TIRE SUN SHIELD

There is provided a tire sun shield, an attachment system for the tire sun shield, and a method of making and using the tire sun shield. A structure according to the present disclosure includes: a flexible fabric sheet including two holes; a flexible frame attached to a periphery of the flexible fabric sheet; two resilient fasteners, each of the two resilient fasteners having a first end and a second end and being threaded through a respective one of the two holes, two fasteners configured to attach to a wheel, one of the two fasteners being attached to the first end of one the resilient fasteners and another of the two fasteners being attached to the first end of another of the resilient fasteners; and two resilient fastener locks configured to be secured to a respective one of the two resilient fasteners at the front side of the flexible fabric sheet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

One or more embodiments described herein relate to a tire sun shield, an attachment system for the tire sun shield, and a method of making and using the tire sun shield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tire dry rot or sidewall weather is the visible cracking in a tire when rubber compounds in a tire break down. Dry rot in rubber tires is caused by several factors including too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, harsh weather conditions such as rain and snow, underinflation, or allowing the tires to be unused for extended periods of time.

Some vehicles, such as recreational vehicles (RV) are typically driven for brief periods of time during vacations and then parked and stored for long periods of time. Due to the large size of RVs, RVs are typically stored outside due to cost and space limitations and are thus uncovered leaving the tires vulnerable to environmental factors that could lead to dry rot. Typically, the exterior facing sidewalls of the tires have more exposure to the environmental factors and are thus more susceptible to degradation and dry rot. To protect the tires when parked outside, the tires should be covered to prevent harsh weather and ultraviolet rays from degrading tire rubber thereby causing dry rot and decreasing the longevity of the tires.

Several tire covers have been developed to protect a tire from environmental conditions as described above. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. US2007/0278846A1 to Fleming describes a tire cover that includes an exterior front panel, side panels, and a rear panel that is installed by slipping the tire cover on the tire and the tire cover is secured by placing a flap connected to a bottom portion of the front panel under the tire.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,780,734 to Hunckler describes a tire cover that is held to the sidewall of a tire by bungee cords which are attached to a spring wire frame of the tire shade fabric. This tire cover is installed by stretching the bungee cords over the top of and behind the tire. Attachment of the bungee cords to the tire shade requires numerous parts including a locking collar, a clip, a D-Ring, and fabric strap.

Hunckler also describes, as a currently available design, fender mounted tire shades that include a square or rectangular shaped fabric and are attached to the fender of an RV by using snap connectors. However, the fender mounted tire shades are attached to the exterior of the fender of the RV utilizing snap connectors along the entire top and sides on the periphery of the fabric.

Although these previous types of tire covers offer protection from UV and environmental elements to prevent dry rot, they have several disadvantages in performance and useability. For example, installation of the cover is made by attaching the tire cover to the tire itself which requires the user to reach into the wheel well to secure the tire cover around the back of the tire. This installation method requires a user to touch the tire and wheel well by bending down and reaching into the wheel well which causes an awkward posture of the user and may cause dirt from the tire and wheel well to get on the user. Other installation difficulties include additional installation steps required to ensure the tire cover is properly secured such as placing the flap of Fleming, which is connected to a bottom portion of the front panel, under the tire to ensure the tire cover does not move, or adjusting the bungees of Hunckler at the front and rear of the tire to a 45-degree angle to ensure the bungees are tensioned correctly to hold the tire shade securely. Furthermore, installing the tire cover to the tire itself causes heat and moisture to be trapped between the tire and tire cover, thus leading to the tire to crack and deteriorate.

Furthermore, although the fender mounted tire cover described in Fleming is not attached to the tire itself, fender mounted tire covers require drilling multiple holes into the exterior of the fender to install one portion of each of the snap fasteners to the RV itself, which requires additional labor and time for initial setup. Furthermore, the numerous snap fasteners attached to the exterior of the fender are visible when the cover is not attached, thus decreasing the exterior aesthetics of the RV. Another problem with fender mounted tire covers is that they are difficult and time consuming to install and uninstall due to the process of attaching and detaching numerous snap fasteners along the periphery of the fabric.

