Patent ID: 7197816

Claim:
A hand-held apparatus for installing a cover around an article, wherein the cover comprises an elongated flexible panel having generally parallel opposite first and second edge portions that are configured to be joined together to enclose the article, the apparatus comprising: a frame having opposite first and second sides, and opposite first and second ends; a guide assembly secured to the frame first side, comprising: an elongated bottom wall having opposite third and fourth ends, and opposite first and second edge portions; a first set of spaced-apart rollers rotationally mounted to the frame first side adjacent the elongated bottom wall first edge portion, wherein each of the rollers in the first set rotates about an axis that is transverse to the frame first side; a second set of spaced-apart rollers rotationally mounted to the frame first side adjacent the elongated bottom wall second edge portion, wherein each of the rollers in the second set rotates about an axis that is transverse to the frame first side; wherein the first and second set of rollers converge towards the frame first end to define a guide assembly outlet and wherein the first and second set of rollers diverge towards the frame second end to define a guide assembly inlet; and a partition, comprising: a base member that extends upwardly from the bottom wall between the bottom wall first and second edge portions; an elongated top wall transversely connected to the base member in spaced-apart relationship with the bottom wall, wherein the top wall comprises opposite upper and lower surfaces and opposite elongated edges, wherein each elongated edge is maintained in spaced apart relationship with a respective one of the sets of rollers to permit passage therebetween of a portion of the flexible panel adjacent a respective edge portion of the flexible panel, wherein a first portion of the top wall lower surface and a first portion of the bottom wall define a first elongated passageway configured to slidably receive the flexible panel first edge portion therethrough, and wherein a second portion of the top wall lower surface adjacent the top wall lower surface first portion and a second portion of the bottom wall adjacent the bottom wall first portion define a second elongated passageway configured to slidably receive the flexible panel second edge portion therethrough; wherein the elongated guide assembly is configured to join together the first and second edge portions of the flexible panel as the flexible panel is advanced through the guide assembly from the guide assembly inlet to the guide assembly outlet.