Patent Publication Number: US-2005121937-A1

Title: Collapsible cover for a vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present application claims benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/524,309 entitled, “Collapsible Automobile Cover”, filed on Nov. 21, 2003 and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates generally to vehicle coverings, and more specifically to a collapsible cover for a vehicle.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Covers for vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles and boats are widely available. However storage of these devices can be quite cumbersome. Storing a currently available vehicle cover typically involves removing the cover from the vehicle then rolling or folding the cover for storage in the trunk or garage. The present invention addresses these shortcomings and provides related and added benefits.  
     SUMMARY  
      In one aspect of the present invention a collapsible cover for a vehicle is disclosed including a protective cover able to substantially cover a vehicle and a base including an attachment structure and a storage groove. The attachment structure attaches the protective cover to the base and the storage groove provides a surface such as generally about the perimeter of the base in which the protective cover may be wrapped, stored or collapsed.  
      In another aspect of the present invention a collapsible cover is disclosed including a protective cover able to substantially cover a vehicle, a base, a spindle and an attachment structure. The protective cover is attached to the spindle or base via the attachment structure and may be wrapped, stored or collapsed around the spindle.  
      In other aspects of the present invention, methods of producing a collapsible cover, methods of using a collapsible and novel components of the collapsible cover are also disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  depicts a collapsible cover  10  of the present invention including a base  11 , an attachment structure  12  and a protective cover  13 .  FIG. 1A  is an elevated front right view depicting the base  11  and attachment structure  12 .  FIG. 1B  is an elevated front right view depicting the protective cover  13  attached to the attachment structure  12 .  
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view depicting an alternative embodiment of the collapsible cover  10 . The collapsible cover  10  is shown in the open position without the protective cover  13 . The base  11  is shown with a spindle  14  extending generally upwards and joined to the capsule top  15  by a joining structure  16  such as a screw. An attachment structure  12  in the form of a machined slit is positioned along the spindle  14 . The depicted spindle  14  is optionally rotatable allowing the user to wrap the protective cover  13  about the spindle  14 . Raised rubber knobbles  16  are shown positioned about the base  11  and facilitate the closure of the capsule top  15  to the base  11 .  
       FIG. 3  is a front plan view depicting a collapsible cover  10  of the present invention in the closed and stored position. The capsule top  15  is shown in contact with the base  11 .  
       FIG. 4  is an elevated front right view of the collapsible cover  10  depicting the protective cover  13  substantially covering an automobile. The collapsible cover  10  is shown positioned on the roof of the automobile in the open position exposing the spindle  14  and attachment structure  12 . The protective cover  13  drapes substantially over the automobile and includes a tightening means  17  in the form of a sewed in nylon rope with integrated tightening clamp.  
       FIG. 5  is an elevated front right view depicting a collapsible cover  10  of the present invention in the closed position. The protective cover  13  substantially covers the automobile and the capsule top  15  is closed to further retain the protective cover  13 .  
       FIG. 6  is an elevated front right view of a collapsible cover  10  having a motorized rotating means  18 . The motorized rotating means  18  rotates the spindle  14 , which is rotatably mounted to the capsule top  15  such as at the joining structure  16 . The spindle  14  including the attachment structure  12  is shown integrated with the motorized rotating means  18 . The motorized rotating means  18  is housed in the base  11  and an aperture permits the spindle  14  to extend from the base  11 .  
       FIG. 7  is a cutaway plan view from beneath the capsule top  15  further demonstrating storage of a protective cover  13 , a spring loaded collapsible spindle  14  is joined at the joining structure  16  to the inner and uppermost region of the capsule top  15  and may provide a surface in which the protective cover  13  may wrap around. The protective cover  13  may then be stored within the capsule top  15 . 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , in one aspect of the present invention a collapsible cover for a vehicle is provided including a protective cover  13  able to substantially cover a vehicle, and a base  11  including an attachment structure  12  and a storage groove. The attachment structure  12  attaches the protective cover  13  to the base  11  and the storage groove provides a surface to wrap and thereby store or collapse the protective cover  13 .  
