US3841697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cover for load-holding apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-02-21
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1993-02-21
Abstract
Abstract Covering apparatus having a flexible cover and a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on a loadholding structure at pivot points substantially equally spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered. The pivot plane is arranged nearest to the opening to be covered adjacent an end of that opening, and extends linearly away from that end and the opening. The supports are in the form of U-shaped hoops each having a pair of parallel legs. The legs of each hoop are of different lengths from the legs of the other hoops, and are directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered. A conventional drive train is connected to the hoop having the longest legs for pivoting same between a cover open position and a cover closed position. Each hoop leg has a guide channel and guide wheel mounted in opposed relationship to one another. Each of the guide channels is arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in a cover open position. These guide channels and wheels assist in maintaining alignment of the hoops as the cover is opened. A stop member is mounted adjacent the end of the load-holding structure at which the pivot plane is arranged nearest the opening to be covered for limiting the movement of the supports when they are in a cover closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 W Mcfarland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/08; B60J7/12; B60J7/1226; B60J7/1265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
Apparatus for covering a load-holding structure, comprising, in combination: a. a cover; b. a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on load-holding structure at pivot points spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered, the pivot plane being arranged nearest to the opening at a point adjacent an end of the opening and extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered, the supports being of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered, with the shortest of the supports being arranged nearest the opening to be covered for causing all of the supports to raise upwardly, away from the load, when moving between a cover open position and a cover closed position, wherein each support is a substantially U-shaped hoop pivotally mounted on opposed sides of the load - holding structure, and wherein each hoop has a pair of substantially parallel legs, at least some of the legs having a guide and guide wheel associated therewith and mounted thereon in opposed relationship to one another, each guide channel arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in an opening - uncovered position and for a portion of the time during the closing and covering operation, said guide channels and said guide wheels of adjacent legs engage each other to aid in the closing and covering of said load holding structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
Apparatus for covering a load-holding structure, comprising, in combination: a. a cover; b. a plurality of supports attached to the cover and pivotally mounted on load-holding structure at pivot points spaced along a pivot plane arranged at an angle with respect to an opening to be covered, the pivot plane being arranged nearest to the opening at a point adjacent an end of the opening and extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered, the supports being of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered, with the shortest of the supports being arranged nearest the opening to be covered for causing all of the supports to raise upwardly, away from the load, when moving between a cover open position and a cover closed position, wherein each support is a substantially U-shaped hoop pivotally mounted on opposed sides of the load - holding structure, and wherein each hoop has a pair of substantially parallel legs, at least some of the legs having a guide and guide wheel associated therewith and mounted thereon in opposed relationship to one another, each guide channel arranged for receiving the guide wheel of an adjacent leg when the hoops are in an opening - uncovered position and for a portion of the time during the closing and covering operation, said guide channels and said guide wheels of adjacent legs engage each other to aid in the closing and covering of said load holding structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, further including means connected to the longest support for pivoting same between an opening-uncovered position and an opening-covered position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein at least two of the supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the cover is constructed from a sheet of flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, in combination with a load-holding structure in the form of a rectangular box having an open top.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein a stop member is mounted on the rectangular box adjacent the ends thereof to which the pivot plane is nearest the opening to be covered, and is arranged for limiting the movement of the supports when same are in an opening-uncovered position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the supports are divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest the opening to be covered at a point adjacent a respective end of the opening and arranged extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered toward the end associated with the other set, the cover being divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and meeting one another when the supports are in an opening-covering position, and the supports of each set are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two of the supports are arranged substantially equally spaced from one another along the pivot plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover is constructed from a sheet of flexible material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A structure as defined in cLaim 1, wherein the supports are divided into a pair of sets, each set having a separate pivot plane arranged nearest to the opening to be covered at a point adjacent a respective end of the opening and arranged extending linearly away from the end and the opening to be covered toward the end associated with the other set, the cover being divided into portions associated with the sets of supports and meeting one another when the supports are in an opening-covering position, and the supports of each set are of different lengths directly proportional to the distance of a respective pivot point from the opening to be covered.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |