A device for manipulating a tarpaulin so as to selectively cover and uncover a top aperture of a container. The top aperture defines an aperture peripheral edge, the aperture peripheral edge including two substantially opposed substantially longitudinal segments. The tarpaulin is configurable betwee
A device for manipulating a tarpaulin so as to selectively cover and uncover a top aperture of a container. The top aperture defines an aperture peripheral edge, the aperture peripheral edge including two substantially opposed substantially longitudinal segments. The tarpaulin is configurable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. In the extended configuration, the tarpaulin substantially covers the top aperture. In the retracted configuration, the tarpaulin is substantially retracted from the top aperture. The device includes an elongated guiding component defining a guiding component longitudinal axis. The guiding component is securable to the container so as to extend at least partially along at least one of the longitudinal segments. A tarpaulin mounting component is usable for attaching the tarpaulin thereto. A link, mechanically coupled to the guiding component, is longitudinally movable therealong between a link proximal position and a link distal position. The tarpaulin mounting component is operatively coupled to the link in a manner such that when the link is in the link proximal position, and the tarpaulin is attached to the tarpaulin mounting component, the tarpaulin is in the retracted configuration. When the link is in the link distal position and the tarpaulin is attached to the tarpaulin mounting component, the tarpaulin is in the extended configuration.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A device for manipulating a tarpaulin so as to selectively cover and uncover a top aperture of a container, said top aperture defining an aperture peripheral edge, said aperture peripheral edge including two substantially opposed substantially longitudinal segments, said tarp
What is claimed is: 1. A device for manipulating a tarpaulin so as to selectively cover and uncover a top aperture of a container, said top aperture defining an aperture peripheral edge, said aperture peripheral edge including two substantially opposed substantially longitudinal segments, said tarpaulin being configurable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein, in said extended configuration, said tarpaulin substantially covers said top aperture, and, in said retracted configuration, said tarpaulin is substantially retracted from said top aperture, said device comprising: an elongated guiding component defining a guiding component longitudinal axis, said guiding component being securable to said container so as to extend at least partially a long at least one of said longitudinal segments; a tarpaulin mounting component usable for attaching said tarpaulin thereto; and a link mechanically coupled to said guiding component so as to be longitudinally movable therealong between a link proximal position and a link distal position; said tarpaulin mounting component being operatively coupled to said link in a manner such that when said link is in said link proximal position and said tarpaulin is attached to said tarpaulin mounting component, said tarpaulin is in said retracted configuration, and when said link is in said link distal position and said tarpaulin is attached to said tarpaulin mounting component, said tarpaulin is in said extended configuration; said tarpaulin mounting component including a substantially elongated lever mechanically coupled to said link so as to be longitudinally movable jointly therewith, a substantially elongated spacing segment extending from said lever, said spacing segment being angled at a fixed angle with respect to said lever, and a tarpaulin mounting segment extending from said spacing segment substantially opposed to said lever, said tarpaulin mounting segment extending substantially across said top aperture, said spacing segment being angled at a first angle relatively to said guiding component when said link is in said distal position and said spacing segment being angled at a second angle relatively to said guiding component when said link is in said proximal position, said second angle being substantially smaller than said first angle. 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said link is mounted to said guiding component so as to be slidable therealong. 3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said link and said guiding component are configured and sized to substantially prevent said link from moving relatively to said guiding component in a predetermined direction extending substantially perpendicularly to said guiding component longitudinal axis. 4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said link and said guiding component are configured and sized to substantially prevent said link moving relatively to said guiding component in a plane extending substantially perpendicularly to said guiding component longitudinal axis. 5. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to said link for moving said link along said guiding component. 6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said actuator includes a proximal pulley and a distal pulley, said proximal and distal pulleys being mountable to said container in a substantial longitudinally spaced apart relationship relatively to each other; and a loop of wire mounted to said proximal and distal pulleys, said loop of wire defining a link attachment, segment positionable so as to extend substantially along said guiding component, said link attachment segment being secured to said link. 7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said proximal pulley is mountable to said container substantially adjacent said link proximal position and said distal pulley is mountable to said container substantially adjacent said link distal position, said link attachment segment being positionable between said proximal and distal pulleys. 8. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a motor, said motor being operatively coupled to said loop of wire for selectively moving said link attachment segment relatively to said guiding component. 9. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a tension adjusting device for selectively adjusting a tension in said loop of wire 10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said tarpaulin mounting component is a distal tarpaulin mounting component and said link is a distal link, said device further comprising a proximal tarpaulin mounting component for attaching said tarpaulin thereto and a proximal link mechanical coupled to said guiding component so as to be longitudinally movable therealong, said proximal tarpaulin mounting component being mechanically coupled to said proximal link so as to be longitudinally movable joints therewith. 