Abstract:
A protector for metal objects, the protector comprising an elongate body and an elongate insert, where the elongate body and the elongate insert are magnetic. The protector may be formed of a resilient material. The protector may be magnetically attached to a vehicle door or other metallic surface to protect the surface from impacts. The protector may have an adjustable length or a fixed length. The elongate insert may be wrapped in coil, which may be powered by a battery to increase the magnetic field of the protector. The battery may be rechargeable via a solar panel in the protector. The protector may be part of a system that includes a magnetic panel within the door of a vehicle for proper placement of the protector thereon.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to an improved detachable protector for steel bodies, and more particularly to a device for protecting the exterior finish of a vehicle from damage caused by neighboring vehicles in parking lots, garages, or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Due to the large and ever-growing number of motor vehicles, it has become a common parking lot practice to park vehicles as close as possible. Consequently, when a vehicle is being entered or exited, the door of one vehicle often comes in contact with the side of an adjacent vehicle. This door contact often results in a marring or chipping of the exterior finish of the vehicle hit, causing a diminution in the eye-pleasing appearance thereof and also a reduction in the resale value thereof. This chipping and marring of the exterior surface of the vehicle is aggravated by the fact that many vehicles are presently being manufactured without any protecting devices longitudinally attached along the exterior sides, such as strips of chrome. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,887, which was issued on May 2, 1972 to Russell C. Marquette, the inventor of the present invention, addressed this problem with a detachable side protector comprising a base having slidably received on the upper surface thereof and magnetically held thereto two extension strips projecting horizontally therefrom in opposite directions, where the protector is magnetically held on the exterior surface of a steel body to prevent damage thereto during the opening of doors on neighboring vehicles. In the commercial application of the protector described therein, it became apparent that the protector must adhere firmly to a car door or other object to be protected with tenacity so that it can be removed only with significant effort. This problem is addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,478, issued Oct. 13, 1981, also to Russell C. Marquette. This patent describes an improved detachable protector for steel objects such as automobile doors, appliance doors, file cabinets, or any object which is subject to being struck by anything which would dent or deface the object, the protector being an elongated body composed of magnetic plastic material which adheres by magnetic attraction to ferrous metal, the body being defined in cross-section by a flat part having an upper surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface being adapted to adhere to the steel object to be protected and the cross-section being further defined by an arcuate portion which extends from the upper surface of the flat part, the width of the arcuate portion being less than the flat part to leave portion of the flat part extending along each side of the arcuate part, and a thin elongated flat metal member positioned within the arcuate part and in engagement with the upper surface of the flat part to enhance the magnetic action of the body and, in the preferred arrangement, having a layer of adhesive on the lower surface of the flat part to help prevent the device from slipping after it is magnetically attached to the body to be protected. Despite this improvement, increased magnetic forces are desirable to better hold the device in place. Both U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,887 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,478 are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Based on the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a protector that can be attached to the side of a vehicle during parking and removed therefrom when the car is being driven. 
     It is further desirable for such a protector not to mar the surface of the vehicle and to be magnetically held to the exterior thereof. 
     It is further desirable for such a protector to provide sufficient magnetic force to allow the user to leave the protector in place while the car is driven, if desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a detachable protector for metal objects, the protector comprising: an elongated body formed of magnetic material, the body in cross-section being defined by a thin flat part having an upper surface and a planar lower surface and an arcuate part extending from the flat part upper surface, the arcuate part having a width less than that of the flat part, such that the flat part has side portions along each side of the arcuate part and an intermediate portion, where the side portions are integral with the arcuate part; and an elongated magnetic insert of length substantially equal to that of the elongated body positioned within the arcuate part and in close engagement with the upper surface of the flat part, the magnetic insert having a width substantially equal to an internal width of the arcuate part at a point adjacent the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the flat part. 
     The intermediate portion of the flat part may be a separate element bonded to the arcuate part or may be integral with the side portions. The protector may further comprise a coil surrounding the magnetic insert. A power source, such as a battery or a solar panel, may be connected to the coil. The detachable protector may further comprise an adhesive layer on the lower surface of the flat part. The body may be comprised of a rubber ferrite composite. 
