Patent Publication Number: US-2011070446-A1

Title: Removable Flexible Magnetic Accessory For Vehicle Exterior

Description:
This application is a Continuation Application under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/129,015 filed May 29, 2008, which claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/942,113, filed Jun. 5, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to decorative and/or protective paneling, trim, and the like comprising flexible magnet materials for the exterior surfaces of a vehicle which can be readily removed and/or reinstalled by the user without risk of damage to the vehicle finish. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automobile enthusiasts often desire to customize the appearance of their vehicles, including to achieve certain “retro” or nostalgic design looks, by adding after-market trims, panels, accessories and the like. Historically, these looks have been achieved by costly professional paint jobs but in recent years these add-on products are typically attached to the exterior surface of the vehicle by bulky, relatively expensive permanent or semi-permanent methods or by methods which may damage the surface or finish of the vehicle and which are themselves prone to undesirable deterioration to their finish during normal usage. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,559, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a decorative plate for the rear of a vehicle which is affixed to the vehicle by bolts extending through the vehicle&#39;s rear panel. The type of decorative panel exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,559 suffers from several well-known disadvantages including, most notably, the fact that holes must be drilled through the vehicle paneling to accommodate the bolts, often times requiring the employ of costly auto body professionals, and irreversibly damaging the vehicle&#39;s paneling. Thus, if in the future the vehicle owner wishes to change to a different appearance, costly body remodeling and paint work may be required. Further, because of its hard, inflexible material, this type of mounting does not permit the decorative panel to lay flush against the vehicle panel and thus may allow dirt and debris to accumulate behind the decorative plate which can have undesired effects on the exterior look and finish of the area. The inability to achieve a flush fit also has the further drawback of creating undesirable gaps through which the underlying vehicle finish may be visible, which may detract from the desired appearance. Generally, these mountings must also be painted to achieve the final desired finish which may become scratched and chipped during normal operation of the vehicle, also resulting in a sub-optimal appearance. 
     Other decorative accessories have been affixed to vehicles using adhesive-tape, frequently double-sided foam tape, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,087,132, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Adhesive tapes, especially those capable of remaining adhered for an extended time and during adverse weather conditions, also are capable of damaging the paint or finish of the vehicle&#39;s exterior if removal of the accessory is desired. The adhesive may pull the finish off the vehicle panel, may discolor the vehicle&#39;s finish, or may leave a residue, such as adhered foam in the case of double-sided foam tape. Thus, these generally hard and inflexible accessories, which typically must be painted, suffer from the same drawbacks of expense, sub-optimal appearance and effects due to a non-flush fit and damage to the underlying vehicle finish upon removal. 
     Others have proposed embedding solid magnets in decorative or protective strips, paneling or the like such that the accessory may be reversibly adhered to the vehicle without causing damage thereto. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,176, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a magnetic car door protector comprising a plurality of small, flat, powerful magnets embedded in a flexible strip. The use of solid magnets of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,147,176 necessitates a substantial degree of thickness to the accessory strip which limits the range of applications and decorative features that are achievable. 
     Still others have attempted to apply sheets of plastic material similar to those used for adding tint to vehicle windows. These sheets are applied by way of an arduous, time-consuming and often frustrating process similar to wallpapering whereby adhesive is on one side of a sheet and a soapy solution and squeegee-like tool is used to attach it in the proper orientation with minimal bubble and wrinkles which result in a sub-optimal fit and appearance. This material also has poor wear resistance and is prone to scratching and other deterioration of the desired finish. Finally, it generally must be scraped off, resulting in damage to the underlying finish and the need for costly professional repair and re-painting. 
     Accordingly, there is a continuing need in the art for improved decorative and/or protective add-ons to vehicles which are wear-resistant, non-destructive, easy to apply, remove, and re-install and capable of a flush fit to the vehicle surface in order to support a wide range of decorative elements. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide decorative and/or protective strips, panels, and the like for modifying the exterior or a vehicle which overcome the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with these and other objectives, the present invention provides thin decorative accessories (strips, panels, plates, etc.) for application to exterior surfaces of a vehicle which comprise flexible magnetic materials and which can be snuggly affixed, removed and re-installed to metallic exterior vehicle panels without risk of damage thereto. Advantageously, the inventive flexible magnetic accessories are capable of adhering to even the most exaggerated contours of the vehicle. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the decorative and/or protective accessory is adapted to identically fit the dimension of a recess formed between the tail lights on the rear end of a suitably configured vehicle. The recess between the tail lights may comprise the rear portion of the decklid. Suitably configured vehicles according to this embodiment include, without limitation, any of the Ford Mustang™ vehicles having the decklid configuration of the 2005-2007 models. The accessory according to the present invention can be adapted to identically fit the Mustang around the perimeter of the decklid, including the ornamental gas cap, without having to remove the cap as with other methods of the prior art. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method for enhancing the appearance of a vehicle or for providing advertising thereon is provided which comprises affixing to the exterior of a vehicle a decorative and/or protective accessory according to the invention comprising a strip or panel of flexible magnetic material having cut-out portions therethrough in the form of one or more symbols or shapes (e.g., letters, logos, etc.) which cut-out portions reveal the surface of the vehicle. 
