Patent Publication Number: US-2010123331-A1

Title: Truck bed tarp system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to securing a cover onto an open container, and more particularly relates to securing a tarp or tarpaulin onto a truck bed. 
     Pick up trucks generally have an open truck bed. These truck beds do not have height restrictions which limit that transportation of large objects. But, a disadvantage of an open truck bed is that the contents or cargo of the truck bed are exposed to environmental elements such as sun, sleet, snow, rain, wind and pollution. Thus, systems using tarpaulins have been used to cover and restrain truck bed cargo. 
     Cargo restraining systems generally consist of a tarpaulin and a rope, bungee cords or tensioning straps. The tarpaulin may contain eyelets around the periphery to where the ropes or cords are attached and secured to the truck bed by anchor points. These anchor points are usually mounted onto the sides of the truck bed and may permanently damage the truck bed. Bungee cords are usually secured only via their hooks. Therefore, improved systems and methods of restraining cargo using a tarpaulin, which are more secure and less damaging to the truck bed, are desired. 
     Patents and publications of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,944 to Klotz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,816 to Hull et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,063 to Mullally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,872 to Biancale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,590 to Schulz, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,859 to Vasques, U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,733 to Amerine, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,171 to Morris as well as French Patent No. 2658456 to Gerard. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for attaching a flexible cover to an open enclosure. The flexible cover may comprise a tarpaulin and the open enclosure may be a truck bed. The flexible cover is placed over an opening of the open enclosure. A plurality of fastening elements are present in or attached to the flexible cover, for example, to the edges of the flexible cover. A plurality of tie down members are attached to the sides of the open enclosure. A first end of a flexible cord is coupled to a first tie down member. A ratchet is coupled with the first tie down member. The flexible cord is intermittently coupled between at least some of the plurality of fastening elements on the flexible cover and the plurality of tie down members on the open enclosure. A second end of the flexible cord is passed through the ratchet and tension is applied to the flexible cord to secure the flexible cover to the open enclosure, for example, by pulling on the second end of the flexible cord. The ratchet holds the flexible cord in position to maintain the applied tension, thus maintaining the flexible cover secured onto the open enclosure. Alternatively, any tensioning means such as buckles, tensioning straps, or knots may be used in place of the ratchet. Also, the open enclosure may be provided with tie down hooks or anchors, and the flexible cord may be coupled between the plurality of fastening elements on the flexible cover and the tie down hooks or anchors of the open enclosure. 
     In some cases, the flexible cord may be passed through a plurality of eyelets of at least one side of the flexible cover, thereby coupling the flexible cord to the flexible cover. 
     Each of the fastening elements may comprise a clip for attaching the fastening elements to an edge of the flexible cover. They may also comprise a hook having one end for capturing the flexible cord. Furthermore, each fastening element may be padded, for example, with a soft foam outer covering, so that they do not scratch or otherwise damage the sides of the open enclosure or truck bed. 
     Each tie down member may comprise a suction cup and the plurality of tie down members may be attached to the sides of the open enclosure by applying suction. Each tie down member may comprise a tie down ring which can capture a ratchet hook of the ratchet to couple each tie down member with the ratchet. The tie down ring of a first tie down member may be used to capture a first end hook of the first end of the flexible cord to couple the first tie down member with the first end of the flexible cord. 
     A plurality of hooks may be provided. These hooks may be S-shaped and be used to couple the flexible cord with the attached plurality of tie down members. 
