Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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'
MODULAR CAR COVBR
~ACKGROUND OF THE lNv~.~ION
1. FIELD OF THE lNv~ ON
The present invention relates to flexible car covers, and
more particularly to a modular cover having attaching sections.
One module covers the cab portion of a vehicle, and the other
module covers the body portion of the vehicle. The cover has
theft resistant anchoring members secured by closing a vehicle
door or window thereover.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Motor vehicles, and particularly privately owned
automobiles, are susceptible to being rendered uncomfortable
and to being damaged by periodic exposure to the sun and
weather. One especially vexing problem for the typical owner
of a car is that when parked temporarily in the sun, the
passenger compartment quickly becomes quite hot. This is very
uncomfortable to passengers upon returning to the vehicle. It
is also potentially damaging to the car and its contents.
Plastic and leather fabrics and coverings are more rapidly aged
or dried by exposure to heat or to ultraviolet light which
enters the cab. Certain personal property commonly carried in
cars, such as magnetic audio tapes, are also quite susceptible
to damage from heat.
Other environmental hazards which are desirable to avoid
include dust, dirt, rain, snow, and frost, which may accumulate
on exterior vehicle surfaces, and ice formation on vehicle
windows.
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Motor vehicle covers have been developed to protect
vehicles from these conditions. Some are full body covers,
that is, which envelope or cover an entire vehicle body.
Others are designed specifically to cover only the window area,
since both heat and window fouling hazards impinge principally
to the cab area of motor vehicles. A cover which covers the
windows only, or which covers roof and windows, will be termed
a cab cover. A full body cover can be awkward and unwieldy to
install, unattractive, and may occupy a large amount of space
when stored.
Both types of covers, full body and cab, if sufficiently
small, light, and flexible as to conform to vehicle body
contours and to be easily installed and removed, are
susceptible to theft.
Car covers, therefore, must be designed to accommodate
conflicting requirements. Many different approaches have been
attempted to produce a satisfactory cover.
Modular car covers are set forth in U.S. Patent Nos.
4,209,197, issued to Moritz Fischer on June 24, 1980, and
5,244,246, issued to Sidney A. Cunningham on September 14,
1993. The Fischer patent discloses a two part cab cover which
forms one piece by hook and loop adherence of the two parts,
and which fastens to the vehicle by nipple anchors secured to
the vehicle which pass through eyes formed in the cover.
~lnningham provides selective covering of individual windows.
The above inventions are more limited in their scope than
is the present invention, and further lack specific details
employed in the latter.
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U.S. Patent No. 4,355,839, issued to Jack S. Rosen on
October 26, 1982, illustrates a full body cover which is
secured to the vehicle by anchors. The anchors have enlarged
members entrapped within the vehicle when a door or window is
closed over the tether attaching the enlarged member to the
cover. The anchors of the present invention are different from
those of Rosen.
Various fasteners for connecting separate parts of a car
cover are shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,952,007, issued to Riaz
D. Shahrokh on August 28, 1990, and French Patent No.
1,238,286, dated July 4, 1960. Although the hooks and eyes
shown in these references would serve the purposes of the
present invention, their precise application differs in both
construction and location when incorporated into the novel car
cover described herein.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant
invention as claimed.
SUNMARY OF THB INVBNTION
The present invention provides a theft resistant, modular
car cover. The modules include a cover for the cab and a skirt
which is attached thereto. The cab cover will be employed most
frequently in hot weather when it is desired to protect the cab
interior from objectionable heating in the sun.
Optionally, the cover is extended to cover the entire
vehicle body save the undercarriage. This is accomplished by
attaching the skirt, which may be formed in one piece or two
pieces. A one piece skirt is lowered over the cab and attached
to the cab cover. A two piece skirt, which is divided into
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front and rear mating pieces, has the ability to adjust for the
length of the vehicle.
The advantages accruing from this arrangement include the
possibility of protecting the cab only, with att~n~nt savings
in time, effort, and storage space required to install and stow
the cover. When it is desired to protect the entire body, as
may be desired in the event of rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind,
dust, tree sap, animal droppings, airborne pollution, and so
forth, the cab cover is still employed, and the skirt is
attached thereto.
The skirt, which is provided as one or two pieces in
different embodiments, attaches quickly and easily to the cab
cover, not having the bulk and weight of a full body cover.
