Patent Publication Number: US-2010109308-A1

Title: Detachable protective device for a vehicle

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This utility application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/906,403 by Craig A. Gordon, filed Mar. 12, 2007, and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to protective devices. Specifically, and not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a detachable device for protecting a portion of a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are many situations where vehicles must be parked extremely close together. In particular, in controlled environments, such as in valet parking lots or automobile repair shops, vehicles are parked very close to conserve limited parking space. However, there are problems associated with parking vehicles so close together. Specifically, it can be quite difficult for the driver to exit or enter a vehicle without opening the door and hitting the adjacent vehicle. Thus, it is quite common for damage to result from parking vehicles so close together. A device is needed which protects a portion of a vehicle to allow a user to open a vehicle door parked in close proximity to another vehicle without damaging either vehicle. 
     There are various existing devices which are used to protect vehicles against inadvertent damage from other vehicles. For example, there are devices which are attached to a large portion of the side of a vehicle to prevent another vehicle&#39;s door from hitting and damage a person&#39;s vehicle. However, since the vehicles are parked in an uncontrolled environment, these protective devices must cover a significant portion of the vehicle, because it is not known where the other vehicles may strike the protected vehicle. In addition, for use in public parking areas, most of these devices have anti-theft devices to prevent the theft of the protective devices. Thus, these existing protective devices are cumbersome to use, complex and expensive. 
     Although there are no known prior art teachings of a system or method such as that disclosed herein, prior art references that discuss subject matter that bears some relation to matters discussed herein are U.S. Patent Application Publication Number US 2003/0062732 to Molina (Molina), U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,145 to McNeil (McNeil), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,407 to Villaveces et al. (Villaveces). 
     Molina discloses a protector device for side doors of a vehicle. The protector device includes an elongated flexible protector member attached with a pair of magnetic sheets to a side door of a vehicle. However, Molina does not teach or suggest a device which is smaller than the width of the vehicle or a device which can be easily attached to an adjacent vehicle&#39;s door. Molina suffers from the disadvantage of using a cumbersome anti-theft mechanism (see  FIG. 2 ), which requires the attachment of the protective device by opening a vehicle door. 
     McNeil discloses an apparatus for protecting the side of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a sheet of impact absorbing material bonded to a sheet of magnetic material. The apparatus is encased in a cover and configured in a series of panels to cover a significant portion of the side portion of the vehicle. However, McNeil does not disclose a device which covers only a portion of the vehicle&#39;s door. McNeil is a cumbersome device having a width which covers both a front and rear door. 
     Villaveces discloses a door protecting device having an elongated main body portion with a magnetic material on one side and a terminal flap which is inserted in the crack of the vehicle door. Villaveces does not teach or suggest a device which is easily attachable to an adjacent vehicle. Villaveces requires the placement of the terminal flap within the crack of the user&#39;s door, and not the door of the adjacent vehicle. 
     All of the existing devices are configured to be used on a user&#39;s vehicle and not an adjacent vehicle. In addition, these existing protective devices are configured for use in uncontrolled areas, where the protective devices must be secured with anti-theft devices and must be sufficiently large enough to cover an unspecified area. 
     A device is needed which is easily attachable to an adjacent vehicle. In particular, it would be desirable to have a device which enables the user to attach the device to an adjacent vehicle while still within the interior of the parked vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device and method. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device and method for protecting a vehicle. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a device which provides protection to a first vehicle. The protective device includes a main body having an impact absorbing region. The protective device also includes a plurality of magnetic segments affixed to the main body providing sufficient magnetic force for attaching the protective device to the vehicle. The protective device is configured for deploying from within a second vehicle parked adjacent to the first vehicle. The protective device is attached to the first vehicle to prevent damage caused by impact from the second vehicle. The impact absorbing region preferably includes two horizontally aligned foam tubes and a foam strip located between the two foam tubes. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is a method of protecting a first vehicle. The method begins by parking a second vehicle in close proximity to a first vehicle. Next, a protective device is affixed to the first vehicle. The protective device includes a main body, an impact absorbing region affixed to the main body, and a plurality of magnetic segments affixed to the main body providing sufficient magnetic force for attaching the protective device to the vehicle. The protective device is configured for deploying from within a second vehicle parked adjacent to the first vehicle 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a protective device in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the protective device removed from the vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of the protective device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the impact absorbing region of the protective device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged view of a corner of the protective device; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the protective device attached to the vehicle; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the protective device attached to a front fender; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of utilizing the protective device according to the teachings of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device and method for protecting vehicles parked in close proximity to each other.  FIG. 1  is a side view of a protective device  10  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The protective device  10  is attachable to a vehicle  12  having a front door  14  and a back door  16 . The protective device has a main body  11  having an exterior surface  18 . The protective device includes a plurality of magnetic segments embedded within an interior portion of the protective device. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a series of upper magnetic segments  20  are located on a top portion  22  of the protective device. In addition, the protective device includes two lower magnetic segments  24  positioned in lower corners  26  of the protective device. It should be understood that the magnetic segments may be positioned anywhere on the protective device whereby sufficient magnetic attraction is attained to attach the protective device to a portion of the vehicle. Preferably, the magnetic segments are neodymium disc magnets mounted to an upper magnetic strip  30  positioned along the top portion  22  of the protective device. 
