Abstract:
A free-standing door guard is disclosed, which enables vehicle owners to protect their vehicles from damage caused by inadvertently opening a vehicle door into another adjacently parked vehicle, garage wall, other hard surface or object or damage caused by an object falling against a vehicle by facilitating easy deployment of the door guard along side a vehicle, independent of any physical structure such as an overhead garage door rail, ceiling, or the like. The vehicle door guard apparatus employs a resilient, impacting absorbing panel to cushion the opening vehicle door and is available in a foldable version to reduce overall carrying length. Integrated expandable floor supports may also be configured with a roll stop feature. The door guard assembly may include a height adjustment capability that allows a user to place the resilient impact absorbing panel at a height that maximizes protection of adjacently parked vehicles.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to vehicle equipment, and more particularly to vehicle protection equipment. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Automobiles are retaining value longer through the use of higher quality materials and easier and less frequent preventive maintenance. One aspect that contributes to the determination of a retained value of a vehicle is the external appearance. Consequently, products that enhance and extend the life of the high quality appearance of automobiles are readily available to consumers. In addition, consumer products that allow for correction of minor dents, surface scratches, and the like have provided some benefit to vehicle owners in this regard. However, a most challenging and prevalent problem related to vehicle exterior quality is deep damage to paint and/or door surfaces resulting from impacts of opening doors of adjacently parked vehicles in a garage, parking lot, or other similar zone. Damage related to vehicle door opening is known to occur on the broad side door panels when a vehicle door is opened against such door panel. However, damage can also occur to an edge of a vehicle door when it is opened against a rigid surface, such as another vehicle, a wall, or the like. 
         [0005]    Because damage caused to vehicle doors during access to a parked vehicle can often result in damage that cannot be readily remedied by consumers, repairs to remedy such damage is often expensive and time consuming. Consequently a variety of devices have been invented to help vehicle owners avoid such damage. These devices can be generally categorized into three broad groups: vehicle attached devices, suspended devices, and parking zone affixed devices. Each of these groups attempts to limit damage to car doors in very different ways. 
         [0006]    Vehicle attached devices have the benefits of being available for deployment when a vehicle so adapted is parked. Consequently, deployment is required when a vehicle is parked to gain the benefit of the device. In addition, such a device must be attached to the vehicle which by itself may raise issues with respect to vehicle external appearance. Tradeoffs of appearance, weight, exposure to elements during vehicle operation, manual versus automatic deployment, and the like also characterize these devices. 
         [0007]    Suspended devices can generally be deployed in a substantially enclosed parking structure, such as a garage, that includes a means for holding such a suspended device (e.g. a ceiling). A suspended device generally includes a tarp or other padded flexible sheet disposed at vehicle door height so that a vehicle door will strike the sheet when it is opened. Such a device, once installed in a parking garage is generally easy to use for the purpose of mitigating damage to a vehicle door that is parked in the garage at least because it generally does not require redeployment each time a vehicle is parked. Suspended devices require nearly permanent, specialized installation to a garage roof or overhead garage door rail system and are generally not usable in outdoor parking zones, such as a driveway or open-air parking lot. 
         [0008]    Parking zone affixed devices installed in a parking zone are also known in the art. Special tools are needed to install such devices in an environment with a typical vehicle parking floor surface such as concrete or asphalt. Furthermore, the fixed position and dimensions of such devices restrict them to one parking space, and generally to one size type of vehicle. Such devices also are continuously exposed to the elements, which can cause accelerated wear to the device, as well as present challenges in winter climates that require snow removal, such as plowing, for example. Such devices also confer no benefit to a vehicle owner when their vehicle is parked in a spot other than the spot adjacent to the device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Vehicle owners may protect their vehicles from dings, scrapes, dents and related damage caused by inadvertently opening a vehicle door into another adjacently parked vehicle, garage wall, or other hard surface or object by employing a free-standing vehicle door guard apparatus as described herein. Likewise, the door guard apparatus can protect a door panel or side panel of vehicle from being damaged by an adjacently parked vehicle door being opened against the door or side panel by occupying the space between vehicles parked in adjacent parking spaces, such as side by side in a garage, driveway, or the like. Similarly, the door guard apparatus can protect a side of a car from an object falling against it. Deployment in a garage is one envisioned use of the door guard apparatus and garages can include other objects such as bicycles left leaning against a wall, pole, barrel, and the like but in proximity to the vehicle. Also, the door guard apparatus can protect a vehicle from damage caused by moving an object, such as a garbage barrel past the vehicle. The free-standing vehicle guard door apparatus can be conveniently positioned to protect parked vehicle doors independent of any physical structure such as an overhead garage door rail, ceiling, or the like. Because the apparatus is free-standing, it can be repositioned as needed to allow access to the parked vehicles through the protected doors. 