     In a second embodiment, an apparatus for protecting the exterior of a steel body comprises: a base strip of resilient material, said strip having an elongated arcuate-in-cross section portion bordered along each longitudinal edge thereof by integral flat horizontal flanges extending outwardly therefrom to form contact surfaces for attachment of the base strip to the exterior of a vehicle, the base strip being magnetized whereby when said flanges are placed in contact with the exterior of the body the base strip is magnetically held thereto and the arcuate portion projects outwardly from the exterior to receive and absorb any shock imparted thereto; a magnetic insert positioned within the arcuate portion; and an extension strip of resilient material, the extension strip being magnetized and having an elongated arcuate-in-cross-section portion mating the curvature of the base strip and bordered along the longitudinal edges thereof by integral flat horizontal flanges extending outwardly therefrom to form contact surfaces for attachment of the extension strips to the exterior of the body, the extension strip being magnetically saddled on the upper surface of the base strip and slidable relative thereto to vary the longitudinal length of the apparatus. The apparatus may further comprise a coil surrounding the magnetic insert and/or an adhesive layer on the lower surface of the base strip. The base strip may be comprised of a rubber ferrite composite. The apparatus may further comprise a second base strip, where the extension strip spans a gap between the base strip and a second extension strip. 
     In a third embodiment, a protector for metal objects comprises an elongate body with a cross section comprising an arcuate part; an elongate base, where the base is at least as wide as the elongate body and where the elongate body rests atop the elongate base; and an elongate insert, where the insert is narrower than an internal width of the arcuate part of the elongate body, such that the insert fits within the arcuate part of the elongate body. The elongate body, the elongate base, and the elongate insert may be magnetic and the elongate base may be formed of a resilient material. The cross section of the elongate body may further comprise two leg portions, where the two leg portions lie in a common plane with a space therebetween and where the arcuate part spans the space between the two leg portions. The elongate body and the elongate base may be formed of magnetic rubber material. The protector may further comprise a layer of cured silicone at least partially covering a bottom surface of the elongate base. The cured silicone may be grooved. 
     The protector may further comprise: a second elongate body with a cross section comprising an arcuate part, where the second elongate body is magnetic; a second elongate base, where the base is at least as wide as the second elongate body and where the second elongate body rests atop the second elongate base, where the second elongate base is magnetic and formed of a resilient material; a second elongate insert, where the insert is narrower than an internal width of the arcuate part of the second elongate body, such that the insert fits within the arcuate part of the second elongate body, and where the second elongate insert is magnetic; and an extension strip spanning a gap between the first elongate body and the second elongate body, where the extension strip is an elongate strip with a cross section comprising an arcuate part with an interior diameter greater than an exterior diameter of the arcuate part of the elongate body and the arcuate part of the second arcuate body, such that the extension strip at least partially fits atop the elongate body and the second elongate body. 
     The elongate insert may be metal and wrapped in coil. The protector may further comprise a battery powering the coil such that the coil increases the elongate insert&#39;s magnetic force. The protector may further comprise: a second elongate body with a cross section comprising an arcuate part, where the second elongate body is magnetic; a second elongate base, where the base is at least as wide as the second elongate body and where the second elongate body rests atop the second elongate base, where the second elongate base is magnetic and formed of a resilient material; and a second elongate insert, where the insert is narrower than an internal width of the arcuate part of the second elongate body, such that the insert fits within the arcuate part of the second elongate body, and where the second elongate insert is magnetic and wrapped in coil, where the battery fits partially within one end of the elongate body and partially within one end of the second elongate body to connect the elongate body to the second elongate body and to complete a circuit comprising the battery, the coil wrapped around the elongate insert, the coil wrapped around the second elongate insert, the elongate insert, and the second elongate insert. The protector may further comprise a housing around the battery. The battery may be rechargeable, and the protector may further comprise a solar panel assembly connected to and capable of recharging the battery. 
