Patent ID: 7374214
Filing Date: 2008-05-20
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A protector for the side of a vehicle, wherein the side of the vehicle has a door and a door post against which the door closes, the protector comprising: a) an elongated resilient protector member having a forward portion and a rearward portion and a hinge for allowing the forward and rearward portions to fold over each other from an open position to a stowed position, each of the forward and rearward portions having a proximal side for being adjacent the side of the vehicle and a distal side facing away from the side of the vehicle; b) at least one magnet on the proximal side of each of the forward and rearward portions for attaching the protector member by magnetism to the side of the vehicle, at least one magnet on the forward portion being adjacent at least one magnet on the rearward portion when the forward and rearward portions are folded together about the hinge, each magnet having soft material between the magnet and the side of the vehicle to protect the side of the vehicle from scratches from the magnet; c) a flexible hook having two ends, one end being attached to the proximal side of one of the portions of the protector member and the other end projecting from the one portion of the protector member, the hook being sufficiently long so that the other end can reach between the door and the door post of the vehicle when the protector member is attached to the side of the vehicle; and d) a recess on the proximal side of the portion of the protector member to which the hook is not attached, the recess being aligned with the connection of the hook to the one of the portions when the forward and rearward portions are folded together.