Abstract:
A cover for the inlet hopper for a cement mixing truck that is constructed of a sheet material body that is to be draped over the access opening of the inlet hopper and fixed in position by a pair of stretchable cords which are used as attachments to connect to the cement mixing truck structure. The body also includes an elongated rod which causes the upper surface of the body to assume a domed configuration when in use. The peripheral edge of the body includes an elastic cord which is to bind against the exterior surface of the inlet hopper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     The field of this invention relates to protective covers and more particularly to a protective cover for the inlet hopper of a cement mixing truck. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Inlet hoppers of cement mixing trucks comprise a funnel-shaped structure whose purpose is to receive aggregate and water and feed such into the barrel of the cement mixing truck. These inlet hoppers vary somewhat in size and have a generally elliptical configuration that is about three to four feet in length and two to three feet in width. The length of the inlet hopper is the dimension along the longitudinal axis of the cement mixing truck. 
     Cement mixing trucks are not in use all the time. Normally, such trucks are not in use during the night and in colder climates cement mixing trucks may sit dormant for months at a time. The access opening of the hopper is constantly open which means that rain, snow and dirt can fall within the hopper and be fed into the barrel. This results in the accumulation of water within the barrel which is known to cause premature rusting of the barrel requiring replacement of the barrel. Replacement of a the barrel on a cement mixing truck is a reasonably expensive procedure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to construct a cover for an inlet hopper of a cement mixing truck which can be quickly and easily placed over the access opening of the inlet hopper to prevent the entry of precipitation and dirt. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a cover for an inlet hopper of a cement mixing truck which is manufactured at a reasonable cost and therefore can be sold to the ultimate consumer at a reasonable cost. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a cover for an inlet hopper of a cement mixing truck which, when installed, is capable of remaining in place for an exceedingly long period of time without requiring any monitoring even in high wind conditions. 
     The structure of the present invention comprises a sheet material body to be constructed of a waterproof, sturdy fabric or fabric type of material. Throughout the body there is mounted a series of rods which are designed to exert a continuous bias on the body tending to locate the body in a domed-shape configuration. The body terminates in a peripheral edge, and within that peripheral edge is located a stretchable elastic cord. Attached to the peripheral edge are two sets of two pairs of downwardly extending ears with each set of ears being located on opposite sides of the body. Each set of ears is connected to a stretchable elastic cord which terminates in a hook which is to be used to connect to a structural member of the cement mixing truck. The elastic cord within the peripheral edge of the body is to function to bind and hold the body in its established position on the inlet hopper. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a portion of a cement mixer which includes the inlet hopper upon which has been mounted the inlet hopper cover of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a frontal isometric view of the inlet hopper cover of the present invention depicting the position of installation on the inlet hopper of the cement mixing truck; 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the inlet hopper cover of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2 depicting how the inlet hopper cover is to be installed on an inlet hopper; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the internal components of the inlet hopper cover and showing the body of the inlet hopper cover in phantom; and 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the inlet hopper cover showing it as it would be installed on an inlet hopper taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown rotatable barrel  10  of a cement mixing truck  12 . Mounted rearwardly of the barrel  10  adjacent its upper edge thereof is an inlet hopper  14 . The inlet hopper  14  terminates in an upper edge  16  which surrounds an access opening into the inlet hopper  14 . The inlet hopper  14  is mounted on mounting structure  18  of the cement mixing truck  12 . It is to be understood that the purpose of the inlet hopper  14  is to receive and funnel cement, aggregate and water into the barrel  10 . 
     The access opening of the inlet hopper  14  is shown covered with the inlet hopper cover  20  of this invention. The inlet hopper cover  20  includes a body  22  which is constructed of a heavy fabric type of material such as a canvas, nylon or possibly even a plastic. The body  22  has a peripheral edge  24 . Formed within the peripheral edge  24  is an annular compartment  26 . Mounted within the annular compartment  26  is an elastic cord  28  which constitutes a binding device. The elastic cord  28  could be continuous and be mounted with the entire length of the annular compartment  26 . Also, the elastic cord  28  could comprise a series of disconnected segments. 