         [0010]    The door guard apparatus can also function as a safety shield for an occupant exiting or entering a vehicle. By establishing a barrier between the vehicle door and other objects or vehicles in the vicinity of the vehicle door, an occupant exiting or entering a vehicle may be shielded from an object such as a falling bicycle, a door of an adjacent car being opened, and the like. This may be particularly beneficial for children entering or exiting a vehicle. 
         [0011]    The vehicle door guard apparatus safely restricts the opening of an adjacently parked vehicle door by employing a resilient, impacting absorbing panel to cushion the opening vehicle door. The apparatus is made with resilient material so that repeated impacts by vehicle doors may not substantially reduce its protective properties. By absorbing the impact of the vehicle door, the apparatus is designed to minimally affect the door or the door hinge operation. To further improve the impact absorbing capabilities of the door guard apparatus, the posts supporting the resilient impacting absorbing panel may be fixed to a base with springs that allow the panel to tilt slightly when impacted. 
         [0012]    Designed for easy transportation and setup, the door guard apparatus is available in a foldable version that allows the user to fold the apparatus lengthwise to approximately one-third its extended length. Setup is further simplified by floor supports that can be folded against the apparatus and deployed for convenient positioning in a garage, parking lot, driveway, or other vehicle parking area. The floor supports may also provide stability to the door guard. In addition to providing stability, a portion of the floor supports may be configured with a roll stop feature that informs a vehicle operator when the vehicle has pulled into a parking space protected by the door guard. 
         [0013]    The door guard apparatus can be used for a wide range of vehicles because it can be flexibly configured for low sports cars as well as high vehicles such as SUVs or trucks through a novel height adjustment capability that allows a user to place the resilient impact absorbing panel at a height that maximizes protection of adjacently parked vehicles. Generally, the door guard can be adjusted through a range of heights from approximately twenty-seven inches to approximately thirty-six inches. 
         [0014]    In an aspect of the invention, methods and systems for vehicle door protection may include an apparatus for preventing damage to facing sides of two vehicles parked in adjacent parking spaces, the damage resulting from opening a door of one of the vehicles toward the other vehicle, including a resilient door guard having left and right impact absorbing surfaces and a top surface; a horizontally elongated base; a plurality of posts attached to the base and extending upward from the base, wherein the plurality of posts is disposed between the left and right impact absorbing surfaces of the door guard thereby holding the door guard upright; and a plurality of adjustable floor supports resting on at least one of the parking spaces and moveably attached to the base for stably maintaining the door guard between the two vehicles. In the aspect, the base may include three segments attached by hinges therebetween and the door guard may include three sections flexibly attached therebetween above the hinges for folding the apparatus horizontally. Further in the aspect, the plurality of posts each may include two sections that are slidably attached; a first section holding the door guard and being vertically slidable relative to a second section attached to the base. The door guard can be vertically positioned so that door guard top surface can be positioned in the range of 27″ to 36″ above the parking space by sliding the first post section upward relative to the second post section. 
         [0015]    In the aspect, the posts are mounted to the base by a spring for allowing the door guard to tilt relative to the base in response to the vehicle door impacting the door guard. In addition, a plurality of flags may be included for disposing at various horizontal positions along a top of the door guard including pushing a portion of the flag into the door guard through the door guard top surface. 
