Patent Abstract:
A folding cover for covering a trailer body, a truck body or other object. The folding cover includes a plurality of cover members which are foldably interconnected so as to be selectively movable between a covering position and a stowed position.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a folding cover and more particularly to a folding cover for a truck body, a trailer body, or an object such as an irrigation pump, fan or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many covers have been previously provided for covering a truck body, a trailer body or other structure requiring a cover thereover. Conventional truck or trailer body covers consist of a flexible tarp which is placed over the open upper end of the truck or trailer body. The flexible tarps do function quite well but it may be difficult to stow the tarp in a non-covering position. Further, the flexible tarps tend to flap in the wind as the truck or trailer is moved from one location to another which may cause undue wear on the tarp. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A folding cover is disclosed for a body such as a truck body or trailer body including a front wall having an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side. The body also includes a first side wall having an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side. The body also includes a second side wall having an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side. The body further includes a back wall having an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side. 
     The folding cover includes a first elongated support which is secured to the outer side of the first side wall of the body below the upper end thereof. The cover also includes a first rectangular cover member having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side edge, a second side edge, and an outer side and an inner side with the first side edge of the first cover member being foldably connected to the support member. The cover of this invention also includes a second rectangular cover member having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first side edge of the second cover member being foldably connected to the second side edge of the first cover member. The cover also includes a third rectangular cover member having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side. The first side edge of the third cover member is foldably connected to the second side edge of the second cover member. 
     The first cover member has a width which is substantially equal to the distance between the foldable connection of the first side edge of the first cover member and the first support. The second and third cover members have a combined width which is substantially equal to the distance between the upper ends of the first and second side walls of the body. 
     The first, second and third cover members are selectively movable between a body covering position and a stowed position. The first cover member is positioned adjacent the outer side of the first side wall of the body when the first, second and third cover members are in the body covering position. The second and third cover members extend between the upper ends of the first and second side walls of the body when the first, second and third cover members are in the body covering position. The first, second and third cover members are in a folded position at the outer side of the first side wall of the body when the first, second and third cover members are in the stowed position. 
     The cover of this invention may also be used to cover objects such as an irrigation pump, fan, etc. 
     It is therefore a principal object to provide an improved folding cover for truck bodies, trailer bodies, irrigation pumps, fans or other objects. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a folding cover of the type described which is easily moved between stowed and covering positions, and vice versa. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the folding cover of this invention mounted on the body of a semi-trailer; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the folding cover of this invention mounted on the body of a truck; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial front perspective view of the body of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial rear perspective view of the cover mounted on the trailer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  except that the third cover member has been folded onto the top of the second cover member; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIGS. 4 and 5  except that the second and third cover members have been moved upwardly to a vertical position; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  except that the cover members have been folded to a stowed position; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded end view of the folding cover of this invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the cover of this invention in its body covering position over the body of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear view similar to  FIG. 9  except that the third cover member has been folded onto the second cover member; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view similar to  FIG. 10  except that the second and third cover members have been folded upwardly to a vertically disposed position; 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view similar to  FIG. 11  except that the first, second and third cover members have been folded to a stowed position; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating the cover of this invention being used to cover an irrigation pump; 
         FIG. 14  is an end view of a modified form of the cover in a covering position with the broken lines illustrating the manner in which the cover is initially folded; 
         FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  but which illustrates the modified cover being further folded; 
         FIG. 16  is a view similar to  FIG. 15  but which illustrates the modified cover in a further folded position; and 
         FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  but which shows the modified cover in a completely folded position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a conventional semi-trailer having a wheeled frame  12  which supports a body  14  having a front wall  16  with an upper end  18 , a left side wall  20  with an upper end  22 , a right side wall  24  with an upper end  26  and a back wall  28  with an upper end  30 . 
     The numeral  32  refers to the cover of this invention. Cover  32  includes a flat, generally rectangular support member  34  which is affixed to the outer side of side wall  20  below the upper end  22  of side wall  20 . Support member  34  has a horizontally disposed upper end  36 , as seen in the drawings. Cover  32  also includes rectangular cover members  38 ,  40  and  42  which will now be described in detail. Cover member  38  includes end edge  44 , side edge  46 , end edge  48 , side edge  50 , outer side  52  and an inner side  54 . Cover member  40  includes end edge  56 , side edge  58 , end edge  60 , side edge  62 , outer side  64  and an inner side  66 . Cover member  42  includes end edge  68 , side edge  70 , end edge  72 , side edge  74 , outer side  76  and an inner side  78 . 
