Tarpaulin clamp

{
  "publication_number": "US11788319B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Tarpaulin clamp",
  "abstract": "An apparatus includes a tarpaulin clamp configured to contact the opposite sides of a tarpaulin. The tarpaulin clamp includes a base assembly. The tarpaulin clamp also includes an insert assembly configured to be received in the base assembly. This is done in such a way that the tarpaulin is positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tarpaulin clamp configured to contact opposite sides of a tarpaulin, the tarpaulin clamp comprising: a base assembly that defines at least one base connector hole configured to pass through the base assembly, wherein the base assembly includes a base surface and opposed extending finger structures extending upwardly from the base surface, with the base surface extending between said opposed extending finger structures, and wherein a combination of the base surface and the opposed extending finger structures are configured to form a U-shaped structure; and an insert assembly that defines at least one insert connector hole configured to pass through the insert assembly; wherein the insert assembly is configured to be received in the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly, with the base assembly and the insert assembly in contact with the opposite sides of the tarpaulin, and with the at least one base connector hole and the at least one insert connector hole positioned on the opposite sides of the tarpaulin; and wherein once the insert assembly is received in the base assembly, each one of the at least one base connector hole is coaxially aligned with a respective one of the at least one insert connector hole.",
    "2. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 1, wherein: the base assembly defines a base groove; the base surface is positioned within the base groove; the base assembly and the insert assembly are configured to contact the opposite sides of the tarpaulin once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly; the insert assembly includes an insert surface; the inset assembly is configured to be received in the base groove of the base assembly; and the insert surface of the insert assembly is configured to be positioned proximate to the base surface of the base assembly in a spaced-apart relationship to the base surface of the base assembly once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly.",
    "3. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 1, wherein: the base assembly defines a base groove; the base surface is positioned within the base groove; the base assembly and the insert assembly are configured to contact the opposite sides of the tarpaulin once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly; the base assembly includes a first concave receiver being in fluid communication with the base groove; and the base assembly also includes a second concave receiver being in fluid communication with the base groove.",
    "4. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 3, wherein: the base surface extends between the first concave receiver and the second concave receiver; and the second concave receiver is spaced apart from the first concave receiver in such a way that the second concave receiver is configured to face the first concave receiver.",
    "5. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 4, wherein: the second concave receiver is spaced apart from the first concave receiver in such a way that an inner curved surface of the second concave receiver is configured to face an inner curved surface of the first concave receiver.",
    "6. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 5, wherein: the insert assembly includes an insert surface; and the insert assembly includes a first convex edge configured to be received in the first concave receiver of the base assembly; and the insert assembly also includes a second convex edge configured to be received in the second concave receiver of the base assembly; and the insert surface extends between the first convex edge and the second convex edge.",
    "7. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 6, wherein: the first convex edge and the second convex edge are configured to face oppositely away from each other.",
    "8. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said opposed extending finger structures is configured to be resiliently deformable in response to movement of the insert assembly along a translation movement direction toward the base surface of the base assembly.",
    "9. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said opposed extending finger structures is configured to resiliently deform to permit movement of the insert assembly into a base groove defined by the base assembly so that an insert surface of the insert assembly is proximate to, and adjacent to, the base surface of the base assembly so that a gap is formed between the insert surface of the insert assembly and the base surface of the base assembly once the insert surface of the insert assembly is positioned proximate to the base surface of the base assembly.",
    "10. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 1, wherein: the base assembly includes a cut-out portion; and the base assembly also includes a weakness zone, and the cut-out portion is positioned proximate to the weakness zone; and the weakness zone is configured to permit flexible movement of at least one of said opposed extending finger structures.",
    "11. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 1, wherein: the base assembly includes a base relief pattern that includes at least one or more protrusions; and the insert assembly includes an insert relief pattern that includes at least one or more indentations; and the base relief pattern and the insert relief pattern are configured to have complementary conformal surfaces; and the base relief pattern and the insert relief pattern are configured to improve a grip of the base assembly and the insert assembly with the tarpaulin.",
    "12. A tarpaulin clamp configured to contact opposite sides of a tarpaulin, the tarpaulin clamp comprising: a base assembly that defines a plurality of base connector holes, wherein each of the plurality of base connector holes is configured to pass through the base assembly; and an insert assembly configured to be received in the base assembly and that defines a plurality of insert connector holes, wherein each of the plurality of insert connector holes is configured to pass through the insert assembly; wherein the insert assembly is configured to be received in the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly, with the base assembly and the insert assembly in contact with the opposite sides of the tarpaulin, and with the plurality of base connector holes and the plurality of insert connector holes positioned on the opposite sides of the tarpaulin; and wherein once the insert assembly is received in the base assembly, each one of the plurality of base connector holes is coaxially aligned with a respective one of the plurality of insert connector holes.",