     The protective device includes an impact absorbing region  32  for absorbing impacts and protecting a covered area of a vehicle from any impacts. The impact absorbing region may be constructed of any material and in any configuration to protect the protected vehicle from damage incurred from impact by another vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the impact absorbing region includes a plurality of closed cell foam tubes  34  and  36  positioned parallel to each other. Between the foam tubes may be positioned a closed cell foam strip  38 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the protective device  10  removed from the vehicle.  FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of the protective device  10  of  FIG. 2 . The protective device includes the exterior surface  18  (see  FIG. 2 ) and an interior surface  40  (see  FIG. 3 ). Preferably, the magnetic segments, the tubes  34  and  36 , and the strip  38  are imbedded between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the protective device. The interior and exterior surfaces are preferably constructed of a vinyl material. However, any resilient flexible material may be used. In addition, although the impact absorbing region  32  shows tubes and a foam strip, the impact absorbing region may be constructed of any impact absorbing material and configured in any fashion and still remain in the scope of the present invention. The protective device may also include a reinforced perimeter border  42 . In addition, the exterior surface may include a logo, design, and textual message for display. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the impact absorbing region  32  of the protective device  10  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the tubes positioned between the exterior and interior surfaces. The tubes preferably protrude outwardly to provide a padding to absorb impacts. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged view of a corner  50  of the protective device  10 . The magnetic segment may be stitched in an interior of the protective device, between the exterior and interior surfaces. All of the magnetic segments are preferably located between the exterior and interior surfaces to prevent contact of the magnets against the surface of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the protective device  10  attached to the vehicle  12 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a width X of the protective device  10  is smaller than a width Z of the front door  14  or a width Y of the rear door  16  (preferably having dimensions of 26 inches by 18 inches). Because the present invention is for use in a controlled environment, a protective zone of a smaller dimension is only necessary. A smaller protective device is preferred to allow ease in deployment and removal of the protective device. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the protective device  10  attached to a front fender  60 . The protective device may be attached anywhere on the vehicle. As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the protective device may be positioned on a front fender. The protective device may then be useful in protecting the vehicle when a person is servicing an interior engine compartment  62  of the vehicle. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic strip or metallic strip may be affixed to a wall (not shown). The protective device may be attached to the wall, at the affixed wall strip, thereby providing protection when a vehicle is parked in close proximity to a wall. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of utilizing the protective device  10  according to the teachings of the present invention. With reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , the method will now be explained. The method begins in step  100  where a user parks a first vehicle (not shown) in close proximity to a second vehicle  12  or wall. Next, in step  102 , the protective device  10  is attached to the second vehicle in a position along a side of the vehicle where impact of the driver&#39;s door (of first vehicle) may potentially contact the second vehicle. Preferably, the driver of the first vehicle may attach the protective device while still seated in the vehicle by passing the protective device through the driver&#39;s window and attaching it to the second vehicle. Because the protective device is relatively small in comparison to existing devices, the protective device may be easily deployed from a sitting position in the first vehicle. Alternatively, the protective device may be attached to a wall to which the first vehicle is parked. Next, in step  104 , the first vehicle door may be opened. The driver may open the door without concern in damaging the vehicle of the second vehicle. 
     The present invention provides a device for protecting vehicles in controlled environments, such as a valet parking lot. Because the present invention is utilized for a specific situation, i.e., a controlled environment, the protective device may be small without any type of anti-theft device. Furthermore, unlike other existing protective devices, the present invention is for specific use in attachment to a second vehicle to which a first vehicle is parked in close proximity. 
     Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof. 
     It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.