         [0016]    In the aspect, at least one of the adjustable floor supports includes a proximal end for attaching to the base and a distal end that comprises a roll stop to facilitate positioning a vehicle relative to the apparatus and the door guard remaining upright in response to an impact from an opening car door. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of the invention, methods and systems of vehicle door and side panel protection may include an apparatus to facilitate preventing damage to horizontal surfaces of a vehicle parked in a parking space that may include a plurality of vertically elongated posts, each having a bottom end and a top end; a first resilient, impact-absorbing panel overlaying a portion of at least one vertical face of the plurality of posts, the panel attached to the posts; a base attached below the bottom end of the plurality of posts, thereby holding the posts and panel upright; and a plurality of adjustable floor supports moveably attached to the base for positioning the base aligned with and proximal to the vehicle parking space with the impact absorbing panel being disposed between the parking space and the posts, the floor supports resting on the parking space. Further in the aspect, the methods and systems may include a second resilient impact absorbing panel overlaying a vertical face of the plurality of posts opposite the first panel, the second panel attached to the posts, thereby disposing the second panel between the posts and an adjacent parking space. Alternatively, in the aspect, the first resilient, impact absorbing panel overlays a portion of a vertical face of the plurality of posts that is opposite to the vertical face overlaid by the panel, thereby disposing the impact absorbing panel between the posts and an adjacent parking space. 
         [0018]    In a variation of the aspect, the base may include three segments attached by hinges therebetween and the panel may include three sections flexibly attached therebetween above the hinges for folding the apparatus horizontally. The aspect of the invention may include height adjustability wherein the plurality of posts each comprises two sections that are slidably attached; a first section holding the panel and being vertically slidable relative to a second section attached to the base. The height adjustable variation of the invention may be vertically positioned so that an upper extent of the panel is positionable in the range 27″ to 36″ above the parking space by sliding the first post section upward relative to the second post section. 
         [0019]    In yet another variation of the aspect, at least one of the adjustable floor supports includes a proximal end for attaching to the base and a distal end that comprises a roll stop to facilitate positioning a vehicle relative to the apparatus. 
         [0020]    In yet another aspect of the invention, methods and systems for preventing damage to a vehicle side panel or door may include a method of preventing damage to a vehicle door parked on a parking surface that includes disposing a resilient impact absorbing door guard in a vertical orientation over a horizontally elongated base that is positioned aside the vehicle door within the opening radius of the vehicle door; supporting the base with a plurality of floor supports that are moveably attached to the base and that rest on the parking surface; and supporting the impact absorbing door guard with posts that are mounted to the base, wherein the door guard is disposed between the vehicle and the posts. In the aspect the posts are mounted to the base by a spring for allowing the door guard and posts to tilt relative to the base in response to the vehicle door impacting the door guard. Further in the aspect, at least one of the floor supports includes a proximal end for attaching to the base and a distal end that comprises a roll stop to facilitate positioning a vehicle relative to the door guard. In an alternative embodiment, of the aspect, at least one of the posts is vertically elongated to facilitate connection to an overhead garage door rail. 
         [0021]    These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings. All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0022]    The invention and the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the following figures: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  depicts an end section view of an embodiment of the fully deployed free-standing door guard apparatus; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  depicts an end view of an alternate deployment of the free-standing door guard apparatus; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts an end view of the free-standing door guard apparatus with retracted floor supports; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of a portion of a foldable embodiment of the door guard apparatus; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view of an embodiment of the door guard apparatus with optional indicator flags; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  depicts a top view of an embodiment of the door guard apparatus; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  depicts an end view of a deployed height adjustable embodiment of the door guard apparatus; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  depicts various views of a height adjustment mechanism of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  depicts an exploded view of a modular embodiment of a portion of the door guard apparatus invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an end section view of an embodiment of a fully deployed free-standing door guard  100  is shown. The door guard  100  may include a vertical portion, a base, and a horizontal portion joined by the base. The door guard may be positioned near a side of a vehicle by deploying the horizontal portion which may include a set of legs or floor supports. The vertical portion of the free-standing door guard  100  may include a first resilient, impact-absorbing panel  102  and optionally a second resilient, impact-absorbing panel  104  that may each be attached on opposite sides of a plurality of posts  108 . The vertical portion may be attached to a base  112  by post joints  110 . The post joints  110  may be flexible and may each comprise a semi-stiff spring that connects the base  112  to each of the plurality of posts  108  to facilitate positioning the vertical section vertically when the spring is at rest while allows the vertical section to sway relative to the base  112  when a force is applied to either of the first or second resilient impact absorbing panels. Such a force may be the result of opening a door of a vehicle parked along side the free standing door guard  100 . Alternatively, the post joints  100  may form rigid connections between the posts  108  and the base  112 . 
