Patent ID: 6527319
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A portable vehicle finish protection apparatus adapted for temporary installation onto a side surface of a vehicle when the vehicle is parked closely adjacent another vehicle and is therefore susceptible to finish damage as a result of the edge of a door of such adjacent vehicle impacting against the side of the vehicle to be protected, comprising;a unitary body having a first and a second elongated flexible bumper section each having proximal and distal ends; said unitary body being fabricated from a resiliently deformable foam material and having a substantially flat inner surface and a contoured outer surface; a plurality of flat, flexible magnet panels distributed along the length of said first and second bumper sections and permanently attached to said flat inner surface thereof; a first portion of said plurality of magnet panels attached to said first bumper section spaced differently in distance from said living hinge than is a second portion of said plurality of magnet panels attached to said second bumper section whereby said first and second portions of said magnet panels are misaligned one to another to reduce the magnetic attraction force therebetween when said apparatus is folded about said living hinge for storage; a living hinge coupling said proximal end of said first bumper section to said proximal end of said second bumper section such that the inner surfaces of said first and second bumper sections are normally aligned in a deployed configuration in use, but may be folded together at said hinge to effect a storage configuration; each distal end of each of said bumper sections tapered to reduce wind drag tending to inadvertently detach said apparatus from deployed engagement against the side surface when the vehicle is under way.