Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-27
2001-11-27
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100060, C296S100010, C296S100040, C296S026040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322127
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semi-trailer vehicles and more particularly to methods of covering cargo on semi-trailers, such as ‘flat deck’ trailers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most durable goods and raw materials are shipped by semi-trailer vehicles on the public highways of the developed world. These vehicles are known to have a tractor unit and a semi-trailer unit, the trailer coming in a variety of arrangements depending on its intended cargo. The trailer, for example, may be a van type with a substantially weather proof interior cargo hold, or a flat bed or flat deck trailer. In the latter case, the cargo must be covered in some fashion to protect the cargo from the elements. Conventionally this is done by flexible tarps wrapped around the cargo and fastened in place with rope or elastic fastener materials.
Other covers for the cargo on a flat deck trailer are sold under the tradenames “ROLL BACK” or “ROLL TITE”. These covers are individually installed and permanently fitted to each individual flat deck trailer. This is done by modifying the trailer by removing the ‘rub rail’ from the periphery of the trailer. Other tarping arrangements include rack and tarp arrangements which have modified posts placed along the periphery of the flat deck trailer to position plywood sheets in an upright position. The tarp is then stretched over the cargo or, in the case of the rack and tarp arrangements, stretched over the space between the sheets to provide a measure of weather protection for the cargo.
Though tarps arrangements such as this are generally satisfactory, they do have some inherent weaknesses. For example, the tarps are relatively heavy and difficult to handle when manually stretched over the cargo. They tend to rip or simply become unfastened due to the buffeting wind forces exerted on the tarp during use. In either case, the cargo can become exposed to the elements and therefore be damaged. Tarped flat deck trailers also do not have important clearance lighting, thus increasing the risk of traffic accidents.
It is an object of the present invention to provide obviate these disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention involves a cover for a semi-trailer vehicle having a cargo support surface bordered by a pair of longitudinal edge regions, the cover comprising a roof and a pair of side walls forming a cargo receiving passage there between; each of the pair of side walls terminating at a longitudinal free edge region to expose the cargo receiving passage to the cargo support surface, and coupling means for removably coupling each of the longitudinal free edge regions to a corresponding longitudinal edge region.
In one embodiment, the cover includes lifting means for lifting the cover between a first position above the cargo support surface and a second position in abutment with the cargo support surface.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of covering cargo on a semi-trailer vehicle having a cargo support surface bordered by a pair of longitudinal edge regions, comprising the steps of:
providing a cover with a roof and a pair of side walls forming a cargo receiving passage there between;
providing each of the pair of side walls with a longitudinal free edge region in order to expose the cargo receiving passage to the cargo support surface,
lifting the cover to a first position above the cargo support surface;
lowering the cover to a second position in abutment with the cargo support surface, and
removably coupling each of the longitudinal free edge regions to a corresponding longitudinal edge region.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover for a semi-trailer vehicle having a cargo support surface bordered by a pair of longitudinal edge regions, the cover comprising a unitary structure having a roof, a pair of side walls forming a cargo receiving passage there between; each of the edge regions including an upwardly directed longitudinal rail member, each of the side walls including a lower edge region with a transverse gap formed therein for receiving the rail member, and releasable locking means for locking each of the lower edge regions relative to the cargo support surface, with each of the rails engaged the corresponding gap.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is a method for covering cargo on a semi-trailer vehicle having a cargo support surface bordered by a pair of longitudinal edge regions, each of the edge regions including an upwardly directed longitudinal rail member the method comprising the steps of:
providing a roof and a pair of side walls forming a cargo receiving passage there between;
forming in each of the side walls a lower edge region with a transverse gap therein for receiving the rail member, and
releasably locking each of the lower edge regions relative to the cargo support surface, with each of the rails engaged the corresponding gap.
In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover for a semi-trailer vehicle having a cargo support surface bordered by a pair of longitudinal edge regions, the cover comprising a unitary structure having a roof, a pair of side walls forming a cargo receiving passage there between; each of the edge regions having a rub rail member forming an outermost periphery thereof, each of the side walls including a lower edge region with an inner face formed thereon, releasable locking means for locking each of the lower edge regions relative to the cargo support surface, to engage the rub rail with the inner face, substantially along the entire length thereof.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for covering cargo on a semi-trailer vehicle having a cargo support surface bordered by a pair of longitudinal edge regions, each of the edge regions including a rub rail member forming an outermost periphery thereof; the method comprising the steps of:
forming on each of the side walls, a lower edge region with an inner face formed thereon, and
releasably locking each of the lower edge regions relative to the cargo support surface, to form a substantially continuous engagement of the rub rail with the inner face.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a caster wheel comprising a wheel, axle means for mounting the wheel for rotation about a rolling axis, swivel frame means for supporting the wheel for rotation about a swivel axis, ground engaging means for inhibiting displacement of the caster wheel.
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Masterson Patrick
Newman Mark
Gastle James E.
Gordon Stephen T.
Patel Kiran B.
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