Crank handle apparatus and method

A roll-up tarp assembly for a truck box or trailer having an open container, comprising:

• a roll tube;
• a tarp rolling on and off the roll tube so as to open and close the open container of the truck box or trailer;
• a crank handle being connected to the roll tube, the crank handle rotating the roll tube so as to roll the tarp;
• and
• the crank handle for rolling the tarp on the open container comprising:
• a longitudinal tube having a longitudinal portion, first and second ends, and an enlarged end portion at the first end;
• a rotatable tube having a longitudinal portion and a handle portion offset from a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal portion of the rotatable tube, the longitudinal tube being telescopically disposed around the rotatable tube, so that the crank handle is extended to a desired length up to a maximum length whereby an end portion of the rotatable tube is extended from the first end of the longitudinal tube to approximately the second end of the longitudinal tube;
• wherein the rotatable tube is freely rotatable relative to the longitudinal tube when the end portion of the rotatable tube is disposed outside the longitudinal portion at the enlarged end portion of the longitudinal tube, whereby the rotatable tube is adjusted to a desired transversal position;
• and
• wherein the rotatable tube is locked relative to the longitudinal tube when the end portion of the rotatable tube is disposed inside the longitudinal portion of the longitudinal tube, whereby the longitudinal tube is rotated with the rotatable tube.

A method of operating a crank handle of a roll-up flexible cover assembly for covering/uncovering an open container, comprising the steps of:

• taking out the crank handle from a retainer;
• adjusting a length of the crank handle by extending/retracting the crank handle to a certain length;
• rotating the crank handle to cover/uncover the open container;
• adjusting a quarter turn of the crank handle so that the crank handle is placed towards a suitable angle for storage;
• and
• putting the crank handle in the retainer.

A method of operating a multi-sided crank handle of a roll-up flexible cover assembly for covering/uncovering an open container, comprising the steps of:

• taking out the multi-sided crank handle from a retainer;
• adjusting a length of the multi-sided crank handle by extending/retracting the multi-sided crank handle to a certain length;
• rotating the multi-sided crank handle to cover/uncover the open container;
• rotatably adjusting an angle of the multi-sided crank handle so that the multi-sided crank handle is placed towards a suitable angle for storage;
• and
• putting the multi-sided crank handle in the retainer.