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US 5,613,543 AGranted
Temporary protective covering system
OwnerRonald W. Waltoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides temporary protection of outside objects from wind, rain, snow, or other elements. In particular, the present invention is a system of supports and fabric or plastic panels that are erected to provide a continuous protective covering over an area, structure, or object. The components of the system may be assembled in various configurations as the situation demands. The system requires minimal labor to install and the covering can be readily raised and lowered as desired.
Claims29
A protective covering system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of support poles comprising at least two elongate support members coupled together, each support pole having a first end, a second distal end, two guide channels, and means for securing the support poles in a spaced relation to a structure;
- (b) a plurality of elongate cross braces having two ends coupled to adjacent support poles;
- (c) flexible panel between each pair of adjacent support poles having a width spanning between adjacent support poles, a top interlocking edge, and two interlocking lateral edges slidably held within the guide channels of adjacent support poles;
- and
- (d) means for controllably raising and lowering each flexible panel secured between adjacent support poles wherein said means comprises:
- (e) first and second pulleys inserted into the guide channels of adjacent support poles;
- (f) a rotatable drum;
- and
- (g) an elongate cable along each guide channel having an extended end coupled to the interlocking lateral edge of the panel and a coiled end on the rotatable drum, and wherein the cable is guided over a pulley.
6 more elements
A method for installing a protective covering system comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second support poles of substantially equal length in parallel alignment, each pole having a first end, a second distal end, and a guide channel;
- (b) installing a plurality of elongate cross braces between the first and second support poles;
- (c) temporarily securing a winch to a cross brace near the distal ends of the first and second support poles;
- (d) temporarily attaching first and second pulleys to the distal end of the first and second support poles;
- (e) threading first and second cables from the winch, over the first and second pulleys, and downward through the guide channels of the first and second support poles;
- (f) coupling the first and second cables to a flexible panel having interlocking edges;
- (g) cranking the winch to reel in the cable and thereby extend the flexible panel;
- (h) during raising, slideably securing the interlocking edges within the guide channels;
- (i) securing the flexible panel to the distal ends of the support poles;
- and
- (j) removing the pulleys and the winch.
8 more elements
A method for installing a protective covering system comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning first and second support poles of substantially equal length in parallel alignment, each pole having a first end, a second distal end, and a guide channel;
- (b) installing a plurality of elongate cross braces between the first and second support poles;
- (c) temporarily securing a winch to a cross brace near the distal ends of the first and second support poles;
- (d) temporarily attaching first and second pulleys to the distal end of the first and second support poles;
- (e) threading first and second cables from the winch, over the first and second pulleys, and downward through the guide channels of the first and second support poles;
- (f) coupling the first and second cables to a flexible panel having interlocking edges;
- (g) cranking the winch to reel in the cable and thereby extend the flexible panel;
- (h) during raising, slideably securing the interlocking edges within the guide channels;
- (i) attaching a facia plate to a structure;
- (j) removing the pulleys and the winch;
- (k) securing the distal ends of the first and second support poles to the facia plate;
- and
- (l) securing the fabric panel to the facia plate.
10 more elements
A protective covering system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of support poles comprising at least two elongate support members coupled together, each support pole having a first end, a second distal end, two guide channels, and means for securing the support poles in a spaced relation to a structure;
- (b) a plurality of elongate cross braces having two ends coupled to adjacent support poles;
- (c) flexible panel between each pair of adjacent support poles having a width spanning between adjacent support poles, a top interlocking edge, and two interlocking lateral edges slidably held within the guide channels of adjacent support poles;
- (d) means for controllably raising and lowering each flexible panel secured between adjacent support poles;
- (e) an adapter having a first end coupled to the distal end of a support pole and a second end having a horizontal shaft;
- and
- (f) a facia plate attached to a structure having a C-channel that can be opened for insertion of the horizontal adapter shaft and the top interlocking edge of the flexible panel, wherein the C-channel of the facia can be closed to securely hold the horizontal adapter shaft and the top interlocking edge of the flexible panel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.