Weighted tarpaulin

Abstract

A tarpaulin apparatus for covering items to protect them from hazards includes a flexible sheet which has a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral edge. A bladder is coupled to the flexible sheet and is fillable with water or other fluids to weigh the flexible sheet down. The bladder is elongated between a pair of fill ends and has a pair of ports in fluid communication with an interior space of the bladder. Each port of the pair of ports of the bladder is positioned adjacent to an associated fill end of the pair of fill ends of the bladder. The bladder is shaped such that the fill ends of the bladder are positioned adjacent to each other.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to tarpaulins and more particularly pertains to a new tarpaulin for covering items to protect them from hazards.(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

[0007] The prior art discloses various tarpaulins which may be filled with water or other fluid to weigh the tarpaulins down in selected areas of the tarpaulins. However, the prior art fails to describe such an apparatus which includes elongated bladders which are shaped such that the ends of the elongated bladders and associated fill ports at each end are positioned adjacent to each other. Such an apparatus advances the prior art by providing a structure that improves the filling and draining processes of the bladders. Having fill ports at each end of the elongated bladders allows for each fill port to be open allows air to evacuate from the bladders when filling them with water or another liquid and prevents the formation of vacuums during drainage which resists against drainage. Placing those fill ports adjacent to each other makes filling and draining the ports easier for one user, who does not have to walk to a different area of the tarpaulin to reach a second fill port of a bladder.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a flexible sheet which has a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge has a first end portion and a second end portion positioned opposite each other. The peripheral edge also has a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion which are positioned opposite each other and which extend between the first end portion and the second end portion. A bladder is coupled to the flexible sheet and is fillable with water or other fluids to weigh the flexible sheet down. The bladder is elongated between a pair of fill ends and has a pair of ports in fluid communication with an interior space of the bladder. Each port of the pair of ports of the bladder is positioned adjacent to an associated fill end of the pair of fill ends of the bladder. The bladder is shaped such that the fill ends of the bladder are positioned adjacent to each other.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a tarpaulin apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window 2 in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window in FIG. 7.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window in FIG. 9.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 13 thereof, a new tarpaulin embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0026] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the tarpaulin apparatus 10 generally comprises a flexible sheet 12 which has a front face 14, a rear face 16, and a peripheral edge 18. The peripheral edge 18 has a first end portion 20 and a second end portion 22 which are positioned opposite each other. The peripheral edge 18 also has a first lateral portion 24 and a second lateral portion 26 which are positioned opposite each other and which extend between the first end portion 20 and the second end portion 22. The flexible sheet 12 defines a plurality of eyelets 28 which extend through the flexible sheet 12. The eyelets 28 are distributed along the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. The flexible sheet 12 may be formed of a material suited to protecting items from one or more hazards such as rain, sun, or debris. For example, a water-impermeable such as canvas, polyurethane-coated polyester, or the like may be used to protect against rain or other water damage.

[0027] The flexible sheet 12 comprises a front layer 30 and a rear layer 32 which are coupled together. The front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 are coextensive with each other. The front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 are joined at a folded edge 34, which is seen in FIG. 5. In other words, to form the flexible sheet 12 a single layer is folded to define the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32, and the free edges of the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 are joined together via stitching, adhesive, thermal bonding, or some other suitable means. Other areas of the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 may be joined via such means. In some embodiments, the front layer 30 and rear layer 32 may not be coextensive with each other. The peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12 may be thicker than the remainder of the flexible sheet 12 or may be reinforced by a liner.

[0028] A plurality of bladders 36 is coupled to the flexible sheet 12 and positioned between the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 of the flexible sheet 12. Each bladder 36 is elongated between a pair of fill ends 38. Each bladder 36 has a pair of ports 40, each of which is in fluid communication with an interior space 44 of the bladder 36. The ports 40 of each bladder 36 protrude through the front layer 30 of the flexible sheet 12 to access the bladder 36 for filling and draining the bladder 36 of fluid, such as water. Each port 40 of each bladder 36 is positioned adjacent to an associated fill end 38 of the pair of fill ends 38 of the bladder 36. Each bladder 36 comprises a stretchable material such as rubber, silicone, or the like, such that each bladder 36 may expand when water held in the bladder 36 expands due to freezing. The flexible sheet 12 may also include the stretchable material or another stretchable material, or the bladder 36 may be accommodated in a sufficiently large cavity such that the flexible sheet 12 does not impede upon expansion of the bladder 36.

