| US20040046161A1 | 2004-03-11 | |||
| US6274401B1 | 2001-08-14 | |||
| US7182387B2 | 2007-02-27 | |||
| US21386108A | 2008-06-25 |
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. In a tarping system for placing a tarp having four opposite corners down onto a load on a flatbed trailer, wherein the system includes:
a beam having opposite first and second ends and adapted to be mountable at said first end of said beam to a fork carriage of a forklift so as to be elevatable along with the carriage upon elevation of the carriage,
an oppositely disposed pair of rigid elongate primary support members, each having opposite first and second ends, mounted at said first ends to said beam so as to extend perpendicularly and substantially horizontally therefrom in oppositely disposed directions,
a pair of rigid, elongate secondary support members mounted at said second ends of said primary support members so as to extend therefrom substantially parallel with said beam and substantially co-planar with said beam and said primary support members, said pair of secondary support members having opposite distal ends on each secondary support member of said pair of secondary support members,
an improvement comprising tarp suspension means mounted on said distal ends of said secondary support members for suspending the four opposite corners of the tarp therefrom so as to suspend the tarp below said beam, and said primary and secondary support members,
wherein said tarp suspension means includes an upstanding hook and an arm pivotally mounted to a collar, said hook and said arm pivotable relative to one another so that in a tarp retaining first position said arm is lowered relative to said hook so that said hook is insertable into and through a loop mounted to the tarp, and so that in a tarp releasing second position said arm is raised relative to said hook so that said arm occludes said hook, said arm sweeping along said hook from a base of said hook to an opposite tip of said hook as said arm moves relative to said hook from said first to said second positions, and wherein said collar is slidably mounted on said distal ends of said secondary support members so as to selectively positionable therealong.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said arm has opposite first and second ends and wherein said first end moves relative to said hook so as to said occlude said hook when said arm is in said second position, and wherein said second end is a hooked end, and wherein said arm pivots about a pivot point substantially mid-way along said arm between said first and second ends, and wherein said hook is fixed relative to said collar.
3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said first end of said arm has a first moment when at rest about said pivot point, and wherein said second end of said arm has a second moment when at rest about said pivot point, and wherein said first moment is greater than said second moment so that said first end at rest hangs below said hook.
4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said second end of said arm includes a second stop to arrest downward rotation of said first end of said arm when at rest, said second stop engaging an underside of said collar when said first end of said arm is at rest and said hanging below said hook.
5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said first end of said arm includes a first stop which engages against said underside of said collar to arrest downward rotation of said second end of said arm when said first end of said arm has rotated upwardly so as to be abreast of said tip of said hook.
6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said hook is substantially planar and said arm is elongate and substantially planar and wherein said hook and said arm are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another so that said first end of said arm substantially shears upwardly along said hook from said base to said tip as said first end rotates upwardly relative to said hook.
7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said collar is selectively positionable by means of a pin engaging through aligned apertures in said collar and said distal ends of said secondary support members.
8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein an upper edge of said first end of said arm is inclined downwardly towards a distal end of said first end.
9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said downward inclination of said upper edge of said first arm includes a load bearing portion which, when said first end said sweeps up along said hook, is generally horizontal so as to bear substantially directly upwardly on the rigid loop of the tarp when hooked onto said hook.
10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein said upper edge includes a slide-off portion adjacent said load bearing portion, wherein said slide-off portion is on said distal end of said first end and is inclined further downwardly than said load bearing portion.
11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said tip of said hook is inclined downwardly so as to substantially correspond to said downward inclination of said load bearing portion when said load bearing portion is abreast of said tip. |
TARPING SYSTEM FOR FLATBED TRAILERS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of devices that assist the operators of flatbed trailers in covering loads on the flatbed trailers and in particular to a cantilevered frame device which mounts to a forklift so as to assist in the placing of both tarps so as to cover a load on a flatbed trailer and straps to cover the tarps.