         [0033]    The base  112  may be a horizontally elongated member and in addition to supporting the vertical portion, may be attached to the horizontal portion that may include a plurality of expandable floor supports  114 . Sets of the floor supports  114  may be deployable on either side of the vertical portion as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each floor support of the plurality of floor supports  114  may be attached to the base  112  by a flexible hip joint  122  that may allow the floor support to be repositioned relative to the base  112 . In an embodiment, the flexible hip joint  122  may include a hinge that allows the horizontal portion to fold up against the vertical portion. The hip joint  122  may include a locking feature that may facilitate keeping each floor support  114  in a deployed position. 
         [0034]    The horizontal portion may include a plurality of expansion joints  120  to facilitate extending the length of the floor supports  114 , and at least one anti-slip receptacle  118  for receiving a device that may assist in keeping the floor support  114  in a deployed position. In an embodiment, the anti-slip receptacle  118  may receive a rubberized foot that may make slip-resistant contact with a parking surface on which the apparatus  100  is deployed. In an embodiment, the expansion joints  120  may each include a hinge that allows the floor supports  114  to expand by unfolding at the hinge. In this embodiment, the floor supports  114  may include a plurality of folding sections. 
         [0035]    The vertical portion of the free standing door guard apparatus  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  may preferably be configured in the general range of twenty-seven to thirty-five inches tall. The vertical portion may also be approximately two and one-half to three and one-half inches in width. The vertical portion and the base may be approximately seventy-two inches long as depicted in  FIGS. 4-6  (which are described below). Each fully deployed floor support  114  may extend out from the base approximately seventy inches and may be hinged near the midpoint or approximately at thirty-five inches from the base. 
         [0036]    The first and second resilient, impact-absorbing panels  102  and  104  may be constructed of various materials that are suitable for resiliently receiving a sharp impact of an edge of an opening car door while both suddenly stopping the opening motion of the door and protecting the door, door edge, and door hinges from damage due to the sudden stop. An appropriate material may also include features that allow the material to absorb a portion of the impact force by momentarily deforming before substantially recovering its initial shape. One example of such material may include urethane foam, also known as memory foam and variously marketed under names such as TEMPUR-PEDIC. Other types of material include fabric covered batting, gel filled foam, carpet padding, carpet, and the like. In addition, various other foam-like materials, including dense open-cell foam may be suitable for use. Thickness of the panels  102  and  104  may range from approximately one-half inch to approximately three and one half inches. 
         [0037]    In addition to being attached to the posts  108 , the first and second resilient, impact-absorbing panels  102  and  104  may be co-joined during assembly of the apparatus  100  to form a substantially solid panel that establishes the width of the door guard  100 . Alternatively, panels  102  and  104  may be produced as a single panel that provides functionality of the two panels as described herein. In a single panel embodiment, the single panel may be fabricated with vertically oriented apertures for inserting the posts  108 . In yet another embodiment, panels  102  and  104  may be joined by a mating sheet (not shown herein) that may provide additional structural support to the panels, such as a semi-flexible plastic sheet. In such co-joined or single construction embodiments, urethane foam and the like may be a preferred material. 
