Abstract:
An automobile cover is adapted to protectively cover the windows, the hood, the roof, and some portion of the trunk of an automobile to obviate the need to manually remove frost, snow, or ice which may have accumulated on those surfaces while the automobile is parked. The automobile cover can be deployed from a storage area attached to the interior of a trunk in anticipation of frigid weather precipitation, and removably secured to the automobile. Prior to the subsequent operation of the automobile, the automobile cover would be retracted to the storage configuration, whereupon the accumulated precipitation would be shed from both the automobile cover and the automobile.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/146,612, filed Apr. 13, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an automobile cover adapted to protective a majority of an outer surface of an automobile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Maintaining clean automobile windows is a necessary step an automobile driver must take in ensuring safe automobile operation. However, this task is made exceedingly difficult in those areas where cold weather seasons exist. While windshield wipers, washing fluid and defrosters do an adequate job of keeping the windshield area clean while driving, they cannot quickly or easily cope with thick frost, ice and snow buildup that may accumulate while the automobile is parked. 
     Weather events such as the above require the driver to get out an ice scraper and physically remove the buildup or warm up the automobile while parked wasting fuel and time. Rather than waste fuel and time, the driver must often resort to physical removal of the frost, ice or snow. Resorting to this removal option is not a pleasant task in freezing temperatures, as even gloved hands quickly become numb. As a result, many drivers only clear a small spot on the windshield, directly in front of the driver&#39;s seat and just barely enough to navigate. 
     This minimal amount of clear sight results in a dangerous driving condition, not only for the driver, but any others who may be sharing the road with them. Accordingly, a need has arisen for a means by which motorists can protect all automobile windows from the ravages of winter weather in a simple and easy manner. The use of the automobile cover allows drivers in cold weather climates to be assured of clear windows at all times without the normal time and energy associated with conventional ice scrapers or pre-automobile operation engine warming in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a protective cover, comprising a canopy which has a plurality of apertures that are adjacent to a perimeter edge of the cover and a tail having a tail aperture which is located at the distal end of the tail. The cover also has a retraction device which is operably attached to the tail and a plurality of resilient cords with each cord having a hook at each distal end. With respect to each cord, one (1) hook is capable of being secured to an individual aperture of the canopy while the other hook is capable of being secured to a frame member of an automobile. The canopy is configured to cover at least a portion of external surfaces of the automobile. The retraction device selectively deploys or retracts the canopy either manually or by use of an electric motor. 
     The retraction device may comprise of a first cache half, a second cache half which is removably secured to the first cache half, a reel comprising a reel shaft which has a splined cavity and is capable of being in mechanical communication with the reel, a crank and an opening vertically disposed within the second cache half. The canopy is in mechanical communication with the reel and when actuated by the crank, the canopy is selectively deployed or retracted through the opening. 
     The retraction device may also comprise a pair of trunnions, each of which is centrally positioned on an outside face of the reel, a first bearing, a second bearing, a first cradle half centrally positioned on a top surface of the first cache half, a second cradle half centrally positioned on a top surface of the second cache half, a third cradle half centrally positioned on a bottom surface of the first cache half, a fourth cradle half centrally positioned on a bottom surface of the second cache half, a leader secured at a first end to the reel shaft of the reel and a hook secured to a second end of the leader. 
     The first cradle half and the second cradle half are capable of retaining the first bearing secured about the first trunnion when the first cache half and a second cache half are secured together. Likewise, the third cradle half and the fourth cradle half are capable of retaining the second bearing secured about the second trunnion when the first cache half and a second cache half are secured together. When the hook is secured within the aperture of the tail, the canopy is capable of being operably controlled by the crank. 
     The first and second cache halves each may also comprise a pair of support rod ears extending away each cache half. The crank may also comprise a handle, a splined shaft and an arm which is horizontally disposed between the splined shaft and the handle. The handle is perpendicularly secured to a first end of the arm while the splined shaft is perpendicularly secured to a second end of the arm in a direction opposite to that of the handle. When the splined shaft is secured within the splined cavity, the crank operably controls the reel. 