11. A device as defined in claim 10, comprising a link coupling component mechanically coupled to said proximal and distal links, said lever being part of said link coupling component, said link coupling component being configurable in a coupling component retracted configuration and in a coupling component extended configuration, wherein said proximal and distal links are closer to each other in said coupling component retracted configuration than in said coupling component extended configuration. 12. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said proximal and distal tarpaulin mounting components are mechanically coupled to said link coupling component in a manner such that said proximal and distal tarpaulin mounting components are closer to each other in said coupling component retracted configuration than in said coupling component extended configuration. 13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein said distal and proximal tarpaulin mounting components each define a respective spacing segment extending from said link coupling component and a respective tarpaulin mounting segment extending substantially across said top aperture. 14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said spacing segment of said distal tarpaulin mounting component is angled at said first angle relatively to said guiding component when said link coupling component is in said extended configuration and said spacing segment of said distal tarpaulin mounting component is angled at said second angle relatively to said guiding component when said link coupling component is in said retracted configuration. 15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said first angle is from about 80 to about 110 degrees. 16. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said second angle is from about 0 degrees to about 30 degrees. 17. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said link coupling component is attachable to said proximal and distal links in a first attachment position and in a second attachment position, said tarpaulin mounting segments being located further away from said top aperture when said link coupling component is attached to said proximal and distal links in said second attachment position than in said first attachment position. 18. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said link coupling component includes a scissor-type hinge extending between said proximal and distal links, said scissor-type hinge being configured and sized so as to allow variations in a distance between said proximal and distal links. 19. A device as defined in claim 1, comprising a pair of elongated guiding components, said guiding components being securable to said container so that said guiding components extend at least partially each along a respective longitudinal segment with said guiding components substantially laterally opposed to each other relatively to said top aperture; a pair of links each mechanically coupled to a respective one of said guiding components so as to be longitudinally movable therealong between a respective link proximal position and a respective link distal position; said tarpaulin mounting component extending across said top aperture and being operatively coupled to both of said links and in a manner such that when said links are in said link proximal positions and said tarpaulin is attached to said tarpaulin mounting component, said tarpaulin is in said retracted configuration, and when said links are in said link distal position and said tarpaulin is attached to said tarpaulin mounting component, said tarpaulin is in said extended configuration. 20. A device for manipulating a tarpaulin so as to selectively cover and uncover a top aperture of a container, said top aperture defining an aperture peripheral edge, said aperture peripheral edge including two substantially opposed substantially longitudinal segments, said tarpaulin being configurable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein, in said extended configuration, said tarpaulin substantially covers said top aperture, and, in said retracted configuration, said tarpaulin is substantially retracted from said top aperture, said device comprising: an elongated guiding component defining a guiding component longitudinal axis, said guiding component being securable to said container so as to extend at least partially along at least one of said longitudinal segments; a distal tarpaulin mounting component usable for attaching said tarpaulin thereto; and a distal link mechanically coupled to said guiding component so as to be longitudinally movable therealong between a distal link proximal position and a distal link distal position, said distal tarpaulin mounting component being operatively coupled to said distal link in a manner such that when said distal link is in said distal link proximal position and said tarpaulin is attached to said tarpaulin mounting component, said tarpaulin is in said retracted configuration, and when said distal link is in said link distal position and said tarpaulin is attached to said tarpaulin mounting component, said tarpaulin is in said extended configuration; a proximal tarpaulin mounting component for attaching said tarpaulin thereto and a proximal link mechanically coupled to said guiding component so as to be longitudinally movable therealong, said proximal tarpaulin mounting component being mechanically coupled to said proximal link so as to be longitudinally movable jointly therewith a link coupling component mechanically coupled to said proximal and distal links, said link coupling component being configurable in a coupling component retracted configuration and in a coupling component extended configuration, wherein said proximal and distal links are closer to each other in said coupling component retracted configuration than in said coupling component extended configuration, said proximal and distal tarpaulin mounting components being mechanically coupled to said link coupling component in a manner such that said proximal and distal tarpaulin mounting components are closer to each other in said coupling component retracted configuration than in said coupling component extended configuration; said distal and proximal tarpaulin mounting components each defining a respective spacing segment extending from said link coupling component and a respective tarpaulin mounting segment extending substantially across said top aperture said spacing segment of said distal tarpaulin mounting component being angled at a first angle relatively to said guiding component when said link coupling component is in said extended configuration and said spacing segment of said distal tarpaulin mounting component being angled at a second angle relatively to said guiding component when said link coupling component is in said retracted configuration, said second angle being substantially smaller than said first angle, said first angle being from about 80 to about 110 degrees.
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