In view of the disadvantages of the currently available tire covers, what is needed is a tire cover that is light weight, sturdy, does not take up as much space to store, is easy to install and uninstall, requires less labor and time for initial setup than currently available designs, does not trap heat/moisture when installed, and maintains the aesthetics of the RV when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, several tire covers have been developed to protect a tire from environmental conditions. However, disadvantages in performance and useability cause an awkward posture of the user and dirt from the tire and wheel well to get on the user, include additional installation steps required to ensure the tire cover is properly secured, require additional labor and time for initial setup, or decrease in the exterior aesthetics of the vehicle.

In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a tire sun shield, an attachment system for the tire sun shield, and a method of making and using the tire sun shield that is light weight, sturdy, does not take up as much space to store, is easy to install and uninstall, requires less labor and time for initial setup than existing designs, does not trap heat/moisture when installed, and maintains the aesthetics of the RV when not in use.

In accordance with one embodiment, a tire cover comprises a flexible fabric sheet having a front side, a rear side, a top, and a bottom, a flexible frame attached to a periphery of the flexible fabric sheet and having a folded state and an open state in which the flexible fabric sheet is tensioned, a top fastener connected to a periphery of the tire cover adjacent to the top of the flexible fabric sheet and configured to attach to a wheel well of a vehicle, the flexible fabric sheet including one hole located adjacent to the periphery of the flexible fabric sheet on one side of the top fastener and including another hole located adjacent to the periphery of the flexible fabric sheet on another side of the top fastener, a resilient fastener having two ends, one of the two ends being threaded through the one hole from the rear side to the front side of the flexible fabric sheet and another of the two ends being threaded through the another hole from the rear side to the front side of the flexible fabric sheet, and two side fasteners, one of the two side fasteners being attached to the one end of the resilient fastener and another of the two side fasteners attached to the another end of the resilient fastener, the two side fasteners being configured to attach to the wheel well of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1depicts an embodiment of a collapsible tire cover10configured to be installed on a vehicle20such as an RV to cover and protect the tire30(not shown) from dry rot due to rain, snow, UV rays, dust, dirt and other environmental factors. It should be noted, that although use of the tire cover10on an RV is shown and described, the present invention may be used to cover tires of other types of vehicles. For example, the tire cover10may cover the tires of a car, truck, van, bus, or the like.

FIG.2depicts a rear side of the tire cover10configured to face inward toward an exterior sidewall of the tire30when installed on the tire30. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, the tire cover10includes a flexible frame11. The flexible frame11is formed in a circular shape when not folded and made of a material that, after folding the flexible frame11, can return to the not-folded circular shape. As shown inFIG.3, the flexible frame11may be twisted and folded down to a smaller circular shape approximately ⅓ of the size of the unfolded circular shape. The flexible frame11can be made from materials including plastic or metal. The diameter of the flexible frame11when unfolded is approximately the same as the diameter of the tire of the vehicle or the diameter of the wheel well of the vehicle. Thus, tire covers10having different size diameters can fit a corresponding vehicle having a tire size or wheel well size corresponding to the diameter of the tire cover10.

The tire cover10further includes a flexible fabric sheet12that covers the flexible frame11. The flexible fabric sheet12is also a circular shape having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the flexible frame11when unfolded in an open state. Thus, the flexible fabric sheet12can be attached along the circumference of the flexible frame11by folding the outer circumferential edge of the flexible fabric sheet12around the flexible frame11to form a hem into which the flexible frame11is located. The flexible fabric sheet12may also be attached to the flexible frame11by other methods such as fabric loops located along the circumference of the flexible fabric sheet into which the flexible frame11is located. In another embodiment, the flexible frame11may be inserted between two flexible fabric sheets12such that the flexible frame11is positioned adjacent to a seam joining the two flexible fabric sheets12.

The flexible fabric sheet12may include a single layer or alternatively may include multiple layers. The flexible fabric sheet12may include materials that block ultraviolet (UV) rays, reflect sunlight, and/or block heat. When the flexible fabric sheet includes two layers, one of the two layers may include one material and another of the two layers may include another material different than the one material. In one embodiment, when the flexible fabric sheet12includes two layers, one of the two layers facing the outside includes a material that blocks ultraviolet (UV) rays or reflects light, and another of the two layers facing the inside includes a material that blocks heat.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, a top fastener13is attached to a top portion10aof the tire cover10. When the tire cover10includes a single flexible fabric sheet12, the top fastener13may be attached to the hem or one of the fabric loops. When the tire cover10includes at least two flexible fabric sheets12, the top fastener13may be attached to a seam joining the at least two flexible fabric sheets12. The tire cover10is not limited to a single top fastener13and may include multiple top fasteners13placed near the top of the flexible fabric sheet12and offset from each other.

