IP Library Granted Patent US 12,617,329
Granted Patent B2
US 12,617,329 · App. 18/160,899 · Granted May 5, 2026

Cover systems and methods with perforated tunnels

Inventors: Jared Ernest Kocer (Sioux Falls, SD); Andre Alan Harvey (Spring Valley, CA)
Assignee: Viaflex, Inc.
B60P7/02A01F25/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,617,329
App. No.
18/160,899
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are cover systems for covering product such as grain. An example cover system includes a cover having at least one perforated tunnel extending across at least a portion of the cover (e.g., with an end to or beyond an edge of the cover). The perforated tunnel can include a bottom membrane with perforations, a cap strip membrane attached to the top side of the bottom membrane, and an air permeable filler material between the bottom membrane and the cap strip membrane. The perforated tunnel can have an air inlet at its end for drawing in air to hold down the cover by suction.

Claims (9)

1 . A method of installing a cover system over a product, comprising:

placing a cover over the product, the cover including multiple perforated tunnels including first and second perforated tunnels;

cutting the cover along a side of each of the first and second perforated tunnels; and

rolling up a portion of the cover between the first and second perforated tunnels,

further including cutting the cover along sides of adjacent perforated tunnels and rolling up a portion of the cover between the adjacent perforated tunnels and leaving the perforated tunnels extending beyond the rolled up portion of the cover.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including providing an aeration fan at a retaining wall of a structure and a conduit system near a bottom of the structure.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further including drawing air in through an inlet of the first perforated tunnel and an inlet of the second perforated tunnel, the inlets of the first perforated tunnel and the inlet of the second perforated tunnel extending beyond the retaining wall and beyond the rolled-up portion of the cover.

4 . The method of claim 1 , cutting an edge of the cover and providing an inlet for at least one of the first or second perforated tunnels at the edge of the cover.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes multiple panels, wherein placing the cover over the product includes welding a first of the multiple panels to a second of the multiple panels.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: VIAFLEX, INC.
To: CCP AGENCY, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071136/0760 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: RAVEN ENGINEERED FILMS, INC.
To: VIAFLEX, INC.
Reel/Frame 063477/0250 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2023
From: KOCER, JARED ERNEST; HARVEY, ANDRE ALAN
To: RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063380/0965 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2023
From: RAVEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: RAVEN ENGINEERED FILMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063381/0080 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63303890 · Jan 27, 2022
Related Publication 20230234493A1 · Jul 27, 2023
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