Side loading vehicle: apparatus and method

A side loading vehicle, comprising in combination:

• a wheeled body having an upper surface upon which cargo is to be placed,
• a framework extending up from said upper surface,
• a shroud draped on said framework;
• and
• scrolling means coupled to said shroud for raising and lowering said shroud by a rolling action such that said shroud is wound in a spiral fashion about said scrolling means to provide or occlude access to the upper surface of the wheeled body,
• wherein said shroud includes a top portion,
• two longitudinally extending side portions integrally formed therewith,
• bottom portions of said longitudinally extending side portions including loops running along a longitudinal lower edge thereof for operative coupling to said scrolling means,
• wherein said scrolling means includes two scrolling rods, one each respectively extending through each said loop on one said longitudinal lower edge of each said longitudinally extending side portion,
• drive means operatively coupled to each said scrolling rod for rotation of each said scrolling rod and each said longitudinally extending side portion,
• whereby said drive means raises and lowers each said longitudinally extending side portion,
• wherein said drive means includes a driving rod operatively coupled to a hand crank for rotation of said driving rod and therefor said scrolling rod,
• wherein said framework includes means for attaching a roof portion of said shroud thereto,
• whereby forces exerted on said shroud during transit of said vehicle will be resisted by said roof portion attachment means,
• including means on each leading and trailing vertical edge of each said longitudinal side of said shroud for sealing said shroud with respect to ambient forces associated with the vehicle during transit,
• wherein said framework includes a front and rear frame disposed at front and rear extremities of said vehicle,
• longitudinally extending members connecting upper portions of said front and rear frame members together,
• rubber spacers interposed between each end of said longitudinally extending members and said upper portions of said front and rear frame members, whereby axial and torsional flexing motions are dampened,
• cross members rigidifying said longitudinally extending frame members including means to attach to tabs integrally formed on an inner surface of said longitudinally extending members for fastening thereto,
• wherein said drive means further includes a gear box operatively coupled to said crank and said driving rod includes a first driving arm and a second driving arm,
• said first driving arm telescopically disposed within said second driving arm, and
• said second driving arm communicating with said scrolling rod by means of a knuckle joint.

A side loading vehicle, comprising in combination:

• a wheeled body having an upper surface upon which cargo is to be placed,
• a framework extending up from said upper surface,
• a shroud draped on said framework;
• and
• scrolling means coupled to said shroud for raising and lowering said shroud to provide or occlude access to the upper surface of the wheeled body,
• wherein said shroud includes a top portion and two longitudinally extending side portions integrally formed therewith,
• bottom portions of said longitudinally extending side portions including loops running along a longitudinal lower edge thereof for operative coupling to said scrolling means,
• wherein said scrolling means includes a scrolling rod extending through each said loop on each said longitudinal lower edge of each said longitudinally extending side portion,
• drive means operatively coupled to each said scrolling rod for rotation of each said scrolling rod and each said longitudinally extending side portion,
• whereby said drive means raises and lowers each said longitudinally extending side portion,
• wherein said drive means includes a driving rod operatively coupled to a hand crank for rotation of said driving rod and therefor said scrolling rod,
• wherein said framework includes means for attaching a roof portion of said shroud thereto,
• whereby forces exerted on said shroud during transit of said vehicle will be resisted by said roof portion attachment means,
• means on each leading and trailing vertical edge of each said longitudinal side of said shroud for sealing said shroud with respect to ambient forces associated with the vehicle during transit,
• wherein said framework includes a front and rear frame disposed at front and rear extremities of said vehicle,
• longitudinally extending members connecting upper portions of said front and rear frame members together,
• cross members rigidifying said longitudinally extending frame members including means to attach to tabs integrally formed on an inner surface of said longitudinally extending members for fastening thereto,
• wherein said drive means further includes a gear box operatively coupled to said crank and said driving rod includes a first driving arm and a second driving arm,
• said first driving arm telescopically disposed within said second driving arm, and
• said second driving arm communicating with said scrolling rod by means of a knuckle joint.

A method for enclosing a volume above a vehicle having a flat bed to protect the thusly enclosed volume from the elements;

• the steps including:
• constructing a framework with a top framework and open sides on the bed defining an outline of the enclosed volume,
• draping a flexible one-piece shroud over said top and two open sides of the framework to enclose the volume,
• attaching a roof portion of the shroud to the top of the framework to secure the shroud thereto,
• fastening the shroud to the bed, and
• further including providing a scrolling means on each side wall of the flexible shroud at a lowermost portion thereof,
• manipulating the scrolling means from a first, lowered position to a second, elevated position to expose the volume within the shroud,
• wherein manipulating the scrolling means includes first and second telescoping rods, connecting the rods to a scrolling rod via a knuckle joint and to a gear box and a crank.