Abstract:
A coupling member for a sheet assembly. The coupling member includes a top portion and a bottom portion spaced from the top portion. A gap exists between the top and bottom portions. The gap is capable of receiving a portion of the sheet assembly therein. Also, at least one fastener is coupled to at least one of the top and bottom portions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/720,374 filed Mar. 10, 2010, entitled “PROTECTIVE SHEET ASSEMBLY.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates generally to protective devices. More specifically, this application relates to protective sheet assemblies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Items are frequently protected by textile sheets or rubber sheets. While these sheets are generally effective in protecting items from rain, snow and the like, these sheets do not insulate the items from exterior temperatures. Therefore, there exists a significant need for a protective sheet assembly capable of protecting and insulating items or users from precipitation as well as insulate items or users from exterior temperatures. 
         [0004]    This application discloses a coupling member for a sheet assembly, the coupling member comprising: a top portion; a bottom portion spaced from the top portion such that a gap exists between the top and bottom portions, the gap capable of receiving a portion of the sheet assembly therein; and at least one fastener coupled to at least one of the top and bottom portions. 
         [0005]    This application further discloses a protective sheet assembly comprising: a sheet member comprising: a first layer, the first layer comprising a breathable material; and a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a reflective member; and a coupling member secured to the sheet member, the coupling member comprising a top portion; a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, wherein the sheet member is disposed between the top and bottom portions; and at least one fastener coupled to at least one of the top and bottom portions. 
         [0006]    This application also discloses a protective sheet assembly comprising: a sheet member; and a coupling member secured to the sheet member, the coupling member comprising: a top portion; a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, wherein the sheet member is disposed within the gap; and at least one fastener coupled to at least one of the top and bottom portions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an illustrative protective sheet assembly; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the illustrative protective sheet assembly taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an illustrative coupling member; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the coupling member of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial environmental side view of an illustrative protective sheet assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a partial environmental side view of an illustrative protective sheet assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a partial environmental side view of an illustrative protective sheet assembly; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a partial environmental side view of an illustrative protective sheet assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-8 , an illustrative protective sheet assembly  100  is shown. The sheet assembly  100  generally includes a sheet member  102 , at least one coupling member  108 , and at least one fastener member  120 . The sheet member  102  may be formed as having at least a first layer  104  and a second layer  106 . The first layer  104  is formed from a breathable material. In one embodiment, the breathable material is a nylon. In another embodiment, the breathable material is a 70D textured ripstop nylon. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable breathable material may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0017]    The second layer  106  may include an ultra-violet and/or thermal reflective material. In one embodiment, the second layer  106  includes a metallic sheet material laminated to at least one of a polymeric and/or textile sheet. In one embodiment, the metallic sheet material is aluminum; however, it will be appreciated that any suitable metallic material may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The polymeric and/or textile sheet may be any suitable material for laminating a metallic sheet to so as to provide a ultra-violet and/or thermal reflective sheet. In one embodiment, the metallic sheet is laminated to a nylon sheet. In one embodiment, the metallic sheet is laminated to a 70D textured ripstop nylon. However, it will be appreciated that the second layer  106  may be formed from any suitable ultra-violet and/or thermal reflective material and/or combination and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The second layer  106  may be coupled to the first layer  104  via any suitable device or means. In one embodiment, the second layer  106  is stitched to the first layer  104 . However, it will be appreciated that the first layer  104  and second layer  106  may be coupled together via any suitable means or device and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Illustrative coupling devices and/or means include, but are not limited to, bonding, adhesive, mechanical fastener, sonic welding, or any other suitable coupling means. 
         [0018]    The sheet assembly  100  may be arranged relative to a user or item to either prevent ultra-violet radiation and/or thermal energy from reaching the user or item so as to keep the user or item relatively cool or prevent ultra-violet radiation and/or thermal energy from escaping from the proximity of the user or item so as to keep the user or item relatively warm. For example, in order to keep a user or item relatively cool, the sheet assembly  100  may be arranged such that the second layer  106  is adjacent to the user or item and first layer  104  is facing away from the user or item. In order to keep a user or item relatively warm, the sheet assembly  100  may be arranged such that the first layer  104  is adjacent to the user or item and the second layer  106  is facing away from the user or item. 