Also, a full body cover would require a second cover when it
is desired to protect only the cab. Thus, there is a net
savings in expense, effort of installation, and storage space,
while providing maximal versatility for addressing specific
needs.
Additional features of the novel cover include
reversibility for different weather conditions, and attachment
schemes for gathering the skirt, when employed, tightly about
at the bottom of the body. Gathering the skirt renders the
same resistant to removal and theft.
In different embodiments, the cab cover is formed with
different numbers of overlying panels. In further embodiments,
the drawstring for gathering the skirt has different
arrangements of hooks and eyes. In one embodiment, a padlock
is employed, and the hook is omitted.
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Construction of the present invention also lends itself
to conforming better to vehicle bodies of different
configurations. This occurs because overlying panels can slide
over one another when accommodating different body shapes.
This accommodation is also more slightly, since a large, single
piece cover, unless very carefully configured to cooperate with
a particular vehicle body, is invariably bulky and ill-fitting.
One practical aspect of a cover member which does not
extend below the cab is that the cover can be secured to the
vehicle at the top of the door, or by rolling up a window. An
anchor comprising a tether having enlarged heads is entrapped
in the door or window. This is not feasible with a full body
cover. The top portion and skirt each have tethers.
Tethers passing through holes formed in the central panel
are placed between the door and its jamb, or between the window
and its casing of the vehicle, and the respective door or
window is closed thereover. The anchor comprises an enlarged
object too bulky to be pulled through the gap between door and
jamb, or window and casing, and therefore secures the cover to
the vehicle.
This arrangement is very advantageous for several reasons.
Firstly, the tether is integral with the cover, in the sense
that there are no separate parts which could become lost.
Also, there is no requirement for additional locking apparatus.
The tether is also long enough to reach into the windows
and doors of most vehicles. This enables ready manipulation
when installing the cover on a vehicle, and adapts the cover
to vehicles having differing dimensions and configurations.
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The anchors enable the doors or windows of a vehicle to
retain a cover member in positive fashion. The trunk of the
vehicle may, if desired, be employed to entrap the cover.
Therefore, the novel vehicle cover can be secured to the
vehicle in the manner of a partial cover, even though it covers
the entire vehicle body when the skirt is attached.
It is further desirable to provide a vehicle cover which
is reversible, selectively exposing a reflective surface
upwardly for heating protection from the sun, and exposing a
water impermeable surface to ward off rain, snow, and ice.
The present invention provides a vehicle cover which
satisfies these objectives, while improving on the practicality
of the prior art.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a vehicle cover for a vehicle which selectively
protects only the cab, and also is extended to protect the
entire body.
A second object of the invention is to provide a vehicle
cover which is adjustable to fit differently configured vehicle
bodies.
It is a further object of the invention to secure the
cover to the vehicle by entrapment of cover members by the
doors, trunk lid, or windows of the vehicle, and particularly
at the top of the doors or windows.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a
vehicle cover which is readily folded for storage and
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installed.
Still another object of the invention is to gather the
vehicle cover at the bottom.
Still an additional object of the invention is to render
the gathering adjustable, and to secure the same at a desired
adjustment.
It is a further object of the invention to provide the cab
covering portion of the vehicle cover with overlying panels,
so that the cover adjustably conforms to different vehicle
bodies.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the
purposes described which is ;neY~en~ive, depen~hle and fully
effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIBF DB8CRIPTION OF THB DRA~INGB
Fig. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a first
embodiment of the vehicle cover according to the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the embodiment
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an exploded, pçrspective view of a second
embodiment of the skirt of the present invention;
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Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
cab covering portion of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the
cab covering portion of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective detail view of one
embodiment of a drawstring suitable for gathering the skirt
depicted in Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of another embodiment
of a drawstring suitable for the skirt depicted in Fig. 1;
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are exploded, perspective detail views
of alternative embodiments of closure components for the
drawstring according to the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a detail view of an alternative construction
of the cab covering portion of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the skirt of the present invention; and
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the components of Figs.
11 and 13 as they would appear when draped over an automobile.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DE~T~n DE8CRIPTION OF THE ~K~KRED EMBODIMENT8
Turning now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the present vehicle
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cover 10 is seen to comprise two principal components, a cab
covering member 12 and a skirt 14. The cab covering member 12
covers the roof and exterior windows of a vehicle cab. Member
12 is essentially cruciform, there being a central section 12A
covering the roof and extending so as to cover the wi n~h; eld
and rear window of the vehicle, and side sections 12B for
covering vertical surfaces of the vehicle cab.