         [0038]    Exterior surfaces of the panels  102  and  104  may be decorated with indicia (e.g. brands such as NASCAR, sports team logos, and the like), designs (e.g., street scenes, sunsets, oceans, forests, custom art, vehicles, and the like), horizontal reference marks for aiding a driver in parking a vehicle along side the door guard  100 , and the like. The panels may have various shapes including rectangular, oval, vehicle outline, vehicle door outline, and the like. 
         [0039]    In a rectangular shaped embodiment, the panels  102  and  104  may be approximately twenty-four to thirty-five inches tall, approximately sixty to seventy-two inches long, and one-half to three inches thick. When combined with other capabilities described herein, such as horizontal fold-ability and/or height adjustability other dimensions of the panels  102  and  104  are possible. 
         [0040]    The posts  108  may be fabricated from a variety of materials, but generally may have characteristics such as strength, rigidity, light weight, and the like. Extruded aluminum tubing is one embodiment of the posts  108  that may meet these criteria. Posts  108  may all be substantially the same shape or may be different shapes and sizes to meet one or more functional criteria. Shapes may include round, oval, square, rectangular, hexagon, octagon, combinations thereof, and the like. In an example, posts  108  that may be assembled to either end of panels  102  and  104 , or may be positioned at either horizontal end of base  112  may be partially rounded to eliminate the exposure of sharp corners. In another example, a portion of the posts  108  between such end posts  108  may have a smaller profile than the end posts. The smaller profiles (e.g. width and depth) may allow insertion into vertical apertures in a single panel embodiment. In an example, if the door guard  100  has an overall width of three inches, each panel  102  and  104  may each be approximately one-half inch thick and posts  108  may be two inches across. Other post shapes, combinations of shapes, various materials (e.g. plastic, lightweight steel, carbon fiber, composites, and the like) are included herein. 
         [0041]    The panels  102  and  104  may be attached to the posts  108  with any of a variety of fastening devices and techniques that are suitable for attaching a resilient material, such as foam to a hard material such as aluminum (e.g. adhesive, automotive panel clips, bolts, and the like.) Alternatively, the posts  108  may include features that allow the panels  102  and  104  to be captured, such as a U-shaped channel near a top end and near a bottom end of the post. In yet another embodiment, the panels may be constructed, such as in the single panel or fused panel embodiments described herein with apertures that accept the posts  108  facilitating inserting the posts into the apertures with or without further attachment between the posts and the panels. 
         [0042]    The base  112  may generally have a horizontally elongated shape that may be substantially the same length as the panels  102  and  104   
         [0043]    The base  112  may include characteristics that are similar to the posts  108  such as those related to fabrication, materials, shapes, and features. While aluminum may be a good lightweight material for use in the base  112 , due to the need for the base  112  to provide structural support through attachment to the posts  108 , the floor supports  114 , and the like, other materials may also be suitable including steel, alloys, and the like. In an example that may support the rectangular panel exampled described above, the base  112  may be a hollow rectangular shaped extrusion of aluminum with an end profile that is approximately two to three inches on each side and has a length of approximately sixty to seventy-two inches. 
         [0044]    The posts  108  may be attached to the base  112  permanently (e.g. welding, casting as one piece, thermal fusing, bonding with adhesive, and the like), or may be removably attached (sheet metal screws, bolts and nuts or inserts, and the like). The base  112  may be fabricated with post retention features, such as slots or an aperture that may receive an end of a post  108  and may retain the post through slip fitting, press fitting, and the like. For such an embodiment, posts  108  may be fabricated with one end adapted to mate with a post retention feature of the base. Alternatively, the posts  108  may be attached to the base  112  through a flexible attachment, such as a firm spring that allows the posts (and therefore the vertical portion of the door guard apparatus  100 ) to tilt relative to the base. This added flexibility may further reduce the potential for damaging either a car door or the door guard  100  by allowing the vertical portion to tilt in response to a vehicle door impacting or pressing against it. 
