Patent ID: 7025401

Claim:
A covering assembly for covering an open-topped vehicle container body having front, rear, and opposite side walls with upper edges, said covering assembly comprising: (a) a flexible tarp cover having first and second ends and being of a size to substantially cover the open container body; (b) a cover spool proximate the upper edge of one wall and rotatably connected with said open container, said spool receiving the first end of said cover and being attached thereto substantially across said spool width, said spool having associated biasing means tending to rotate said spool so as to wind said cover onto said spool and uncover said open container; (c) a bail assembly for extending said cover over said open container, said bail assembly comprising a pair of spaced generally parallel legs pivotally mounted at one end at each side of said open container, a cover support section connecting second ends of said legs, means for connecting said cover support section to the second end of said cover, and bias means for biasing said cover support section in the direction so as to extend said cover over said open container; (d) means to rotate said spool in opposite directions, with movement in a first direction serving to wind said cover onto the said spool and uncover said open container, movement in a second direction serving to unwind said cover and cover said open container.