Covering of the entire lower vehicle body is accomplished
by attaching member 12 to skirt 14. As best shown to Fig. 2,
skirt 14 has a central opening 31 through which the vehicle cab
projects. A hem 16 depends from the lower periphery of skirt
14. The hem 16 encloses and retains a drawstring (not shown
in Fig. 1) for gathering skirt 14 tightly about the bottom of
the vehicle body. As best shown in Fig. 2, drawstring 18
terminates at both ends with a chain 20 having interlocking
links. A padlock 22 is installed over links at both ends of
chain 20 to maintain drawstring 18 tight.
Many varieties of closures for securing drawstring 18 in
place are possible. These varieties share the common
characteristic that there is at least one end having a loop for
receiving an engaging projection. In the embodiment described
above, padlock 22 provides the engaging projection.
Fig. 2 shows additional details of vehicle cover 10.
Anchoring means for securing cab covering member 12 to the
vehicle are seen to comprise a tether 26 terminating in
enlarged heads 28. Tether 26 is permanently entrapped in
reinforced holes or eyes 30 formed in the central panel of cab
covering member. One enlarged head 28 is placed within the
vehicle, and entrapped by closing the vehicle window or door
thereover. It is preferred that four anchoring means be
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provided, so that the center panel of cab covering member 12
be securely fastened to the vehicle.
Attachment of cab covering member 12 to skirt 14 is
performed by providing both with alignable, cooperating
components 32 of hook and loop fastening material. This
maintains both member 12 and skirt 14 in their respective
positions, properly covering the vehicle body. As depicted in
Fig. 2, cooperating fastening components 32 are located on the
exterior of skirt 14 and the interior of member 12. In this
instance, skirt 14 is set in place on the vehicle first, and
member 12 is placed thereonto. Of course, it would be feasible
to reverse this order, so that member 12 is placed on the
vehicle first, and skirt 14 placed thereover.
It will be appreciated that hook and loop attachment of
skirt 14 to member 12 is insufficient to deter casual theft.
Improved security is provided by gathering skirt 14 so that it
cannot be pulled upwardly and away from the vehicle.
Drawstring 18 is provided to gather hem 16 of skirt 14. A
portion of drawstring 18 may be made of an elastic or resilient
material to maintain a taut drawstring when its ends are joined
together.
A second embodiment of skirt 14 is illustrated in Fig. 3.
In this embodiment, skirt 14 comprises front and rear sections
14A,14B. Sections 14A and 14B are joined by alignable,
cooperating components 39 of hook and loop fastening material
to provide a vertical seam.
Sections 14A and 14B include hem sections 16A and 16B
containing drawstring sections (not shown) which terminate into
chain links 20A and 20B. The drawstring sections are gathered
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and joined together in the manner described hereinabove. Thus,
two padlocks 22 are required to unite the drawstring sections
into a continuous band encircling the vehicle body.
Other embodiments of cab covering member 12 are shown in
Figs. 4 and 5. In order to have member 12 better conform to
the exterior contours of the vehicle, it is advantageous to
form member 12 from three sections of fabric. In Fig. 4, it
will be seen that central panel 42 partially overlies right and
left panels 44A and 44B. In this manner, member 12 avoids
exposing corners of the vehicle cab, which condition is
illustrated in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 5, two additional sections of fabric are added to
the embodiment of Fig. 4. Central panel 42C partially overlies
front and rear panels 46A and 46B, as well as left and right
panels 44D and 44E.
The additional layers of material in partial overlying
relationship further cover or seal the corners of the vehicle
cab, while enabling the cab covering member to better conform
to the vehicle contours.
Several different arrangements of drawstring 18 are
possible, as shown in Figs. 6-10. In Fig. 6, drawst~ing 18 is
formed in two parts, as would be required for the embodiment
of skirt 14 depicted in Fig. 3. One part has chain sections
20D and 20E at each terminus, and the other part has hooks 50A
and 50B to engage links of chain sections 20D and 20E,
respectively. The selection of links enables adjustment of
tension of drawstring 18.
