ROLLING TARP SYSTEM
A tarp bar may be an alignment, reinforcement, and furling control member, without adding substantial weight or complexity to a rolling tarp system. The tarp bar is not motorized or otherwise powered, and is preferably attached only to the tarp material, a significant distance from the drive bar and parallel to the length of the tarp and the bed/trailer. The tarp bar is recessed or otherwise-concave along its length to allow cradling of, and hence parallel orientation of, an already-rolled portion of the tarp. The tarp bar is preferably broader than said already-rolled portion and the combination of the already-rolled portion received in the tarp bar is a non-cylindrical unit. Subsequent rolling-up of the tarp tends to occur in a cam-like action that maintains more consistent tension all along the length of the tarp, to form a tighter and more even roll.
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This application is a continuation of Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/537,247, filed Aug. 6, 2009 and issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,377 on Apr. 24, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference, and application Ser. No. 12/537,247 claims benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/086,508, filed Aug. 6, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to rolling tarp systems, and, more specifically, to rolling tarp systems provided on trucks or trailers transporting cargo to be covered with the tarp. Preferred embodiments comprise a bar system that is added to a rolling tarp that improves the consistency and effectiveness of the rolling process.
2. Related Art
Conventional truck beds or trailers for hauling of farm products or other bulk cargo are frequently equipped with a tarp adapted to cover the open top of the bed or trailer. The tarp may prevent significant loss of cargo during travel at highway speeds, and also may prevent the cargo from becoming wet from rain during travel or temporary storage in the bed/trailer. Such conventional tarps are typically rolled-up to reveal the open top of the bed/trailer for loading of cargo, and then unrolled to cover the open top.
Many conventional rolling tarps are adapted to roll in a direction that is transverse to the length of the truck bed or trailer, and are frequently called “side-rolling” tarps. Such side-rolling tarps are typically provided on truck beds or trailers that are substantially box-shaped, wherein all four vertical sides of the “box” are generally the same height. In such beds/trailers, the unrolled tarp is substantially horizontal, as it extends generally between two horizontal side edges of the bed/trailer that are at the same elevation. Therefore, the entire rolling process is substantially horizontal rather than vertical, and the total length of tarp that must be furled is approximately equal to the transverse width of the bed/trailer.
Side-rolling tarps powered from a single end are ineffective, and therefore typically not used, on beds/trailers that have a significantly lower side, such as trailers adapted to receive “blow-in” produce such as silage. In such conventional “low-sided” bed/trailers, one side is several feet lower than the opposite side and the front and rear ends, so that farm product may be generally horizontally “blown-in” to the bed/trailer over the low side. Said opposite side connects to a partial roof that extends at an upward angle over about half of the bed/trailer to form a roof peak. The blown-in product is stopped, and/or contained, by said opposite side, the partial roof, and the front and rear ends, during loading of the product. The same partially-open, partially-closed roof system, without a side-rolling tarp, helps to contain the product/cargo during transport to some extent, but is problematic and less than optimal at highway speeds.
Such low-sided beds/trailers typically have elongated span members (“bows”) that are transverse to the length of the bed/trailer and spaced apart at multiple locations along the length of the bed/trailer. The bows are spaced apart far enough to allow the product to be blown in or otherwise easily loaded into the bed/trailer. The bows typically extend from at or near the roof peak of the partial roof generally horizontally to a position above the low side, then bend about midway along their length to form bow corners generally above said low side, and then extend down to connect to said low side. The bows may be used to support a tarp or other covering over the open top of the bed/trailer and/or may contribute structural strength to the bed/trailer.
If a conventional side-rolling tarp, powered from a single end of the bed/trailer, were provided on a low-sided bed/trailer, the proximal end of the tarp would be secured to the bed/trailer at or near the roof peak. The tarp would unroll generally horizontally (slightly downward) along the upper portion of the bows and then would extend generally vertically down the vertical portions of the bows toward the low side, against which the tarp distal edge would be secured. A Shurlock™ latch system, ties, latches, or other systems could be used to secure the distal edge to the low side. The rolling-up process would begin, therefore, at or near the low side edge, and the tarp would have to roll generally vertically upwards to the corners of the bows, and then would continue to roll “up-hill” to near the peak of the roof. Substantially the entire process would therefore be “up-hill.” This process, powered from one end of the bed/trailer, has been attempted and has been shown to be unacceptably difficult and inaccurate. The roll becomes very non-uniform along its length, with the end near the power source being tight, and the opposite end being loose and sloppy. This non-uniformity typically exhibits itself by the time the roll reaches the bow corners, and becomes so extreme that such side-rolling tarps are conventionally understood to be ineffective on such low-sided beds/trailers.