     The ratchet may comprise a ratchet hook which may be captured by a tie down slot of the first tide down member to couple the ratchet with the first tie down member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a system for securing a flexible cover over an open enclosure according to embodiments of the invention; 
       FIGS.  2 - 2 C 1  show views of a tie down member of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show views of a fastening element of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4A-4J  show a method of using the system of  FIG. 1  to secure a flexible cover over an open enclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a flow chart depicting a method of securing a flexible cover over an open enclosure according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  100  for securing a tarpaulin  110  or any type of flexible cover over a truck bed or any type of open enclosure according to embodiments of the invention. Tarpaulin  110  may be included with system  100  or may be an off-the-shelf component. System  100  may comprise a flexible cord  120 , a ratchet  130 , a plurality of tie down members  140 , a plurality of fastening elements  150 , and a plurality of hooks  160 . Tarpaulin or tarpaulin  110  may have a plurality of eyelets  113  along its periphery, i.e., along one or more of its edges  111 . Flexible cord  120  has a fixed first end  121  and a free second end  123 . Flexible cord  120  may comprise, for example, a bungee cord. Typically, a fixed first end hook  122  will be tied or otherwise coupled to the fixed first end  121  of flexible cord  120 . Ratchet  130  comprises a ratchet hook  131  and a ratchet slot  133 . Flexible cord  120  can be threaded through ratchet slot  133  to secure it thereto. As shown, hooks  160  are S-shaped and can be referred to as S-hooks  160 . However, hooks  160  may have any number of shapes, for example, they may be G-shaped or C-shaped. 
     FIGS.  2 - 2 C 3  show a tie down member  140 .  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of tie down member  140 . As shown, tie down member  140  is a lever-activated suction cup. Tie down member  140  comprises a tie down ring  141 , a suction cup actuation lever  143 , and a suction cup  145 . FIGS.  2 A 1 ,  2 A 2  and  2 A 3  respectively show a top view, a side cross-sectional view, and a perspective view of an unlocked tie down member  140 . As suction cup actuation lever  143  is pressed down and locked such that it is parallel with the main body of tie down member  140 , the internal volume of suction cup  145  is raised. Thus, when tie down member is placed over a surface, pressing lever  143  down applies a suction to attach tie down member  140  to the surface. FIGS.  2 B 1 ,  2 B 2  and  2 B 3  respectively show a top view, a side cross-sectional view, and a perspective view of a locked tie down member  140 . Lever  143  may be pressed down to a maximum level as shown by FIGS.  2 C 1 - 2 C 2 , which respectively show a top view, a side cross-sectional view, and a perspective view of a maximally locked tie down member  140 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  respectively show a perspective view and a side view of fastening element  150 . Fastening element  150  comprises a main body  151 , a secondary body  155 , and a rotatable knob  157 . Main body  151  comprises a hook  153 . Secondary body  155  may comprise a soft, foam pad  159 . Rotation of rotatable knob  157 , as indicated by arrow  158 , adjusts the distance  156  between main body  151  and secondary body  155  by adjusting the position of main body  151  and secondary body  155  relative to one another in the direction indicated by arrow  154 . When an edge  111  of the tarpaulin  110  is placed in between main body  151  and secondary body  155 , rotatable knob  157  can be rotated to tighten and secure main body  151  and secondary body  155  onto edge  113 . Also, the point of attachment between fastening element  150  and tarpaulin  110  may be anywhere on the tarpaulin  500 , including its sides, edges, corners, folds made on the body of the tarpaulin  110 , etc. Tarpaulin  110  may be a tarpaulin of any size. 
