Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Patent
1999-01-20
2000-11-28
Pape, Joseph D.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
296 98, 29610011, 29610018, 296 2604, B60J 1010
Patent
active
061525170
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns a cover assembly, and particularly but not exclusively a cover assembly for an open backed vehicle such as a pick-up truck.
Conventionally covers for the load carrying parts of vehicles such as pick-up trucks, comprise a sheet of material which can be fitted to the truck to extend over the load carrying area at the height of the trucks side walls. Accordingly such covers cannot be used if items are carried which extend far above the height of the side walls.
According to the present invention there is provided a cover assembly, the assembly comprising a cover member of flexible sheet material; a roller arrangement to selectively roll up a variable amount of the cover member; and profile forming means engageable with the cover member; the assembly being arranged such that the cover member can extend between two fixed members, and the amount of material extending therebetween can be varied by the roller arrangement, with the profile forming means urging the cover member away from a one of the two fixed members or another fixed member to maintain the cover member substantially taut.
The assembly may comprise two roller arrangements, desirably each with a respective cover member. Free ends of the cover members are preferably mountable to respective fixed members.
The roller arrangements are preferably arranged to dispense the respective cover members in substantially opposite directions, and the roller arrangements may be located substantially adjacent each other.
The roller arrangements are preferably interconnected so as to each simultaneously dispense or roll up the respective cover members. The roller arrangements preferably each comprise a roller with the respective rollers interconnected by gearing so as to rotate at the same rate as each other but in opposite directions.
Alternatively the roller arrangements may be spaced from each other. The roller arrangements may be interconnected by line means. The line means may comprise chains.
A fixed size cover may extend between the roller arrangements, which cover may be made of flexible sheet material or rigid material.
The roller arrangements may be manually or electrically operable.
A profile forming means is preferably provided for each cover member. Each profile forming means preferably extends from the or adjacent the, free end of the respective cover member.
Each profile forming means preferably extends between a guide member and the or adjacent the free end of the respective cover member, such that the distance between the guide members and the free end of the respective cover member is dependent upon the amount of cover member dispensed by the roller arrangement. The distance between each respective guide member and roller arrangement is preferably equal and fixed.
The assembly may comprise a frame which mounts the guide members and roller arrangements. Some or all of the components of the frame may be adjustable in length. The frame may be formable from a kit of components.
Where the roller arrangements are spaced from each other, the guide members may be located adjacent the respective roller arrangements or the roller arrangements may constitute the guide members.
The guide members may comprise one or more rollers.
The or each profile forming means is preferably sprung outwardly and may comprise two pairs of pivotted arms, with a compressed spring means extending between each pair of arms to urge the arms to a straight configuration.
The profile forming means may extend in a generally vertical plane in use. The cover members extending between the guide members and the roller arrangements may extend in use in a generally horizontal alignment, and may slope generally downwardly from the roller arrangements.
Further cover members may be provided at either end of the assembly, and the or each further cover member may extend between respective ends of the guide members. The or each further cover member may be mounted on sprung rollers which are urged to roll up the cover members, and the free end of the or each further cover memb
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Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
LandOfFree
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