Patent ID: 7278673

Claim:
A container covering apparatus comprising: a roller, said roller comprising a rotatable shaft; a rollable cover having first and second opposing ends, said first end being connected to said roller, said roller being rotatable in a rolling direction and in an unrolling direction, said cover being moveable between a fully rolled position and a fully unrolled position; and a crank assembly, said crank assembly comprising: a crankshaft having an operator gripping portion connected thereto, said crankshaft being rotatable in a winding direction and an unwinding direction, said roller being operatively coupled to said crankshaft, whereby rotation of said crankshaft in said winding direction causes said roller to rotate in said rolling direction; a releasable locking mechanism operatively connected to said crankshaft, said locking mechanism normally impeding rotation of said roller in the unwinding direction, said locking mechanism being releasable upon rotation of said crankshaft in said unwinding direction thereby permitting said roller to rotate in said unrolling direction; and a releasable brake, said brake being engageable upon rotation of said crankshaft in said unwinding direction, said brake when engaged retarding rotation of said roller in said unrolling direction.