The present invention relates generally to vehicle covers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a collapsible cover with application for vehicles that include, but are not limited to, cars, motorcycles, and boats.
Vehicle covers are common protective devices used by individuals to help maintain the condition of their motor vehicles for as long as possible. Whether an individual parks their vehicle in a parking lot, driveway, street, or garage, vehicle covers will help maintain the aesthetic of the vehicle for an extended period of time, as the vehicle is protected from the environment. As precipitation, falling debris, ultraviolet (UV) radiation or even people walking past the vehicle can possibly damage the finish of the vehicle, vehicle covers reduce the exposure of the vehicle to such harmful environmental effects. Even if a person is lucky enough to be able to park their car in a garage, these covers help prevent dust particles from settling on the cars exterior and wearing down its coat of paint.
Current vehicle covers are large, flimsy, and difficult to put on with only one person. A user can often take upwards of fifteen minutes to fully cover a vehicle and secure it properly, thus discouraging users from either removing the cover or deciding to continue using it on multiple occasions. Additionally, many covers do not fit right or come loose and then slide off due to various environmental effects.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to introduce a collapsible vehicle cover that is lightweight, easy to assemble, and easy to use. The present invention is waterproof, breathable, provides UV protection, and shields the vehicle the present invention envelops from the harmful effects of the surrounding environment without physically touching the vehicle itself. Concerning cars, motorcycles, and similar vehicles, the cover is manufactured with dimensions so that the present invention fits within the legal size limits and parameters of standard parking spaces and may also be used on streets, garages, and more.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a collapsible vehicle cover. The present invention protects vehicles, such as cars, trucks, or motorcycles, from harmful effects of the surrounding environment without physically touching the vehicle itself. The present invention surrounds a vehicle to protect the exterior of the vehicle from precipitation, falling debris, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or foot traffic which may be abrasive or corrosive to the exterior of the vehicle.
In accordance to
The present invention is able to be configured into an expanded configuration for covering a vehicle, shown in
In some embodiments of the present invention and
In order to secure the cover sheet 7 to the present invention, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a front tubular conduit 10 and a front slit 11. In accordance to
Similarly in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and
In accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and
In accordance to the preferred embodiment, the first cross support leg 18 and the second cross support leg 19 are bent at a midpoint toward each other. In conjunction with the curvature of the cover sheet 7 in the expanded configuration, precipitation or falling debris is directed away from the center of the cover sheet 7 in order to prevent an accumulation of precipitation or debris on the cover sheet 7. In some embodiments of the present invention, the first cross support leg 18 and the second cross support leg 19 traverse through a portion of the cover sheet 7 in order to reinforce the cover sheet 7 from lateral pressure forces. Further, some embodiments of the present invention comprise a pair of vertical supports to further reinforce the cover sheet 7 from lateral pressure forces. The pair of vertical supports is integrated into the cover sheet 7 and attaches to the first hinged leg 3 and the second hinged leg 4, adjacent to the first pivot point 8 and the second pivot point 9, respectively.
Further in accordance to the preferred embodiment, the first hinged leg 3 and the second hinged leg 4 are modular. As such, the first hinged leg 3 and the second hinged leg 4 each comprise a front leg portion 21 and a rear leg portion 22. The front leg portion 21 is adjacently connected to the front member 1. Similarly, the rear leg portion 22 is connected to the rear member 2. The front leg portion 21 is pivotally connected to the rear leg portion 22 opposite to the front member 1 for each the first hinged leg 3 and the second hinged leg 4. The front leg portion 21 is preferred to connect to the rear leg portion 22 though a pinned connection such that the front leg portion 21 and the rear leg portion 22 are able to rotate about the pivotal connection.
Further in accordance to this embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of cross supports 5 comprises a front plurality of cross supports 28 and a rear plurality of cross supports 29. The front plurality of cross supports 28 is rotatably connected to the front leg portion 21 of the first hinged leg 3 and the front leg portion 21 of the second hinged leg 4. Similarly, the rear plurality of cross supports 29 is rotatably connected to the rear leg portion 22 of the first hinged leg 3 and the rear leg portion 22 of the second hinged leg 4. Thus, this configuration further distributes support of the cover sheet 7 on the plurality of cross supports 5 along the length of the cover sheet 7. This configuration allows the front plurality of cross supports 28 to independently move from the rear plurality of cross supports 29 as the rear leg portion 22 moves toward or away from the front leg portion 21 while transitioning between the expanded and collapsed configuration of the present invention.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention comprises a tire support 23, show in
As previously mentioned, the present invention is able to be configured in a collapsed configuration for positioning a vehicle within the present invention before implementation or removing a vehicle from the present invention, in accordance to
For the expanded configuration, the rear leg portion 22 of the first hinged leg 3 is positioned collinear to the front leg portion 21 of the first hinged leg 3. Likewise, the rear leg portion 22 of the second hinged leg 4 is positioned collinear to the front leg portion 21 of the second hinged leg 4. Each of the front plurality of cross supports 28 extends away from the front leg portion 21 of the first hinged leg 3 and the front leg portion 21 of the second hinged leg 4. Similarly, each of the rear plurality of cross supports 29 extends away from the rear leg portion 22 of the first hinged leg 3 and the rear leg portion 22 of the second hinged leg 4. The pair of cross support straps 6 is taut on the plurality of cross supports 5 between the front member 1 and the rear member 2. The cover sheet 7 is taut from the front member 1, over the plurality of cross supports 5 on the pair of cross support straps 6, and to the rear member 2. Thus, the front member 1, the rear member 2, the first hinged leg 3, the second hinged leg 4, and the cover sheet 7 define an enclosed volume large enough for a vehicle to be housed within, in order to protect the vehicle from the elements.
The preferred method of forming the front member 1, the rear member 2, the first hinged leg 3 and the second hinged leg 4 is through a blow molding process; however, blow molding processes tend to leave these members as hollow supports. In such embodiments of the present invention, the present invention comprises at least one internal access port. An access aperture of the at least one internal access port traverses through each the front member 1, the rear member 2, the first hinged leg 3, and the second hinged leg 4. Through the access aperture, a weight source can be inserted to weigh down the present invention such as sand, water, or another applicable weight source.
Alternatively, the present invention can be secured directly to the concrete or ground though a plurality of anchors. The plurality of anchors is integrated through each of the front member 1, the rear member 2, the first hinged leg 3 and the second hinged leg 4. A corresponding anchor receiver is embedded into the ground for each of the plurality of anchors. Each of the plurality of anchors engages the corresponding anchor receiver in order to mount the present invention onto the ground.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/095,496 filed on Dec. 22, 2014.
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