Patent Application
20130153734
This application relates to tools and methods for securing covers such as; tarps, equipment covers, car and boat covers, nursery ground covers and the like.
Covers are often draped over objects located outdoors to protect the objects from U.V. light, wind, rain and snow. Ropes, elastic straps, tie downs and different weight assemblies have been used to secure these covers. These current tools and methods have many drawbacks and limitations.
Ropes tangle and are time consuming to apply to a cover. Elastic straps are limited in their length and produce a recoil hazard to the user. Tie downs are bulky, expensive and, because of their ratcheting mechanism, make it easy for the user to overstress and tear the cover. Sometimes there is nothing to attach the rope, elastic strap or tie down to for securing the cover over the object. These methods can also create a tripping hazard.
Objects with mass such as a log or bricks, have been used to secure covers by setting the object on top of the cover, using gravity and friction to prevent movement of the cover. These objects are inefficient in that they do not attach to the cover and may not stay in a desired position allowing movement of the cover to occur. A weight placed on top of a cover allows wind to get under and disturb the cover. These types of objects are not always readily available.
What is needed is a weight assembly that can attach to a cover and will hold the cover in place without having to attach to anything besides the cover. Different weight assemblies have been tried but fail to produce the results necessary for this task.
One assembly is an elongated refillable tube with hooks and snaps which attach to the edge of a cover designed to span the length or width of the cover. Reference U.S. Pat. No. 7,871,052 January 2011 Baum. This assembly is awkward for use because the opening for filling the tube is only 1½″ that restricts use to a fluid, like water because sand or other weighted material will be hard for a user to insert or empty. If a liquid is used for weighted material, use may be limited to temperatures above freezing to prevent damage to the weight assembly from expanding frozen liquids. The tube weighs approximately 8 lbs. for every 2 feet of length making it difficult for a single person to lift and attach the assembly to an elevated cover. If the cover is sloping, weight in the tube will shift to the low point creating an uneven distribution of mass and uneven pressure on the cover. The components of this design make it expensive to produce, decreasing the marketability of the assembly.
Another assembly is a water-permeable weight bag designed primarily for use with a beach towel. Reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,364 May 1996 Bloxson. The snap used in this assembly is too weak to hold any significant weight while suspended on a cover. Being of water permeable construction, transportation of the bag may be undesirable because the bag takes time to dry completely. The referenced capacity of these assemblies, 6 to 8 oz. is too little mass to secure a cover in any significant wind. A grommet is used as part of this assembly which increases manufacturing costs and decreases durability. When a grommet is constantly submitted to pressure, such as that from a weighted object it is more likely to loose its bond on the fabric it is attached to. When this bond ceases to exist the assembly looses its contents and is not functional.
The above stated problems and other problems that may become apparent are solved by using the claimed weight assembly.
The claimed weight assembly eliminates the limitations and hazards of ropes, bungees and tie downs. It provides a way to attach an object with mass to a cover and more effectively secure the cover.
In relation to the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,871,052 January 2011 Baum, the claimed weight assembly is simple for a single person to operate and use. It reduces the risk of injury from lifting one heavy object at a time by allowing the user to lift multiple objects of lesser mass multiple times. By dividing one container into multiple smaller containers the weight of the objects is more evenly distributed around the cover if the cover is on an uneven surface. One embodiment of this weight assembly has an opening of predetermined size that allows easier ingress and regress of weighted matter which increases the operability of the weight assembly for the user. The elements of this embodiment significantly reduce production costs compared to the prior art increasing the marketability of the weight assembly.
In relation to prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,364 May 1996 Bloxson, and other prior art, the grommet is eliminated and replaced with an alternate assembly for a way to attach the weighted object to the cover. One embodiment allows the weight assembly to be refillable. This provides unobvious advantages; when transporting the weight assembly empty it takes up less space in a vehicle. An empty container weighs less, thus, is easier for a person to carry from point to point when not using the weight. An empty container reduces shipping costs making the weight assembly more marketable. A refillable container allows the user to choose what weighted matter they will use to fill the container. Heavier matter makes the weight more effective in stronger winds or on larger covers.
Referring now specifically to the drawings, a single weight assembly is illustrated in three different embodiments;
The embodiment shown in
The embodiment shown in
The main advantage of a solid composition of mass 18 as an object having mass is the durability of the composition of mass 18 over fabrics forming containers to hold weighted matter.
A weight assembly for covers is described above. Various details of the weight assembly may be changed without departing from its scope. For example; the refillable bag 6 can incorporate the webbing loop 10 and the adjustable clamp 16 as a way to attach the weight assembly or, a bendable wire can be used in place of the rope 22 or, an unknown source for an object having mass or combination of materials to attach the assembly to the cover may become apparent and used for this weight assembly. Different shapes and dimensions can also be used to create the weight assembly. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation. The weight assembly for covers is defined by the claims.
Accordingly the reader will see that the weight assembly of the various embodiments will hold a cover in place when used with a plurality of weight assemblies of the same type.
