Bonded Tarpaulin

Abstract

A tarpaulin system includes a first panel and a second panel. The tarpaulin system includes a bonded ridgeline coupling the first panel and the second panel. The tarpaulin system includes a plurality of pull-outs located in an upper region of both the first panel and the second panel, the pull-outs include a ridge line support extending along both the first panel and the second panel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tarpaulin system and, more particularly, to a fully bonded tarpaulin system and method for bonding the tarpaulin.

BACKGROUND

Over the years, tarpaulins have evolved and developed. Manufacturers of tarpaulins commonly used a flat felled seam up on the ridge line of the tarpaulin which had to always be seam sealed. The problem with using seam seal is that it can often peel off after consistent use which tends to form weak spots on the tarpaulin. However, there has been a recent shift where grosgrain is used on the ridge line instead of seam seal. Although grosgrain works better than seam seal, it still tends to leak and allow water to seep through the tarpaulin.

Therefore, there is currently a need for a fully bonded tarpaulin system to prevent leaking and seepage. Fully bonding the tarpaulin helps prevent stich pulls which could cause leaks or tears. Further, designing a fully bonded tarpaulin system allows the user to easily repair a tear with a piece of tape or patch compared to having to use a sealant.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a tarpaulin system includes a first panel. The tarpaulin includes a second panel. The tarpaulin further includes a bonded ridgeline coupling the first panel and the second panel. The tarpaulin further includes a plurality of pull-outs are located in an upper region of both the first panel and the second panel, the pull-outs include a ridge line support extending along both the first panel and the second panel.

Accordingly, a tarpaulin system and a method for fully bonding the tarpaulin according to the invention is provided in view of the technical problems described above. An object of the present invention, a tarpaulin is provided and fully bonded. The tarpaulin includes a bonded ridge line and bonded pull outs.

The tarpaulin system is generally constructed with the following major components: a tarpaulin, a tie materials and hardware to suspend the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin includes a first and a second panel. The first and second panel of the tarpaulin are bonded at the ridge line in the upper region by the bonding method. The tarpaulin further includes a bonded patch at each upper corner of the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin further includes a pull-out which is located on the first and second panel and is bonded by the bonding method. Further, the pull-out of the first panel is connected to the pullout of the second panel by a ridge line support. The grommets and metal rings of the tie materials are located at each upper corner of the tarpaulin on the bonded patches. Further, another set of grommets and metal rings are located at each lower corner of the tarpaulin. Lastly, the suspension rope is threaded through the grommets and metal rings and fastened to a support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the fully bonded tarpaulin system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bonded ridge line and the ridge line supports of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the bonded ridge line of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the pull outs of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the fully bonded tarpaulin system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower edge of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bonding agent for the method of fully bonding the tarpaulin system of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bonding agent being applied to the upper edge of the first panel of the tarpaulin of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bonding agent paper backing being peeled off to prepare for the second panel of the tarpaulin of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second panel bonding with the first panel of the tarpaulin of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rubber roller securing the bond between the first panel and the second panel of the tarpaulin of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the complete bond between the first panel and the second panel of the tarpaulin of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

In an embodiment, the teachings herein describe a system and a method that allows for the creation of a fully bonded tarpaulin.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the system and method for creating and fully bonding the tarpaulin is shown in FIGS. 1-12. In an exemplary embodiment, the tarpaulin system 1 is generally constructed with the following major components: a tarpaulin 2, and a tie materials and hardware 4 to suspend the tarpaulin 2 from supports as shown in FIG. 1.

In the exemplary embodiment, the tarpaulin 2 includes the following major components: a first panel 10 and a second panel 12. The first panel 10 and second panel 12 are rectangular pieces of fabric. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment. The panels 10,12 have a first side and a second side opposite the first side. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the applicant's design of the first 10 and second panel 12 is not the exclusive embodiment.

The tarpaulin 2 further includes pull-outs 14 which are located in the upper region of both the first panel 10 and the second panel 12 as shown in FIG. 1. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment. The pull-outs 14 include a d-ring 16 in the central region as shown in FIG. 4. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the applicant's design of the d-ring is not the exclusive embodiment. The pull-outs 14 further include ridge line supports 18 as shown in FIG. 4. The ridge line support 18 is a flexible rod. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand a flexible rod can be made of different lengths and materials and applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment. The tarpaulin 2 further includes a bonded patch 20 at each upper corner of the tarpaulin 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The tarpaulin 2 further includes a lower edging or hemming 22 located in the lower region of the first 10 and second panel 12 as shown in FIGS. 1, and 6.

In the exemplary embodiment, the tie materials and hardware 4 to suspend the tarpaulin 2 from supports generally include the following major components: a grommet 24, a metal ring 26, and a suspension rope 28 as shown in FIGS. 1, and 6. The grommet 24 is a standard grommet. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand grommets can be different shapes and sizes and applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment. The metal ring 26 is a standard metal ring. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand metal rings can be different shapes and sizes and applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment. The suspension rope 28 is a standard rope. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the suspension rope can be made of different lengths and materials and applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment, the tarpaulin system 1 is generally constructed with the following major components: a tarpaulin 2, and a tie materials and hardware 4 to suspend the tarpaulin 2 from supports. The fabric of the first 10 and second panel 12 is xenon and is between 20 denier and 30 deniers of polyester or nylon. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment. Further, the first panel 10 and second panel 12 are coated with at least eighty percent (80%) silicone. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment.