     The side edge  46  of cover member  38  is hingedly or foldably secured to the upper end  36  of support member  34  by any convenient means such as a flexible flap or hinge member  80 . 
     The side edge  50  of cover member  38  is hingedly or foldably secured to side edge  58  of cover member  40  by any convenient means such as a flexible flap or hinge member  82 . 
     The side edge  62  of cover member  40  is hingedly or foldably secured to side edge  70  of cover member  42  by any convenient means such as a flexible flap or hinge member  84 . 
     The width of cover member  38  is the same as the distance between the upper end  36  of support member  34  and the upper end  22  of side wall  20  of body  14 . 
     Preferably, cover members  40  and  42  have the same widths. The combined widths of cover members  40  and  42  equal the distance between the upper ends of side walls  20  and  24  of body  14 . Preferably, cover members  38 ,  40  and  42  are constructed of a semi-rigid or rigid material such as aluminum, plastic, reinforced fabric, etc. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the cover  32  in a closed position with respect to body  14 . In the closed position, support member  34  is positioned adjacent the outer surface of side wall  20 . In the closed position, cover members  40  and  42  extend over the upper end of body  14 . In the closed position, the end edges  56  and  68  of cover members  40  and  42 , respectively, rest on the upper end of frame wall  16  of body  14 . In the closed position, the side edge  74  of cover member  42  rests on the upper end of side wall  24  of body  14 . In the closed position, the end edges  60  and  72  of cover members  40  and  42 , respectively, rest upon the upper end of back wall  28  of body  14 . The side edge  74  of cover member  42  is secured to side wall  24  of body  14  by any convenient means such as ropes, hooks, fasteners, etc. It may also be desirable to secure the end edges  56  and  58  of cover members  40  and  42  to front wall  16  and to secure the end edges  60  and  72  of cover member  40  and  42  respectively to back wall  28  of body  14 . 
     In the closed position of  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the cover member  38  of cover  32  is positioned adjacent the outer side of side wall  20  at the upper end thereof. In the closed position or body covering position, cover members  40  and  42  extend between the upper ends of side walls  20  and  24  of body  14 . 
     When it is desired to open the cover  32 , the cover member  42  is folded over the cover member  40  so that the outer surfaces thereof are positioned adjacent one another ( FIGS. 5 and 10 ). In this position, material could be placed within the body  14  at the right side of cover members  40  and  42 . The next step in opening the cover  32  is to foldably move the cover members  40  and  42  from the position of  FIGS. 5 and 10  to the position of  FIGS. 6 and 11 . The next step to position the cover  32  in its stowed position at the outer side of side wall  20  of body  14  is to fold cover member  38  from the position of  FIGS. 6 and 11  to the position of  FIGS. 7 and 12 . Any convenient means may be utilized to maintain cover  32  in the stowed position of  FIGS. 7 and 12 . 
     The cover  32  may be moved from its stowed position of  FIGS. 7 and 12  to its closed position by first moving cover member  38  from the position of  FIG. 12  to the position of  FIG. 11 . The cover members  40  and  42  are then moved from the position of  FIG. 11  to the position of  FIG. 10  and then move the cover member  42  from the position of  FIG. 10  to the position of  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the cover  32  mounted on the body  14 ′ of a straight truck. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a modified cover  32 ′ being used to cover an object such as an irrigation pump  86  or the like. When used to cover an object such as an irrigation pump  86 , or other object, a framework  88  will normally be used to support the cover  32 ′. It may also be desirable to provide an additional cover member  43  to more fully cover the object.  FIG. 14  illustrates the modified cover  32  in a fully covering position. The broken lines in  FIG. 14  illustrate the manner in which cover members  43  and  42  are initially folded when the cover  32 ′ is to be moved to the stowed position.  FIG. 15  illustrates the cover  32 ′ being further folded.  FIG. 16  illustrates the cover  32  being further folded.  FIG. 17  illustrates the cover  32 ′ in its stowed position. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1