Patent ID: 7823515

Claim:
A rail car cover system comprising: a rail car having an opening; a first cover section operably attached to the rail car, wherein the first cover section comprises a first corner hinge assembly, a first intermediate hinge assembly and a first flexible cover material and wherein the first corner hinge assembly and the first intermediate hinge assembly are both attached to the first flexible cover material; and a second cover section operably attached to the rail car, wherein the second cover section comprises a second corner hinge assembly, a second intermediate hinge assembly and a second flexible cover material, wherein the second corner hinge assembly and the second intermediate hinge assembly are both attached to the second flexible cover material, wherein the first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the first corner hinge assembly and the first intermediate hinge assembly are independently operable so that the first cover section does not remain flat when moving between the closed configuration and the open configuration, wherein the second corner hinge assembly and the second intermediate hinge assembly are independently operable so that the second cover section does not remain flat when moving between the closed configuration and the open configuration, when in the closed configuration, the first cover section and the second cover section substantially cover the opening.