Therefore, there is still a need for an improved rolling tarp system. The invention meets this need, and, in preferred embodiments, provides a simple and economical system for solving or limiting the previous problems exhibited by rolling tarps. Preferred embodiments provide a system for consistent and tight rolling of a tarp even on a low-sided farm produce trailer or truck bed, as discussed above, which previously has been a particular problem in the industry. Instead of using a rigid metal partial roof to partially cover a low-sided trailer and/or using an ineffectively/inaccurately-furled tarp or other cover, a side-rolling tarp according to embodiments of the invention may be retracted, for loading of cargo/produce, to about the peak of the tarp roof in a consistent and controlled rolling method previously not achievable in tarps powered from a single end of the tarp. Thus, the preferred embodiments of the tarp bar allow a low-sided trailer to be fitted with a side-rolling tarp, rather than a rigid metal partial roof, for covering the trailer during transit, but wherein the tarp may be retracted to about the peak of the tarp roof in a consistent and controlled rolling method.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe invention comprises a tarp bar that may be installed in or on a tarp, wherein the tarp bar is spaced from the distal edge of the tarp and spaced from the drive bar that is used to power the rolling process. The tarp bar is generally parallel to the drive bar, and both tarp bar and drive bar are typically parallel to the length of the bed/trailer the tarp is intended to cover. The drive bar may be said to be at or near the distal edge, as it will be firmly secured/connected to the fabric of the tarp in such as way that the drive bar can roll the tarp. Preferably, the tarp bar is located at what may be called an intermediate region of the tarp, so that the tarp bar is located in a range of about ⅕ to ¾ and more preferably, ⅕-½, of the distance from the distal edge of the tarp to the proximal edge of the tarp, and, when used to cover a low-sided bed/trailer, is preferably located at or near the bow corners. In other words, the tarp bar is preferably located not at the distal edge and not at the proximal edge, as the tarp bar benefits the rolling process by being intermediate between these locations, wherein “intermediate” is a broad range of locations depending on the specifics of the tarp and the trailer/bed.
When the preferred tarp is rolled-up, as further described later in this document and portrayed in the figures, one may say that a distal portion of the tarp is first rolled-up to form a pre-roll to the point at which the pre-roll reaches the tarp bar. The pre-roll then becomes cradled or otherwise received in the tarp bar, and further rolling of the tarp comprises a middle region of the tarp (for example, tarp portion 52 in the figures) being rolled/wrapped around the combination of the pre-roll and the tarp bar. The tarp may be rolled all the way to the proximal edge of the tarp or only part way to the proximal edge.
The tarp bar is shaped to include a longitudinal space, indent, or other recess preferably at or near the longitudinal centerline of the tarp bar, which may receive another elongated object that is presented to the tarp bar in an orientation that is generally parallel to the tarp bar. During the rolling process, the drive bar first rolls-up the distal portion of the tarp to form what is called herein the “pre-roll” and, upon reaching the tarp bar, the pre-roll is received in said longitudinal recess. Even if the pre-roll is non-parallel to the tarp bar when it reaches the tarp bar, the tarp bar recess tends to cradle the pre-roll and align it in said longitudinal recess so that the pre-roll becomes exactly, or nearly exactly, parallel to the tarp bar once the pre-roll is cradled in the tarp bar. Hence, a first object of the preferred tarp bar is that it tends to correct non-uniform rolling that has already occurred by the time the pre-roll reaches the tarp bar.
After the pre-roll becomes cradled in the tarp bar, continued rolling of the tarp rotates the pre-roll-plus-tarp-bar combination toward the proximal edge of the tarp, so that the proximal tarp portion becomes rolled around said combination to form a roll of increasing diameter. A second object of the preferred tarp bar is that it strengthens the roll, which prevents/limits torsion/twisting of the drive bar that could otherwise result in an uneven and inconsistent rolling process.
A third object of the preferred tarp bar is that the tarp bar is adapted in shape so that the roll, during at least a portion of the rolling process, is non-circular in cross-section. The tarp bar preferably is greater in width that the diameter of the pre-roll, so that its longitudinal edges protrude out beyond the outer surface of the pre-roll. This creates a substantially non-cylindrical shape for the pre-roll plus tarp bar combination, which tends to create an incremental rather than continuous rolling motion after the pre-roll has become cradled in the tarp bar. This incremental rolling motion tends to improve the accuracy and consistency of the rolling process. The entire length of the non-cylindrical roll tends to pivot/flip over each of its corners at the same or substantially the same time, with each flip representing equal incremental advancement of the roll that tends to more snugly wrap the tarp material around the advancing roll.