     The crank may also comprise a spinner which is disposed about the handle, thereby facilitating free rotation of the crank. The canopy may comprise of a foldable durable heavy millimeter polymer film and the plurality of cords may individually comprise a multi-filament elastomer which has an elastic covering. Each canopy and tail aperture comprises a grommet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an automobile cover  10  deployed on an automobile in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isolated top side view of a retraction device  60  of the automobile cover  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the retraction device  60  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isolated bottom side view of a retraction device  60  of the automobile cover  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an isolated view of a reel  65  of a retraction device  60 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  automobile cover 
               20  canopy 
               25  perimeter 
               30  aperture 
               35  grommet 
               40  resilient cord 
               45   a  first hook 
               45   b  second hook 
               50  tail 
               60  retraction device 
               65  reel 
               67  reel shaft 
               70  tail hook 
               75  leader 
               77  leader to reel shaft attachment 
               80  trunnion 
               85  splined cavity 
               90  first cache half 
               91  second cache half 
               95  opening 
               100  fastener 
               105  first cradle half 
               106  second cradle half 
               107  third cradle half 
               108  fourth cradle half 
               110  bearing 
               115  crank 
               117  crank aperture 
               120  arm 
               125  handle 
               130  spinner 
               135  splined shaft 
               140  support rod 
               145  support rod ears 
               150  automobile 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an automobile cover (herein referred to as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to easily remove frost, snow, and ice which can accumulate on the windows and the horizontal surfaces of an automobile  150  during a period of disuse in a frigid climate. A canopy  20  would be routinely deployed, via a retraction device  60 , over some portion of the automobile  150  from first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  and removably attached to the automobile  150  by means of a plurality of resilient cords  40  at the initiation of a rest period. Prior to the subsequent use of the automobile  150 , the canopy  20  is retracted into the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  resulting in the sloughing of any accumulation ice, snow, or frost. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10  is presented as a retrofit for an existing automobile  150  that may require some assembly by a qualified provider of such services. However, it can be seen that the present apparatus  10  can easily be incorporated into the design of any automobile  150  without limiting the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the apparatus  10  may be adapted to span virtually any object in addition to a mode of transportation and accomplish the intended purpose without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10  or the protection herein granted. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the apparatus  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a canopy  20  and a manual retraction device  60 . The canopy  20  is envisioned to be composed of a rectangular, heavy-mil polymer film or equivalent foldable and weather tolerant material which may be formulated to include certain additives to lower the surface friction properties thereof. The canopy  20  is provided with a plurality of apertures  30  uniformly spaced about the perimeter  25 . The apertures  30  are reinforced with metal or rigid polymer grommets  35  to resist tearing the material of the canopy  20 . The apertures  30  are provided for the removable attachment of the canopy  20  to the automobile  150 . In use, the canopy  20  is retained on the automobile  150  with a plurality of resilient cords  40 . The resilient cords  40  are provided with a formed “J”-shaped first hook  45   a  at a first end and a similarly configured second hook  45   b  at an opposite end. The hooks  45   a ,  45   b  may take any form and be attached to the resilient cord  40  by any means without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The resilient cords  40  are composed of a multi-filament elastomer with a woven, flexible synthetic covering, such as nylon, or the like, to resist abuse. An open end of a first hook  45   a  is inserted into the grommet  35  in an aperture  30  of the canopy  20 , while the second hook  45   b  at the opposite end of the resilient cord  40  is hooked to a convenient frame member, or a substantial body member, of the automobile  150 . This method of attachment is intended to spread the canopy uniformly over the body of the automobile  150  to protectively cover the roof, the windows, and portions of the rear and sides of the automobile  150 . This method of deployment of the canopy  20  will obviate the formation of ice and frost on the windows and prevent any falling snow from directly contacting those components of the automobile  150  covered by the canopy  20 . It is envisioned that the canopy  20  may be presented in a variety of lengths and widths to adequately cover a broad range of automobiles  150  and other suitable applications. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , isolated views of the retraction device  60 ,  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of the retraction device  60  of the apparatus  10 , and  FIG. 5 , an isolated view of the reel  65  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The retraction device  60  includes a crank  80  operated reel  65  upon which the canopy  20  is gathered for storage, and the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91 . The first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  are configured to be a hollow, generally cylindrical housing, into which the canopy  20  is collapsed after each use. The first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  are constructed of a plurality of injection-molded thermoplastic pieces to form a storage compartment for the canopy  20 . The canopy  20  is provided with a tail  50  along some portion of the perimeter  25  which comprises a preferential attachment point to the reel  65 . The tail  50  is configured to be a tapered formation along the perimeter  25  of the canopy  20 . At least one (1) grommet  35  reinforced aperture  30  is disposed in the tail  50  in order to be connected to a tail hook  70  attached to the reel  65  by means of a leader  75  which is secured to the reel shaft  67  by a leader to a reel shaft attachment  77 . The reel  65  is configured to be a cylindrical shaft provided with a pair of lateral disks upon which the canopy  20  is stored. The lateral disks of the reel  65  maintain the wound canopy  20  in a stacked configuration to obviate any interference with the interior of the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91 . The reel shaft  67  comprises trunnions  80  upon which the reel  65  rotates. The trunnions  80  are provided with annular bearings  110  which are correspondingly retained in the first and second cradle halves  105 ,  106  and third and fourth cradle halves  107 ,  108  of the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91 . The first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  are split along a centerline so as to accomplish the proper assembly of those components disposed within. The first and second cradle halves  105 ,  106  and third and fourth cradle halves  107 ,  108  form an aperture by the meeting of the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  for the retention of the trunnions  80  of the reel  65  while permitting the requisite rotary motion of the reel  65  for gathering and playing out the canopy  20 . Additionally, the first and second cradle halves  105 ,  106  form a crank aperture  117  permitting the insertion of a crank  115 . The third and fourth cradle halves  107 ,  108  are configured without a crank aperture  117  thereby forming a sealed exterior when the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  are secured together. 
