MAGNETIC MOTOR VEHICLE BODY PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE OF THE SAME

APPAREIL MAGNETIQUE DE PROTECTION DE LA CAROSSERIE D'UN VEHICULE MOTORISE ET METHODE D'UTILISATION DE CELUI-CI

English Abstract

A magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus includes a sheet of flexible magnetic material of a thickness capable of being cut with scissors. Markings are provided on the sheet providing an outline of a portion of a body of an motor vehicle. The sheet is cut to size and magnetically adhered to a panel section of a vehicular body with the sheet substantially contiguous with that portion of the vehicular body being covered, such that any scrape or blow to that portion of the body is absorbed by the sheet.

French Abstract

Un appareil magnétique de protection de la carrosserie d'un véhicule motorisé comprend une feuille de matériau magnétique souple, d'une épaisseur pouvant être coupée avec des ciseaux. Des repères sont marqués sur la feuille afin de fournir le tracé d'une partie de la carrosserie d'un véhicule motorisé. La feuille est coupée aux dimensions requises et collée par voie magnétique à une section de panneau d'une carrosserie d'un véhicule, la feuille étant considérablement contigüe à la partie de la carrosserie d'un véhicule recouverte, de telle sorte que les rayures ou coups sur cette partie de la carrosserie sont absorbés par la feuille.

Claims

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What is Claimed is:
1. ~A magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus,
comprising:
a sheet of flexible magnetic material of a thickness
capable of being cut with scissors; and
markings on the sheet providing outlines of panel
sections of several models of motor vehicle depicted in
different styles of markings on the same sheet, such that
the panel sections are cut out by an end user to fit a
selected one of the several models of motor vehicle.
2. ~The magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus as
defined in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the magnetic
material is less than 3/16 of an inch.
3. ~A method of protecting a body of a motor vehicle with a
magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus,
comprising the steps of:
providing a magnetic motor vehicle body protection
apparatus consisting of a sheet of flexible magnetic
material capable of being cut with scissors and having
markings providing outlines of panel sections of several
models of motor vehicle depicted in different styles of
markings on the same sheet;
cutting out the panel sections to fit a selected one
of the several models of motor vehicle having regard to
the markings on the sheet; and
magnetically adhering the sheet to the motor vehicle
with the sheet positioned substantially contiguous with

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the panel sections being covered, such that any scrape or
blow to those panel sections is absorbed by the sheet.

Description

CA 02237246 1998-OS-08
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TITLE O:f THE INVENTION:
magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus and
method of use of the same
S NAMES) OF INVENTOR(S):
Timothy Allen Roskey
FIELD O:f THE INVENTION
Th~~ present invention relates to a magnetic motor vehicle
body protection apparatus and method of use of the same
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Th~~ use of magnetic motor vehicle protectors has a long
history. United States Patent 3,147,176 which issued to Haslam
in 1964 discloses a magnetic protector strip which protects a
car door from damage caused by scraping or bumping. United
States Patent 5,312,145 which issued to McNeil in 1994
disclose=_s a more recent: version of magnetic motor vehicle
protector. The McNeil reference discloses a plurality of
hinged panels which are conveniently stored in a folded
condition, but can readily be deployed to magnetically attach
to any metal bodied motor vehicle.
SZTMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an alternative form of magnetic motor
vehicle body protection apparatus.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus
which includes a sheet of flexible magnetic material
substantially conforming to a shape of a panel section of a
motor vE=_hicle .
The=_ magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus, as
described above, is intended to cover entire portions of a
vehicular body, such as the entire door panel or the entire
quarter panel. Whereas the prior art magnetic motor vehicle