Fig. 7 illustrates the same type of engagement wherein
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drawstring 18 is of one piece construction and includes hook
50C at one end and a chain section 20P at the other end, as
would be required for the embodiment of skirt 14 depicted in
Fig. 2.
Fig. 8 illustrates another embodiment wherein the chain
of Fig. 7 is replaced by a plurality of individual loops 40
secured to drawstring 18 at one end for engagement with hood
50D at the other end thereof. Wider spacing of loops is
enabled with the same number thereof, when compared to the
proximity of links within a chain.
In Fig. 9, a self-closing hook 52 is shown. This type of
hook will better secure attachment to single loop 40A where
tension is somewhat lax, or where wind or like conditions
threaten to disengage a hook from its loop.
Fig. 10 shows still another arrangement for joining end
sections of hem 16 together. In this embodiment, loops are
provided by reinforced eyelets 54 formed in one end of hem 16.
A hook 51 is secured at the other end of hem 16 for engagement
with one of eyelets 54.
Fig. 11 shows an alternative arrangement of the embodiment
shown in Fig. 5, wherein front and rear panels 46A and 46B
overlie left and right panels 44D and 44E. As depicted in Fig.
11 with specific reference to the front panel, it can be seen
that front panel 46C is cut to be wider at the bottom than at
the top, so that a degree of overlap is present. Mating hook
and loop patches 56 are provided on the outer surface of panels
44F and 44G and the underside of panels 46C so that the entire
vehicle cab is covered.
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The designation of a particular one of panels 44F and 44G
and 46C as lying above the other is not critical. Either front
panel 46C or left and right panels 44F and 44G may lie above
the other at their respective overlapping ends proximate hook
and loop patches 56.
Another feature shown in this Figure is provision of
pouches 58 for covering exterior mirrors. Each pouch is
gathered by an integral elastic band, generally indicated at
60, where pouch 58 meets its associated panel 44.
Fig. 12 shows a preferred arrangement of tethers 26A and
26B at the rear of cab covering portion 12. From this
location, tethers 26A and 26B can be entrapped within the trunk
of the vehicle. Magnets 62 sewn into the fabric are located
low on cab covering portion 12 to adhere to a ferrous metal
vehicle body. Depending upon the body design of the vehicle,
cab covering portion 12 may include an elastic hem 64, as shown
in Fig. 12, or may omit this hem, as shown in Fig. 11.
It should be noted that cab covering portion 12 may be
formed from a single piece of material die cut or otherwise
fabricated, or alternatively, from a plurality of separate
pieces subsequently joined together. Regardless of the method
of fabrication, cab covering portion comprises the individual
panels described herein, there being a central panel, right and
left side panels, a front panel for covering the w;n~h;eld,
and a rear panel for covering the rear window.
Turning now to Fig. 13, skirt 14 is modified to cooperate
with the embodiment of cab covering portion 12 shown in Figs.
11 and 12. Two holes 66A sand 66B are provided in skirt 14 to
enable passage of enlarged heads 28A and 28B connected to the
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tethers 26A and 26B shown in Fig. 12 to penetrate through skirt
14 in order to extend to the trunk of the vehicle. Skirt 14
is provided with enlarged heads 28C,28E and 28D,28F connected
to tethers 26C and 26D, respectively, which also extend to the
trunk. Thus, both cab covering portion 12 and skirt 14 are
secured to the vehicle independently of one another.
Skirt 14 is provided with a partial elastic hem 68 at
front and rear, and optionally at 70.
The components of Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are shown in Fig.
14 as they would appear installed on an automobile body.
Although not shown taut, tethers 26A,26B and 26C,26D secure
both the cab covering portion 12 and skirt 14 to the trunk.
The vehicle mirrors are covered by pouches 58.
A preferred material for fabricating cover 10 is
preferably a flexible synthetic resin, having reflective
characteristics, or of very light color. This layer would be
selected as the upwardly exposed layer when it is desired to
protect the passenger compartment from sunlight and heat.
The second layer is preferably metallic, such as aluminum
foil. This imparts strength and improves resistance of the
first layer to light, moisture, and other contaminants.
A third layer is made from a thermally insulating
material.
The last layer is made from a dark or heat absorbing
material, preferably also a flexible synthetic resin.
The resultant cover is compact, light, and effectively
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secured to its associated vehicle.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any
and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