    "13. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 12, wherein: the plurality of base connector holes comprises a first base connector hole, a second base connector hole and a third base connector hole, wherein the first base connector hole is positioned between the second base connector hole and the third base connector hole; and the plurality of insert connector holes comprises a first insert connector hole, a second insert connector hole and a third insert connector hole, wherein the first insert connector hole is positioned between the second insert connector hole and the third insert connector hole wherein once the insert assembly is received in the base assembly: the first base connector hole is coaxially aligned with the first insert connector hole; the second base connector hole is coaxially aligned with the second insert connector hole; and the third base connector hole is coaxially aligned with the third insert connector hole.",
    "14. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 12, wherein: the base assembly defines a base groove; the base assembly includes a base surface positioned within the base groove; the base assembly and the insert assembly are configured to contact the opposite sides of the tarpaulin once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly; the insert assembly includes an insert surface; the insert assembly is configured to be received in the base groove of the base assembly; and the insert surface of the insert assembly is configured to be positioned proximate to the base surface of the base assembly in a spaced-apart relationship to the base surface of the base assembly once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly.",
    "15. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 12, wherein: the base assembly defines a base groove; the base assembly includes a base surface positioned within the base groove; the base assembly and the insert assembly are configured to contact the opposite sides of the tarpaulin once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly; the base assembly includes a first concave receiver being in fluid communication with the base groove; and the base assembly also includes a second concave receiver being in fluid communication with the base groove.",
    "16. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 15, wherein: the base surface extends between the first concave receiver and the second concave receiver; and the second concave receiver is spaced apart from the first concave receiver in such a way that the second concave receiver is configured to face the first concave receiver.",
    "17. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 16, wherein: the second concave receiver is spaced apart from the first concave receiver in such a way that an inner curved surface of the second concave receiver is configured to face an inner curved surface of the first concave receiver.",
    "18. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 17, wherein: the insert assembly includes an insert surface; and the insert assembly includes a first convex edge configured to be received in the first concave receiver of the base assembly; and the insert assembly also includes a second convex edge configured to be received in the second concave receiver of the base assembly; and the insert surface extends between the first convex edge and the second convex edge.",
    "19. The tarpaulin clamp of claim 12, wherein: the base assembly includes a base relief pattern that includes at least one or more protrusions; and the insert assembly includes an insert relief pattern that includes at least one or more indentations; and the base relief pattern and the insert relief pattern are configured to have complementary conformal surfaces; and the base relief pattern and the insert relief pattern are configured to improve a grip of the base assembly and the insert assembly with the tarpaulin.",
    "20. A system for securing a tarpaulin, the system comprising: a tarpaulin clamp configured to contact opposite sides of the tarpaulin, the tarpaulin clamp comprising: a base assembly that defines at least one base connector hole configured to pass through the base assembly; and an insert assembly that defines at least one insert connector hole configured to pass through the insert assembly; wherein the insert assembly is configured to be received in the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly, with the base assembly and the insert assembly are in contact with the opposite sides of the tarpaulin, and with the at least one base connector hole and the at least one insert connector hole positioned on the opposite sides of the tarpaulin; and wherein once the insert assembly is received in the base assembly, each one of the at least one base connector hole is coaxially aligned with a respective one of the at least one insert connector hole; and a connector configured to be received through one of the at least one base connector hole and the respective one of the at least one insert connector hole that is aligned with the one of the at least one base connector hole, once the insert assembly is received in the base groove of the base assembly with the tarpaulin positioned between the base assembly and the insert assembly."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) a tarpaulin clamp (and method therefor).\n\nFIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the PRIOR ART. A tarpaulin 900 may include a heavy-duty waterproof cloth, a web material and/or a piece of woven fabric, and may be called a tarp. The tarpaulin 900 may include a sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material. The material may include a cloth material, a canvas sheet, a sheet of polyester coated with polyurethane, a plastic material (such as polyethylene), etc. The tarpaulin 900 may have at least one or more instances of a grommet 902 (a reinforced grommet). The grommets may be positioned at the corners of the tarpaulin 900, and along the sides of the tarpaulin 900. The grommet 902 may form or provide an attachment point for a connector 908 (such as, a hook, a rope, etc.), allowing the tarpaulin 900 to be tied down or suspended. The tarpaulin 900 includes an edge 904 from which the grommet 902 may be positioned proximate to the edge 904.\n\nAn existing problem associated with the tarpaulin is that the tarpaulin may break (tear) due to the application of an excessive force in response to the pulling of the connector away from the grommet (while the connector remains connected to the grommet); this situation may result in a breakage 906, as shown in FIG. 1, formed in (on) the tarpaulin. The breakage may be located proximate to the grommet and/or the edge of the tarpaulin.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04H 15/64",
    "F16B 2/22",
    "F16B 5/0692"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04H 15/64",
    "F16B 2/22"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Richard Joseph ZOLTEK"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-03-28",
  "publication_date": "2023-10-17",
  "grant_date": "2023-10-17",
  "priority_date": "2019-03-28",
  "application_number": "US-201916368125-A",
  "family_id": "72606755",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US3805873A",
    "US3987835A",
    "US3893212A",
    "US3982306A",
    "US3999258A",
    "US4799299A",
    "US5692272A",
    "US20170261018A1"
  ]
}