[0029] The fill ends 38 of each bladder 36 are positioned adjacent to each other, and each bladder 36 forms a U-shape 46 which is elongated between a curved section 48 of the U-shape 46 and the pair of fill ends 38 of the bladder 36. Each bladder 36 is formed from a tube which is elongated between a first end and a second end. Lateral edges of the tube are stitched into the flexible sheet 12 between the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32. Opposite layers of the tube are brought together and coupled to the flexible sheet 12 by stitching 50 which extends along a centerline of the tube that extends from the first end to the second end. The stitching 50 terminates before reaching the second end, thereby defining the U-shape 46 of the bladder 36 around the stitching 50. The fill ends 38 of each bladder 38 are thereby formed at the first end of the tube, and the curved section 48 of the U-shape 46 is positioned at the second end of the tube. The ports 40 may then be added to each bladder 36 adjacent to the associated fill ends 38. The second ends of the tubes are closed, either originally or as a step in forming the bladders 36. As described further below, the first ends of the tubes may be open or closed depending on the embodiment.

[0030] In other embodiments, the bladders 36 may be formed via molding or other suitable processes into the U-shape 46. In some embodiments, other shapes may be formed by each bladder 36 which place the fill ends 38 adjacent to each other. For example, a bladder 36 may form a compact zig-zag shape which traverses a length of the bladder 36 more than twice. In another example, a bladder 36 may extend along an entirety of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12.

[0031] The plurality of bladders 36 includes a plurality of peripheral bladders 52, each of which is positioned adjacent to and extends parallel to an associated one of the first end portion 20, the second end portion 22, the first lateral portion 24, and the second lateral portion 26 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. In some embodiments, the plurality of bladders 36 includes a central bladder 54 which is positioned distally from the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. In one such embodiment, depicted in FIG. 12, the central bladder 54 extends between the first end portion 20 and the second end portion 22 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. In another, depicted in FIG. 13, the central bladder 54 extends between the first lateral portion 24 and the second lateral portion 26 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. Other orientations are possible and additional bladders 36 may be used.

[0032] Each closure 56 of a plurality of closures 56 is positionable in a closed position 58 in which the closure 56 closes an associated port 40 of the pair of ports 40 of each bladder 36. With reference to FIGS. 1-6 and 12-13, each closure 56 may comprise a cap 60 which surrounds an opening 42 of the associated port 40 when placed in the closed position 58. Each cap 60 is removably coupled to the associated port 40 via mating threads. In similar embodiments, each cap 60 may couple to the associated port 40 via a snap fit, a latch, a clamp, or another suitable fastener. The caps 60 are shown to be unconnected to the flexible sheet 12. However, in other embodiments, the caps 60 may be tethered to the flexible sheet 12 adjacent to the associated port 40.

[0033] As seen in FIGS. 7-8, each closure 56 may comprise a plug 62 which inserts into the opening 42 of the associated port 40 when placed in the closed position 58 and a retaining strap 64 for keeping the plug 62 inserted into the opening 42. The retaining strap 64 is attached to the flexible sheet 12 and has a free end 66 which is removably couplable via a hook-and-loop fastener 68 to the flexible sheet 12 to retain the plug 62 in the opening 42 of the associated port 40. In similar embodiments, the plug 62 may be retained in the opening 42 via a snap fit, a latch, a clamp, or another suitable fastener.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 9-11, each closure 56 comprises a flap 70. In such an embodiment, each port 40 each bladder 36 is integrally formed with the fill end 38 of the bladder 36. The bladders 36 of this embodiment may be formed substantially as described above by modifying the tube to form the U-shape 46. If so, the first end of the tube is left open, and the ports 40 are formed at the first end. The closed position 58 of each closure 56 comprises placing the associated port 40 of the closure 56 in a rolled configuration 76 to prevent loss of water or other fluid from the associated bladder 36 and securing the flap 70 over the associated port 40 to secure the associated port 40 in the rolled configuration 76. The flap 70 has a free end 72 which is removably couplable to the flexible sheet 12 via a hook-and-loop connector 74 to secure the flap 70 over the associated port 40. The free end 72 of the flap 70 also may be secured to the flexible sheet 12 via a snap connector, a button-and-hole connector, a latch, or other suitable fastener.

[0035] In use, the tarpaulin apparatus 10 may be used to cover items—such as a roof 79 of a building 78—to protect them from rain, wind, sun, other weather phenomena, or other hazards. The bladders 36 may be selectively filled with water or other fluids to weigh the flexible sheet 12 down.