These and other objects of the preferred embodiments will be further understood by reference to the Drawings and the following Detailed Description. However, the Drawings and Detailed Description should be understood to illustrate some, but not the only, embodiments of the invented tarp bar and methods of using the same.
Referring to the figures, there are shown several, but not the only, embodiments of the invented tarp bar, a rolling tarp system that incorporates the tarp bar, and methods of using the tarp bar and tarp system. The preferred tarp bar is specially adapted in shape so that it may serve as an alignment member, a reinforcement member, and a furling control member, without adding substantial weight or complexity to the tarp system, as will be further described below.
The preferred tarp bar is provided separately, and a significant distance, from the drive bar or other elongated member that is powered to cause the rolling-up (also, furling) and unrolling (also, unfurling) of the tarp. The tarp bar is preferably not powered, and is preferably attached only to the tarp material to be parallel to the length of the tarp and the bed/trailer, about ⅕-½ of the way from the distal end to the proximal end of the tarp. The tarp bar is preferably not attached or directly connected to the drive bar and/or any other mechanized system, except that it resides in/on the tarp that is furled/unfurled by the preferred drive bar.
The tarp bar preferably is recessed or otherwise concavely shaped along its longitudinal centerline, to allow cradling of an already-rolled portion of the tarp, and, hence, to orient the already-rolled portion to be parallel to the tarp bar. Further, the tarp bar is preferably broader than said already-rolled portion, so that two opposing edges of the tarp bar extend out beyond the diameter of the already-rolled portion. This way, the combination of the already-rolled portion received in the preferred tarp bar comprises a non-cylindrical unit, and subsequent rolling-up of the tarp tends to occur in incremental, partial-rotation steps. This incremental, cam-like rolling mechanism, powered by the drive bar, tends to maintain more consistent tension on the tarp, on both ends of the tarp and all along the tarp length, and forms a tighter, more consistent and even roll along the entire length of the roll.
Referring specifically to the figures, there is shown in
The tarp system 10 is supported/suspended along approximately its longitudinal centerline by a longitudinal ridge pole 16. Ridge pole clamps 17 extend from the ridge pole 16 to catch the tarp roll when it is fully furled, as in
The tarp bar is preferably installed on/in the tarp at a location that results in the tarp bar being located at the corners 19 when the tarp is fully unrolled, as illustrated in
The tarp bar is also preferably placed at this “corner location”, because it has been found by the inventors to be an optimum position for excellent tarp system operation. For example, placing the tarp bar at the bow corners prevents the pre-roll from becoming cradled in the tarp bar too soon, that is, when the drive bar is rolling up tarp portion 51 by rolling nearly vertically upward. If the pre-roll were to become cradled in the tarp bar on this nearly-vertical portion of the rolling path, it would difficult or impossible for the preferred drive system to continue rolling-up of the combination (of pre-roll plus tarp bar), and the rolling process would stop, stall, and/or become otherwise ineffective. Further, if the tarp bar were placed “uphill” of the bow corners 19, that is, in/on tarp portion 52 (closer to the ridge pole 16 than the corners), the area of the tarp resting against the corners 19 would not be reinforced by the tarp bar or typically not by any other structure, and the tarp might tend to tear and/or otherwise wear or become damaged. Such an “above the corners” tarp bar location would also result in cradling of the pre-roll in the tarp bar later in the rolling process, which could result in the pre-roll being even more uneven from end to end and could therefore result in a less-optimal rolling process and result.
The tarp system 10 is shown in the un-rolled (closed, unfurled) position in
One may note that a major difference between the preferred trailer 1 and conventional low-sided trailers is that trailer 1 comprises a tarp roof that covers the entire top of the trailer, rather comprising a rigid partial roof as described in the Related Art section. When the tarp is fully closed/unfurled, as in
As shown to best advantage in
The preferred tarp bar 60 is generally the same length as the tarp and comprises two long tubular members 62 connected at multiple, spaced locations along the length of the tubular members by short connector members 64. Providing multiple connector members 64 rather than a continuous connector along the length of the tubular members 62 helps reduce the weight of the tarp bar 60 while maintaining the desired shape and strength of the tarp bar. All of the tubular members 62 and the connector members 64 are preferably rigid and immovable relative to each other. The connector members 64 may be said to be fixed to, and therefore to connect to, a bottom surface of each of the tubular members 62, thus being located toward a bottom side of the tarp bar 60 and thus creating a larger cradle space 66.
