Patent ID: 6607235
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: B60J,B64F,Y10T

Abstract:
A full-body, self-deploying cover for a vehicle, the vehicle having an undercarriage, the undercarriage having a perimeter, the cover comprising:(a) a fabric sheet having a periphery; (b) a sleeve formed in the sheet adjacent the periphery of the sheet; (c) an elastic rod having a first end and a second end and contained within the sleeve and foldable between an expanded state and a stored state, wherein in the expanded state the rod outwardly tensions the periphery of the sheet and forms a semi-rigid frame and wherein the spring tension of the rod self-deploys the cover as the rod springs from the stored state to the expanded state; (d) a connector adapted to join the ends of the elastic rod together under the vehicle's undercarriage, whereby the fabric sheet is tightened securely beneath the vehicle's undercarriage within the perimeter of the undercarriage; and (e) a lock engaging the connector and preventing removal of the cover from the vehicle without cutting through the rod and the connector.