The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2002
Bradford P. Swanson, Yankton, SD (US);
Christopher J. McCallum, Yankton, SD (US);
Shur Company, Yankton, SD (US);
Abstract
In a tarp system used to cover an open container such as a truck, the tarp being connected on one longitudinal edge to a roll bar, an improved mechanism for assisting movement of the roll bar comprises one or more constant force springs, each spring attached at one end to a longitudinal side of the container and at the other end to a reel mounted on the roll bar. When the roll bar is at one side of the container, the tarp is rolled around the roll bar and the constant force springs are extended. As the bar rolls across to the opposite side, the tarp is unrolled to cover the container opening, and the constant force springs wind into a coil around the reel.