Patent Application
20120048320
The subject matter described herein relates to an automobile cover. More specifically, it relates to a free-standing automobile cover apparatus that can be motor-driven.
The concept of using a cover to protect an automobile's exterior surface is well-known. As such, numerous inventions have been conceived that embody the basic theme of covering an automobile with a protective material to protect it from environmental forces (e.g., wind, rain, snow, solar radiation), other objects, other adjacent automobiles, etc.
In its most basic form, an automobile cover can be formed from a single piece of fabric that is draped over the top of the automobile. This type of conventional automobile cover may further include various cords, belts, ties, etc., all in an effort to maintain the placement of the automobile cover while in use. Numerous other devices have been added to these conventional automobile covers in an effort to improve their functionality and/or the aesthetic appearance.
Nevertheless, conventional automobile covers, as well as most non-conventional automobile covers, suffer from many drawbacks. For example, many automobile covers are comprised of nothing more than a fabric bag. As such, they touch and thereby scratch the automobile's paint while in use. Fabric covers are also difficult to use and can require substantial physical effort to deploy. In many instances, the covers must be stretched over the automobile by hand. Accordingly, two or more people are often needed to effectively cover and uncover an automobile using a conventional automobile cover. Furthermore, the physical process of installing an automobile cover can be dirty. This is especially true when covering or uncovering an automobile cover that fits over dirty wheels and under bumpers. As many automobile cover users can undoubtedly attest, any physical contact with the automobile cover during the process of covering or uncovering the automobile can potentially ruin the user's clothing. Even further, covering and uncovering an automobile cover can take a substantial amount of time. In today's busy world where every second counts, the disadvantages of this are readily apparent. As yet another example, most conventional automobile covers do not allow ingress or egress from the automobile when the automobile cover is deployed. This may be desirable to quickly access an item in the automobile without removing the automobile cover in its entirety. Finally, some automobile covers require modification of the automobile's trunk or bumper to be effective. For example, some automobile covers require attachments to be installed inside or on the vehicle, such as bolts, rods, hooks, and straps to be effective for its intended purpose. But not all automobile users are willing to physically alter or affect their vehicles just so a certain automobile cover can be used.
With all that being said, there exists a unfulfilled need for an improved automobile cover that addresses the various disadvantages inherent to automobile covers found in the prior art.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, a free-standing automobile cover apparatus is provided that is capable of being motor-driven by a remote control.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the automobile cover apparatus includes a material cover (e.g., a fabric cover) that is supported by a plurality of free-standing ribs, the ribs being movably attached to side rails, wherein the side rails are incorporated into a frame that rests on the ground. Through the use of the plurality of free-standing ribs and side rails, the material cover can be adapted to form a chamber within which an automobile can be parked. The front of the automobile cover apparatus is closed off from the outside environment, while the back of the automobile cover apparatus can be opened to allow ingress and egress of an automobile.
The preferred embodiment of the invention includes two basic configurations. The first configuration is the deployed configuration (as shown in
The preferred embodiment of the invention also includes a mechanical means for moving the ribs (and thereby the cover) between the deployed and undeployed configurations. For example, the movement of plurality of ribs can be accomplished by using motor-driven linear screw rod actuators. In other words, motor-driven screw rods can be used that have a threaded exterior surface that mates with a threaded portion of one or more of the plurality of ribs. Thus, rotation of the screw rods will cause the plurality of ribs to move as well. Furthermore, the motor can be operated by a remote control. This can be similar to the remote controlled use of a standard garage door that is opened and closed through the use of a motor.
The free-standing automobile cover apparatus, summarized above, and described in much greater detail below, is quick and easy to use and eliminates the need for the user to physically touch the automobile cover to enter or exit the automobile. It is also designed to shelter, but not touch the automobile parked inside of it, which prevents the automobile from being inadvertently scratched by the automobile cover itself. These and other benefits of the present invention will be readily apparent from figures and detailed description of the invention provided herein.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments, and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention. In the drawings:
Embodiments are described herein in the context of a free-standing automobile cover apparatus. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring now to
Referring briefly to
The front beam 108 and side rails 110, 112 can have any length as desired by the user, and can be designed to accommodate any vehicle having any size. For example, to accommodate most standard sized vehicles, the side rails may be designed to be approximately 16-17 feet long and approximately 4-5 inches high, while front beam 108 is 7-8 feet long and approximately 4-5 inches high. The rails can of course be longer or shorter, as well as shorter or taller, if the user/manufacturer seeks to design automobile cover apparatus 100 for a specific vehicle. In an embodiment, front beam 108 and side rails 110, 112 will be made of a solid metal (e.g., steel).
