Retractable container cover

Abstract

A retractable container cover system includes a container, a track, a cover, and an actuation mechanism. The container includes a plurality of sides, a bottom, and a cavity defined by the plurality of sides and the bottom. The track is coupled to one of the plurality of sides of the container. The cover includes a first end. The cover is further configured to be slidably received by the track and move between a deployed position and a retracted position. The actuation mechanism is coupled to a first side of the plurality of sides of the container. The actuation mechanism is configured to cause the cover to move between the deployed position and the retracted position. The cover encloses the cavity of the container when in the deployed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retractable container cover system, comprising:
 a container including a plurality of sides, a bottom, and a cavity defined by the plurality of sides and the bottom;   a track coupled to a first side of the plurality of sides;   a cover including a first end, the container cover configured to be slidably received by the track and move between a deployed position and a retracted position; and   an actuation mechanism coupled to a second side of the plurality of sides and to the first end of the cover and configured to cause the cover to move between the deployed position and the retracted position;   wherein the cover encloses the cavity in the deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 1 , the cover further comprising a handle and a second end, the handle coupled to the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 1 , the cover further comprising a plurality of interlocking slats, the interlocking slats being pivotable relative to an adjacent slat. 
     
     
         4 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 3 , the interlocking slats further comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the cover is configured to be oriented such that either the first side faces away from the bottom of the container or the second side to faces away from the bottom of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 1 , the actuation mechanism further comprising:
 a rotatable element coupled to the first end of the cover; and   a drive mechanism coupled to the rotatable element and configured to rotate the rotatable element;   wherein rotation of the rotatable element in a retraction direction causes the cover to roll around the rotatable element.   
     
     
         6 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 4 , wherein the cover is rolled around the rotatable element in the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 5 , wherein the cavity is substantially exposed when the cover is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock mechanism coupled to the cover and to the container, the lock mechanism configured to selectively lock the cover in the deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . The retractable container cover system of  claim 1 , further comprising a friction reducing element positioned within the track and configured to reduce friction associated with the movement of the cover within the track. 
     
     
         10 . A retractable cover for a container, comprising:
 a cover assembly including a plurality of interlocking slats, the plurality of slats including a first end slat and a second end slat, the plurality of slats configured to pivot relative to an adjacent slat;   a track assembly including a first track member and a second track member, the track assembly configured to slidably receive the cover assembly; and   an actuation assembly coupled to the cover assembly, comprising:
 a support bracket, 
 a rotatable element coupled to the support bracket, and 
 a drive mechanism coupled to the rotatable element and configured to 
   rotate the rotatable element in response to an input;   wherein rotation of the rotatable element in a first direction causes the cover assembly to roll about the rotatable element; and   wherein the track assembly is configured to be mounted to a top surface of a container.   
     
     
         11 . The retractable cover of  claim 10 , the actuation assembly further comprising a drum mechanism coupled to the rotatable element, the drum mechanism having an outer diameter that is greater than a minimum diameter of the cover assembly when the cover assembly is in a rolled position. 
     
     
         12 . The retractable cover of  claim 10 , wherein the first track member of the track assembly is configured to be mounted to a first top rail of the container and the second track member of the track assembly is configured to be mounted to a second top rail of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The retractable cover of  claim 12 , wherein the container comprises a cavity defined at least partially by the first top rail and the second top rail. 
     
     
         14 . The retractable cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cover assembly moves within the track assembly in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
         15 . The retractable cover of  claim 10 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a pulley device and a chain, the drive mechanism rotating the rotatable element in response to a manual rotational force applied to the pulley via the chain. 
     
     
         16 . The retractable cover of  claim 10 , the track assembly further comprising a friction-reducing element configured to reduce friction between the cover assembly and at least one of the container, the first track member, and the second track member. 
     
     
         17 . A method of installing a retractable cover for a container, comprising:
 providing a container, the container comprising a plurality of sides, a bottom, and a cavity defined by the plurality of sides and the bottom;   coupling a track to a first side of the plurality of sides, the track defining a cover envelope;   coupling an actuation mechanism to a second side of the plurality of sides, the actuation mechanism comprising a rotatable element; and   inserting a cover within the cover envelope, the cover configured to move within the cover envelope between a deployed position and a retracted position, the cover including a first end coupled to the rotatable element;   wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to rotate the rotatable element and cause the cover to move between the deployed position and the retracted position; and   wherein the cover encloses the cavity when in the deployed position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , the cover further comprising a plurality of interlocking slats, the interlocking slats being pivotable relative to an adjacent slat. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , the track further comprising a friction reducing element positioned within the track and configured to reduce friction associated with the movement of the cover within the track. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , the actuation mechanism further comprising a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable element in response to an input from a user.