Hold-down system for a flexible cover of an open-topped container
AssigneeAero Industries, Inc.
InventorRichard Gothier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hold-down system for a cover of an open-topped container, such as a dump truck body, includes a hold-down member operatively coupled to a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism is disposed within the container, and preferably below the hold-down member. The hold-down member is adapted to exert tension against the cover via the biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism may include biased reels having respective biasing cordage such as cables.
Claims19
A hold-down system for holding down a cover on a load within an open-topped container having opposite side walls, and a bottom wall, the side walls and bottom wall defining an interior for holding a load, comprising:
- a hold-down member adapted to bear on an outside surface of the cover;
- and
- a biasing mechanism mounted between the side walls in the interior of the open-topped container and connected to said hold-down member, said biasing mechanism operable to exert a force tending to pull said hold-down member into the interior of the container.
A hold-down system for holding down a cover on a load within an open-topped container having side walls, and a bottom wall defining an interior for holding the load, comprising:
- a hold-down member adapted to bear on an outside surface of the cover;
- and
- a biasing mechanism mounted to the open-topped container and connected to said hold-down member, said biasing mechanism operable to exert a force tending to pull said hold-down member into the interior of the container, wherein said biasing mechanism includes flexible cordage connected between said hold-down member and the side walls of the container.
A hold-down system for holding down a cover on a load within an open-topped container having side walls, and a bottom wall defining an interior for holding the load, comprising:
- a hold-down member adapted to bear on an outside surface of the cover;
- and
- a biasing mechanism mounted to the open-topped container and connected to said hold-down member, said biasing mechanism operable to exert a force tending to pull said hold-down member into the interior of the container, wherein said biasing mechanism includes;
- elongated cordage connected at one end thereof to said hold-down member;
- a reel rotatably mounted to one of the side walls of the container, wherein the other end of said elongated cordage is wound onto said reel;
- and
- a torsion spring connected to said reel and operable to rotationally bias said reel to wind said cordage.
A hold-down system for maintaining a cover for an open topped container taut over the interior of the container, the container having side walls and a bottom wall defining the interior of the container, the hold-down system comprising:
- a biasing subsystem situated below a plane of the container defined by top surfaces of the side walls of the container and within the interior of the container;
- a hold-down member configured to extend along an outside surface of the cover;
- and
- means for operatively coupling said biasing subsystem to said hold-down member, wherein said biasing subsystem is operable to exert a force tending to pull said hold-down member into the interior of the container.
A hold-down system for maintaining a cover for an open topped container taut over the interior of the container, the container having side walls, the hold-down system comprising:
- a biasing subsystem situated below a plane of the container defined by top surfaces of the side walls of the container;
- a hold-down member configured to extend along an outside surface of the cover;
- and
- means for operatively coupling said biasing subsystem to said hold-down member, wherein said biasing subsystem is operable to exert a force tending to pull said hold-down member into the interior of the container, and wherein said means for coupling comprises cables.
A method of maintaining a cover for an open topped container taut, the method comprising:
- providing a hold-down member that is adapted to extend a distance along an outside surface of the cover;
- providing a first biasing mechanism on a first inside surface within the interior of the container, the first biasing mechanism operative to provide a constant tension against a first connecting member;
- providing a second biasing mechanism on a second inside surface within the interior of the container, the second biasing mechanism operative to provide a constant tension against a second connecting member;
- and
- coupling the first and second connecting members to the hold-down member such that the constant tensioning is translated to the hold-down member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.