Tie down device and method of use

A support device for sheet material such as a tarpaulin comprising:

• a bar;
• a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said slit enabling the sheet material to project outwardly through said slit on opposite sides of said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve;
• rope means secured to said bar and extending through the slit for enabling the device to be placed under tension so that said bar binds the sheet material positioned around said bar against said sleeve to firmly secure the sheet material to the device, thereby preventing the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve;
• and
• a pole for attachment to said sleeve.

A method of securely tying down sheet material such as a tarp over an object be covered by the sheet material, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tie down devices including:
• a bar;
• a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof, said ends being open for receiving said bar and a sheet of material positioned around said bar, said slit enabling the sheet material to project outwardly through said slit on opposite sides of said bar, said bar having a cross section which is sized and configured so that both said bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in said sleeve;
• rope means secured to said bar and extending through the slit for enabling the device to be placed under tension so that said bar binds the sheet material positioned around said bar against said sleeve to firmly secure the sheet material to the device, thereby preventing the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve;
• and
• means for preventing said bar from sliding out of said sleeve when said device is placed under tension;
• covering an object with sheet material;
• tying down said sheet material at a first location on said sheet material;
• attaching said tie down device to the sheet material at a different location on said sheet material;
• and
• tying off said rope means of said tie down device to place said device under tension to securely tie down the sheet material covering the object.