Vehicle rearview mirror and windshield protection system

A system for protecting selected glass surfaces of a vehicle having a windshield and external rearview mirrors includes a pair of mirror covers and a windshield cover. Each mirror cover includes a bag-like body portion defining an open end capable of fitting over and completely covering an external mirror. Each mirror cover includes a strap that may be secured around a respective vehicle mirror support arm and adjustably attached to the mirror cover with corresponding hook and loop fastening material. The windshield cover includes a configuration for overlaying the vehicle windshield and includes straps that may be releasably coupled to respective mirror covers. The windshield cover includes magnets along an upper edge for selectively attaching the upper edge of the windshield cover to the roof of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to vehicle covers and, more particularly, to a system for covering the external rearview mirrors and windshield of a vehicle so as to protect those surfaces from harsh winter weather conditions.

Much time and effort is devoted to scraping ice and snow from vehicle windshields and external rearview mirrors during the winter months in many geographic regions. Scraping ice and snow is difficult, inconvenient, and time-consuming. Although various devices have been proposed in the art for protecting vehicle glass surfaces, the existing devices do not provide a system for conveniently and completely covering the external rearview windows of a vehicle as well as the front windshield such that all of the covers may be conveniently secured together in use.

Therefore, it is desirable to have a system for selectively completely covering the external rearview mirrors of a vehicle. Further, it is desirable to have a covering system which also includes a windshield cover that is held in position with magnets and attachment to the rearview mirror covers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for covering and protecting selected glass surfaces of a vehicle according to the present invention includes a pair of mirror covers for covering the external rearview mirrors that are mounted to a vehicle with mirror support arms. Each mirror cover is formed of a flexible, waterproof material in a bag-like configuration defining an open end. Thus, each mirror cover may be slipped over a respective rearview mirror until the mirror is completely covered. Each mirror cover includes an elongate strap adjacent its open end which may be wrapped around a respective mirror support arm so as to secure the mirror cover thereto. The strap and mirror cover include hook and loop fastening materials such that the strap is adjustable for tightness so as to conform the open end of the mirror cover about the rearview mirror and corresponding support arm.

The covering system further includes a windshield cover configured to overlay the front windshield of a vehicle. Both the windshield cover and mirror covers include straps with buckles such that the windshield cover may be releasably coupled to the mirror covers in use. In addition, the windshield cover includes magnets situated along an upper longitudinal edge thereof such that the upper edge may be selectively attached to a metallic surface of the vehicle, such as the roof. Therefore, the windshield cover may be securely held in position by its attachment to the mirror covers and by its magnetic attraction to the vehicle roof.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a system for covering selected glass surfaces of a vehicle, namely the windshield and external rearview mirrors.

Another object of this invention is to provide a covering system, as aforesaid, having rearview mirror covers that may be slipped over the rearview mirrors of a vehicle and conveniently securable thereto.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a covering system, as aforesaid, having a windshield cover configured to overlay a vehicle windshield.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a covering system, as aforesaid, having straps and buckles configured to releasably secure the windshield cover to the mirror covers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a covering system, as aforesaid, in which an upper edge of the windshield cover includes a plurality of magnets such that the windshield cover is attachable to the roof of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A system for covering and protecting selected glass surfaces of a vehicle according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the present invention is for use with a vehicle having a front windshield and one or two external rearview mirrors, the external rearview mirrors being mounted to the vehicle with corresponding mirror support arms.

A covering system 10 according to one embodiment of the invention includes first 12 and second 12 mirror covers (FIG. 4 ). Although the first mirror cover 12 will be described in detail, it is understood that the first 12 and second 12 mirror covers include substantially similar constructions, the second mirror cover 12 being referenced in the drawings with primed numbers corresponding to the reference numerals of like components of the first mirror cover 12 . Therefore, each mirror cover may be fitted over either of a vehicle's external rearview mirrors. More particularly, the first mirror cover 12 includes a body portion 14 having a closed end 16 and defining an open end 18 in a bag-like configuration. The first mirror cover 12 may be fitted over a first rearview mirror of a vehicle in that the rearview mirror may be received into the first mirror cover 12 through the open end 18 thereof. The mirror covers are constructed of polychloroprene which is a flexible, stretchable, durable, and waterproof material although other rubber-like materials would also work.

The first mirror cover 12 further includes a sleeve portion 20 attached to the body portion 14 adjacent the open end 18 thereof (FIG. 1 ). The sleeve portion 20 extends only partially about the circumference of the body portion 14 such that longitudinal edges of the sleeve portion 20 are not in contact with one another in their free state, as to be described further below. In other words, the sleeve portion 20 presents an open top that allows a first mirror support arm 6 to nest within the sleeve portion 20 when the first mirror cover 12 is fitted over the first rearview mirror.

