Patent ID: 6474719
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
A tarp cover system for an open-topped vehicle container body having front, rear, side and bottom walls, comprising:(a) a flexible cover having first and second ends; (b) a cylindrical cover roll for receiving said cover, said cover being connected with said cover roll; (c) means for rotatably connecting said roll with the vehicle body adjacent and parallel with the container body front wall; (d) drive means for rotating said roll in a first direction of rotation to cause said cover to be wound upon said roll, whereby said second end is exposed; (e) means for withdrawing said second end rearwardly from said roll to cover the top of the container body; (f) means for connecting said second end with the rear wall of the container body; (g) a generally U-shaped inverted hold-down arm having a transverse portion parallel with said roll, and a pair of leg portions terminating in a pair of free ends, said hold-down arm transverse portion having a length that is less than the spacing distance between the container body side walls; (h) a pair of pivot means for pivotally connecting the free ends of said leg portions with the container body adjacent the roll and intermediate the front and rear walls; and (i) hold-down spring means biasing said hold-down arm toward a first hold-down position in which said transverse portion is above and in engagement with a upper surface of said cover, thereby to hold down a front portion of the cover relative to the vehicle body.