[0036] Filling and draining the bladders 36 is assisted by the inclusion of two ports 40 placed near each other. When filling one of the bladders 36, water or other fluid may be added to one of the ports 40, and the other port 40 may also be opened to allow trapped air to flow out, which facilitates quicker filling of the bladder 36 and better replacement of the trapped air with the water or other fluid. Similarly, when draining one of the bladders 36, a vacuum is not formed when both ports 40 are opened, which facilitates more thorough emptying of the bladder 36.

[0037] By placing the ports 40 of each bladder 36 adjacent to each other, the work of opening 42 and closing both ports 40 of one of the bladders 36 is quicker and easier than alternatives, because a single user may open and close the ports 40 while standing / sitting in a fixed position. This quickness and ease is further facilitated by the placement of the fill ends 38 of multiple bladders 36 near each other. For example, pairs of the peripheral bladders 52 are oriented in this manner throughout the figures.

[0038] Less than all of the bladders 36 may be filled when advantageous, such as when hanging the flexible sheet 12 next to a vertical surface to be protected. In such a use, the flexible sheet 12 may be hung by threading rope, hooks, or the like through the eyelets 28 in a selected one of the first end portion 20, the second end portion 22, the first lateral portion 24, and the second lateral portion 26 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. When hung in this manner, the bladder 36 which is positioned lower than the other bladders 36 may be filled to keep the flexible sheet 12 from being urged by the wind or other external force away from the vertical surface to be protected.

[0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 13 thereof, a new tarpaulin embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0026]As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the tarpaulin apparatus 10 generally comprises a flexible sheet 12 which has a front face 14, a rear face 16, and a peripheral edge 18. The peripheral edge 18 has a first end portion 20 and a second end portion 22 which are positioned opposite each other. The peripheral edge 18 also has a first lateral portion 24 and a second lateral portion 26 which are positioned opposite each other and which extend between the first end portion 20 and the second end portion 22. The flexible sheet 12 defines a plurality of eyelets 28 which extend through the flexible sheet 12. The eyelets 28 are distributed along the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. The flexible sheet 12 may be formed of a ma...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to tarpaulins and more particularly pertains to a new tarpaulin for covering items to protect them from hazards.(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

[0007] The prior art discloses various tarpaulins which may be filled with water or other fluid to weigh the tarpaulins down in selected areas of the tarpaulins. However, the prior art fails to describe such an apparatus which includes elongated bladders which are shaped such that the ends of the elongated bladders and associated fill ports at each end are positioned adjacent to each other. Such an apparatus advances the prior art by providing a structure that improves the filling and draining processes of the bladders. Having fill ports at each end of the elongated bladders allows for each fill port to be open allows air to evacuate from the bladders when filling them with water or another liquid and prevents the formation of vacuums during drainage which resists against drainage. Placing those fill ports adjacent to each other makes filling and draining the ports easier for one user, who does not have to walk to a different area of the tarpaulin to reach a second fill port of a bladder.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a flexible sheet which has a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge has a first end portion and a second end portion positioned opposite each other. The peripheral edge also has a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion which are positioned opposite each other and which extend between the first end portion and the second end portion. A bladder is coupled to the flexible sheet and is fillable with water or other fluids to weigh the flexible sheet down. The bladder is elongated between a pair of fill ends and has a pair of ports in fluid communication with an interior space of the bladder. Each port of the pair of ports of the bladder is positioned adjacent to an associated fill end of the pair of fill ends of the bladder. The bladder is shaped such that the fill ends of the bladder are positioned adjacent to each other.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a tarpaulin apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window 2 in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window in FIG. 7.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Window in FIG. 9.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken from Line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 13 thereof, a new tarpaulin embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0026] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the tarpaulin apparatus 10 generally comprises a flexible sheet 12 which has a front face 14, a rear face 16, and a peripheral edge 18. The peripheral edge 18 has a first end portion 20 and a second end portion 22 which are positioned opposite each other. The peripheral edge 18 also has a first lateral portion 24 and a second lateral portion 26 which are positioned opposite each other and which extend between the first end portion 20 and the second end portion 22. The flexible sheet 12 defines a plurality of eyelets 28 which extend through the flexible sheet 12. The eyelets 28 are distributed along the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. The flexible sheet 12 may be formed of a material suited to protecting items from one or more hazards such as rain, sun, or debris. For example, a water-impermeable such as canvas, polyurethane-coated polyester, or the like may be used to protect against rain or other water damage.