         [0045]    As described herein, floor supports  114  may be extended to rest on a parking surface, such as a garage parking space in which a vehicle may park. For the vehicle to be parked along side the door guard apparatus  100 , it typically has to be driven or rolled into position. Therefore, the invention may support allowing a vehicle to be driven over the deployed floor supports  114 . Consequently, the floor supports may preferably be constructed of a material that can withstand being repeatedly run over by the wheels of a vehicle—such as material may include steel, various metal alloys and the like. Each section of floor supports  114  may be fabricated by various metal fabrication techniques including extruding, cold rolling, hot rolling, and the like. The sections may be joined by, for example, metal hinges, pivot joints, and the like. 
         [0046]    The floor supports  114  may be adjustable relative to the base  112  so that the floor supports can be positioned within a vehicle parking space or zone to facilitate parking the vehicle along side the door guard apparatus  100 . Positioning the floor supports  114  may include unfolding the floor supports to be placed on the parking zone. The floor supports may also be positionable by rotating a deployed floor support relative to the base so that a horizontal angle formed between the base and the floor support may be other than ninety degrees (see  FIG. 6 ). Consequently the floor supports  114  may be attached to the base  112  by a hip joint  122  that may include a hinge and/or by another type of adjustable feature, such as a hinge that is directly attached to the floor supports  114  and rotatably attached to the base  112 . 
         [0047]    The floor supports  114  may also be configured with an anti-slip receptacle  118  for attaching an anti slip device, such as a rubber foot. In an embodiment, the anti-slip receptacle  118  may be a hole in one or more sections of the floor supports  114  for receiving a snap-in rubber foot. The anti-slip receptacle may also be used with a fixturing device, such as a spike that may be driven from above through the anti-slip receptacle into the parking zone surface below. Such a configuration may be useful soft surface parking zones (grass, gravel, dirt, and the like). However, the anti-slip receptacle  118  could be used to facilitate affixing the floor supports  114  to a hard parking surface such as asphalt or concrete through use of a bolt or other fastener suitable for installation into such a hard parking surface. 
         [0048]    The sections of the floor supports  114  may be joined at an expansion joint  120 , such as by hinges as described herein. Alternatively, an expansion joint  120  may be a snap or press fit male-female type joint that allow one section to fit inside another section. Other joining techniques, including nut and bolt, snap-in pins, and the like are also contemplated for connecting sections of the floor supports  114 . In embodiments, floor supports  114  may include only one section. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , while the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicts the door guard  100  with floor supports deployed on two opposite sides of the door guard  100 , such as for positioning the door guard  100  between two parked cars, the door guard  100  may be deployed for a single vehicle application or in spaces where extending floor supports on two sides of the door guard  100  is impractical (e.g. in a one-car garage). Therefore,  FIG. 2 , which depicts the door guard  100  with floor supports deployed only on one side and retracted floor supports on the opposite side may apply to a one-vehicle parking/protection application. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , floor supports on a first vehicle-facing side are fully deployed in a horizontal orientation while the floor supports that are opposite the vehicle are kept folded-up against the vertical portion  202 . In this deployment, the door guard  100  may facilitate protecting a door of a vehicle that is parked over the deployed floor supports  114  from being damaged due to opening the door against a hard or rough surface that is shielded by the door guard  100 . 
         [0050]    The door guard apparatus  100  may further include a roll stop  204  that may be attached to one of the floor supports  114 . The roll stop  204  may provide substantial resistance to a rolling motion of a vehicle by interrupting the motion of one of the vehicle wheels. In an embodiment, the roll stop may be attached to a distal end of at least one of the floor supports  114 . Alternatively, the roll stop may be disposed on a floor support close to the base  112 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of the door guard with all floor supports  114  retracted (e.g. folded) up against the door guard panels  102  and  104 . Such a configuration may be suitable for shipment, storage, handling, and pre-deployment. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of a foldable panel  402 A variation of the invention in which panels  404  are connected by foldable interface section  408  to form a resilient, impact resistant panel that can be folded into thirds, such as for ease of packaging and transport. Foldable interface sections  408  may include a flexible material such as plastic, fabric, and the like. The foldable sections  408  may be a continuous element that spans substantially the full height of the panels, or they may comprise a plurality of individual interface elements that connect the panels. The interface sections  408  may be configured to allow the panel to fold in a collapsing ‘z’ shape resulting in panels  404 A and  404 C being folded against opposite sides of panel  404 B, as shown in embodiment  402 B of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment of a foldable door guard apparatus shown in views  500 A and  500 B including three foldable panels  502  that are foldable in line with posts  108 , a foldable base  510  that is also foldable at base folding joints  504 . View  500 A depicts a side view of the foldable door guard apparatus in a deployed or unfolded configuration. View  500 B depicts an end view of the foldable door guard apparatus in a folded configuration and including folded floor supports  114 , such as for storage, transport, and the like. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , foldable base  510  may include three sections, substantially aligned under each of three sections of foldable panel  502 , each section hinged therebetween at base joints  504  substantially in line with two of the plurality of posts  108 . 