       FIGS. 4A-4J  show a method of using system  100  to secure a flexible cover or tarpaulin  110  to an open enclosure, for example, a truck bed  500 , according to embodiments of the invention. As shown by  FIG. 4A , leading with free second end  123 , flexible cord  120  is threaded through eyelets  113  present on an edge  111  of tarpaulin  110 . As shown by  FIG. 4B , tie down members  140  are secured onto sides  510  of truck bed  500 , for example, via suction. Tie down members  140  and/or sides  510  of truck bed may be wiped clean of dirt and other material before securing tie down members  140  onto sides  510  so as to improve suction. Next, as shown by  FIG. 4C , tarpaulin  110  is laid over truck bed  500  thereby covering its top opening. Fixed first end  121  of flexible cord  120  is coupled to a first tie down member  140 A.  FIG. 4D  shows a zoomed-in view of this coupling. Fixed first end hook  122  of fixed first end  121  is hooked through tie down ring  141  of first tie down member  140 . Alternatively, truck bed  500  may itself include tie down hooks or anchors and tie down members  140  may not need to be provided. As such, fixed first end  121  of flexible cord  120  can be coupled to a first tie down hook or anchor of the truck bed  500 . Next, as shown by  FIG. 4E , the remainder of flexible cord  120 , led by free second end  123 , is wrapped around sides  510  of truck bed  500 . The remaining individual tie down members  140  already secured to sides  510  are coupled to flexible cord  120  via S-hooks  160  as shown by  FIG. 4F . One end of S-hook  160  hooks onto flexible cord  120  while the other hooks through tie down ring  141 . Afterwards, as shown by  FIG. 4G , ratchet  130  is coupled to first tie down member  140 A and free second end  123  of flexible cord  120  is coupled to ratchet  130 .  FIG. 4H  shows a zoomed-in view of first tie down member  140 A, free second end of flexible cord  120 , and ratchet  130  coupled together. Both ratchet hook  131  and fixed first end hook  122  are hooked through tie down ring  141 . Free second end  123  of flexible cord  120  is threaded through ratchet slot  133 . Ratchet  130  may be configured to allow flexible cord  120  to only be pulled through ratchet slot  133  in the direction of arrow  110 . Thus, pulling flexible cord  120  through ratchet slot  133  applies tension to the remainder of flexible  120  which is wrapped around truck bed  500 , thus tightening flexible cord  120  around truck bed  120 . By allowing movement of flexible cord  120  in only one direction, ratchet  130  can maintain this tension. Other means of tensioning flexible cord  120 , for example, tensioning straps or knots, may also be used. As shown by  FIG. 4I , fastening elements  150  are then secured onto the periphery or edges  111  of tarpaulin  110  as previously described. Fastening elements  150  are positioned intermittently between tie down members  140  (or, in the case where tie down hooks or anchors are included in the truck bed, the tie down hooks or anchors of the truck bed). Foam pads  159  prevent fastening elements  150  from scratching, impacting, or otherwise damaging the surface of sides  510  of truck bed  500 . Hook  153  of individual fastening elements are hooked over flexible cord  120  pull flexible cord  120  and periphery or edges  111  together, further applying tension to the flexible cord  120  wrapped around truck bed  500  and securing tarpaulin  110  to truck bed  500 . In other embodiments, instead of using ratchet  130 , other tensioning means may be used, including buckles, tensioning straps, and knots.  FIG. 4H  shows the end state of system  100  securing tarpaulin  110  to truck bed  500 . 
     Although only the above exemplary steps are described, it can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described steps may be performed in any order, additional related steps may be performed, and some steps may be modified or omitted. 
       FIG. 5  shows a flow chart depicting an exemplary method  1400  of using system  100  to secure a flexible cover to an open enclosure, for example, tarpaulin  110  to truck bed  500 , according to embodiments of the invention. A step  1407  couples a flexible cord with an edge of a tarpaulin, for example, flexible cord  120  with an edge  111  of tarpaulin  110 . A step  1414  secures tie down members to sides of a truck bed, for example, tie down members  140  to sides  510  of truck bed  500 . A step  1421  couples a fixed first end of a flexible cord to a tie down member, for example, a fixed first end  121  of flexible cord  120  to first tie down member  140 A. A step  1428  wraps the flexible cord around the truck bed, for example, flexible cord  120  around sides  510  of truck bed  500 . A step  1435  couples the flexible cord to the tie down members, for example, flexible cord  120  to tie down members  140 . A step  1442  threads the flexible cord through a ratchet, for example, free second end  123  of flexible cord  120  through ratchet slot  133  of ratchet  130 . A step  1449  pulls the flexible cord to apply tension to the portion of the flexible cord wrapped around the truck bed. A step  1456  secures the position of flexible cord with the ratchet. A step  1463  couples the flexible cord with the edges of the tarpaulin, for example, by using S-hooks  160 . 
     Although only the above exemplary steps are described, it can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described steps may be performed in any order, additional related steps may be performed, and certain steps may be modified or omitted. 
     Although certain exemplary embodiments and methods have been described in some detail, for clarity of understanding and by way of example, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, changes, and adaptations of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.