Container covering apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle includes a pair of arms. Each arm has a first aim member and a second arm member. A first rotatable member is pivotally secured to the first arm member. A second rotatable member is pivotally secured to the first arm member and rigidly secured to the second arm member. A linking member couples the first and second rotatable members to one another. A first actuator is secured to the first arm member, a second actuator is secured to the first rotatable member, and a cover is connected to the second arm members.

1 . An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle comprising, in combination: a pair of arms, each arm comprising 
 a first arm member;    a second arm member;    a first rotatable member pivotally secured to the first arm member;    a second rotatable member pivotally secured to the first arm member and rigidly secured to the second arm member;    a linking member coupling the first and second rotatable members;    a first actuator secured to the first arm member; and    a second actuator secured to the first rotatable member; and    a cover connected to the second arm members.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotatable members are sprockets.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first sprocket is larger than a diameter of the second sprocket.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first sprocket is approximately twice as large as a diameter of the second sprocket.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 2 , wherein the linking member is a continuous chain wrapped around each of the first and second sprockets.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 5 , further comprising a tensioning member to adjust slack in the chain.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 6 , wherein the tensioning member comprises a cam pivotally attached at one end to the first arm member and engaging the chain.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm member comprises a pair of opposed walls.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein each arm further comprises a support member, each first arm being pivotally secured to a corresponding support member.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 9 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of opposed walls.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the second arm member is longer than the first arm member.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed of a flexible material.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is rolled upon a spool supported by the second arm members.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 15 , wherein the second arm member is configured to be positioned below a top of the spool when the covering apparatus is in a deployed position on a vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm is pivotally secured to a first end of the support member, the first actuator is pivotally secured to a central portion of the support member, and the second actuator is pivotally secured to a second end of the support member.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid member rigidly connected at a first end thereof to a second end of one of the second arm members and at a second end thereof to a second end of the other of the second arm members.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the arms are configured such that the second arm members extend substantially horizontally in a non-deployed position.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 1 , wherein the arms further comprise 
 a support member, each first arm member being pivotally secured at its first end to a corresponding support member; and each second arm member being pivotally secured at its first end to a second end of the first arm member;    a first rotatable member pivotally secured to a first end of the first arm member;    a second rotatable member pivotally secured to a second end of the first arm member and rigidly secured to a first end of the second arm member;    a linking member coupling the first and second rotatable members;    a first actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and at a second end thereof to the second end of the first arm member; and    a second actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and pivotally secured at a second end to the first rotatable member.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 a pair of arms, each arm comprising 
 a support member having a first end and a second end;  
 a first arm member pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member;  
 a second arm member pivotally secured at a first end thereof to a second end of the first arm member;  
 a first sprocket pivotally secured to the first end of the first arm member;  
 a second sprocket pivotally secured to the second end of the first arm member and rigidly secured to the first end of the second arm member;  
 a continuous chain wrapped around each of the first and second sprockets;  
 a first actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and at a second end thereof to the second end of the first arm member; and  
 a second actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and pivotally secured at a second end thereof to the first sprocket; and  
   a cover rolled upon a spool having opposed ends, each end of the spool supported at a second end of one of the second arm members.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the first actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the second actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , further comprising a tensioning member to adjust slack in the chain.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the tensioning member comprises a cam pivotally attached at one end to the first arm member and engaging the chain.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein a diameter of the first sprocket is larger than a diameter of the second sprocket.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein a diameter of the first sprocket is approximately twice as large as a diameter of the second sprocket.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , further comprising a pedestal to which a free end of the cover is secured.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the cover is formed of a flexible material.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the second arm member is longer than the first arm member.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the first arm member and second arm member are positioned below the spool when the covering apparatus is in a deployed position.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , further comprising a rigid member connected at a first end thereof to a second end of one of the second arm members and at a second end thereof to a second end of the other of the second arm members.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the arms are configured such that the second arm members extend substantially horizontally in a non-deployed position.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus for covering an open container of  claim 21 , wherein the cover comprises a roll of flexible material.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 a pair of arms, each arm comprising 
 a support member;  
 a first arm member pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member;  
 a second arm member pivotally secured at a first end thereof to a second end of the first arm member;  
 a first rotatable member pivotally secured to the first end of the first arm member;  
 a second rotatable member pivotally secured to the second end of the first arm member and rigidly secured to the first end of the second arm member;  
 a linking member coupling the first and second rotatable members;  
 a first actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and at a second end thereof to the second end of the first arm member; and  
 a second actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and pivotally secured at a second end to the first rotatable member; and  
   a cover connected to the second arm members.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the rotatable members are sprockets and the linking member is a chain.  
     