         [0054]    To further facilitate positioning a vehicle along side the door guard apparatus, a user may insert one or more flags  512  into a top edge of the apparatus  100 . A vehicle operator may use one of the flags as a visual guide for positioning a vehicle in a parking zone (e.g. a garage) relative to the door guard apparatus. In an example, a driver may pull a vehicle in along side the door guard apparatus and align one of the flags that are disposed in the door guard to a feature on the vehicle, such as a side view mirror. This technique may allow the operator to gain the additional benefit of properly positioning the vehicle from use of the door guard apparatus. The one or more flags may be provided in a set of different colors and/or shapes that can be used for positioning different vehicles along side the door guard apparatus. In an example, a user may dispose a red square flag and a blue round flag into the door guard apparatus at two different locations and use the two flags for positioning two different vehicles. In an application of the door guard apparatus between two vehicle parking zones, such as in a two car garage, the red square flag may be used to align a vehicle being parked on one side of the door guard apparatus and the blue round flag for positioning a vehicle along the opposite side of the door guard apparatus. The different flags may also be used for positioning different vehicles in a parking zone next to the door guard apparatus. In this embodiment, one flag (e.g. the blue round flag) may be used when parking a small sedan in a parking space and another flag (e.g. the red square flag) may be used when positioning an SUV in the parking space. 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  depicts a top view of a deployed embodiment of the invention that includes a single panel  102 , a plurality of posts  108 , and a set of floor supports  114 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , tops of the posts  108  are visible through post apertures configured in the panel  102 .  FIG. 6  further depicts a set of floor supports  114  deployed to one side of the panel  102  and positioned to form an angle  602  other than ninety-degrees relative to the base. The angle  602  may be formed by unfolding the floor supports  114  so that they are substantially horizontal, and then rotating each floor support  114  about a pivoting joint  122  between the base (not shown) and the floor support  114 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  depicts an end view of a height adjustable embodiment of the door guard apparatus. The door guard apparatus may be configured for height adjustability by using height adjustable posts  702 . In the example of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , height adjustable posts  702  are adapted to include a first portion of each post that can slide vertically in relation to a second portion that is attached to the base. The posts may further include a vertical position locking knob  704  that facilitates holding the first and second portions of the posts in the selected relative vertical position. The panel  102  may be attached to the slidable portion of each post to facilitate positioning the panel at various heights relative to the base. 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  depicts end and side views of the height adjustment mechanisms of the door guard apparatus in both an extended embodiment  802  and a compact embodiment  804 . Extended embodiment  802  is shown in a side view  802 A and an end view  802 B. Side view  802 A depicts height adjustable post  702  vertically extended to approximately three feet. Locking position knob  704  is shown extending through a slot in the fixed portion of the post  702  to facilitate locking the slidable portion of post  702  in the vertically extended position. The locking know  704  may retain the vertical position by a user turning the knob clockwise until it secures the two portions of the post  702  by pulling them together. A plurality of locking knobs (e.g. one at each end of the door guard apparatus) may be used to securely lock the door guard at a desired height. 