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body protection apparatus are localized in their protection,
the above described magnetic motor vehicle body protection
apparat,as provides a thin layer of protection to an entire door
or an entire quarter panel. Regardless of where contact
occurs, some protection is afforded by the vehicle body
protection apparatus.
Although beneficial results may be obtained from the
magnetic motor vehicle body protection, as described above, a
plurality of discrete sections can create problems in handling
and storage. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be
obtained when the magnetic motor vehicle body protection
apparatus includes a sheet of flexible magnetic material of a
thickness capable of being cut with scissors . Markings are
provided on the sheet providing an outline of a portion of a
body of a motor vehicle. In this manner all panel sections for
a motor vehicle can be handled and stored as a single
rectangular sheet. This virtually eliminates the possibility
that an~~ of the sections becoming lost or damaged.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus,
as described above, there are a wide variety of models of motor
vehicle. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be
obtained when the outlines of portions of bodies of several
models of motor vehicle are depicted in different styles of
markings on the same sheet.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of protecting a body of a motor
vehicle with a magnetic motor vehicle body protection
apparatus. The first step involves providing a magnetic motor
vehicle body protection apparatus consisting of a sheet of
flexiblE=_ magnetic material capable of being cut with scissors
and having markings providing an outline of a portion of a body
of a selected motor vehicle. The second step involves cutting
out the outline of the portion of the body for the selected

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motor vehicle having regard to the markings on the sheet. The
third step involves magnetically adhering the sheet to the
portion of the body of the selected motor vehicle with the
sheet substantially contiguous with the portion of the body
being covered, such that any scrape or blow to that portion of
the body is absorbed by the sheet.
In accordance with the teachings of this method,
contiguous protective coverage is provided for every portion
of the motor vehicle that is covered. A type of vehicle
present:iy enjoying popularity is referred to as a "sport
utility" vehicle. Sport utility vehicles are expensive luxury
vehicles that have four wheel drive and, as such, are capable
of "off road" use. If one were to protect such a sport utility
vehicle prior to an off road use, it would be advisable to
completely cover the lower portion of the vehicle as described
above. By completely covering the vehicle one could avoid
scratchy=_s from low lying bushes that otherwise would be
inevitably arise out of off road use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
appareni~ from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is top plan view of a magnetic motor vehicle body
protection apparatus constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
FI(sURE 2 is a side elevation view of a motor vehicle
equipped with magnetic motor vehicle body protection apparatus
in accordance with the teachings of the present method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
They preferred embodiment, a magnetic motor vehicle body
protection apparatus generally identified by reference numeral
10, will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.

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Re:Eerring to FIGURE 1, magnetic motor vehicle body
protection apparatus 10 includes a sheet of flexible magnetic
material 12. In order to maintain its utility, sheet 12 must
capable of being cut with scissors. As will hereinafter be
further described, it is intended that apparatus 10 be visually
unobtrusive to the point that a careful inspection is required
to determine whether apparatus 10 has been placed on a motor
vehicle body. It is, therefore, preferred that sheet 12 have
a thickness of less than 3/16 of an inch. When the thickness
of sheet 12 exceeds 3/16 of an inch, sheet 12 becomes
noticeable to an observer and has sufficient additional weight
that is ability to adhere is diminished. A plurality of
markings 14 are provided on sheet 12 to provide outlines of
panel sections from a body of a motor vehicle. It is intended
that different types of markings 14 will designated different
models of vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, markings 14
include solid lines 16 and dotted lines 18. Solid lines 16
outline panel sections 20 of a first model of vehicle. Dotted
lines 1.8 outline panel sections 20 of a second model of
vehicle.
The preferred method of use of apparatus 10 will now be
describf=_d with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2. Referring to
FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a motor vehicle, generally
identified by reference numeral 22. Referring to FIGURE 1, a
first step involves providing a magnetic motor vehicle body
protection apparatus 10, substantially as described above. A
second ~>tep involves cutting out panel sections 20 suitable for
motor vehicle 22 having regard to markings 16 or 18 on sheet
12. Referring to FIGURE 2, a third step involves magnetically
adhering cut out panel sections 20 to motor vehicle 24. It
will be noted that panel sections 20 are substantially
contiguous with that portion of motor vehicle 24 being covered.
When in place, a close visual inspection of motor vehicle 24
is required to confirm whether or not panel sections 20 are in
place. However, any scrape or blow to body 22 is absorbed by
sheet 12. With a thickness of less than 3/16 of an inch,

CA 02237246 1998-OS-08
apparatus 10 cannot withstand severe blows. It is viewed as
being sufficient, however, to absorb the typical day to day
scrapes and blows to which motor vehicles are subjected in
environments such as parking lots.
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It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that panel
sections 20 could be sold as discrete pieces, rather than
incorporated into sheet 12. It will also be apparent to one
skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the
illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and
scope o:f the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing