US 5,564,232 A · Tarpaulin holddown device

Abstract

A tarpaulin holddown device or retainer having a handle and a shaft, with a pointed or tapered tip at the end of the shaft. The tarp retainer has a stop member positioned along the shaft between the handle and tip, and a narrow hole extending through the shaft slightly below the stop. When used to fasten a grommeted tarpaulin to a soft soil or tufted area, the tarp retainer is placed through the grommet until the stop contacts the tarp. A retaining clip or O-ring is then inserted into the narrow hole in the shaft underneath the tarp, to hold the tarp retainer in place. The tarp retainer is then easily inserted into or removed from the ground by hand by pushing down or pulling up on the handle, thereby holding the tarp to the ground for collecting and moving debris while conveniently staying with the tarp in position for reuse when the tarp is moved.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A tarpaulin retainer, said retainer comprising:

a handle;
a shaft extending from said handle, said shaft having a tip at one end opposite said handle, said shaft adapted to be received in an opening in a tarpaulin and inserted in the ground to hold the tarpaulin in place;
a stop member, positioned along said shaft between said handle and said tip and adapted to contact and hold a tarpaulin against the ground when said retainer is received in a tarpaulin opening;
and
a removable retaining member extending outwardly of said shaft at a position spaced from said stop member between said stop member and said tip for holding said retainer on a tarpaulin, said shall removably receiving said retaining member thereon whereby when said shall is received through the opening in the tarpaulin, said removable retaining member is mounted on said shaft to resist removal of said retainer from the tarpaulin, but is removed from said shaft when removal of said retainer from the tarpaulin is desired.

2 more elements

A tarpaulin and tarpaulin retainer kit, said kit comprising:

a tarpaulin having a plurality of openings positioned along the periphery of said tarpaulin, said tarpaulin also having a top surface and an undersurface;
at least one tarpaulin retainer adapted to be inserted into one of said openings and affixed to said tarpaulin to secure said tarpaulin to the ground, said tarpaulin retainer comprising:
a handle;
a shaft connected at one end to said handle and extending therefrom, said shaft having a tip at the end opposite said handle and adapted to be inserted in the ground to hold said tarpaulin in place;
a stop member, positioned along said shaft between said handle and said tip, so that upon insertion of said shaft of said tarpaulin retainer in said opening and then into the ground, said stop member contacts said top surface of said tarpaulin to hold said tarpaulin against the ground;
and
a removable retaining member extending outwardly of said shaft, such that when said tarpaulin retainer is inserted into said opening, said retaining member is positioned next to said undersurface of said tarpaulin, said shalt removably receiving said retaining member thereon whereby when said shaft is received through said opening in said tarpaulin, said removable retaining member is mounted on said shaft to resist removal of said retainer from said tarpaulin, but is removed from said shaft when removal of said retainer from said tarpaulin is desired.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tarpaulin holddown device

Life of this patent

Tarpaulin holddown device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32