The tarpaulin 2 is bonded by bonding the first 10 and second panel 12 at the upper edge line 30. The method for bonding the tarpaulin 2 first includes applying the bonding agent BA to the upper edge line 30A of the first panel 10 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The bonding agent's paper backing is then peeled off and the second panel's 12 upper edge line 30B is placed over both the bonding agent and the first panel 10 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A roller is then used to secure the bond of the first 10 and second panel 12 to the bonding agent as shown in FIG. 11. This method creates a bonded ridge line 32 between the first 10 and second panel 12 in the upper region as shown in FIGS. 2,3 and 12. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand the bonding method for bonding the tarpaulin 2 is not the exclusive embodiment of the invention. Moreover, the bonding method, can also be implemented with areas on a tarpaulin 2 that were previously sewn, in order to provide the sewn areas an extra level of strength and protection.

The pull-outs 14 of the tarpaulin 2 are sewn to both the first 10 and second panel 12 and are then bonded as shown in FIG. 4. For an extra layer of seal, the bonding agent is then applied on the opposite side of the pull-outs 14 as shown in FIG. 5. The d-ring 16 of the pull-out 14 is attached with webbing and sewn on as shown in FIG. 4. The ridge line supports 18 are attached to the d-rings 16 and connected to the corresponding d-ring 16 on the opposite panel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. There is a set of grommets 24 and metal rings 26 placed and secured on the bonded patches 20 of the bonded ridge line 32 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Further, there is a set of grommets 24 and metal rings 26 placed and secured at each lower edge corner of the first 10 and second panel 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Lastly, there are sets of grommets 24 and metals rings 26 placed and secured along the lower edging of the first 10 and second panel 12 as shown in FIGS. 1, and 6. The suspension rope 28 is threaded through the grommets 24 and metal rings 26 and is fastened to a support structure as shown in FIG. 1.

In the exemplary embodiment, the tarpaulin system 1 and method for bonding the tarpaulin can be used in both cold and warm weather applications. The tarpaulin can provide wind protection and warmth in the cold weather and can provide shade and cooling in the warm weather. The bonding method of the tarpaulin system can be used for more than just bonding a tarpaulin. It can be used for other applications such as hammocks, tents or other outdoor survival gear, for example.

The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.

Claims

1. A tarpaulin system comprising: a first panel;a second panel;a bonded ridgeline coupling the first panel and the second panel; anda plurality of pull-outs located in an upper region of both the first panel and the second panel, the pull-outs include a ridge line support extending along both the first panel and the second panel.

2. The tarpaulin of claim 1, wherein the first panel and second panel are coated with at least eighty percent silicone.

3. The tarpaulin of claim 2, wherein the tarpaulin system includes a plurality of tie materials and hardware to suspend the first panel and the second panel from supports.

4. The tarpaulin of claim 3, wherein the pull-outs further include a d-ring in a central region of the pull-out.

5. The tarpaulin of claim 4, wherein the ridge line support is a flexible rod.

6. The tarpaulin of claim 5, wherein the first panel and the second panel further include a bonded patch at each upper corner of the first panel and second panel.

7. The tarpaulin of claim 6, wherein the first panel and the second panel further include a lower edging located in a lower region of the first panel and the second panel.

8. The tarpaulin of claim 7, wherein the tie materials and hardware include a grommet, a metal ring and a suspension rope.

9. The tarpaulin of claim 8, wherein a fabric of the first panel and the second panel is composed of xenon and ranges between 20 denier and 30 deniers of polyester or nylon.

10. A method of bonding a tarpaulin system comprising: applying a bonding agent to a first panel and a second panel at an upper edge line; the bonding agent's paper backing is then peeled off and the second panel's upper edge line is placed over both the bonding agent and the first panel creating a bonded ridge line;rolling over the bonding agent of the first panel and the second panel;sewing a plurality of pull-outs to the first panel and the second panel;applying a bonding agent on opposite sides of the pull-outs.

11. The method of bonding the tarpaulin system of claim 10, wherein a d-ring of the pull-out is attached with webbing.

12. The method of bonding the tarpaulin system of claim 11, wherein a plurality of ridge line supports are attached to the d-rings and connected to the corresponding d-ring on the opposite panel.

13. The method of bonding the tarpaulin system of claim 12, wherein a set of grommets and metal rings placed and secured on a pair of bonded patches of the bonded ridge line.

14. The method of bonding the tarpaulin system of claim 13, wherein a set of grommets and metal rings are placed and secured at each lower edge corner of the first panel and the second panel.

15. The method of bonding the tarpaulin system of claim 14, wherein a set of grommets and metals rings are placed and secured along a lower edging of the first panel and the second panel.

16. The method of bonding the tarpaulin system of claim 15, wherein a suspension rope is threaded through the grommets and metal rings and is fastened to a support structure.