Abstract:
A vehicle side protector provides a compact easily transported and deployed padded rod couplable to a vehicle providing a physical barrier to prevent damage to the side of the vehicle. The protector includes a collapsible rod assembly having a plurality of sections. A plurality of pads is coupled to the rod assembly. A front attachment line coupled to and extends from the rod assembly and a back attachment line is coupled to and extends from the rod assembly. A front attachment hook is coupled to the front attachment line and a back attachment hook coupled to the back attachment line.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to vehicle dent prevention devices and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle dent prevention device for providing a compact easily transported and deployed padded rod couplable to the vehicle to extend along the side of the vehicle providing a physical barrier to prevent damage to the side of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a collapsible rod assembly having a plurality of sections. A plurality of pads is coupled to the rod assembly. A front attachment line coupled to and extends from the rod assembly and a back attachment line is coupled to and extends from the rod assembly. A front attachment hook is coupled to the front attachment line and a back attachment hook coupled to the back attachment line. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front side perspective view of a vehicle side protector according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a partially collapsed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in an expanded position. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new vehicle dent prevention device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the vehicle side protector  10  generally comprises a collapsible rod assembly  12  having a plurality of sections  14 . A plurality of pads  16  coupled to the rod assembly  12 . A front attachment line  18  and a back attachment line are each coupled to and extend from the rod assembly  12 . A front attachment hook  22  is coupled to the front attachment line  18 , and a back attachment hook  24  coupled to the back attachment line  20 . 
     The plurality of sections  14  includes a central section  26  having an open first end  28 , an open second end  30 , and a perimeter wall  32  extending continuously from the open first end  28  to the open second end  30 . The plurality of pads  16  includes a front central pad  34  which is coupled to the perimeter wall  32  of the central section  26  proximate the open first end  28  of the central section  26 . Another of the plurality of pads  16  includes a back central pad  36  that is coupled to the perimeter wall  32  of the central section  26  proximate the open second end  30  of the central section  26 . The front central pad  34  and back central pad  36  are spaced apart and extend from an outer surface  38  of the central section  26  to contact an outer surface  40  of a vehicle  42  and support the central section  26  in spaced relationship to the outer surface  40  of the vehicle  42 . 
     A front medial section  44  of the rod assembly  12  is slidably inserted into the open first end  28  of the central section  26 . The front medial section  44  has an open first end  46 , a second end  48 , and a hollow interior  50  extending from the open first end  46  towards the second end  48 . The second end  48  of the front medial section  44  is sized to engage an interior surface  52  of the central section  26  adjacent to the open first end  28  of the central section  26 . Thus, the front medial section  44  may be frictionally held in an extended position  54  from the open first end  28  of the central section  26 . One pad of the plurality of pads  16  is coupled to and extends around the front medial section  44  and defines a front pad  56 . The front pad  56  is positioned adjacent to the open first end  46  of the front medial section  44  so that the front pad  56  is in spaced relationship to the front central pad  34  when the front medial section  44  is in the extended position  54 . 
     Similarly, a back medial section  58  is slidably inserted into the open second end  30  of the central section  26 . The back medial section  58  has an open first end  60 , a second end  62 , and a hollow interior  64  extending from the open first end  60  towards the second end  62 . The second end  62  of the back medial section  58  is sized to engage an interior surface  66  of the central section  26  adjacent to the open second end  30  of the central section  26 . As such, the back medial section  58  may be frictionally held in an extended position  68  from the open second end  30  of the central section  26 . The plurality of pads  16  further includes a back pad  70  that is coupled to and extends around the back medial section  58 . The back pad  70  is positioned adjacent to the open first end  60  of the back medial section  58  so that the back pad  70  is in spaced relationship to the back central pad  36  when the back medial section  58  is in the extended position  68 . 
     A front end section  72  may be slidably inserted into the open first end  46  of the front medial section  44 . The front end section  72  has a first end  74  and a second end  76  and may be hollow extending between the first end  74  and the second end  76 . The second end  76  of the front end section  72  is sized to engage an interior surface  78  of the front medial section  44  adjacent to the open first end  46  of the front medial section  44 . Thus, the front end section  72  is frictionally held in an extended position  80  from the open first end  46  of the front medial section  44 . 
     A back end section  82  may be slidably inserted into the open first end  60  of the back medial section  58 . The back end section  82  has a first end  84  and a second end  86  and may be hollow extending between the first end  84  and the second end  86 . The second end  86  of the back end section  82  is sized to engage an interior surface  88  of the back medial section  82  adjacent to the open first end  60  of the back medial section  58 . Thus, the back end section  82  may be frictionally held in an extended position  90  from the open first end  60  of the back medial section  58 . 
     A front collar  92  is coupled to and extends around the front medial section  44 . The front collar  92  is positioned adjacent to a proximal end  94  of the front pad  56  relative to the central section  26 . A front loop  96  extends from the front collar  92 . The front attachment line  18  has a proximal end  98  relative to the front medial section  44  that is coupled to the front loop  96 . Similarly, a back collar  100  is coupled to and extends around the back medial section  58 . The back collar  100  is positioned adjacent to a proximal end  102  of the back pad  70  relative to the central section  26 . A back loop  104  extends from the back collar  100 . A proximal end  106  of the back attachment line  20  relative to the back medial section  58  is coupled to the back loop  104 . 
     A secondary front attachment line  108 , tertiary front attachment line  110 , secondary back attachment line  112 , and tertiary back attachment line  114  may also be coupled to and extend from the rod assembly  12  to provide varying lengths and options for positioning the rod assembly  12  in an optimal position relative to the side  40  of the vehicle  42 . Attachment hooks may be provided to permit direct attachment or looping of the lines  108 , 110 , 112 , 114  around portions of the vehicle  42  such as windshield wipers, rearview mirrors or the like. An attachment member  116  having a base portion  118  may be provided for attachment to the vehicle  42 . The attachment member  116  has a curved portion  120  extending from the base portion  118  so that either of the attachment hooks  22 , 24  is couplable to the attachment member  116 . Thus, an attachment point  122  may be provided at any desired location on the vehicle  42  as desired. Lines  18 , 20 , 108 , 110 , 112 , 114  may all be removable or adjustable for length to provide greater flexibility in attaching the rod assembly  12  to the vehicle  42 . 
     In use, the rod assembly  12  is generally stored in a collapsed position. The rod assembly  12  is extended and the attachment lines  18 , 20  are used to hold the rod assembly  12  in place with the pads  16  contacting the side  40  of the vehicle  42 . Additional pads and sections may be utilized in similar fashion to provide extension and coverage over a longer distance for larger vehicles. The rod assembly  12  is positioned to receive and absorb contact with objects that might damage the side  40  of the vehicle  42 . After use, the rod assembly  12  may be collapsed and stored until needed again. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.