A first end of an elongate first strap 22 is attached to the sleeve portion 20 of the first mirror cover 12 adjacent the open end of the body portion 14 thereof (FIG. 1 ). When the first mirror cover 12 is fitted over the first rearview mirror, the first strap 22 may be wrapped around the first mirror support arm 6 and coupled to the sleeve portion 20 such that the first mirror cover 12 is secured to the first mirror support arm 6 (FIG. 1 ). Preferably, the first strap 22 is secured to the sleeve portion 20 with hook and loop fastening material although snaps, clips, or other suitable fasteners would also work. More particularly, a hook and loop fastening material 24 is mounted to one side of the first strap 22 adjacent a free end thereof. ( FIG. 2 ) Another hook and loop fastening material 26 is mounted to the outer surface of the sleeve portion 20 of the first mirror cover 12 . Therefore, the first strap 22 may be adjustably and releasably attached to the body portion 14 of the first mirror cover 12 by engaging the hook and loop fasteners 24 , 26 . Tightening the first strap 22 about the first mirror support arm 6 conforms the first sleeve portion 20 and body portion 14 adjacent the open end 18 thereof about the first rearview mirror and first mirror support arm 6 .

The covering system 10 further includes a windshield cover 30 having a generally rectangular configuration for overlaying the windshield of a vehicle. The windshield cover 30 is constructed of polychloroprene which is a flexible, durable, and waterproof material, although other durable, waterproof materials would also be suitable. The windshield cover 30 includes inner and outer layers. The windshield cover includes upper 32 and lower 34 longitudinal edges with opposed side edges 36 extending between the upper 32 and lower 34 edges. A plurality of magnets 38 are positioned between the inner and outer layers of the windshield cover 30 adjacent the upper longitudinal edge 32 thereof, although a single elongate magnet would also work. The magnets enable the upper edge 32 to be releasably attachable to a metallic surface of the vehicle, such as the roof thereof.

The windshield cover 30 may be releasably coupled to the mirror covers 12 , 12 so as to maintain its position upon a vehicle windshield. More particularly, a first pair of straps 40 are attached to respective side edges 36 of the windshield cover 30 adjacent the lower longitudinal edge 34 thereof (FIG. 4 ). Similarly, a second pair of straps 42 are attached to respective body portions 14 , 14 of the first 12 and second 12 mirror covers. Conventional buckle members 44 are attached to free ends of the straps for releasably coupling corresponding first 40 and second 42 straps together. Preferably, quick release buckles are used so as to maximize quick and convenient coupling of the windshield cover 30 to the first 12 and second 12 mirror covers, although other buckles or fasteners would also work.

In use, the mirror covers 12 , 12 and windshield cover 30 may be utilized to protect various glass surfaces of a vehicle from harsh winter weather elements. For example, the first mirror cover 12 may be fitted over a first vehicle external rearview mirror by slipping the first mirror cover 12 thereon, open end 18 first. Once the first mirror cover 12 completely covers the rearview mirror and the mirror support arm 6 is resting in the first mirror cover sleeve portion 20 (FIG. 1 ), the first strap 22 may be wrapped about the support arm 6 and adjustably and releasably coupled to the sleeve portion 20 with hook and loop fasteners (FIG. 2 ). The snug fit of the first mirror cover 12 about a mirror contributes to its waterproof characteristic. The second mirror cover 12 may be situated over a second rearview mirror in a substantially similar manner. If desired, the windshield cover 30 may be positioned to overlay a vehicle windshield. Magnets 38 within the windshield cover 30 cause the upper edge 32 thereof to be releasably attached to a vehicle roof. The windshield cover 30 may be coupled to the mirror covers 12 , 12 with buckles 44 so as to keep the windshield cover 30 in proper position. These covers keep winter weather conditions off of the windshield and mirrors of a vehicle. Then, each of these covers may be removed in opposite fashion as described above when the vehicle needs to be driven, whereby the glass surfaces will be free of ice or snow.

Another embodiment of a mirror cover 50 is shown in FIG. 3 and includes a construction substantially similar to that described previously except as specifically noted below. The slit 52 or opening of the sleeve portion 54 extends longitudinally between the open end 58 and a point adjacent the closed end 60 of the body portion 56 . In other words, this mirror cover 50 may be opened almost completely such that it may be fitted over an external rearview mirror very easily. This mirror cover 50 then includes a plurality of straps 62 that are spaced apart along the slit 52 for securely closing the opening when the cover has be positioned on a mirror. Preferably, these straps 62 include hook and loop fasteners (not shown) in coordination with hook and loop fasteners (not shown) positioned on the outer surface of the mirror cover 50 for releasably closing the slit 52 and fastening the mirror cover 50 to a rearview mirror and its support arm.