     The retraction device  60  is much narrower than the width of the automobile  150 ; therefore, the canopy  20  must be drawn into a folded configuration to be wound upon the reel  65  for storage. The tail  50  is the approximate width of the retraction device  60  and thus initiates the folding process. The leader  75  is a flexible connector between the reel shaft  67  of the reel  65  and the tail  50  of the canopy  20 . The leader  75  is preferably some length of natural, or synthetic twisted rope. Other materials, such as a strap, or a chain, may also be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The second cache half  91  is provided with an opening  95  into which the tail  50  of the canopy  20  is introduced to be attached to the reel  65 . The opening  95  is configured to be restrictive so as to bias the canopy  20  into a folded configuration and inhibit the entrance of any frozen precipitation. It is envisioned that the opening  95  may be provided with pinch rolls in some embodiments to further assist with the folding and compression of the canopy  20 . The first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  are secured together by means of a plurality of conventional fasteners  100  inserted through aligned apertures disposed in the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91 . 
     The crank  115  is provided to assist a user to exert sufficient force to induce the rotary motion of the reel  65  required to wind the canopy  20 . The reel shaft  67  of the reel  65  is provided with a splined cavity  85  centrally located in that reel shaft  67 . The crank  115  is configured to have a complimentary splined shaft  135  which is fitted into that splined cavity  85  of the reel shaft  67 . The crank  115  has a moment arm  120  disposed between the splined shaft  135  and a handle  125 . This arm  120  translates the forces applied to the handle  125  into a torque for the rotation of the reel  65 . A loose fitting spinner  130  is disposed on the handle  125  as a journal bearing to facilitate the smooth turning of the crank  115  during use. It is envisioned that an electric motor may be connected to the reel  65  in some embodiments to obviate the need for a user to employ the hand crank  115 . It is also envisioned that the electric motor may be wirelessly actuated. 
     The first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  are additionally provided with support rods  140  mounted along the outer circumference of the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  respectively. The support rods  140  are configured to be cylindrical bars affixed between projecting support rod ears  145  on each first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  for the storage of the resilient cords  40  when not in use. The first hook  45   a  of a resilient cord  40  is looped around one (1) support rod  140  and the resilient cord  40  is stretched around the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  so as to attach a second hook  45   b  to a diametrically opposed support rod  140 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired size to fit the intended application; installing, or commissioning the installation of the retraction device  60  in an appropriate location; parking the automobile  150 ; removing the canopy  20  from the storage space within the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91 ; disconnecting the tail  50  from the tail hook  70 ; removing the resilient cords  40  from storage on the support rods  140 ; spreading the canopy  20  over the automobile in a back to front fashion to cover all of the windows, the roof, the hood, and as much of the rear of the automobile  150  as is possible; utilizing the resilient cords  40  to secure the canopy to the automobile  150  by inserting a first hook  45   a  into a selected grommet  35  and placing the second hook  45   b  in a latched position with a portion of the frame, or the body of the automobile  150 ; allowing the automobile  150  to remain in that frigid climate secure in the knowledge that any accumulation of ice or snow will be sloughed off by the canopy  20 . 
     Prior to the next use of the automobile  150  the resilient cords  40  can be removed from the snow laden automobile  150  to remove the canopy  20  and the snow, ice, or frost reposing thereon. The resilient cords  40  may be attached to the support rods  140  on the first and second cache halves  90 ,  91  and the canopy  20  can be wound onto the reel  65  of the retraction device  60  for storage until the next use. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.