[0027] The flexible sheet 12 comprises a front layer 30 and a rear layer 32 which are coupled together. The front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 are coextensive with each other. The front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 are joined at a folded edge 34, which is seen in FIG. 5. In other words, to form the flexible sheet 12 a single layer is folded to define the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32, and the free edges of the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 are joined together via stitching, adhesive, thermal bonding, or some other suitable means. Other areas of the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 may be joined via such means. In some embodiments, the front layer 30 and rear layer 32 may not be coextensive with each other. The peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12 may be thicker than the remainder of the flexible sheet 12 or may be reinforced by a liner.

[0028] A plurality of bladders 36 is coupled to the flexible sheet 12 and positioned between the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32 of the flexible sheet 12. Each bladder 36 is elongated between a pair of fill ends 38. Each bladder 36 has a pair of ports 40, each of which is in fluid communication with an interior space 44 of the bladder 36. The ports 40 of each bladder 36 protrude through the front layer 30 of the flexible sheet 12 to access the bladder 36 for filling and draining the bladder 36 of fluid, such as water. Each port 40 of each bladder 36 is positioned adjacent to an associated fill end 38 of the pair of fill ends 38 of the bladder 36. Each bladder 36 comprises a stretchable material such as rubber, silicone, or the like, such that each bladder 36 may expand when water held in the bladder 36 expands due to freezing. The flexible sheet 12 may also include the stretchable material or another stretchable material, or the bladder 36 may be accommodated in a sufficiently large cavity such that the flexible sheet 12 does not impede upon expansion of the bladder 36.

[0029] The fill ends 38 of each bladder 36 are positioned adjacent to each other, and each bladder 36 forms a U-shape 46 which is elongated between a curved section 48 of the U-shape 46 and the pair of fill ends 38 of the bladder 36. Each bladder 36 is formed from a tube which is elongated between a first end and a second end. Lateral edges of the tube are stitched into the flexible sheet 12 between the front layer 30 and the rear layer 32. Opposite layers of the tube are brought together and coupled to the flexible sheet 12 by stitching 50 which extends along a centerline of the tube that extends from the first end to the second end. The stitching 50 terminates before reaching the second end, thereby defining the U-shape 46 of the bladder 36 around the stitching 50. The fill ends 38 of each bladder 38 are thereby formed at the first end of the tube, and the curved section 48 of the U-shape 46 is positioned at the second end of the tube. The ports 40 may then be added to each bladder 36 adjacent to the associated fill ends 38. The second ends of the tubes are closed, either originally or as a step in forming the bladders 36. As described further below, the first ends of the tubes may be open or closed depending on the embodiment.

[0030] In other embodiments, the bladders 36 may be formed via molding or other suitable processes into the U-shape 46. In some embodiments, other shapes may be formed by each bladder 36 which place the fill ends 38 adjacent to each other. For example, a bladder 36 may form a compact zig-zag shape which traverses a length of the bladder 36 more than twice. In another example, a bladder 36 may extend along an entirety of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12.

[0031] The plurality of bladders 36 includes a plurality of peripheral bladders 52, each of which is positioned adjacent to and extends parallel to an associated one of the first end portion 20, the second end portion 22, the first lateral portion 24, and the second lateral portion 26 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. In some embodiments, the plurality of bladders 36 includes a central bladder 54 which is positioned distally from the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. In one such embodiment, depicted in FIG. 12, the central bladder 54 extends between the first end portion 20 and the second end portion 22 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. In another, depicted in FIG. 13, the central bladder 54 extends between the first lateral portion 24 and the second lateral portion 26 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. Other orientations are possible and additional bladders 36 may be used.

[0032] Each closure 56 of a plurality of closures 56 is positionable in a closed position 58 in which the closure 56 closes an associated port 40 of the pair of ports 40 of each bladder 36. With reference to FIGS. 1-6 and 12-13, each closure 56 may comprise a cap 60 which surrounds an opening 42 of the associated port 40 when placed in the closed position 58. Each cap 60 is removably coupled to the associated port 40 via mating threads. In similar embodiments, each cap 60 may couple to the associated port 40 via a snap fit, a latch, a clamp, or another suitable fastener. The caps 60 are shown to be unconnected to the flexible sheet 12. However, in other embodiments, the caps 60 may be tethered to the flexible sheet 12 adjacent to the associated port 40.

