Load conformable tarp

• US 6,003,929 A
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas Birdsell
• Original Assignee: Douglas Birdsell
• Inventors: Birdsell, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US09/108,885
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 296/100.16, 52/3, 150/166
• US Class Current: 296/100.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0876 using restraining net or tarpaulin in contact with the load

Abstract

A load conformable tarp includes a plurality of strap adjustment assemblies for adjusting the effective length of associated adjusting straps. Each adjustment strap assembly includes an adjustment assembly for adjusting the length of an associated adjustment strap, as well as a locking mechanism for securing a free end of the adjusting strap, the other end being fixed with respect to the tarp base material. Each adjustment assembly preferably includes a pulley throughwhich one end of the adjustable strap is looped, one end of the adjustment strap preferably being fixed to the base material, the other end being free and configured to be engaged in various positions by the locking mechanism, thus forming an adjustable strap loop of variable size. The adjustment mechanism more preferably includes a sheath to cover the adjustable strap loop, and tension members running from the pulley and the locking mechanism, respectively, to the periphery of the tarp, where they terminate in anchors which can be used to secure the tarp. The invention further includes a device for retrofitting existing, non-load conformable tarps, to make them load-conformable. The device includes all of the features of the load conforming tarp, but instead of attaching the strap adjustment apparatus to the tarp or base material, it is attached to a backing material which can itself be attached to tarp base material.

Claims

1. A load conformable tarp, comprising:

a base material;

an adjusting strap having a first end secured to the base material and a second end;

a locking mechanism secured to the base material and configured to temporarily secure the adjusting strap in variable positions; and

a pulley throughwhich the second end of the adjusting strap is disposed to produce an adjusting strap loop of variable size in accordance with the adjusting strap position secured by the locking mechanism.

2. The load conformable tarp of claim 1 further comprising at least one strap securing device disposed over the adjusting strap between the adjusting strap first end and the locking mechanism to hold the adjusting strap in close proximity to the base material.

3. The load conformable tarp of claim 1 further comprising a sheath disposed over the adjusting strap loop and attached to the base material to form an elongated pocket having open ends and containing the adjusting strap loop, and wherein the pulley is disposed at one end of the sheath, and the locking mechanism is disposed at the other end of the sheath.

4. The load conformable tarp of claim 1 wherein the base material is defined by a periphery, and further comprising a plurality of anchors attached to the based material towards the periphery.

5. The load conformable tarp of claim 4 wherein the anchor comprises a hook-shaped clip.

6. The load conformable tarp of claim 4 wherein the anchor comprises a magnet.

7. The load conformable tarp of claim 6 wherein the anchor comprises a reinforced hole disposed within the base material.

8. The load conformable tarp of claim 4 further comprising a first tension member having a first end attached to the pulley and a second end terminating at one of the anchors at the periphery of the base material.

9. The load conformable tarp of claim 8 further comprising a second tension member having a first end attached to the locking mechanism and a second end terminating at another one of the anchors at the periphery of the base material.

10. The load conformable tarp of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of adjusting straps, selected ones of the adjusting straps having a first end secured to the base material and a second end;

a plurality of locking mechanisms associated with the selected ones of the adjusting straps, each said locking mechanism being secured to the base material and configured to temporarily secure the associated adjusting strap ill variable positions.

11. The load conformable tarp of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of pulleys throughwhich the second end of the selected adjusting straps are individually disposed to produce a plurality of adjusting strap loops of variable size in accordance with the position of the selected adjusting strap as secured by the associated locking mechanism.

12. The load conformable tarp of claim 11 wherein the base material is defined by at least one essentially straight side, and wherein the selected adjusting straps are oriented in a direction essentially parallel to one another and essentially perpendicular to the at least one edge of the base material.

13. The load conformable tarp of claim 12 wherein the base material is further defined by a plurality of edges intersecting one another at a plurality of corners, and wherein other selected ones of the adjusting straps are oriented proximate to selected ones of the corners and such that a line along each of such other selected adjusting traps does not intersect one of the edges in a direction essentially perpendicular to the edge.

14. The load conformable tarp of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a spring loaded gripping surface wherein the spring is biased to contact the gripping surface with the strap.

15. A tarp load conformable device comprising:

a backing material;

an adjusting strap having a first end secured to the backing material and a second end;

a locking mechanism secured to the backing material and configured to temporarily secure the adjusting strap in variable positions; and

a pulley attached to the backing material and through which the second end of the adjusting strap is disposed to produce an adjusting strap loop of variable size in accordance with the adjusting strap position secured by the locking mechanism.

16. The load conformable device of claim 15 further comprising a sheath disposed over the adjusting strap loop and attached to the backing material to form an elongated pocket having open ends and containing the adjusting strap loop, and wherein the pulley is disposed at one end of the sheath, and the locking mechanism is disposed at the other end of the sheath.