      Other aspects and embodiments of present invention include a protective cover  13 , a base  11 , an attachment structure  12  and a spindle  14 . The attachment structure  12  attaches the protective cover  13  to the base  11  or spindle  14  and the spindle  14  provides a surface to wrap and thereby assist in the storage or collapsing of the protective cover  13 . The present invention optionally includes a capsule top  15  capable of covering the protective cover  13  when wrapped around the base  11  or spindle  14 .  
      The present invention may be used with a variety of vehicles. For example, the present invention may be used with an automobile, a truck, a motorcycle, a boat, a personal watercraft such as Sea-Doo or Jet Ski, a snowmobile and the like.  
      The protective cover  13  protects the vehicle from external elements or conditions. For example the protective cover  13  may protect an automobile from a variety of elements such as but not limited to sun, snow, heat, cold, rain, animal excrements such as bird excrements, tree sap, pollen, salt air, and spills. The protective cover  13  may therefore be substantially weather or stain resistant or coated with a weather or stain resistant material. The protective cover  13  may be created from any spectrum of desired fabric. The protective cover  13  may be treated or untreated with any suitable chemical, liquid substance and the like to obtain the desired characteristics. The fabric may include one or more laminate layers. For example, the protective cover  13  may be constructed materials such as but not limited to nylon, polyester, gortex, cotton, parachute fabric, a combination thereof and the like. The protective cover  13  may be constructed from a blend of materials. The protective cover  13  may be constructed from a lightweight, washable material.  
      The protective cover  13  may be reflective or nonreflective. A reflective protective cover  13  may reflect heat or light inward by providing a reflective inner surface or may reflect light or heat outward by providing a reflective outer surface. Reflective surfaces, materials or coatings used in the construction of sunshades or metalized films may be used or incorporated in the present invention.  
      The protective cover  13  may attach to the base  11  or spindle  14  via an attachment structure  12 . The protective cover  13  may include one or more attachment sites having a surface complementary to and capable of interlocking with the attachment structure  12 . Alternatively, the protective cover  13  may attach by sliding a portion of the cover through an attachment structure  12  such as a slit. The protective cover  13  may attach to any suitable region such as generally about the center portion of the protective cover  13  such that when the collapsible cover is affixed to a central portion of a vehicle such as a roof of an automobile the protective cover  13  drapes generally downward about the vehicle. In some configurations the protective cover  13  may have an aperture through which a portion of the base  11  or spindle  14  may be placed and attached. Alternatively, there is no aperture. However, the protective cover  13  may attach away from the center portion. This embodiment may be desired if the collapsible cover is affixed to an end region of an automobile such as on the top of the hood or trunk or along the side.  
      The size of the protective cover  13  may vary depending on the size of the vehicle to be protected. The protective cover  13  substantially covers a vehicle and therefore should be sized so that it drapes over the top of the vehicle. In alternate embodiments the protective cover  13  is provided such that the protective cover  13  nearly contacts or contacts the ground surface. A protective cover  13  for a motorcycle would likely be smaller that the protective cover  13  for an automobile. Similarly, the size and shape of the protective cover  13  may vary depending on the particular vehicle such as make and model of an automobile or motorcycle. Thus the protective cover  13  disclosed in present invention may be provided in a variety of sizes and shapes.  
      The protective cover  13  may include a tightening means such as a sewn in nylon drawstring cord positioned about the perimeter to facilitate tightening of the protective cover  13  along the lower portion of the vehicle. A tightening clamp may be used to reversibly clamp a tightened cord. Alternative configurations may utilize snaps, Velcro (R), hook and loop and the like to adjust the size of the outer perimeter after substantially covering the vehicle.  
      The capsule base  11  may provide a storage surface for the protective cover  13  by including a storage groove, may have a spindle  14  projecting generally upward or may house a rotating means  18  such as a motor able to rotate the base  11  or spindle  14 . The base  11  may be configured in any shape or configuration.  