In one embodiment, the hem of the single flexible fabric sheet12includes an opening to expose a portion of the flexible frame11. In another embodiment, as shown inFIG.4, the seam connecting two flexible fabric sheets12includes an opening to expose the portion of the flexible frame11. The fabric strap14is attached to the exposed portion of the flexible frame11by including the flexible frame11in a hem formed by sewing an edge of the fabric strap14after folding the fabric strap14around the flexible frame11.

Alternatively, the fabric strap14may be sewn directly on the flexible fabric sheet12. The top fastener13may be attached to the fabric strap14. As shown inFIGS.4and5, the top fastener13may be a snap fastener in which one part15aof the snap fastener (as shown inFIG.4) is attached to the fabric strap14and another part15bof the snap fastener (as shown inFIG.5) is attached to a wheel well16of the vehicle20. The top fastener13is not limited to a snap fastener15. The flexible fabric sheet12may also be attached to the vehicle20by the top fastener13that may be one of a magnet, a button loop, a hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro), clips, or the like.

As shown inFIG.5, when a snap fastener is used to attach the flexible fabric sheet12to the vehicle20, a hole may be drilled into the wheel well16. In a large vehicle, such as an RV, the hole may be drilled in the lip16aof the wheel well16so that the aesthetics of the vehicle20is not diminished when the tire cover10is not attached to the vehicle20. The another part15bof the snap fastener is attached to the wheel well16of the vehicle20by inserting the another part15bof the snap fastener into an exterior portion of the hole and securing the another part of15bthe snap fastener via a nut (not shown) or other fastening device. The top portion10aof the tire cover10is attached to the wheel well16by pressing the two parts15a,15bof the snap fastener together as shown inFIG.6.

In a case a magnet is used as the top fastener13, one magnet may be attached on or placed within the fabric strap14. In this case, if the wheel well16is not metallic or does not have a magnetic field, an object having a magnetic field may be installed on the wheel well16so that the magnet is attracted to the object have the magnetic field to attach the tire cover10to the wheel well16. If the wheel well16is metallic or does have a magnetic field, it may not be necessary to install another magnet on the wheel well since the one magnet may be attached directly to the wheel well.

In a case a button loop is used as the top fastener13, the fabric strap14may be configured as a loop and a button may be installed on the wheel well16so that the button is slipped through the loop to attach the tire cover10to the wheel well16. A similar configuration may be used for a hook-and-loop fastener or any other fasteners having two parts.

Referring again toFIG.2, when the tire cover10is oriented such that the top fastener13is located at the top portion10aof the tire cover10, the flexible fabric sheet12includes two holes17positioned adjacent to and below a horizonal center line CL of the tire cover10. One of the two holes17is located adjacent to the periphery of the flexible fabric sheet12on one side of the top fastener13and another of the two holes17is located adjacent to the periphery of the flexible fabric sheet12on another side of the top fastener13. The two holes17may be reinforced by grommets G to prevent the flexible fabric sheet12from tearing or fraying. A resilient fastener such as a bungee cord18having two ends18a,18b(as shown inFIG.7) is attached to the tire over10by threading one end18aof the bungee cord18through one hole17aof the two holes17and another end18bof the bungee cord18through another hole17bof the two holes17. A length of the bungee cord18is slightly longer than the distance between the two holes17such that two side fasteners19can be installed on the ends18a,18bof the bungee cord18as shown inFIG.7.

FIG.7depicts a front side of the tire cover10configured to face outward and away from an exterior sidewall of the tire30when installed on the tire30. As shown inFIG.7, both ends18a,18bof the bungee cord18protrude from the two holes17on the front side of the tire cover10. The side fasteners19are installed at the ends18a,18bof the bungee cord18. The sides of the tire cover10are attached to the wheel well16by attaching the side fasteners19to an inside of the lip16aof the wheel well16. As shown inFIGS.7,8A, and8B, the side fasters can be hooks, and after the side fasteners19are attached to the wheel well16, the bungee cord18is tensioned to hold the sides of tire cover10securely to the wheel well16. Thus, when the top fastener13and the side fasteners19are attached to the wheel well16, the tire cover10is securely attached to the wheel well16while leaving space between the tire cover10and the tire30to allow for ventilation so that moisture and heat do not become trapped between the tire cover10and the tire30, thus reducing further degradation of the tire30. The side fasteners19are not limited to including a hook. The side fasteners19may be one of a snap fastener, a magnet, a button loop, a hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro), clips, or the like.