Referring back to
In certain embodiments of the invention, the height of the plurality of ribs 104 can be uniform or can be varied. For example, in an embodiment, the plurality of ribs 104 may all have a uniform height of approximately 4-5 feet to accommodate a car having an average height. The height can be increased for larger automobiles (e.g., trucks), or decreased for smaller automobiles (e.g., motorcycles). In the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
In the preferred embodiment, cover 106 is made of a flexible, light-weight, weather-resistant, waterproof fabric. Materials used for cover 106 may include cotton, polyester taffeta, nylon, etc. In certain embodiments, these materials can include a polyurethane coating. Other embodiments of cover 106 may include waterproof/breathable laminates. Cover 106, however, can be made of any other appropriate material, and have any appropriate coating, as envisioned by those having ordinary skill in the art and still fall within the scope of this invention.
In an embodiment, rib 104a, which is the rib that is positioned proximal to the front end 116 of automobile cover apparatus 100 (i.e., adjacent to front beam 108 of frame 102), is immovably attached to frame 102. In this embodiment, rib 104a further includes front cover 118, which forms the front face of automobile cover apparatus 100. In this manner, automobile cover apparatus 100 includes a consistent front end that is permanently closed off from the outside environment.
In an embodiment, back end 114 of automobile cover apparatus 100 is always open to the outside environment. In another embodiment, the back end 114 of automobile cover apparatus 100 can be closed off from the outside environment through the use of a vertical back cover flap (not illustrated), which is attached to rib 104z. This back cover flap can easily be opened and closed by the user during use. In an embodiment, the back cover flap can be held in place next to cover 106 and/or the plurality of ribs 104 through the use of various attachments devices including, but not limited to, Velcro, buttons, a zipper, etc.
Referring again to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Slider 602 is attached to shaft 600 at both ends of rib 104b. Slider 602 can be attached to shaft 600 using any method that would be contemplated by one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, in an embodiment, shaft 600 can be screwed into a threaded hole incorporated into slider 602. In this embodiment, slider 602 has a cylindrical shape. It is to be understood, however, that slider 602 may have any other shape (e.g., spherical) and still fall within the scope of the invention. In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring now to
Since the plurality of ribs 104 can be movably connected to rails 110, 112 through the connection means illustrated in
One desirable method of operating automobile cover apparatus 100 is to eliminate the need for the user to physically touch any portion of automobile cover apparatus 100 during the operation of the apparatus. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, automobile cover apparatus 100 is equipped with a small electric motor to allow for mechanical operation of automobile cover apparatus 100. The preferred embodiment for mechanically operating automobile cover apparatus 100 is provided below.
Other embodiments of linear screw rod actuators can also be employed. Some examples of standard linear screw rod actuators that could be incorporated into automobile cover apparatus 100 can be found online at www.tolomatic.com and www.rotan.com.
Electric motor 800 can be powered by any means as envisioned by one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, electric motor 800 may be powered by a 110 volt power cord to a house plug, a 12 volt reducer, or a small 12 volt battery.
In the preferred embodiment, electric motor 800 can be operated by a remote control. In this embodiment, electric motor 800 could be operated in the same manner as a standard garage door opener is typically operated.
Referring now to
When looking carefully at sliders 602a, 602b, 602c, and 602d, it can be seen that only slider 602d includes a threaded interior surface that mates with the treaded surface of drive screw 802. Accordingly, rotation of drive screw 802 will only directly control the movement of slider 602d. In this manner, slider 602d can be controlled independent from the other sliders 602a, 602b and 602c. In this embodiment, sliders 602a, 602b and 602c are allowed to freely slide back and forth along drive screw 802.
Overall, pulling slider 602d back will cause the other sliders to slide back, while pushing slider 602d forward pull cover 106, which is attached to sliders 602a, 602b, 602c, and 602d, which will in turn cause the other sliders to move forward. Consequently, the plurality of ribs 104 can easily be moved back and forth within automobile cover 100 by simply controlling slider 602d through the use of drive screw 802, which is powered by motor 800.
Again,
In another embodiment of the invention, instead of using a motor, automobile cover apparatus 100 would be equipped with a hand-operated crank that would be capable of rotating the drive screws in order to move the plurality of ribs.
In yet other embodiments, the sliders used with this invention can have any other shape as envisioned by one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, in an embodiment, the intermediate sliders will not have a cylindrical shape with a central bore. Rather, the sliders can be flat plates that slide above the drive screws used within automobile cover apparatus 100. Any other design can be used as long as the intermediate sliders are free to be pulled and pushed along the length of automobile cover apparatus 100.
The embodiments of automobile cover apparatus 100 described above have generally been described according to a semi-permanent embodiment of the invention. In other words, once the user decides where to place automobile cover apparatus 100, it remains at that place during daily use. Nevertheless, another embodiment of the invention may include a portable version of automobile cover apparatus 100.
In this portable embodiment, all of the parts would be detachable from one another. For example, the plurality of ribs 104 could be detachable from cover 106 and frame 102. Side rails 110, 112 could be detached from front beam 108. Side rails 110, 112 and front beam 108 could include hinged joints that would allow them to be folded up into smaller sections. In this manner, all of the individual parts of automobile cover apparatus 100 could be gathered up and transported from one location to another. Once the user reaches the new location, the individual parts could be reassembled for further use.
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modification that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalents.