[0033] As seen in FIGS. 7-8, each closure 56 may comprise a plug 62 which inserts into the opening 42 of the associated port 40 when placed in the closed position 58 and a retaining strap 64 for keeping the plug 62 inserted into the opening 42. The retaining strap 64 is attached to the flexible sheet 12 and has a free end 66 which is removably couplable via a hook-and-loop fastener 68 to the flexible sheet 12 to retain the plug 62 in the opening 42 of the associated port 40. In similar embodiments, the plug 62 may be retained in the opening 42 via a snap fit, a latch, a clamp, or another suitable fastener.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 9-11, each closure 56 comprises a flap 70. In such an embodiment, each port 40 each bladder 36 is integrally formed with the fill end 38 of the bladder 36. The bladders 36 of this embodiment may be formed substantially as described above by modifying the tube to form the U-shape 46. If so, the first end of the tube is left open, and the ports 40 are formed at the first end. The closed position 58 of each closure 56 comprises placing the associated port 40 of the closure 56 in a rolled configuration 76 to prevent loss of water or other fluid from the associated bladder 36 and securing the flap 70 over the associated port 40 to secure the associated port 40 in the rolled configuration 76. The flap 70 has a free end 72 which is removably couplable to the flexible sheet 12 via a hook-and-loop connector 74 to secure the flap 70 over the associated port 40. The free end 72 of the flap 70 also may be secured to the flexible sheet 12 via a snap connector, a button-and-hole connector, a latch, or other suitable fastener.

[0035] In use, the tarpaulin apparatus 10 may be used to cover items—such as a roof 79 of a building 78—to protect them from rain, wind, sun, other weather phenomena, or other hazards. The bladders 36 may be selectively filled with water or other fluids to weigh the flexible sheet 12 down.

[0036] Filling and draining the bladders 36 is assisted by the inclusion of two ports 40 placed near each other. When filling one of the bladders 36, water or other fluid may be added to one of the ports 40, and the other port 40 may also be opened to allow trapped air to flow out, which facilitates quicker filling of the bladder 36 and better replacement of the trapped air with the water or other fluid. Similarly, when draining one of the bladders 36, a vacuum is not formed when both ports 40 are opened, which facilitates more thorough emptying of the bladder 36.

[0037] By placing the ports 40 of each bladder 36 adjacent to each other, the work of opening 42 and closing both ports 40 of one of the bladders 36 is quicker and easier than alternatives, because a single user may open and close the ports 40 while standing / sitting in a fixed position. This quickness and ease is further facilitated by the placement of the fill ends 38 of multiple bladders 36 near each other. For example, pairs of the peripheral bladders 52 are oriented in this manner throughout the figures.

[0038] Less than all of the bladders 36 may be filled when advantageous, such as when hanging the flexible sheet 12 next to a vertical surface to be protected. In such a use, the flexible sheet 12 may be hung by threading rope, hooks, or the like through the eyelets 28 in a selected one of the first end portion 20, the second end portion 22, the first lateral portion 24, and the second lateral portion 26 of the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. When hung in this manner, the bladder 36 which is positioned lower than the other bladders 36 may be filled to keep the flexible sheet 12 from being urged by the wind or other external force away from the vertical surface to be protected.

[0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 13 thereof, a new tarpaulin embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0026]As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the tarpaulin apparatus 10 generally comprises a flexible sheet 12 which has a front face 14, a rear face 16, and a peripheral edge 18. The peripheral edge 18 has a first end portion 20 and a second end portion 22 which are positioned opposite each other. The peripheral edge 18 also has a first lateral portion 24 and a second lateral portion 26 which are positioned opposite each other and which extend between the first end portion 20 and the second end portion 22. The flexible sheet 12 defines a plurality of eyelets 28 which extend through the flexible sheet 12. The eyelets 28 are distributed along the peripheral edge 18 of the flexible sheet 12. The flexible sheet 12 may be formed of a ma...

Claims

1. A tarpaulin apparatus comprising:a flexible sheet having a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge having a first end portion and a second end portion positioned opposite each other, the peripheral edge having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion positioned opposite each other and extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; anda bladder coupled to the flexible sheet, the bladder being elongated between a pair of fill ends, the blader having a pair of ports in fluid communication with an interior space of the bladder, each port of the pair of ports of the bladder being positioned adjacent to an associated fill end of the pair of fill ends of the bladder, the pair of fill ends of the bladder being positioned adjacent to each other.

2. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladder forms a U-shape which is elongated between a curved section of the U-shape and the pair of fill ends of the bladder.

3. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladder is one of a plurality of bladders coupled to the flexible sheet, each bladder of the plurality of bladders being elongated between a pair of fill ends, each bladder of the plurality of bladders having a pair of ports in fluid communication with an interior space of the bladder, each port of the pair of ports of each bladder being positioned adjacent to an associated fill end of the pair of fill ends of the bladder, the pair of fill ends of each bladder being positioned adjacent to each other.

4. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 3, wherein each bladder of the plurality of bladders forms a U-shape which is elongated between a curved section of the U-shape and the pair of fill ends of the bladder.

5. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of bladders includes a plurality of peripheral bladders, each peripheral bladder of the plurality of peripheral bladders being positioned adjacent to and extending parallel to an associated one of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion of the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet.

6. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of bladders includes a central bladder which is positioned distally from the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet, the central bladder extending between the first end portion and the second end portion of the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet.

7. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of bladders includes a central bladder which is positioned distally from the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet, the central bladder extending between the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion of the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet.

8. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bladder comprises a stretchable material.

9. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet defines a plurality of eyelets which extend through the flexible sheet, the plurality of eyelets being distributed along the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet.

10. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the flexible sheet comprises a front layer and a rear layer which are coupled together, the front layer and the rear layer being coextensive with each other; andthe bladder is positioned between the front layer and the rear layer of the flexible sheet.

11. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of closures, each closure of the pair of closures being positionable in a closed position in which the closure closes an associated port of the pair of ports of the bladder.

12. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 11, wherein each closure of the pair of closures comprises a cap which surrounds an opening of the associated port when the closure is positioned in the closed position, the cap being removably couplable to the associated port.

13. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 11, wherein each closure of the pair of closures comprises:a plug which inserts into an opening of the associated port when the closure is positioned in the closed position; anda retaining strap which is positionable over the plug to retain the plug in the opening of the associated port.

14. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 11, wherein:each port of the pair of ports of the bladder is integrally formed with the fill end of the bladder; andeach closure of the pair of closures comprises a flap which is positionable to extend over the associated port, the closed position of the closure comprising the associated port being positioned in a rolled configuration and the flap extending over the associated port and being coupled to the bladder to retain the associated port in the rolled configuration.

15. A tarpaulin apparatus comprising:a flexible sheet having a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge having a first end portion and a second end portion positioned opposite each other, the peripheral edge having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion positioned opposite each other and extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the flexible sheet defining a plurality of eyelets which extend through the flexible sheet, the plurality of eyelets being distributed along the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet, the flexible sheet comprising a front layer and a rear layer which are coupled together, the front layer and the rear layer being coextensive with each other;a plurality of bladders coupled to the flexible sheet and positioned between the front layer and the rear layer of the flexible sheet, each bladder of the plurality of bladders being elongated between a pair of fill ends, each bladder of the plurality of bladders having a pair of ports in fluid communication with an interior space of the bladder, each port of the pair of ports of each bladder being positioned adjacent to an associated fill end of the pair of fill ends of the bladder, the pair of fill ends of each bladder being positioned adjacent to each other, each bladder of the plurality of bladders forming a U-shape which is elongated between a curved section of the U-shape and the pair of fill ends of the bladder, the plurality of bladders including a plurality of peripheral bladders, each peripheral bladder of the plurality of peripheral bladders being positioned adjacent to and extending parallel to an associated one of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion of the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet, each bladder of the plurality of bladders comprising a stretchable material; anda plurality of closures, each closure of the plurality of closures being positionable in a closed position in which the closure closes an associated port of the pair of ports of each bladder.

16. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of bladders includes a central bladder which is positioned distally from the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet, the central bladder extending between the first end portion and the second end portion of the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet.

17. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of bladders includes a central bladder which is positioned distally from the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet, the central bladder extending between the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion of the peripheral edge of the flexible sheet.

18. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 15, wherein each closure of the plurality of closures comprises a cap which surrounds an opening of the associated port when the closure is positioned in the closed position, the cap being removably couplable to the associated port.

19. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 15, wherein each closure of the plurality of closures comprises:a plug which inserts into an opening of the associated port when the closure is positioned in the closed position; anda retaining strap which is positionable over the plug to retain the plug in the opening of the associated port.

20. The tarpaulin apparatus of claim 15, wherein:each port of the pair of ports of each bladder is integrally formed with the fill end of the bladder; andeach closure of the plurality of closures comprises a flap which is positionable to extend over the associated port, the closed position of the closure comprising the associated port being positioned in a rolled configuration and the flap extending over the associated port and being coupled to an associated bladder of the plurality of bladders to retain the associated port in the rolled configuration.

Images