Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-05-01
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100150, C296S100170, C296S100180, C052S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224139
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved means for holding down the free edges of a tarpaulin or the like which may be employed on trucks, campers and other equipment.
Present day fire trucks commonly use tarpaulins or tonneau covers over the top of upwardly open compartments containing fire hoses, tools, etc. Temperature changes make the tarpaulin fit differently and the tarpaulin will become loose in hot weather and tight in cold weather.
With present day tarpaulins used on such fire trucks, the fireman tend to skip tarpaulin fasteners in cold weather, and in addition, when the firemen walk on the tarpaulin over compartments to find tools or supplies or to access stored hose, the tarpaulin tears and is subjected to undue strain on the fasteners which commonly break.
In addition, overloading in the hose bed is also a problem and the firemen tend to hold as much equipment and hose on the trucks as possible usually resulting in overload and stress on the tarpaulin covers of the prior art readily tear when subjected to such abuse.
Another problem encountered on such fire trucks is that there are many side compartments for storing tools and equipment and there is no present day system for insuring that the tools and equipment within the compartment will stay in place, no matter whether the side compartment is provided with or without a door.
It is a principle object of the present invention to provide a tarpaulin cover and a system for vertically covering a shelf pocket provided on the side of a fire truck or other motor vehicle which eliminates the aforementioned problems incurred with the prior art structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The tarpaulin cover of the present invention includes a fabric cover sheet having an elastic band extending around desired or selected portions of its perimeter and contained in a hem. A plurality of spaced cutouts are provided along the hem for exposing the elastic band at positions desired for tie down hooking and unhooking access. Opposite ends of the elastic cord are secured within this hem around respective rivets that are secured to and pass through the hem. Terminating ends of the elastic cord are secured to itself whereby opposite terminating loop ends of the elastic cord are provided and secured respectively within the hem around the respective rivets.
The tarpaulin cover of the present invention may also be utilized in a system for covering a shelf pocket provided on the side of a motor vehicle. In this embodiment the tarpaulin cover as described is basically the same, but is generally rectangular and at least two of the cutouts are provided in opposite comers along a top side of the cover sheet for securing these top outer corners to the side wall of the vehicle. The bottom side is secured to a bottom edge of the shelf pocket opening which the tarpaulin cover is intended to cover.
In this manner, a shelf pocket provided on the side of a motor vehicle may be easily covered by the tarpaulin of the present invention to retain tools and other implements in place on the shelf.
The terminal loop ends of the elastic cord are secured within the hem by stainless steel crimp hooks wherein the hook is crimped securely to the terminal end of the cord and the other end hooks snugly about itself in order to form the terminal end loops.
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Carothers & Carothers
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
LandOfFree
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