     In a fourth embodiment, a system of protecting a vehicle may comprise a magnetic protector and a magnetic member installed within a door of the vehicle, where the protector is magnetically attracted to the magnetic member. The magnetic protector may comprise: an elongate body with a cross section comprising an arcuate part; an elongate base, where the base is at least as wide as the elongate body and where the elongate body rests atop the elongate base; and an elongate insert, where the insert is narrower than an internal width of the arcuate part of the elongate body, such that the insert fits within the arcuate part of the elongate body, where the elongate body, the elongate base, and the elongate insert are magnetic and the elongate base is formed of a resilient material. The system may further comprise a plurality of magnetic protectors and a plurality of magnetic members. The magnetic members may be welded to the interior of the door or may be attached to the interior of the door via adhesive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the protector in place on a vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the protector; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the protector; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross section of the extruded version of the protector; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section of the version of the protector with a separate intermediate piece; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross section of the version of the protector with a separate full-width base piece; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the extendable version of the protector in place on a vehicle; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the extendable version of the protector; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the extendable version of the protector; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the extendable version of the protector; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section of the extension strip; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the battery powered version of the protector in place on a vehicle; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the battery powered version of the protector; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the battery powered version of the protector; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the battery powered version of the protector; 
         FIG. 16  is a cut away view of the battery powered version of the protector; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross section view of the battery powered version of the protector; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross section view of the battery powered version of the protector; 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the battery powered version of the protector with optional solar panel; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the protector in place on a vehicle with optional magnetic members within its doors; and 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the protector with optional towel ring. 
     
    
    
     Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope. 
     While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the devices and components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. 
     In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a protector  1 , which may include a body portion  2  and decorative end caps  3  and  4 . The body  2  may include a thin flat part  5  having a bottom surface  6  and a top surface  7 . An arcuate part  8  may extend from the top surface. The width of the arcuate part  8  may be less than that of the flat part  5  so that, in effect, the flat part  5  comprises three portions: two leg portions  9  and  10  and an intermediate portion  11 . 
     The body  2 , including the thin flat part  5  and the arcuate part  8 , may be formed of magnetic plastic or magnetic rubber material, such as a rubber ferrite composite. For example, the body  2  may be fabricated from a blend of ferrite powder and polyethylene plastic extrusion molded into the desired shapes. The body  2  may then be passed through a magnetizer wherein the ferrite powder is magnetized to transform the body  2  into a permanent magnet, with the north pole on the upper surface  7  and the south pole on the bottom surface  6 . The entire body  2  may be integrally formed, with the arcuate part  8 , legs  9  and  10  of the flat part  5 , and intermediate portion  11  of the flat part  5  all forming one piece. For example, the entire body  2  may be formed through extrusion. Alternately, the intermediate portion  11  may be a separate piece, which may be held to the rest of the body  2  by friction fit, magnetic attraction, adhesive, or a combination thereof. If adhesive is used, the adhesive may be silicone rubber, double-backed adhesive tape, or any other desired adhesive. 
     An insert  12  may be positioned between the intermediate portion  11  and the arcuate part  8 . The insert  12  may be thin, elongated, flat, and made of paramagnetic material. Alternately, the insert  12  may be made of magnetic material. If the insert  12  is magnetic, it may have lines of force matching those of the body  2 , thus enhancing the magnetic attachment of the protector  1 . The insert  12  may provide additional stability to the protector  1 , as well as increase the magnetic attraction of the body  2  to a structure to which the protector  1  is mounted, such as by offering a high permeability magnetic flux flow path. Insert  12  may have a width equal to or slightly less than the internal width of the arcuate part  8 . The insert  12  may be positioned within the arcuate part  8  and in engagement with the top surface  7  of the flat part  5 , specifically the intermediate portion  11  of the flat part  5 . The arcuate part  8  may mechanically confine the insert  12 , while the magnetic attraction of the intermediate portion  11  may keep the insert  12  in engagement therewith. 