      In one embodiment the base  11  is configured in a generally disc-like or cylindrical shape having a storage groove generally about the perimeter or along the circumference of the cylinder. The storage groove may function as a guide when wrapping the protective cover  13  and may assist in retaining a stored protective cover  13  by preventing or reducing sliding of the protective cover  13  from the base  11 . The attachment means may be positioned within the storage groove. The base  11  may be substantially hollow allowing the base  11  to house a rotating means  18  such as a motor.  
      In another embodiment the base  11  is configured generally cubic in shape having a spindle  14  extend generally upward. The base  11  may or may not house a rotating means  18  such as a motor to rotate the spindle  14 . In this embodiment the base  11  may assist in storing the collapsed protective cover  13  by providing a lower surface for the protective cover  13  to contact.  
      The base  11  may be constructed from a variety of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as but not limited to molded plastic or metal. Injection molded plastic such as polypropylene or polystyrene may be formed into a base  11  by using injection-molding techniques known in the mechanical arts.  
      The size of the base  11  may vary depending on the protective cover  13  used as well as the base  11  configuration. As general guidance the base  11  may have a diameter or distance across opposing sides of about less than four, four, six, eight twelve, fifteen, twenty, twenty-four, thirty-six inches or more or less. The vertical height may also vary and may be about less than one inch, one, four, eight, twelve, fifteen, twenty inches or more or less. Thus, the size of the base  11  may differ depending on the vehicle size or configuration.  
      The base  11  may also provide an affixing structure allowing the collapsible storage cover such as a base  11  portion to be affixed or reversibly affixed to the vehicle. The base  11  may be affixed at any point so long as the protective cover  13  can substantially cover the vehicle when in the open position, but preferably the base  11  is affixed to the uppermost portion of the vehicle such as an automobile roof. However the present invention includes an affixing structure that affixes the present invention to any outer part of the vehicle such as on top of a trunk, hood, along the side of a vehicle and the like. When used with vehicles such as a motorcycle or a snowmobile, the present invention may be affixed to the gas tank, to the handle bars, or the like. Examples of appropriate affixing structures include but are not limited to a magnet, a suction cup, a clasp, a clamp or a strap. The affixing structure may further include a protective surface such as a pad to prevent potential scratching of the vehicle. Alternatively the affixing means may affix the base  11  to an automobile rack such as those offered by automobile manufactures or aftermarket producers such as Yakima and Thule. Preferably the affixing structure allows the present invention to be reversibly affixed or removable.  
      The attachment structure  12  attaches the protective cover  13  to the base  11  or spindle  14 . The attachment structure  12  may be formed using a variety of attachment techniques such as but not limited to a slot or a clasp allowing a top portion of the protective cover  13  to slide through or be clasped by the attachment structure  12 . The attachment structure  12  may incorporate a slot with rubber knobules to prevent extensive slipping of the protective cover  13  from the slot. Alternatively the attachment structure  12  may snap, button or hook the protective cover  13 . The protective cover  13  may have surfaces complementary to the attachment structure  12  such that they interlock. Examples of such surfaces are snaps, Velcro (R), hook and loop, and the like. The protective cover  13  may be reinforced at points or regions in contact with the attachment structure  12  to reduce stress placed on the protective cover  13 . The attachment structure  12  may be positioned on a portion of the base  11 , within a storage groove or may be positioned on a structure such as a spindle  14  extending generally upward from the base  11 . The attachment structure  12  may be attach the protective cover  13  to a portion along the length of the spindle  14  or at the uppermost region such as at a joining structure  16 . The attachment structure  12  may reversibly or irreversibly attach the protective cover  13 .  