The configuration of the top fastener13and side fasteners19allow for easy installation of the tire cover10such that the attachment points to the wheel well16are easily accessible to a user. The user does not have to reach into the wheel well16and does not have to bend down into awkward positions. Furthermore, the tire cover10is securely attached to the wheel well16using fewer attachment points than existing designs and does not need any further adjustment after attachment, thus reducing the time and effort to install the tire cover10.

FIG.9depicts a second embodiment of a tire cover50installed on the vehicle20. Substantially the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG.10depicts a front side of the tire cover50configured to face outward and away from an exterior sidewall of the tire30when installed on the vehicle20. As shown inFIG.10, the tire cover50includes the flexible frame11and the flexible fabric sheet12that covers the flexible frame11. The flexible fabric sheet12includes two holes17at a position corresponding to a wheel31ato which the tire30is mounted when the tire cover50is installed on the tire30. The two holes are preferably spaced apart evenly on each side of a center line CL of the tire cover50adjacent to a periphery of the wheel31awhen the tire cover50is installed on the tire30. The two holes may be reinforced by grommets G to prevent the flexible fabric sheet12from tearing or fraying. A resilient fastener such as a bungee cord48is threaded through each of the two holes17. A first end48a(as shown inFIG.11) of the bungee cord48is located at the back or tire facing side of the tire cover50and a second end48bof the bungee cord48is located at the front side of the tire cover50. The second end48bof the bungee cord48may be attached to a cord lock49configured to be releasably attached to the bungee cord48so that the bungee cord48is releasably locked against longitudinal movement. The cord lock49can be a cord adjustor/rope tensioner as shown inFIGS.9and10. The cord lock49is not limited to a cord adjustor/rope tensioner as shown inFIGS.9and10. The cord lock49may be any one of a cord adjustor/rope tensioner having a different shape and/or configuration, a cord lock, a toggle stopper clip, a bungee lock stopper, a clip, or the like capable of being releasably attached to the bungee cord48so that the bungee cord48is releasably locked against longitudinal movement.

FIG.11depicts a rear side of the tire cover50that faces an inward toward an exterior sidewall of the tire30. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG.11, the first end48aof the bungee cord48is located at the back or tire facing side of the tire cover50. The first end of the bungee cord48is attached to a fastener42. The tire cover50is attached to the wheel31aby attaching each fastener42attached to the first end48aof the bungee cord48to an attachment point31bof the wheel31asuch as a hole in the wheel31a. As shown inFIGS.11and12, the fasters42can be hooks, and after the fasteners42are attached to the attachment point31b, the tire cover50is pushed into contact with the wheel while the bungee cords48are tensioned, and after the bungee cords48are tensioned, the cord locks49are secured to each of the bungee cords48so that the bungee cords48are releasably locked against longitudinal movement to hold the tire cover14securely to the wheel31aand the tire30. Thus, when the tire cover50is attached to the wheel31aby the fasteners42and the cord locks49are secured to the bungee cords48, the tire cover50is securely attached to the tire30. The fasteners42are not limited to including a hook. The fasteners42may be one of a clamp, a magnet, a clip, or the like. The flexible fabric sheet12is not limited to only two holes and may include more than two holes to accommodate different attachment point positions.

INSTALLATION

A description of the installation process of the tire cover10is now provided. The tire cover10may be stored in a bag40(as shown inFIG.13) when the tire cover10is folded down to approximately ⅓ size of the unfolded circular shape as shown inFIG.3. After removing the tire cover10from the bag40, the tension from the flexible frame11causes the tire cover10to expand to its full size as shown inFIG.2.

In one embodiment, the tire cover10includes the fabric strap14including one part15aof the snap fastener attached thereto and the wheel well16includes another part15bof the snap fastener attached thereto. The user may press the one part15ato the another part15bto securely attach the two parts15a,15bof the snap fastener thereby securing the top portion10aof the tire cover10to the lip16aof the wheel well16as shown inFIG.6. The user may then attach each of the side fasteners19to the lip16aon both sides of the wheel well16thereby securely attaching the tire cover10to the wheel well16as shown inFIGS.8A and8B.