     The inlet hopper cover  20  is to have a front end  30 , a right side  32 , a left side  34  and a back end  36 . The front end  30  is to located in alignment with the portion of the inlet hopper  14  that is mounted at rear of cement mixing truck  12 . The back end  36  is mounted over the portion of the inlet hopper  14  that is located directly adjacent the barrel  10 . 
     Embedded, as within a seam, within the body  22  is an elongated, bendable rod  38  defined as a bowing device. The length of the rod  38  would normally be about three feet in length and will extend from peripheral edge  24  to peripheral edge  24 . In essence, the elongated, bendable rod  38  comprises a spine that extends across the center of the body  22 . Typically, the material of construction of the bendable rod  38  would be a polycarbonate fiber that is readily bendable but yet when released has a tendency to spring back to its at-rest position. The rod  38  will be installed within the body  22  in a slightly biased position with the result that the body  22  will naturally assume a rounded or domed configuration. Also embedded within the body  22  in alignment with the center point of the rod  38  and extending transversely thereto are a pair of lateral support struts  40  and  42 . The lateral support struts  40  and  42  are of the same diameter and same material as the bendable rod  38  with generally about one quarter to five-sixteenths in diameter being preferable. The lateral support struts  40  and  42  are of the same length and each about one and one-half feet long. The lateral support struts  40  and  42  are in alignment with each other. These struts  40  and  42  further assist in the forming of the domed configuration of the body  22  when it is mounted on the inlet hopper  14 . 
     It is to be understood that the installing of the body  22  on the inlet hopper  14  will require the user to slightly stretch the elastic cord  28  and force the peripheral edge  24  over the inlet hopper  14 . Because the elastic cord  28  will be in an extended position, the peripheral edge  24  will be tightly held against the inlet hopper  14 . 
     Mounted interiorly of the body  22  are a pair of support straps  44 . The support straps  44  are mounted substantially parallel to the rod  38 . The support straps  44  will abut against the upper edge  16  of the inlet hopper  14  when the cover  20  is installed in position on the inlet hopper  14 . The ends of the support straps  44  are sewn or otherwise secured to the body  12 . It is the function of the support straps  44  to provide additional support to the body  22 . 
     Located at the right side  32  and attached to the body  22  are a pair of depending ears  48 . The ears  48  will normally be constructed of a fabric material which would probably be identical to the fabric used for the body  22 . In referring particularly to FIG. 3, it can be seen that one ear  48  is located nearer the front end  30  than the back end  36  while the other ear  48  is located nearer the back end  36  than the front end  30 . In this way, the force of attachment will be spread out across the peripheral edge  24  and is not confined to a single point. The ears  48  are connected to a ring  49  which is attached to an elastic cord  50 . The elastic cord  50  terminates into a hook  52 . The hook  52  is to be connected with a portion of the mounting structure  18  in a manner that stretches the cord  50  so that a relatively strong securing force is applied to the body  22  tending to maintain such on the inlet hopper  14 . 
     On the left side  34  is also similarly mounted a pair of ears  54 . These ears  54  are also attached to the peripheral edge  24 . The ears  54  are connected to a ring  55  which is attached to an elastic cord  56 . The outer end of the elastic cord  56  terminates in a hook  58 . The hook  58  is also to be connected to the mounting structure  18 . 
     It is to be understood that when the inlet hopper  20  of this invention is properly installed on the inlet hopper  14 , the inlet hopper cover  20  is maintained in a domed configuration which will prevent the accumulation thereon of water. Also, the cover will prevent any precipitation or dirt from entering the inlet hopper  14 . It is to be understood that the inlet hopper cover  20  is to be removed during the time that the cement mixing truck  14  is operated. 
     When the inlet hopper cover  20  is removed, it can be folded to a collapsed position, this folding being permitted by rod  38  bending into a U-shape. When so folded, the straps  60  and  62  are to be tied which will retain the cover  20  in the collapsed position. Normally, the cover  20  when in the collapsed position would be installed within some form of a carry bag, which is not shown.