Todd J Martinson

US Patent:

20050035623, Feb 17, 2005

Filed:

Aug 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/637685

Inventors:

Todd Martinson - Holland MI, US

International Classification:

B60P007/02

US Classification:

296100130, 296098000

Abstract:

A covering assembly for covering an open container of a vehicle is characterized by the provision that the electric circuit controlling the movement of the cover is automatically opened when the cover reaches either the fully covered position or the fully uncovered position. The assembly includes a flexible cover attached at one end of the container body by a cover spool for retraction and extension the cover over the open container body. The cover spool is spring biased tending to uncover the open container. A bail assembly is pivotally mounted with a cover support section connected to the second end of the cover and is spring biased so as to extend the cover over the open container. A motor assembly rotates the spool and is controlled by an electric circuit that is automatically opened when the cover reaches either the fully covered position or the fully uncovered position. The motor assembly includes: a shaft locking mechanism to prevent the cover spool from back driving the motor, a clutch for decoupling the motor for operative torques above a particular value, and a disconnection mechanism for allowing ease of rotation of the cover spool when the motor assembly is not powered. In an alternative embodiment, the second end of the cover is attached to a pair of cables on each side of the container extending around a front and rear pulley wheels mounted on the front and back of the container. The front pulley wheels are attached to a shaft rotatably coupled to a motor assembly. The motor assembly rotates the shaft and moves the second end of the cover between the fully covered position and the fully uncovered position. The motor assembly is controlled by an electric circuit that is automatically opened when the cover reaches either the fully covered position of the fully uncovered position.

US Patent:

20060232096, Oct 19, 2006

Filed:

Apr 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/401776

Inventors:

Todd Martinson - Holland MI, US
William Pater - Coloma MI, US

International Classification:

B60J 11/00

US Classification:

296098000

Abstract:

A covering assembly for covering an open container of a vehicle is characterized by the provision that the electric circuit controlling the movement of the cover is automatically opened when the cover reaches either the fully covered position or the fully uncovered position. The assembly includes a flexible cover attached at one end of the container body by a cover spool for retraction and extension of the cover over the open container body. The cover spool is spring biased tending to uncover the open container. A bail assembly is pivotally mounted with a cover support section connected to the second end of the cover and is spring biased so as to extend the cover over the open container. A motor assembly rotates the spool and is controlled by an electric circuit that is automatically opened when the cover reaches either the fully covered position or the fully uncovered position. The motor assembly includes: a shaft locking mechanism to prevent the cover spool from back driving the motor, a clutch for decoupling the motor for operative torques above a particular value, and a disconnection mechanism for allowing the ease of rotation of the cover spool when the motor assembly is not powered. In an alternative embodiment, the second end of the cover is attached to a pair of cables on each side of the container extending around front and rear pulley wheels mounted on the front and back of the container. The front pulley wheels are attached to a shaft rotatably coupled to a motor assembly. The motor assembly rotates the shaft and moves the second end of the cover between the fully covered position and the fully uncovered position. The motor assembly is controlled by an electric circuit that is automatically opened when the cover reaches either the fully covered position or the fully uncovered position.

US Patent:

20200354188, Nov 12, 2020

Filed:

May 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/406016

Inventors:

Todd Martinson - Saugatuck MI, US

International Classification:

B65H 75/44
B60J 11/02
B60J 7/06

Abstract:

The electrical system between the battery and the tarp motor uses a significant amount of heavy cabling to deliver the power required. Disclosed are electrical systems to reduce the amount of wire necessary by employing the vehicle body for the electrical ground; momentarily configuring the battery bank to raise the voltage; and a control system to simplify the user interface.