A description of the installation process of the tire cover50of the second embodiment is now provided. The tire cover50may be stored in a bag40(as shown inFIG.13) when the tire cover50is folded down to approximately ⅓ size of the unfolded circular shape as shown inFIG.3. After removing the tire cover50from the bag40, the tension from the flexible frame11causes the tire cover50to expand to its full size as shown inFIGS.10and11.

In the second embodiment, the tire cover50include the hooks40attached to the first end48aof the bungee cord48, and after the fasteners42are attached to the attachment point31bas shown inFIG.12, the tire cover50is pushed into contact with the wheel31awhile the bungee cords48are tensioned. While the bungee cords48are tensioned, the cord locks49are secured to each of the bungee cords48so that the bungee cords48are releasably locked against longitudinal movement to hold the tire cover50securely to the wheel31aand the tire30. Thus, when the tire cover50is attached to the wheel31aby the fasteners42and the cord locks49are secured to the bungee cords48, the tire cover50is securely attached to the tire30as shown inFIG.9.

Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments, numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention. More particularly, reasonable variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For example, the present technology can adopt the following configurations.

(1) A tire cover, including:a flexible fabric sheet having a front side, a rear side, a top, and a bottom;a flexible frame coupled to a periphery of the flexible fabric sheet, the flexible fabric sheet including two holes, one of the two holes located on one side of a center line of the flexible fabric sheet and another of the two holes located on another side of the center line of the flexible fabric sheet;two resilient fasteners, each of the two resilient fasteners having a first end and a second end and being threaded through a respective one of the two holes so that the first end is positioned at the front side of the flexible fabric sheet and the second end is positioned at the rear side of the flexible fabric sheet;two fasteners, one of the two fasteners being attached to the first end of one the resilient fasteners and another of the two fasteners being attached to the first end of another of the resilient fasteners, the two fasteners being configured to attach to a wheel of a vehicle; and two resilient fastener locks configured to be secured to a respective one of the two resilient fasteners at the front side of the flexible fabric sheet so that the resilient fasteners are releasably locked against longitudinal movement to hold the tire cover securely to the wheel and a tire mounted to the wheel.

(2) The tire cover of (1), whereinthe flexible fabric sheet includes two layers, andthe flexible frame is inserted between the two layers such that the flexible frame is positioned adjacent to a seam joining the two layers.

(3) The tire cover of (1) or (2), whereinthe one hole and the another hole are located on the center line of the tire cover.

(4) The tire cover of any of (1) through (3), whereinthe two resilient fasteners include a bungee cord.

(5) The tire cover of claim (1) through (4), whereinthe one hole and the another hole are reinforced by grommets.

(6) The tire cover of any of (1) through (5), whereinthe two fasteners are one of a hook a magnet, or a clip.

(7) The tire cover of any of (1) through (6), whereinthe flexible fabric sheet includes material that blocks ultraviolet (UV) rays or reflects light.

(8) The tire cover of any of (1) through (7), whereinthe flexible frame is configured to transition between a folded state and an open state in which the flexible fabric sheet is tensioned, andthe flexible frame includes a wire formed in a circular shape when not folded in the open state and is made of a material that, after folding the flexible frame to the folded state, can return to the circular shape in the open state.

(9) The tire cover of any of (1) through (8), whereinthe flexible fabric sheet includes two layers, andthe two layers include materials different from each other.

(10) The tire cover of any of (1) through (9), whereinthe rear side of the tire cover faces inward toward an exterior sidewall of the tire, andthe front side of the tire cover faces outward away from the exterior sidewall of the tire.

(11) The tire cover of any of (1) through (10), whereinthe flexible fabric sheet includes a single layer of material, andthe flexible frame is inserted inside a hem formed by folding an outer circumferential edge of the single layer of material around the flexible frame.

(12) The tire cover of any of (1) through (11), whereinthe flexible fabric sheet includes two layers of material,one of the two layers of material facing the front side includes material that blocks ultraviolet (UV) rays or reflects light, andanother of the two layers of material facing the rear side includes material that blocks heat.

(13) The tire cover of any of (1) through (12), whereinthe two fasteners include a hook.