         [0058]    Locking knob  704  may be loosened by turning it counterclockwise until the two slidable portions of post  702  can slide freely. When all locking knobs are loosened, the slidable portion of post  702  may be slid down to the compact position depicted in embodiment  804 . The overall height of the compact door guard apparatus may be approximately twenty-seven inches. As can be seen in embodiments  802 B and  804 B, with the resilient, impact-absorbing panel attached to the slidable portion of the post  702 , the panel may be positioned between approximately twenty-seven inches and thirty-six inches above the door guard base. 
         [0059]      FIG. 9  depicts an exploded view of a portion of the door guard apparatus invention including three panel sections  902 A-C, four posts  904 A-D, left horizontal members  908 A-B, and right horizontal members  910 A-B. The embodiment of  FIG. 9  may be assembled into a vertical portion of the door guard apparatus by placing the posts  904 , left horizontal members  908  and right horizontal members  910  around panel sections  902  as shown, inserting the posts  904  into the left and right horizontal members as shown, and inserting the left horizontal members  908  into the right horizontal members  910  as shown. The panel sections  902  may be captured by the posts  904  and the attached horizontal members  908  and/or  910  so that the panel sections  902  remain fixed in position after assembly and during use as described herein. The posts  904  may be configured with ends that insert into receptacles disposed in the left and right horizontal members. Likewise, the left and right horizontal members may be configured with ends that facilitate assembly by mating left to right horizontal members to create a rigid frame in which the panel sections  902  are retained. In the example of  FIG. 9 , the left horizontal members  908  may include an end that may be inserted into receptacles configured into an end of the right horizontal members  910 . Joints formed by the posts  904  with the horizontal members and between the horizontal members as shown in  FIG. 9 , may be made secure through a variety of means including, without limitation compression or forced-fit type insertion; adhesives (glue, adhesive pads, and the like); other types of surface to surface bonding (e.g. grooved surfaces, bump and depression mating, and the like); mechanical fasteners (screws, pins, snap rivets, and the like); and the like. 
         [0060]      FIG. 10  depicts various top views of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  partially assembled to show exemplary means for capturing a panel section. In the first embodiment  1002  of  FIG. 10 , panel section  902 A as depicted is configured with outer surfaces that extend laterally to facilitate receiving posts  904 A and  904 B. When configured as shown in  FIG. 10 , panel section  902 A ensures that posts  904  are not exposed along an impact absorbing portion of the door guard apparatus, thereby ensuring that a vehicle door will not impact the hard surface of a post. 
         [0061]    Other embodiments are possible, such as embodiment  1004  in which the posts  904  are configured with impact absorbing material  1008  that facilitates capturing panel  902 A. Note that embodiment  1004  also depicts an optional single sided embodiment of the door guard assembly that may be economically used in configurations that require protection of only one vehicle. Such an embodiment may also be offered at a reduced price when compared to the embodiment of  FIG. 1002  that can be used to protect vehicles on either side of the apparatus. There are also a variety of alternative panel-to-post attachments that include, without limitation fitted shapes, pins and receptacles, and the like. All of these and other attachment concepts are included herein. 
         [0062]    The door guard apparatus may also function as a protective shield for a vehicle from damage due to other objects, such as bicycles, lawnmowers, rubbish barrels, and the like that may be commonly found in garages. The door guard apparatus can protect a side of a car from an object falling against it. Deployment in a garage is one envisioned use of the door guard apparatus and garages can include other objects such as bicycles left leaning against a wall, pole, barrel, and the like but in proximity to the vehicle. Also, the door guard apparatus can protect a vehicle from damage caused by moving an object, such as a garbage barrel past the vehicle. The door guard apparatus can also function as a safety shield for an occupant exiting or entering a vehicle. By establishing a barrier between the vehicle door and other objects or vehicles in the vicinity of the vehicle door, upon exiting or entering a vehicle an occupant may be shielded from an object such as a falling bicycle, a door of an adjacent car being opened, and the like. This may be particularly beneficial for children entering or exiting a vehicle. 
         [0063]    While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is not to be limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law. 
         [0064]    All documents referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference.