Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-20
2002-06-04
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100150, C296S100160, C296S136070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Retroreflective materials are commonly employed for safety and decorative reasons. In particular, many trucks are marked with conspicuity tape to reduce the incidence of side-on and rear-end collisions. The United States Department of Transportation has promulgated a set of regulations regarding retroreflective conspicuity enhancement systems for commercial vehicles. Other countries are implementing similar regulations.
Full contour marking of commercial vehicles allows viewers to determine the full dimensions of the vehicles. However, often trucks have just a flatbed with a load covered by a tarpaulin. The tarpaulin generally does not show the profile of the load on the truck at night. Previous known tarpaulins can include free-standing retroreflective elements formed on a substrate for application of a retroreflective structure to a preexisting tarpaulin formed of compatible fabrics. For instance, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,173.
Therefore, a need exists for a retroreflective system having a cover for a truck load that can enhance the profile of the truck at night.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a tarpaulin includes a sheet having an outer side and an inner side. A reinforcing webbing is applied to the outer surface of the sheet. A retroreflective sheeting is incorporated onto the reinforcing webbing. A plurality of straps is joined to the retroreflective sheeting on the outer side and for attaching to a perimeter of a vehicle.
The present invention has many advantages which include improved visibility of the perimeter of the vehicle. The present invention also has the advantage that the retroreflective tape is incorporated onto the reinforcing webbing and is applied to the outer surface of the tarpaulin, thereby not only reinforcing the strength of the tarpaulin but also supplying an element of safety. Also significant is that this configuration allows the retroreflective tape to be applied without additional labor steps.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3481371 (1969-12-01), Row
patent: 3684348 (1972-08-01), Rowland
patent: 3689346 (1972-09-01), Rowland
patent: 3712706 (1973-01-01), Stamm
patent: 3811983 (1974-05-01), Rowland
patent: 3830682 (1974-08-01), Rowland
patent: 3975083 (1976-08-01), Rowland
patent: 3992080 (1976-11-01), Rowland
patent: 4202600 (1980-05-01), Burke et al.
patent: 4332847 (1982-06-01), Rowland
patent: 4368982 (1983-01-01), Van Arnam et al.
patent: 4720135 (1988-01-01), Farina
patent: 4801193 (1989-01-01), Martin
patent: 5050924 (1991-09-01), Hansen
patent: 5111554 (1992-05-01), Sweers
patent: 5171624 (1992-12-01), Walter et al.
patent: 5229882 (1993-07-01), Rowland
patent: 5236751 (1993-08-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5264063 (1993-11-01), Martin
patent: 5376431 (1994-12-01), Rowland
patent: 5388702 (1995-02-01), Jones
patent: 5491021 (1996-02-01), Tolliver et al.
patent: 5491586 (1996-02-01), Phillips
patent: 5501545 (1996-03-01), Walter
patent: 5512219 (1996-04-01), Rowland et al.
patent: 5558740 (1996-09-01), Bernard et al.
patent: 5592330 (1997-01-01), Bernard
patent: 5617247 (1997-04-01), Rowland
patent: 5637173 (1997-06-01), Martin et al.
patent: 4415042 (1995-04-01), None
patent: WO93/10985 (1993-06-01), None
patent: WO97/16753 (1997-05-01), None
J. C. Whitney catalog, p. 49, Jan. 1996.
Smith Peter R.
Zanotti Richard
Coletta Lori L
Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds P.C.
Pape Joseph D.
Reflexite Corporation
LandOfFree
Retroreflective reinforcement webbing applied to an outer... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Retroreflective reinforcement webbing applied to an outer..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Retroreflective reinforcement webbing applied to an outer... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2914719