     The protector  1  may further comprise a layer of adhesive  13  on the bottom surface  6  of the flat part  5 . The adhesive  13  may be in the form of silicone rubber to provide a non-slip surface to help insure that the protector  1  securely adheres to the structure to which the protector  1  is mounted and to protect the surface of the structure to which the protector  1  is mounted. Alternately, the layer of adhesive  13  may take the form of a double-backed adhesive tape or any other desired adhesive. In this way, the protector  1  may be secured to the structure to which the protector  1  is mounted both by the magnetic properties of the protector  1  plus the adhesive properties of the adhesive layer  13 . The adhesive layer  13  may have grooves or other texture to improve its grip on the surface of the structure to which the protector  1  is mounted. Alternately, the adhesive layer  13  may be silicone that is horizontally grooved then cured so that it is no longer sticky. This layer  13  may help prevent dust from getting under the protector  1  and marring the surface upon which the protector  1  is placed. The adhesive layer  13  may likewise be applied to the end caps  3  and  4 . Alternately, the adhesive layer  13  may not be adhesive but may be a material for protecting the surface of the structure to which the protector is mounted  1 , such as felt. 
     The protector  1  may further comprise an extension strip  14  that may be slidably received on the body  2 . The extension strip  14  may have an arcuate portion  15  bordered along each longitudinal edge thereof by a horizontal flange  16  and  17 , where the extension strip  14  is sized such that the arcuate portion  15  may fit over the arcuate part  8  of the body  2  and the flanges  16  and  17  may fit on the top surface  7  of the leg portions  9  and  10  of the flat part  5  of the body  2 . The extension strip  14  may slide along the top of the body  2  to extend the length of the protector  1 . The protector  1  may comprise two bodies  2  with an extension strip spanning a gap between the two bodies  2 , further extending the length of the protector  1 . 
     Decorative end caps  3  and  4  may be attached to either end of the body  2  and/or to the extension strip  14 , if present. The end caps  3  and  4  may be downwardly rounded to increase the aesthetic appearance of the protector  1 , while the ends of the body  2  may be perpendicular to the length thereof. If the end caps  3  and  4  are omitted, the ends of the body  2  may be downwardly rounded. If one or more extension strips  14  are included in the protector, any outer ends may be downwardly rounded while any inner ends may be perpendicular to the length thereof in order to permit slidable saddling thereof on the upper surface of the body  2 . 
     In one alternate embodiment, rather than having an intermediate portion  11  between the two legs  9  and  10 , the body  2  may rest on a base  18  that has a width substantially equal to that of the body  2 . The base  18  may be formed of magnetic plastic or magnetic rubber material, such as a rubber ferrite composite. The base  18  may be designed to receive the legs  9  and  10  for a better attachment. The base  18  may attach to the body  2  through friction fit, magnetic force, adhesive, or a combination thereof. The adhesive may be silicone adhesive, adhesive tape, or any other desired adhesive. The base  18  may be designed to accept the insert  12 , which may be narrower that the base  18 . Indeed, the insert  12  may be slightly narrower than the space between the two legs  9  and  10  such that it may fit atop the base  18  between the legs  9  and  10 . The base  18 , body  2 , and insert  12  may all be magnetized with matching magnetic lines to enhance the flux field of the protector  1  for greater attachment. The bottom of the base  18  may be coated in adhesive layer  13 , as described above. 
     Additionally or alternately, the insert  12  may be wrapped or encircled by a coil  19 , such as a steel or copper wire wrapped around the insert  12  to create a higher magnetic flux field. Optionally, the coil  19  may be powered by a power source, such as one or more battery  20 , one or more solar panel  21 , other power source, or a combination thereof, to further increase the flux field. If the coil  19  is powered by a battery  20 , the battery  20  may be housed within the arcuate part  8 . The battery  20  may be a AAA battery or any other suitable battery. 