As best illustrated in the end view of tarp bar 60, the connector members 64 are provided generally on the bottom side of the tarp bar rather than along the center plane of the tarp bar 60, so that a cradle space 66 is created between the tubular members 62. As shown in
Once the pre-roll PR is received in the cradle space 66 to form combined roll unit 70, shown in
Rotation of the pre-roll PR plus tarp bar combined unit 70 provides unique and beneficial operation, which tends to keep the tarp roll even and tight. As illustrated by the end views in
The cam effect may be described as rotation of the tarp roll in incremental, partial-rotations that are created by the corners 80 of the non-circular roll. The drive bar rotation tends to tighten the material of the pre-roll PR further around the drive bar, as it works to cause the first rotation (first partial rotation) after the pre-roll initially “falls” into the tarp bar. Then, the drive bar rotation tends to tighten the tarp material being rolled onto the intermediate roll IR before and during each incremental rotation occurs, with the tarp especially tightening generally before the roll flips over a corner to accomplish the partial rotation. The inventors have found that this cam effect works particularly well for up-hill rolling, and that a triangular shape or generally triangular shape is particularly effective. The drive bar tends to tension the tarp material along the entire length of the roll, and, during up-hill rolling, the weight of the combined roll unit 70 or the intermediate roll IR tends to increase said tension. The “flip” or “pivot” of the roll on each corner 80 tends to happen at the same time all along the length of the tarp roll, so that the tarp material tends to stay tight against the roll and the roll flips consistently and evenly. Thus, a tighter and more even roll results from the preferred tarp bar system and rolling process compared to the tarp system and rolling process not comprising the tarp bar.
The tarp material may be various fabrics or sheets, as may be chosen by those of skill in the art. The power system and drive bar may be selected from ones already in the art, or may be adapted as desired. It will be understood after reading and viewing this document, that the preferred tarp bar system may improve the effectiveness of tarp rolling power and drive bar systems of a given size and power, thus, preventing the need for increased size, strength, and power of said power and drive bar systems to achieve good results. While the preferred tarp and tarp bar are applied to side-rolling tarp systems for trailers, tarp systems with tarp bars also may be adapted for use on truck beds and/or other apparatus needing a retractable cover, as will be understood by those of skill in the art.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to one of skill in the art after reading this disclosure and viewing the drawings. Although this invention is described herein and in the drawings with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the broad scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A rolling tarp system comprising:
- a tarp having a distal portion and a proximal portion;
- a drive bar connected to the distal portion of the tarp;
- a tarp bar having a length and a longitudinal recess, the tarp bar being connected to the tarp between the distal portion and the proximal portion and distanced from the drive bar and wherein the tarp bar longitudinal recess is generally parallel to the drive bar;
- wherein the drive bar is adapted to roll-up said distal portion of the tarp around the drive bar, and, when said drive bar reaches the tarp bar, the drive bar with said distal portion of the tarp rolled around the drive bar is received in the recess of the tarp bar; and
- wherein a combined unit of the drive bar, the distal portion rolled around the drive bar, and the tarp bar continue to roll, powered by the drive bar, to roll-up the proximal portion around said combined unit.
2. The tarp system as in claim 1, wherein said tarp bar is rigid all along the length of the tarp bar.
3. The tarp system as in claim 1, comprising only one tarp bar.
4. The tarp system as in claim 1, wherein the tarp bar is not motorized.
5. The tarp system as in claim 1, wherein said tarp bar comprises two elongated members each having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of connector members fixed to said bottom surface of each of said two elongated bars to space apart said two elongated members from each other and to rigidly fix said two elongated members relative to each other, wherein a space between the two elongated members and above plurality of connector members is said longitudinal recess.
6. A rolling tarp system comprising:
- a tarp having a distal portion and a proximal portion;
- a drive bar connected to the tarp distal portion and having a longitudinal axis, the drive bar adapted to rotate on said longitudinal axis to roll-up the tarp; and
- a tarp bar connected to the tarp at a location distanced from the drive bar, the tarp bar having a longitudinal recess parallel to the drive bar longitudinal axis, so that, upon the drive bar rolling-up the distal portion and reaching the tarp bar, the drive bar and the distal portion rolled-around the drive bar are received in said longitudinal recess; and
- wherein continued rotation of the drive bar rolls-up said proximal portion around a combination of the drive bar, the distal portion rolled-around the drive bar, and the tarp bar.
