Related Applications

[001] This application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application no. 2022901359 filed on 20 May 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

[002] The invention relates to a tarp and an associated method of use.

Background

[003] Tarps are used in a variety of situations to provide a temporary covering for a structure or object such as a building. One example use situation for tarps is to provide a temporary covering for a roof of a building such as after storm damage. In this use situation, one or more tarps may be placed over a damaged area of the roof and the tarp may be weighed down by sandbags to secure the one or more tarps to the roof.

[004] A problem with the use of tarps in this situation relates to the securing of the tarp to the roof and securing the sandbags to the tarp or roof. For example, sandbags may need to be tied to edges of the tarp by a rope which is cumbersome and potentially dangerous during installation situations that may occur during inclement weather.

[005] The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

[006] In accordance with a first broad aspect there is provided, a method for fitting a tarp to provide a covering for an object, the method may include: arranging the tarp at least partially over the object with a plurality of sealed attachment means provided at or on an outward facing side of the tarp with an inward facing side of the tarp toward the object; and attaching at least one of a tether and a weight to at least some of the plurality of sealed attachment means at or one the outward facing side to secure the tarp to the object.

[007] In accordance with a second broad aspect there is provided, a method for fitting a tarp to a roof of a structure, the method may include: arranging the tarp at least partially over the roof with a plurality of sealed attachment means provided in a pattern on an outward facing side of the tarp with an inward facing side of the tarp toward the roof; and attaching at least one of a tether and a weight to at least some of the plurality of sealed attachment means at or on the outward facing side to secure the tarp to the roof.

[008] In an aspect, the method further includes the steps of: attaching a plurality weights to least some of the plurality of sealed attachment means including at least some of the plurality of sealed attachment means intermediate edges of the tarp, and upon attachment placing the attached plurality weights on the tarp proximate to the at least some of the plurality of sealed attachment means to which the attached plurality of weights are attached.

[009] In another aspect, the plurality of sealed attachment means are provided in the form of loops extending from the outward facing side of the tarp.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the plurality of sealed attachment means are provided in the form of straps extending from the outward facing side of the tarp.

[0011] In yet another aspect, a junction between the straps and a body of the tarp is sealed.

[0012] In yet another aspect, the plurality of sealed attachment means are provided in a regular patten at spaced apart intervals between edges of the tarp. [0013] In accordance with a third broad aspect there is provided, a tarp including a tarp body and a plurality of sealed attachment means on an outside facing surface of the tarp for use in a method as defined above and herein.

[0014] In accordance with a fourth broad aspect there is provided, a system including one or more traps as defined above and herein, and a plurality of weights adapted to connect with the plurality of sealed attachment means and seat upon the tarp proximate to respective ones of the plurality of sealed attachment means to which the plurality of weights are connected.

[0015] In accordance with a fifth broad aspect there is provided, a tarp including a tarp body with skirting edges, an inner face and an outer face, wherein the outer face includes a plurality of sealed attachment means located at regular intervals between the skirting edges.

[0016] In an aspect, the plurality of sealed attachment means are provided in the form of loops extending from the outward facing side of the tarp.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the plurality of sealed attachment means are provided in the form of straps extending from the outward facing side of the tarp.

[0018] In yet another aspect, a junction between the straps and the body of the tarp is sealed.

[0019] In yet another aspect, the plurality of sealed attachment means are provided in a regular patten at spaced apart intervals between edges of the tarp.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the spaced apart intervals are substantially equidistant.

[0021] In accordance with a sixth broad aspect there is provided, a tarp including a tarp body with skirting edges, an inner face and an outer face, wherein the outer face includes a plurality of sealed tethers located at spaced apart intervals between the skirting edges. [0022] In an aspect, the plurality of sealed tethers include at least one intermediate tether located substantially intermediate the tarp body.

[0023] In another aspect, the plurality of sealed tethers are provided in a regular patten at spaced apart intervals between the skirting edges of the tarp.

[0024] In yet another aspect, the plurality of sealed tethers are adapted to be attachable with a weight.

[0025] In yet another aspect, the plurality of sealed tethers are provided in the form of loops extending from the outward facing side of the tarp.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0026] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

[0027] Figure l is a top perspective view illustrating a tarp with straps;

[0028] Figure 2 is a top view illustrating the tarp, indicating indefinite length and width;

[0029] Figure 3 is a top view illustrating the tarp, indicating indefinite length and width;

[0030] Figure 4 is a top detailed perspective view illustrating the strap;

[0031] Figure 5 is a top hidden detail and part exploded perspective view illustrating the strap;

[0032] Figure 6 is a side view illustrating the tarp, indicating indefinite length;

[0033] Figure 7 is a detailed side view illustrating the strap;

[0034] Figure 8 is a detailed cross-sectional side view illustrating the strap;

[0035] Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the tarp being fitted to a roof of a building; and

[0036] Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the tarp being fitted and secured to the roof of the building.