Background of the Invention
Cargo transported by flatbed trailer is exposed to the elements during transit and frequently requires protection from contaminants. A tarp is commonly employed to cover the cargo in order to prevent damage from the elements during transit. It is also common to use straps, often not in conjunction with tarps, to cover a load.
The most common tarping or strapping approach is a manual method which requires the operator to physically place and secure the tarp or straps over the cargo. This process is not only difficult and strenuous, but can also be a safety hazard as the operator can fall off the cargo while attempting to locate and secure the tarp or straps. In the case of tarping, in order to reduce the risk of injuries, tarping stations have been implemented which provide an anchoring tether which secures the operator from falling. The drawback of these stations is that they are cumbersome to use and require extra time to restrain the operator before use. To alleviate the drawbacks of the tarping station, automatic tarping systems have been introduced that are directly attached to the trailer. While automatic tarping systems are efficient at preventing injuries from falls, there are other restrictions that make these systems less desirable. The automatic tarping systems tend to become entangled in the cargo during transit making it extremely difficult to un-tarp at the end of the trip. Furthermore, the auto-tarping systems are very expensive to repair if damaged.
It is clear that a tarping or strapping system that prevents injuries from falls, operates reliably and consistently without costly repairs would be advantageous over current systems.
Accordingly, it is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an assembly that will enable operators to tarp or strap their cargo safely, efficiently and economically. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.
It is recognized in the prior art of which applicant is aware, for example in United States Patent No. 7,182,387 which issued to Hartman et al on February 27, 2007, that in the past it has been potentially hazardous for operators to climb up onto loads on their flatbed trailers so as to drag tarps over the loads so that the tarps may be secured to protect the load during transport and storage. Thus as taught in the Hartman patent, it is known in the prior art to provide a cantilevered frame which mounts to a forklift so as to extend laterally from the side of the front of the forklift. As taught by Hartman, with the frame in a lowered position an operator may walk on top of the frame so as to spread out a tarp which the operator desires to use to cover his load. Once the front of the tarp has been placed over top of the lowered frame and secured thereto, the frame may be elevated thereby carrying with it the front of the tarp. Once the frame and front of the tarp has been elevated above the elevation of the top of the load on the flatbed trailer, the forklift may be driven forward along the side of the flatbed trailer so as to translate the front of the tarp across the top of the load thereby dragging the rear of the tarp up onto the load as it trails behind the frame.
The problem with the approach of Hartman, in applicant's experience, dragging a tarp up the back of a flatbed trailer and up across the back of a load on top of the flatbed trailer, will sometimes cause the tarp to snag, requiring the operator to free the tarp before the load covering may be continued. Further, once the front of the tarp has been moved into its
desired position, the tarp must be released from where it is secured to the frame, and the frame slid or pulled out from underneath the front of the tarp thereby also potentially dislodging the position of at least the front of the tarp on the load. Consequently what is desired, and which I have provided in my United States Patent Application No. 12/213,861 filed June 25, 2008, is a frame which, once mounted to the forklift and in particular to the top of the fork carriage, so as to cantilever the frame laterally outwardly from the side of the forklift, is adapted to releasably secure a tarp underneath the frame and to carry a significant portion of a tarp if not the entire tarp then upwardly clear of the top of the load by the elevation of the frame on the forklift. With the frame, and the tarp suspended underneath the frame, lifted by the forklift so as to be clear of the top of the load on the flatbed trailer, the entire tarp may be then carried over and gently lowered so as to place the tarp onto the load rather than dragging the tarp over the load and the end of the trailer.
Summary of the Invention
This invention consists cooperates with an assembly that can easily be attached to a forklift and can pick up a tarp and cover the cargo on a flatbed trailer or can pick up a plurality of straps simultaneously to position the straps over the cargo. The tarp or straps are secured to a frame assembly and the forklift elevates the frame assembly and tarp or straps above the cargo and drapes the tarp or straps over the cargo by driving along side the trailer.