7. The rolling tarp system as in claim 6, wherein said combination has a length parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive bar and a transverse dimension perpendicular to said length of the combination, and wherein said combination is triangular in transverse cross-section.
8. The rolling tarp system of claim 6, wherein the tarp bar is a rigid bar comprising two elongated members and connector members spaced apart along the length of the two elongated members and rigidly fixing the two elongated members together in a single unit, and wherein said longitudinal recess is a space between said two elongated members running the length of said two elongated members.
9. The rolling tarp system of claim 6, wherein:
- said tarp bar has two longitudinal edges;
- said combination has a length parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive bar and a transverse dimension perpendicular to said length of the combination;
- said combination is triangular in transverse cross-section; and said two longitudinal edges of the tarp bar are a first triangle corner and a second triangle corner of said triangular transverse cross-section; and
- an outer surface of the distal portion rolled-around the drive bar forms a third triangle corner of said triangular transverse cross-section.
10. The tarp system as in claim 6, wherein said tarp bar is rigid all along the length of the tarp bar.
11. The tarp system as in claim 6, comprising only one tarp bar.
12. The rolling tarp system of claim 6, wherein said tarp bar is not motorized.
13. The rolling tarp system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of trailer bow members that are each bent at a bow corner to form a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion, wherein said tarp rests above said bow members and rolls transverse to the bow members when being rolled-up by the drive bar, said tarp bar being located at said bow corners when the tarp is unrolled.
14. The rolling tarp system of claim 13, wherein said tarp bar has two longitudinal edges and a transverse dimension between said two longitudinal edges, and wherein said transverse dimension is on said bow corners at approximately a 45 degree angle to horizontal when the tarp is unrolled.
15. A method of rolling-up a side-rolling tarp, the method comprising:
- providing a tarp for covering at least a portion of a trailer or a truck-bed;
- connecting a rotatable drive bar to the tarp;
- connecting a reinforcing bar to the tarp a distance from the drive bar, the reinforcing bar having a longitudinal recess parallel to the length of the drive bar;
- rotating the drive bar to roll-up a first portion of the tarp around the drive bar until the drive bar reaches the reinforcing bar, whereupon the drive bar with said first portion rolled-around the drive bar is received in said longitudinal recess;
- continuing to rotate the drive bar to roll-up a second portion of the tarp around a combination of the drive bar with said first portion rolled-around the drive bar and said reinforcing bar;
- whereby the reinforcing bar strengthens said combination to limit twisting of the drive bar for even and consistent rolling-up of said second portion.
16. A method of rolling-up a side-rolling tarp, the method comprising:
- rolling-up a first portion of a side-rolling tarp by rotating a drive bar that is attached to the first portion of the tarp;
- resting the drive bar with said first portion rolled-around the drive bar in a longitudinal recess of a reinforcing bar that is attached to the tarp; and
- continuing to rotate the drive bar to roll-up a second portion of the tarp around a combination of the drive bar with said first portion rolled-around the drive bar and the reinforcing bar.
17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said combination has a length and a transverse dimension, and the combination is non-circular in transverse cross-section.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein said combination is non-circular in transverse cross-section and said continuing to rotate the drive bar comprises a cam action of incremental, partial-rotations of said combination wherein said tarp wraps tightly on said combination prior to each incremental partial-rotation.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein:
- said reinforcing bar has two longitudinal edges;
- said combination has a length parallel to the length of the drive bar and a transverse dimension perpendicular to said length of the combination;
- said combination is triangular in transverse cross-section, and said two longitudinal edges of the reinforcing bar form a first triangle corner and a second triangle corner of said triangular transverse cross-section; and
- an outer surface of said distal portion rolled-around the drive bar forms a third triangle corner of said triangular transverse cross-section;
- so that said rotating the combination comprises a cam action comprising three incremental, partial-rotations corresponding to three sides of the triangular-cross-section combination.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said cam action comprises said combination flipping over each of the first, second, and third triangle corners at the same time all along the length of the combination, so that the tarp wraps tightly around said combination.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 24, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2012
Applicant: TRINITY TRAILER MFG., INC. (BOISE, ID)
Inventors: JAMES C. MILLER (BOISE, ID), MICHAEL R. HUNTER (BOISE, ID)
Application Number: 13/455,027