     The body  2  may comprise two sides  22  and  23 , where one end  24  of side  22  abuts one end  25  of side  23  such that sides  22  and  23  lie in the same plane and form a single elongate body  2 . End  24  of side  22  may have a recess  26  and end  25  of side  23  may have a projection  27  that is receivable in the recess  26  to join the two sides  22  and  23  together. If a battery  20  is housed within the arcuate part  8 , it may span the ends  24  and  25  to join sides  22  and  23  together. The battery  20  may complete a circuit, powering the coil  19  when the two sides  22  and  23  are joined. The battery  20  may be housed within a housing  28 , with a spring and positive contact  30  and a negative contact  31  on opposing ends. The housing  28  may be a thin metal sleeve encasing the battery  20  and completing the circuit. The sleeve may be permanently attached to the negative contact  31  and coil  19  and may be inserted into the positive side of the battery contact portion  30  of the coil  19 . The housing  28  may be magnetized to hold the battery in place. Alternately, if no battery  20  is present, a connector may span the ends  24  and  25  to join sides  22  and  23  together. For example, the connector may be a short length of nylon rod. 
     If the coil  19  is at least partially powered by solar energy, a solar panel  21  may be located in one or both of the end caps  3  and  4 , in the arcuate part  8 , in one or both of the legs  9  and  10 , in an additional structure appended to the body  2 , or any combination thereof. The solar panel  21  may be connected to a rechargeable battery, which may or may not be battery  20 , or other device for storing such energy. 
     The insert  12  may be insulated from the body  2  to prevent the loss of energy from the coil  19 . 
     In another alternative embodiment, a vehicle  32  may be manufactured with magnetic member  33  placed on the interior surface of the door  34  of the vehicle  32  to attract and hold the protector  1  in place. The magnetic member  33  may be permanently attached, such as through welding, or semi-permanently or temporarily, such as via adhesive. This magnetic member  33  may also repel an adjacent vehicle door with its own magnetic member  33 . Alternately, an area of the outer surface of the door  34  may be magnetized to increase the magnetic attraction between the protector  1  and the door  34 . Likewise, an area of the outer surface of the door  34  may be magnetized and a second area, such as the edge of the door, may be magnetized in such a way that, when two magnetized vehicles are parked adjacent to each other, the magnetized area repels the second magnetized area of an adjacent vehicle. This would be particularly valuable to protect small cars that would otherwise be hit by opening adjacent car doors in areas in which mounting a protector  1  would be impractical or aesthetically undesirable. 
     One or more of the protectors  1  may be affixed in horizontal alignment along the exterior side of a vehicle at the outermost portion thereof so as to receive any shock imparted thereto, such as by a door from an adjacent vehicle being banged thereagainst during the opening thereof. In operation, when an automobile is parked such as in a parking lot, a user may adjust the length of the protector  1 , if one or more extension strips  14  are present, by slidably traveling the extension strips  14  relative to the body or bodies  2  to attain the optimum protection for the vehicle. The user may then merely attach one or more of the protectors  1  along the exterior side of the vehicle at points susceptible to being hit by the edge of a door of a neighboring vehicle being opened. When the door of a neighboring vehicle is opened, the protectors  1  may receive and, due to the plasticity thereof, absorb the shock and consequently prevent any marring of the vehicle&#39;s exterior finish. When there is no need for the protective device such as when the car is being driven, the protector  1  can be removed and collapsed by stacking the extension strip  14  onto the upper surface  6  of the body  2  to facilitate storage thereof such as in the glove compartment or trunk of the vehicle. Alternately, the protector  1  may be left in place, as the increased magnetic field of the protector  1  may be strong enough to hold the protector  1  in place even when the vehicle is in motion. 
     The protector  1  may additionally be used on surfaces other than those of automobiles, such as appliance doors, file cabinets, or any object which is subject to being struck by anything which would dent or deface the object. One or more accessories, such as a towel ring  35  a shown, may be included to offer additional utility. Most restaurants have soiled cleaning towels lying around the kitchen area. The protector  1  with towel ring  35  would be very useful and could be conveniently placed on a stainless steel wall, stove, oven, etc., or wherever needed. 
     Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.