In summary, the present invention is for use with a tarping system for placing a tarp having four opposite corners down onto a load on a flatbed trailer, where the system may be characterized as including:
a) a beam having opposite first and second ends and adapted to be mountable at the first end of the beam to a fork carriage of a forklift so as to be elevatable along with the carriage upon elevation of the carriage,
b) an oppositely disposed pair of rigid elongate primary support members, each having opposite first and second ends, mounted at the first ends to the beam so as to extend perpendicularly and substantially horizontally therefrom in oppositely disposed directions,
c) a pair of rigid, elongate secondary support members mounted at the second ends of the primary support members so as to extend therefrom substantially parallel with the beam and substantially co-planar with the beam and the primary support members, the pair of secondary support members having opposite distal ends on each secondary support member,
d) releasable tarp suspension means mounted on the distal ends of the secondary support members for releasably suspending the four opposite corners of a tarp therefrom so as to suspend the tarp below said beam, and the primary and secondary support members when the frame use is used in a tarping application.
Each of the pair of secondary support members is itself an oppositely disposed pair of elongate rigid arms. The beam is linear and the pairs of primary and secondary support members are co-linear. A mid-section tarp suspension means is mounted spaced apart along the beam so as to suspend a mid-section of the tarp from the beam.
The beam may include a primary beam and a beam extension. The primary beam and the beam extension may be joined at a center junction by joining means. The first ends of the primary support members may also be mounted to the center junction by the joining means. The joining means may be a radially spaced apart array of pockets, equally radially spaced apart in a plane containing the beam and the primary support members. A further pair of radially spaced apart pockets may form end-junctions on the second ends of the primary support members for mounting thereon of the secondary support members.
In the present invention each releasable tarp suspension means includes an upstanding first hook over which are mounted eyes in the tarp, or loops, etcetera for hooking over the hooks, and a cooperating lever arm. The first hook may be rigidly mounted to a collar which releasably mounts onto the ends of the support members. The lever arm is pivotally mounted adjacent the hook. The lever arm has a wedge-shaped first end which cooperates with the first hook and an opposite, hooked second end. The lever arm is pivotally mounted between its wedge-shaped first end and its hooked second end. The hooked second end is formed as an upstanding second hook. Pulling down on the hooked second end by pulling down on the second hook pivots the lever arm thereby driving the wedge-shaped first end of the lever arm upwards. As the first end of the lever arm rotates upwardly the wedge-shaped upper edge of the first end is drawn upwardly behind the first hook thereby urging upwardly any eye, loop, D-ring or the like hooked over the first hook. As the wedge-shaped upper edge of the first end of the lever arm rotates upwardly from the base of the hook past the elevation of the upper tip of the first hook, any eye, loop, D-ring or the like riding upwardly on the upper edge of the first end of the lever arm will clear the tip of the first hook and slide off the wedge- shape of the upper edge of the first end of the lever arm, thereby disengaging the tarp from the corresponding support member. This is repeated for all of the tarp suspension means so as to remove the tarp from all of the support members on the frame.
A user may use an elongate tool such as a pole having a loop or hook on the upper end to pull down on the hooked second end of the lever arm to thereby disengage the tarp. This allows the users to remain safely on the ground while releasing the tarp down onto the trailer load.
Advantageously the first end of the lever arm is heavier than the second end, or the pivot point on the lever arm is positioned so that the first end is heavier than the second end. This causes the first end to drop relative to the first hook when the second end of the lever arm is not being pulled down, thereby leaving the first hook available for use without unwanted
interference of the first end of the lever arm with any eye, loop or the like being held by the first hook.
Further advantageously, the wedge-shaped upper edge of the first end of the lever arm is sloped downwardly such that, when the first end is elevated abreast of the tip of the first hook, the upper edge of the first end of the lever arm is still downwardly sloped in a direction away from the pivot point so that any eye, loop or the like riding up on the first end of the lever arm slips off the first end of the lever arm clear of the first hook.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view:
Figure 1 is, in plan view, the cantilevered tarping frame according to one embodiment of the present invention mounted to a forklift.
Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3a is a sectional view along line 3a-3a in Figure 2.
Figure 3b is a partially cut-away right side elevation view of the sectional view of Figure 3 a.