     
         37 . An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle comprising, in combination: 
 a pair of arms, each arm comprising 
 a first arm member;  
 a second arm member rotatable greater than  180 ° with respect to the first arm member;  
 a first rotatable member pivotally secured to a first end of the first arm member;  
 a second rotatable member pivotally secured to a second end of the first arm member;  
 a linking member coupling the first and second rotatable members;  
 a first actuator connected to the first arm member; and  
 a second actuator connected to the second rotatable member; and  
   a cover connected to the second arm members.    
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the rotatable members are sprockets and the linking member is a chain.  
     
     
         39 . A covering device for covering an open top container supported by a truck frame, the device having an arm assembly on each side of the truck, at least one arm assembly comprising: 
 a pair of articulated arms coupled to a cover such that movement of at least one of the arms moves the cover between a covering position where the cover overlies the container and a stowage position where the container is uncovered; and    a pair of disks coupled by a flaccid member, wherein one of the arms is fixed to one of the disks such that the one arm pivots about the other arm with movement of the flaccid member to move the cover toward the covering position or the stowage position.    
     
     
         40 . The covering device of  claim 39 , wherein the disks comprise sprockets and the flaccid member comprises a chain.  
     
     
         41 . A process for covering an open top container supported by a truck frame, the process comprising: 
 providing a pivoted arm assembly on each side of a truck, the arm assemblies being coupled to a spool supporting a cover;    supporting the spool at a front end of the container at a non-deployed position below the open top of the container;    actuating the arm assembly such that the spool is lifted substantially along a vertical plane until the spool is lifted above the open top of the container; and    actuating the arm assembly once it is above the open top of the container to move the spool to a rear end of the container so that the cover overlies the open top of the container;    wherein each arm assembly is configured to allow movement of the spool from its non-deployed position only vertically with respect to the container and toward a rear of the container.    
     
     
         42 . A process in accordance with  claim 41  in which each provided arm assembly includes at least one linear actuator, wherein the lifting of the spool substantially along the vertical plane is accomplished by operating only one linear actuator in each arm assembly.  
     
     
         43 . An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle comprising, in combination: a pair of arms, each arm comprising 
 a first arm member rotatable in a first plane; and    a second arm member pivotally connected to the first arm member and rotatable in a second plane laterally offset from the first plane; and    a cover connected to the second arm members.    
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the arms further comprise a support member, each first arm member being pivotally secured at its first end to a corresponding support member; and each second arm member being pivotally secured at its first end to a second end of the first arm member; 
 a first rotatable member pivotally secured to a first end of the first arm member;    a second rotatable member pivotally secured to a second end of the first arm member and rigidly secured to a first end of the second arm member;    a linking member coupling the first and second rotatable members;    a first actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and at a second end thereof to the second end of the first arm member; and    a second actuator pivotally secured at a first end thereof to the support member and pivotally secured at a second end to the first rotatable member.    
     
     
         45 . An apparatus for covering an open container of a vehicle comprising, in combination: a pair of arms, each arm comprising a first arm member; and 
 a second arm member pivotally connected to the first arm member and having a length greater than a length of the first arm member; and    a cover connected to the second arm members.    
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the first arm member is rotatable in a first plane; and the second arm member is pivotally rotatable in a second plane laterally offset from the first plane.