      The present invention may further include a spindle  14  to facilitate the storage of the protective cover  13 . The spindle  14  may provide a surface in which the attachment structure  12  may be positioned or may provide a surface in which the protective cover  13  may wrap around. The spindle  14  may be a rigid structure in a fixed configuration or may be collapsible. The spindle  14  may be constructed from a variety of materials such as molded plastics, resigns and the like. As non-limiting examples, the spindle  14  may be constructed using injection molding techniques known in the plastic arts and may constructed from materials such as but not limited to polypropylene and polystyrene or derivatives or combinations thereof. The spindle  14  may be attached to a capsule top  15  such as by a joining structure  16  and may allow the capsule top  15  to turn freely, may lock, may restrict the turning or may be detachable from the capsule top  15 .  
      The size of the spindle  14  may vary depending on the size of the protective cover  13 . A taller spindle  14  may allow the diameter or distance between opposing sides of the present invention to be smaller since a taller spindle  14  may provide an additional surface for a protective cover  13  to wrap around. For example, the spindle  14  may be less than four inches, about four inches, about eight inches, about twelve inches or more or less.  
      In one configuration, the spindle  14  is a spring-loaded collapsible spindle  14  incorporating an attachment structure  12 . The spindle  14  may partially collapse upon the closing of the capsule top  15  and may extend generally upward upon the removal or opening of the capsule top  15 . The upward extension may be performed by a force exerted from a compressed spring or may be performed by lifting the capsule top  15  generally upward. The spindle  14  may include a plurality of sections that progressively decrease or increase in diameter thereby allowing the spindle  14  to extend or collapse. The spindle  14  may host the attachment structure  12  such as one or more machined slots extending vertically. A portion of the protective cover  13  may be fed through one or more machined slots such that the protective cover  13  is not inadvertently unattached from the machined slots.  
      The spindle  14  may be joined to a capsule top  15  at the uppermost region of the spindle  14 . The spindle  14  may be joined to the capsule top  15  by a joining structure  16  such as a complementary surface, a screw top or screw-like structure, a pin and groove-like structure and the like. The spindle  14  may be rotatably joined to the capsule top  15  or fixedly joined to the capsule top  15 . The attachment structure  12  may be incorporated as part of the joining structure  16  such that the protective cover  13  is attached to the spindle  14  along the uppermost region of the spindle  14 .  
      The spindle  14  may be nonrotatable or rotatable with a locking position allowing the user to manually wrap the protective cover  13  generally about the spindle  14 . Alternatively a spindle  14  may be rotatable allowing the user to rotate the spindle  14  instead of the protective cover  13 . Rotating a spindle  14  may be performed manually or automatically. A rotating means  18  such as a motor may be used in the present invention to rotate the spindle  14 . The spindle  14  may be integrated as a single unit with the rotating means  18  such as a remote control motor such that the spindle  14  slides through an aperture positioned about the center of the base  11  or may be reversibly interlock with a complementary surface of the rotating means  18 .  
      The present invention may include a capsule top  15  able to encase or protect the protective cover  13  when in the stored or wrapped position. The capsule top  15  may cover the storage groove or spindle  14  within a cavity. The capsule top  15  may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes able to encase or protect the protective cover  13 . The capsule top  15  may be generally semi-spherical, cubic, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal and the like. The capsule top  15  may be removable from the base  11  or spindle  14 . The capsule top  15  may be may be free to pivot, turn, rotate or lock into place. The capsule top  15  may be fastened to the base  11  or spindle  14  using a variety of techniques known in the fastening industries such as but not limited to screw and thread, interlocking complimentary surfaces, fasteners and the like. The capsule top  15  may be locked to the base  11  in the closed position by incorporating rubber knobules such as ring knobules, or locks such as twist locks. The opening and closing a the capsule top  15  may be performed manually or by a remote control motor able to raise or lower the capsule top  15  such as by elevating or lowering the spindle  14 .  