Figure 3 c is a partially cut-away plan view of the sectional view of Figure 3 a.
Figure 4a is a sectional view along line 4a-4a in Figure 2.
Figure 4b is a partially cut-away right side elevation view of the sectional view of Figure 4a.
Figure 4c is a partially cut-away plan view of Figure 4b.
Figure 5a is a partially cut-away sectional view along line 5a-5a in Figure 1.
Figure 5b is a partially cut-away right side elevation view of the sectional view of Figure 5a, being a sectional view along line 5b-5b in Figure 1.
Figure 5c is a plan view of the sectional view of Figure 5 a.
Figure 6a is a partially cut-away sectional view along line 6a in Figure 1.
Figure 6b is a partially cut-away right side elevation view of the sectional view of Figure 6a.
Figure 6c is apian view of the sectional view of Figure 6a.
Figure 7 is a right side elevation view of the tarp suspension assembly of the system according to the present invention also illustrating a tarp mounted to the hook and the pivotable lever arm engaging the tarp D-ring to disengage the D-ring from the hook.
Figure 8 is a front elevation view of the tarp suspension assembly of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is, in side elevation view, the hook plate of the assembly of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is, in side elevation view, the lever arm plate of the assembly of Figure 7.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
As seen in the accompanying figures wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, a cantilevered frame 10 according to my United States patent application No. 12/213,861 is mounted to a forklift 12, and in particular to a top crossbar 14 of the forklift carriage frame 16.
Frame 10 defines a rectangle which may be approximately 16 feet long and 10 feet wide. The tarp suspension means according to the present invention is mounted on the corners of the frame and across the midsection of the frame as better described below.
A tarp is suspended underneath the frame by mounting of the tarp on the tarp suspension means, which may include re-positionable sleeves or collars which are slidably mounted on arms of the frame so that the tarp suspension means may be positioned to accommodate tarps of different sizes. The frame may be positioned a desired set-off distance 6 from the forklift by a telescopically adjustable beam extending between the forklift and the frame. The set-off distance may for example be between approximately 4 to 5 feet relative to the centreline 12a of the forklift, where in the illustrated example the beam is adapted to telescopically adjust a distance d \ of approximately 12 inches in length. To support the cantilevered length of the beam, the beam may for example have a square cross-section and be hollow, having walls which are 1 A inch thick and 2 inches in outside diameter. Pockets supporting lengths of 1 M> - 2 inch diameter square cross-section tubes which are mounted to the beam may for example have !4 inch thick walls and have an outside diameter of 2 - 2 Vi inches respectively. The pockets may be approximately 4 - 5 inches long.
Cantilevered frame 10 is supported cantilevered laterally relative to the forklift on a primary support member 18. Primary support member 18 is a telescoping but otherwise rigid elongate tube structure which extends from end 18a mounted to the forklift to an opposite
cantilevered end 18b. Forklift end 18a is releasably clamped for example by clamps 20, better described below, to crossbar 14. Cantilevered end 18b terminates in a cross-junction 22. Cross-junction 22 includes a rigidly spaced apart orthogonal array of pockets 24a and 24b lying in the plane A containing cantilevered frame 10. In particular, a pair of oppositely disposed pockets 24a support a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending support tubes 26. The opposite ends of the pair of support tubes 26 support T-junctions 28 from which extend lateral supporting tubes 30. The inner ends of the pair of lateral supporting tubes 30 mount in pockets 32 in junction 28. A further lateral supporting tube 36 is mounted in pocket 24b in junction 22 so as to extend linearly from member 18. The combination of the pairs of lateral supporting tubes 30 on the longitudinally opposite ends of the pair of longitudinal support tubes 26 provide a framework for supporting the corners of a tarp 8, when the tarp is secured the tarp suspension means for example by means of D-rings 8a mounted in grommets or eyes formed in the tarp. With the tarp supported at its corners on the ends of lateral supporting tubes 30, the midsection of the tarp is supported on the distal end of lateral tube 36, distal from junction 22, and on a midsection 18c along member 18.