         [0019]    The coupling member  108  is configured to coupled the sheet assembly  100  to one or more adjacent sheet assemblies and/or other device(s) or structure(s). The illustrative coupling member  108  includes a top portion  110  and a bottom portion  112 . In one embodiment, the sheet member  102  is disposed between the coupling member top portion  110  and coupling member bottom portion  112 . In one embodiment, the coupling member is disposed about the edge  114  of the sheet member  102 ; however, it will be appreciated that the coupling member  110  may be disposed about any portion of the sheet member  102  and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. As will be discussed further below, the coupling member  110  may include one or more fasteners  116  for mateably engaging another fastener  116  or fastener member  120  of the sheet assembly or of an adjacent sheet assembly or any other suitable structure or device. The fastener  116  may be any suitable fastening device capable of releasably engaging, or mateably engaging, an adjacent fastener  116  or fastener member  120 . In one embodiment, the fastener is a gypsy fastener; however, it will be appreciated that any other fastener type may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. The coupling member  108  may also include one or more apertures  118  adapted to receive a portion of a support structure  122 . While the illustrative support structure  122  is a rod-shaped device, it will be appreciated that the support structure may be any suitable device or assembly and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0020]    The sheet assembly  100  may also include a fastener member  120 . The fastener member  120  may be configured to releasably engage, or mateably engage, an adjacent fastener member  120  or adjacent coupling member fastener  116  of the sheet assembly  100 , of one or more adjacent sheet assemblies and/or any other device(s) or structure(s). The fastener member  120  may be any suitable fastening device capable of releasably engaging, or mateably engaging, an adjacent fastener  116  or fastener member  120 . In one embodiment, the fastener is a gypsy fastener; however, it will be appreciated that any other fastener type may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, two or more sheet assemblies may be used as modular components for constructing any suitable protective structure. With particular reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a first sheet assembly  100   a  may be releasably coupled to a second sheet assembly  100   b  wherein a fastener  116   a  of the coupling member  108   a  of the first sheet assembly  100   a  may releasably engage a fastener  116   b  of the coupling member  108   b  of the second sheet assembly  100   b.  As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sheet member  100   a  of the first sheet assembly  100   a  may be substantially parallel with the sheet member  100   b  of the second sheet assembly  100   b.  Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the sheet member  100   a  of the first sheet assembly  100   a  may be adjacent to the sheet member  100   b  of the second sheet assembly  100   b.  It will be appreciated that the sheet assemblies  100   a,    100   b  may be arranged at any suitable relationship relative to one another and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, while the sheet assemblies of  FIG. 5  are shown engaged with a support structure  122 , it will be appreciated that sheet assemblies  100   a,    100   b  not so engaged remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a first sheet assembly  100   a  and second sheet assembly  100   b  may be coupled, at least in part, by engaging a fastener member  120   a  of the first sheet assembly  100   a  with a fastener member  120   b  of the second sheet assembly  100   b . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sheet members  102   a,    102   b  may be adjacent to one another. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet members  102   a,    102   b  may be substantially parallel. It will be appreciated that the sheet assemblies  100   a,    100   b  may be arranged at any suitable relationship relative to one another and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a first sheet assembly  100   a  and second sheet assembly  100   b  may be coupled, at least in part, by engaging a fastener  116   a  of the coupling member  108   a  of the first sheet assembly  100   a  with a fastener member  120   b  of the second sheet assembly  100   b.  As shown in  FIG. 8 , the sheet members  102   a,    102   b  may be adjacent to one another. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet members  102   a,    102   b  may be substantially parallel. It will be appreciated that the sheet assemblies  100   a,    100   b  may be arranged at any suitable relationship relative to one another and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, while the illustrative embodiments of  FIGS. 5-8  show only two sheet assemblies  100   a,    100   b,  it will be appreciated that any suitable number of sheet assemblies may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.