      The capsule top  15  may be constructed from a variety of materials such as injection molded plastic, polypropylene, polystyrene, resigns and the like or may be constructed from a material such as a glass and the like. The capsule top  15  may be opaque or transparent. The capsule top  15  may include an illuminating means such as a low voltage light source and may emit a variety of colors or hues. The illuminating light source may emit a glow, a broad light beam or a focused beam such as a laser beam. The capsule top  15  may therefore have a glowing appearance upon activation of the light source or may display one or more distinct light beams such as a laser beam reflecting about the inner portion of the capsule top  15 .  
      The capsule top  15  or base  11  may also include a transportation structure such as a carrying handle to facilitate the transportation of the present invention. For example, a handle may be positioned generally about the top of the capsule cover allowing the user to move, transport or adjust the position of the present invention. The handle may include a trigger structure that locks the capsule top  15  to the base  11  thereby reducing the likelihood of the present device opening during transport.  
      The capsule top  15  or base  11  may also include an operating structure positioned at a point along the capsule top  15  or region that facilitates at least one operation during the opening or closing of the present invention. The operating structure may assist in closing, locking or opening the device and the like.  
      The present invention may also include a rotating means  18  able to rotate the spindle  14  or base  11 . The rotating means  18  may be provided in the form of a motor with or without a remote control. The rotating means  18  may rotate the spindle  14  or base  11  in one direction such to wrap the protective cover  13  for storage or to unwrap the protective cover  13  or may rotate in two opposing directions such to wrap and unwrap the protective cover  13 . The rotating means  18  may be housed in the base  11  such that it is not easily viewed. The rotating means  18  may be remotely controlled by a remote control unit having a push button able to activate a remote sensor and may be provided on the same remote control unit as an alarm such as a car alarm remote control unit. The rotating means  18  may be activated while a button is depressed and stop once the push button is release or may continue to rotate for a predetermined or preprogrammed time. The rotating means  18  may be powered by any available power source such as rechargeable or nonrechargeable batteries, a cigar lighter and the like.  
      The rotating means  18  may include a sensor able to activate rotation of the base  11  or spindle  14 . The sensor may be activated by incorporating one or more direct control technologies such as pushing a button positioned on the base  11  unit or inserting a key in an appropriate aperture and optionally turning the key in one or more directions. Alternatively the sensor may activate rotation upon receiving a remote signal such as those utilized in the remote control technologies, wireless technologies, infrared technologies and the like.  
      In one embodiment the rotating means  18  rotates the base  11 . In this embodiment the rotating means  18  is generally fixed in position such as affixed to a vehicle and rotatably mounted to the base  11 . Upon activation, the rotating means  18  spins the base  11 .  
      In another embodiment a motor rotating means  18  rotates the spindle  14 . In this configuration the motor is nonrotatably housed in the base  11  such that the base  11  does not substantially rotate. The spindle  14  is rotatably connected to the motor such that when the motor is activated such as by pushing the push button on a remote control, the spindle  14  may rotate.  
      In other aspects of the present invention, one or more novel components of the collapsible cover are disclosed. Thus, the present invention may include one or more of the disclosed rotating means or structures, one or more remote control units, hardware, hardwire, one or more wireless devices, one or more of the disclosed protective covers, and the like.  
     EXAMPLES  
     Example I  
     Installation of a Collapsible Automobile Cover Having a Protective Cover, Base, Spindle, Attachment Structure and Capsule Top  
      Place the collapsible automobile cover on top of the vehicle. Open the capsule top such as by turning and raising the capsule top in an open position. Grasp the protective cover such as with two fingers and walk around the vehicle allowing the fabric to flow over and substantially cover the vehicle. Pull the tightening cord and lock into desired tightness generally around the tires. Re-lock or close the capsule top if desired on a windy day.  
     Example II  
     Collapsing a Collapsible Automobile Cover Having a Protective Cover, Base, Spindle, Attachment Structure and Capsule Top  
      Unlock and raise the capsule cap, loosen the tightening cord, and take protective cover in two fingers. Walk around the vehicle turning the fabric around the spindle. Tuck the remaining portion of the protective cover under the capsule cap. Close and lock the capsule top to the base. Detach the base from the automobile and put away.  
      All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified.