Method and apparatus for covering cargo
OwnerLanny R. Berkeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cargo is covered by use of a tarp and a frame that extends over the tarp. A number of cords are connected to the tarp and a plurality of couplers interconnect the cords to the frame. The couplers releasably connect the tarp to the frame so that the tarp can be dropped onto the cargo once the frame is moved into a position over the cargo by, for example, a forklift. Preferably, the cords include free terminal end sections that can be pulled from ground level to disconnect the cords from the frame when desired, so that walking across the cargo can be avoided.
Claims20
Apparatus for covering cargo carried by a truck, trailer, railway car or other vehicle comprising:
- a tarp having a peripheral edge portion;
- a plurality of cords connected to said tarp at spaced-apart locations along said peripheral edge portion;
- a frame extending over said tarp;
- and
- a plurality of couplers interconnecting said frame and at least one of said cords, said couplers releasably coupling said frame to said tarp,
- wherein said cords are of sufficient length to connect to opposite sides of the vehicle once said frame is released from said tarp.
Apparatus for covering cargo comprising:
- a tarp having a peripheral edge portion;
- a plurality of cords connected to said tarp at spaced-apart locations along said peripheral edge portion;
- a frame extending over said tarp;
- and
- a plurality of couplers interconnecting said frame and at least one of said cords, said couplers releasably coupling said frame to said tarp,
- wherein said couplers comprise fingers that extend outwardly from said frame.
Apparatus for covering cargo comprising:
- a tarp having a peripheral edge portion;
- a plurality of cords connected to said tarp at spaced-apart locations along said peripheral edge portion;
- a frame extending over said tarp;
- and
- a plurality of couplers interconnecting said frame and at least one of said cords, said couplers releasably coupling said frame to said tarp, wherein at least one of said cords includes a free terminal end portion and a loop portion located between said tarp and said free terminal end portion, and wherein at least one of said couplers comprises a finger extending outwardly from said frame and received in said loop portion.
Apparatus for covering cargo comprising:
- a tarp having a peripheral edge portion;
- a plurality of cords connected to said tarp at spaced-apart locations along said peripheral edge portion;
- a frame extending over said tarp;
- and
- a plurality of couplers interconnecting said frame and at least one of said cords, said couplers releasably coupling said frame to said tarp, wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced apart receptacles for receiving tines of a forklift, and wherein said receptacles include adjustable stops for limiting the depth of insertion of the forklift tines.
Apparatus for covering cargo comprising:
- a tarp having a peripheral edge portion;
- a plurality of cords connected to said tarp at spaced-apart locations along said peripheral edge portion;
- a frame extending over said tarp;
- and
- a plurality of couplers interconnecting said frame and at least one of said cords, said couplers releasably coupling said frame to said tarp,
- wherein said frame is rigid and has an overall generally rectangular configuration and wherein said tarp has an overall generally rectangular configuration that is larger than said configuration of said frame.
A method of covering cargo comprising the steps of:
- placing a frame over a tarp;
- releasably connecting a plurality of cords coupled to spaced-apart locations on the tarp to the frame;
- relatively moving the frame and the cargo such that the frame and the tarp are located over the cargo;
- and
- pulling on the cords while the tarp and the frame are in position over the cargo such that the tarp is disconnected from the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.