As seen in better detail in figures 2, 3a, 3b and 3c, each clamp 20 includes a U- shaped collar 38 which fits snugly over cross-bar 14 of carriage frame 16 and is releasably secured thereto by means of pin 40. The tubular sleeve 42 is rigidly mounted as by welding onto the top surface 38a of collar 38. Sleeve 42 is sized to receive primary support member 18 slidably journalled through the sleeve so as to extend closely adjacent to and parallel with cross-bar 14 and secured thereto by a pair of clamps 20. The lateral position of each of the clamps 20 is adjusted by pins 44 engaging through one of a linearly spaced apart array of corresponding holes 18d spaced apart along end 18a of primary support member 18.
Pins 44 are releasably secured in holes 18d by a latch mechanism 46. In the example illustrated, which is not intended to be limiting, latch mechanism 46 includes a latch arm 44a rigidly mounted to one end of pin 44 so that, with pin 44 engaged fully through a hole 18d, latch arm 48a may be rotated so as to engage a latch hook 46a rigidly mounted to collar
38 and upwardly extending so as define a latch arm receiving slot 46b between latch hook 46a and the corresponding wall of sleeve 42.
A pair of chains 48a and 48b (shown in dotted outline in Figure 3a) may be provided to secure the upper end of pin 40 and in particular so as to extend from hole 40a in pin 40 to a hole 50a in flange 50, and so as to extend from hole 44b in latch arm 44a to hole 50b in flange 50 respectively.
As best seen in Figure 3 c, collar 38 may include a spaced apart array of sizing holes 38b for example, as illustrated, arranged diagonally across collar 38 so as to allow pin 40 to be inserted through the holes 38b corresponding to the width of cross-bar 14.
As seen in Figures 4a, 4b and 4c the mid-section 18c of primary support member 18 may employ a telescopic coupling 52 thereby providing for the telescopic sliding of the smaller diameter end 18b snugly into the correspondingly larger diameter end 18a where those two sections of primary support member 18 overlap in midsection 18 c. Thus with end 18b slidably journalled into end 18a, end 18b may be slid in direction B relative to end 18a to adjust the lateral extension of frame 10 relative to the forklift carriage frame 16. In this fashion, tarp 8 may be positioned directly over a load (not shown) even though the set-off distance between the side of the trailer and the load may vary between loads.
In a similar fashion to the positioning latch mechanism 46 employed for positioning clamps 20, latch mechanism 46 may be employed to releasably secure a pin 44 through one of a linear array of holes 18e in a length of end 18b within midsection 18c so that the lateral length of end 18b extending from telescopic coupling 52 may be adjusted. Again, a latch arm 44a engages into a latch slot 46b defined between a latch hook 46a and the adjacent wall of the structure, in this case, the adjacent wall of end 18a. Again, a small chain 48b may secure latch arm 48a to a flange, in this case flange 54.
As seen in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c, junction 22 includes 3 orthogonally spaced apart co-planar pockets which include an oppositely disposed pair of pockets 24a and an orthogonal pocket 24b. Pockets 24a and 24b are sized to snugly receive journalled slidably into the pocket the corresponding support members, namely, longitudinal support tubes 26 and lateral support tube 36 respectively. As may be seen best in Figure 5c, pocket 24b may be formed in the distal end of cantilevered end 18b of primary support member 18. Pockets 24a may be mounted co-linearly on opposite sides of cantilevered end 18b for example by means of welding, as by welds 24c, and by means of top flanges 56.
Each of the pockets and also the open end of end 18a of primary support member 18 includes a strengthening collar 58 mounted around the opening. As before, a pin and latch mechanism 44, 46 is employed to retain the various support tubes in their corresponding pockets. Thus a latch mechanism 46 as described above, and corresponding pin 44 including latch arm 44a, is mounted adjacent the juncture of pockets 24a and 24b so as to retain in those pockets support tubes 26 and 36 respectively, pins 44 releasably engaging corresponding holes in the ends of the support tubes so as to secure the support tubes into the pockets. Again small chains 48 may be provided so as to secure pins 44 to flanges 56.
