Tarpaulin clamping assembly and associated method

• US 7,837,164 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Getgood
• Original Assignee: David Getgood
• Inventors: Getgood, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mckinnon; Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUCKWORTH, BRADLEY
• Application Number:
  US12/001,278
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.21, 248/222.14, 248/223.41, 248/224.61, 248/224.7, 248/224.8, 135/119, 135/120.3, 381/021, 381/029.1
• US Class Current: 248/222.14
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/023 Hatchway tents, e.g. for weather protection of cargo during loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/64 Tent or canopy cover fastenings
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0692 joining flexible sheets to other sheets or plates or to strips or bars tent fastenings E04H15/64; coping elements for swimming pools with fixing means for sealing foil E04H4/142; greenhouses of flexible synthetic material A01G9/1407; end or aperture-closing arrangements or devices for sacks or bags B65D33/16

Abstract

A two-piece clamping system for creating a reinforced attachment point for tarpaulins or the like includes a “Y”-shaped bottom clamp with retaining slots on its bifurcated end, a securing groove within its body, and an extending tab with a grommet to receive a carabiner or hook for attaching the clamp to a support structure. An upper clamp portion includes two legs for retaining the tarpaulin within the slots on the bottom clamp. A mechanical fastener such as a screw and wing nut secure the tarpaulin'"'"'s grommet within both halves of the clamping system thereby providing a quick and easy method for attaching a reinforcing clamping system to tarpaulins.

Claims

1. A clamping assembly for securely anchoring a tarpaulin to a support surface, said clamping assembly comprising:

a lower clamp having a first aperture formed therein and including a non-linear groove formed within a top surface thereof;

an upper clamp including a non-linear ridge projecting downwardly from a bottom surface thereof, said ridge being interfitted and mated with said groove when said upper and lower clamps are engaged, said upper clamp being provided with an extended tab monolithically formed with a proximal end thereof, said tab being provided with a hole formed therein, said hole being aligned with said first aperture when said upper and lower clamps are engaged; and

,

a first fastener removably inserted through said first aperture and said hole respectively;

wherein a selected portion of a tarpaulin is intercalated between said ridge and said groove in such a manner that said first fastener pushes through the selected portion of said tarpaulin.

2. The clamping assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower clamp further comprises:

a plurality of retaining slots formed therein and oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said lower clamp, each of said retaining slots having a rectilinear shape spaced distally from said groove.

3. The clamping assembly of claim 2, wherein said upper clamp further comprises:

a plurality of opposed retaining legs extending outwardly from a centrally registered longitudinal axis of said upper clamp, each of said retaining legs tapering laterally and distally in such a manner that said retaining legs fit within said retaining slots when said upper clamp is positioned on top of said lower clamp, the selected portion of the tarpaulin being simultaneously lodged within said retaining slots while said retaining legs are fitted therein.

4. The clamping assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower clamp has a “

Y”

-shape defining an extended end provided with a second aperture.

5. The clamping assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a second fastener removably inserted through said second aperture.

6. A clamping assembly for securely anchoring a tarpaulin to a support surface, said clamping assembly comprising:

a lower clamp having a first aperture formed therein and including a non-linear groove formed within a top surface thereof, wherein said lower clamp includes a bifurcated distal end and said groove has a general “

U”

-shape extending into said bifurcated distal end;

an upper clamp including a non-linear ridge projecting downwardly from a bottom surface thereof, said ridge being interfitted and mated with said groove when said upper and lower clamps are engaged, said upper clamp being provided with an extended tab monolithically formed with a proximal end thereof, said tab being provided with a hole formed therein, said hole being aligned with said first aperture when said upper and lower clamps are engaged; and

,

a first fastener removably inserted through said first aperture and said hole respectively;

wherein a selected portion of a tarpaulin is intercalated between said ridge and said groove in such a manner that said first fastener pushes through the selected portion of said tarpaulin.

7. The clamping assembly of claim 6, wherein said lower clamp further comprises:

a plurality of retaining slots formed therein and oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said lower clamp, each of said retaining slots having a rectilinear shape spaced distally from said groove.

8. The clamping assembly of claim 7, wherein said upper clamp further comprises:

a plurality of opposed retaining legs extending outwardly from a centrally registered longitudinal axis of said upper clamp, each of said retaining legs tapering laterally and distally in such a manner that said retaining legs fit within said retaining slots when said upper clamp is positioned on top of said lower clamp, the selected portion of the tarpaulin being simultaneously lodged within said retaining slots while said retaining legs are fitted therein.

9. The clamping assembly of claim 6, wherein said lower clamp has a “

Y”

-shape defining an extended end provided with a second aperture.

10. The clamping assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a second fastener removably inserted through said second aperture.