends;
• a retainer secured to said web to receive one of said opposite ends of said peak former and permit movement of the other of said opposite ends of said peak former out of said lane;
• and
• a member connectable to said peak former and extendable under said cover to one of said top edges of said vehicle to move said opposite end of said peak former relative to said platform and against said cover to position said opposite end of said peak former and said cover above said plane and cause at least a portion of said cover which was in said completely planar position to be in said peaked position.