As seen in Figures 6a, 6b and 6c, each T-junction 28 includes an oppositely disposed pair of pockets 32 in which are journalled lateral supporting tubes 30 which are snugly slidably mounted into pockets 32. The oppositely disposed pair of pockets 32 are mounted co-linearly on opposite sides of a longitudinally aligned center pocket 32a. Center pocket 32a mounts onto the end of a corresponding longitudinal support tube 26. Again, the support tubes are releasably mounted into the pockets by latch mechanism 46 and pin 44 including latch arm 44a. As before, small chains 48 may secure pins 44 via latch arms 44a to flanges mounted on the pockets, such as flanges 60.
As seen in Figures 7-10, tarp suspension means 34 include tarp suspension collars 34a sized to slidably mount over the ends of corresponding support tubes 30 and 36 for
the corners and mid section of tarp 8 respectively, and onto the end of cantilevered end 18b of primary support member 18 where end 18b is adjacent midsection 18c. Collars 34a may be adjusted in position along the ends of the support members 30 and 36 and along end 18b by aligning apertures 34b with apertures 18f in a spaced array along the support members as seen in Figure 2. With apertures 34b aligned with apertures 18f in the support members corresponding to the desired position of collars 34a, pins 44 are journalled through the aligned apertures to secure collars 34a in their desired locations on frame 10.
A rigid mounting flange 34c is mounted to the underside of collar 34a, and extends downwardly therefrom. Flange 34c has an aperture through its lower end. A hook plate 35 is mounted rigidly under collar 34a so as to sandwich lever arm plate 37 between flange 34c and hook plate 35. A fastener 39, such as a nut and bolt, is journalled through aperture 34b in flange 34c, aperture 37a in lever arm plate 37, and aperture 35a in hook plate 35. Lever arm plate 37 is free to pivot in direction C about fastener 39 so that a wedge-shaped first end 37b, which is normally in a lowered position lowered until stop 37c engages against the underside of collar 34a, rotates upwardly in direction D across a cut-out 35b which forms hook 35c in hook plate 35. First end 37b remains nomally lowered by the force of gravity acting on first end 37b at rest, first end 37b exerting a greater moment about fastener 39 than does the opposite hooked end or second end 37d.
Hooked end 37d has a hook 37e formed by cut-out 37f. When hooked end 37d is rotated downwardly in direction E by a user pulling downwardly on hook 37e, for example by the use of a pole (not shown) having a loop at its upper end, first end 37b is rotated upwardly in direction D. Any eye, loop, D-ring or the like, such as for example D-ring 8a mounted to tarp 8, which is hooked onto hook 35c is driven upwardly, also in direction D, as first end 37b crosses upwardly across cut-out 35b. In particular, wedge-shaped inclined upper edge 37g engages against the underside of D-ring 8a, forcing D-ring 8a upwardly. As upper edge 37g comes level with or abreast tip 35d of hook 35c, D-ring 8a (or the eye, or loop or the like as the case may be) slides off hook 35c and first end e7b, sliding downwardly in direction
F over upper surfaces 37g and 37h, and over the upper surface of tip 35d. Upper edge 37c, inboard and adjacent upper edge 37g, is sloped downwardly at a greater angle than upper edge 37g so as to substantially not occlude the bottom of cut-out 35b when at rest. Upper edge 37g is more horizontally oriented at rest than upper edge 37i so as come more levelly under D-ring 8a when hooked on hook 35c. Upward rotation of first end 37b is arrested by stop 37j contacting the underside of collar 34a.
With D-ring 8a hooked onto hooks 35c, tarp 8 is suspended beneath frame 10 for elevation by the forklift and placing over a load on a flatbed trailer. Once the tarp has been placed over the load, a pole may be employed by an operator to pull down on hooks 37e to thereby unhook D-rings 8a from their corresponding hooks 35c allowing the tarp to settle onto the load.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.