Detailed Description

[0037] Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a tarp 12, otherwise known as a cover or covering, including a tarp body 14 to which a plurality of attachment means 16 are coupled. The tarp body 14 may be formed of any suitable material, but is preferably formed from a cloth or plastic material including one or more of a canvas, a polyester or a polyethylene. A suitable GSM (Grams per Square Metre) may be in the range of 100 to 900 GSM with about 290 GSM being preferred. The tarp 12 may be coloured such as being the colour yellow or orange.

[0038] The tarp body 14 includes skirting side edges 20, a first outward facing side 22 and an opposing inward facing side 24. The plurality of attachment means 16 are coupled to the tarp body 14 so as to extend from the first outward facing side 22 which is the side of the tarp that, in use, is facing the external environment. Accordingly, the inward facing side 24 is generally smooth and sealed, and the first outward facing side 22 includes the plurality of attachment means 16.

[0039] Referring Figures 4 to 8, the plurality of attachment means 16 are provided in the form of straps or tethers 18 that provide a loop 26 or other suitable attachment point. The straps 18 may be a single piece of strap material with its free ends 28 stitched to the tarp body 14. Other forms of tethers may also be used. A strap stich cover or patch 30 may be placed on both sides 22, 24 about the stitched free ends 28 to ensuring sealing of the straps 18 with the tarp body 14. It is possible that stitching may be replaced with another similar fastening means such as gluing or a combination of stitching and gluing. Such alternative fastening means are contemplated herein.

[0040] The plurality of attachment means 16 provided in the form of the straps 18 may be provided at spaced apart intervals between the skirting side edges 20 of the tarp body 14. The spaced apart intervals “I” (shown in Figure 1) may be regular, irregular and may be in-line or staggered. In this example, the spaced apart intervals “I” are generally regular and in a grid pattern, as best shown in Figure 1. This provides an array of the straps 18, including intermediate straps 34 (indicated in Figure 1) at or proximate an intermediate portion 32 of the tarp body 14 and also edge straps 36 (shown in Figure 1) at or proximate the skirting side edges 20. The tarp 12 may also include eyelets 38 or other attachment means at or along the edges 20.

[0041] In relation to dimensions, the tarp body 14 may have any suitable dimension and shape, and in this example may be, but not limited to, a square shape of about 10 metres by 10 metres. The distance between the strap centres or intervals “I” may be, but not limited to, about 1.5 metres for a width “W” or length “L” of about 10 meters. The distance between strap centres or intervals “I” may be, for example, a ratio (I/W) in the order of about 1/10 to 1/5 and preferably about 1.5/10 as is shown in this example. The edge straps 36 may be, but not limited to, 75 millimetres, or perhaps 100 millimetres from the edge 20. However, other suitable dimensions and configurations may be used.

[0042] In relation to the eyelets 38, in this example there may be about 1 metre between eyelet centres “C”, corner eyelets may be 35mm from edges, non-corner eyelets are 25mm from edges. Of course, other suitable dimensions may be used, as appropriate. The straps 18 may have, but not limited to, a length “L” of about 400 millimetres and a width of about 30mm. The strap stich cover or patch 30 may be formed of material similar to the tarp body 14 and may have a dimeson of 150mm by 150mm. However, of course, other suitably sized straps 18 and patches 30 may be used. The straps 18 may be formed of Nylon or other suitable material.

[0043] Turning now to a method of use and referring in addition to Figures 9 and 10, the tarp 12 may find many situations including, but not limited to, a temporary covering for an object such as a building 50. The tarp 12 may be provided a part of a system 10 include one or more of the tarp 12 and securing means 52 such as weights 54 and tethers 56 that may be used to secure, such as by weighing down, the tarp 12.

[0044] Accordingly, in this example, the tarp 12 may be arranged at least partially over a roof 54 of the building 50 with its first outward facing side 22 facing the external environment and the opposing inward facing side 24 generally adjacent and abutting the roof 54. The array of the straps 18 is therefore external facing and easily acceptable.

[0045] The securing means 52, which in this example are weights 54 with a tether 56 may be connected to at least some of the array of the straps 18 including some of the intermediate straps 34 and some the edge straps 36. The eyelets 38 at the edges 20 may also be utilised, if required. The weights 54 may then be placed at or adjacent to the array of the straps 18 top which they are connected to secure the trap 12 to the roof 54. The weights 54 may be, but not limited to, sandbags 58 closed with the tether 56.

[0046] Advantageously, such a tarp and system allow the tarp to be rapidly and easily deployed to cover a roof or other object or structure, and the weights such as sandbags may be secured to any of the array of straps at edges and also, importantly, at an intermediate portion or middle of the tarp which better assists to hold the tarp down. Because the array of straps and eyelets are all pre-fitted at regular predetermined internals, there may be less manual labour such as attempting to tie the tarp down with ropes or having unsecured sandbags on a roof that may fall. Further, because the array of straps are inbuilt and pre-fitted, the sealing of the tarp in maintained as alternations on site are less likely to be required.

[0047] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0048] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[0049] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein. [0050] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.