     These and other aspects of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a removable flexible protective and/or decorative accessory according to the invention applied to the recessed region of the decklid of a Ford Mustang™ having the decklid configuration of the 2005-2007 models. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a protective and/or decorative accessory according to the invention configured to the dimensions of the recessed region of the decklid of a Ford Mustang™ having the decklid configuration of the 2005-2007 models. 
         FIG. 2A  shows the accessory of  FIG. 2  with the dimensions indicated in inches. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a cross-sectional view of the accessory of  FIG. 2  along the line II-II in an embodiment wherein the accessory is composed of a single layer of flexible magnet. 
         FIG. 3B  shows a cross-sectional view of the accessory of  FIG. 2  along the line II-II in a specific embodiment wherein the accessory comprises a layer of plastic or rubber laminated to a layer of flexible magnet. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a shape, in this case the letter “C”, is cut out. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The removable flexible magnetic accessories of the present invention include as an essential component a flexible magnet material. Flexible magnets of the type used in common “refrigerator” magnets are generally known. Typically, a flexible magnet consists of a flexible sheet of plastic or rubber in combination with a magnetic material, such as ferrite metal powder particles, dispersed throughout, as described in, for example, Canadian Patent No. 2,003,879 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,891, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Flexible magnets may advantageously be made very thin (e.g., between 0.1 mm and 0.75 mm in thickness) as compared to traditional metal or alloy-based hard magnets and are conveniently provided in large sheets from which a desired custom shape may be cut. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as accessory  10  which is adapted to fit the dimensions of the recessed region of the decklid of a Ford Mustang™ having the decklid configuration of the 2005-2007 models (as shown), wherein the recessed region of the decklid defines a space between tail lights  30 , and wherein accessory  10  has a cut-out hole of suitable dimensions to accommodate the mock decorative gasoline cap  70  of the vehicle which, in use, is disposed therethrough. When applied to a vehicle in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1 , accessory  10  creates the appearance of “depth” between tail lights  30  which is a highly desired attribute to some car enthusiasts, including those interested in replicating certain “classic” design appearances. The sense of depth can be enhanced by providing accessory  10  in a dark color, preferably black, and with a matte finish. This effect is generally known as a decklid “blackout.” 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , accessory  10  comprises a sheet of flexible magnet material of approximately 0.03″ (inches) in thickness, laminated on one side with vinyl film (not shown). Accessory  10  is approximately 31 13/16″ wide at top edge  12  and approximately 30⅛″ wide at bottom edge  14  and has circular hole  20  cut therethrough suitably dimensioned (about 5 15/16″ diameter) to fit around, and due to its flexibility and dimensioning, tucked under, the mock decorative gasoline cap (shown at  70  in  FIG. 1 ) on the decklid of the above-described Ford Mustang™ so that there are no gaps through which the underlying vehicle finish is visible. Circular hole  20  is horizontally centered and vertically disposed such that the top edge of circular hole  20  ends 1″ below top edge  12  of accessory  10 . The left and right edges ( 16  and  18 , respectively) of accessory  10  are configured with a slight concave curvature to identically match the contours of the decklid recess. Accessory  10  is approximately 8 9/32″ high at the center with a gradual angling or curvature of the bottom edge  14  up to approximately 8 1/16″ high at the left and right lower corners. 
     In one embodiment, the flexible magnetic accessory is provided as a single layer of the magnetic material  50  as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , which shows a cross-section of the flexible magnetic accessory  10  of  FIG. 2A  along the line II-II. Preferably, the flexible magnetic accessory  10  comprises a laminate of a layer of magnetic material  50  with a plastic or rubber layer  55 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , wherein the magnetic layer  50  faces and magnetically adheres to the metallic vehicle exterior during use. The addition of a plastic or rubber layer  55  permits a wider variety of colors and surfaces effects (smooth, shiny, metallic, matte, etc.) to be present, avoids the need for costly painting and related upkeep due to deterioration during usage, and may enhance the durability, water-resistance, etc. of the accessory. Laminated plastic or rubber layer  55  preferably comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or like material. It is contemplated that carbon-fiber material may also be suitably employed. Additional laminated layers may optionally be included over a portion or all of the plastic or rubber layer to achieve additional surface effects. Accessory  10  will typically, though not necessarily, have a thickness of less than about ⅛ inch (inclusive of all layers), more typically between about 0.1 mm and about 2.5 mm, and preferably between about 0.5 and about 1 mm, including an exemplary embodiment having a thickness of about 0.75 mm. 
     In addition to a Ford Mustang™ having the decklid of the 2005-2007 model, the accessory of the present invention can be adapted to any number of vehicles having a similarly configured recess between the rear lights to provide the blackout effect, including without limitation, the Dodge Charger™, Dodge Caliber™, and several models of Ford trucks and other vehicles having metallic rear panels. It is within the skill in the art to configure the accessory to fit the rear end recess of any such vehicle. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for enhancing the appearance of a vehicle comprising applying thereto a flexible magnetic accessory according to the invention. Preferably, the flexible magnetic accessory comprises a laminate of flexible magnet layer with a layer of plastic or rubber (e.g., elastomer), wherein the plastic or rubber layer possess a color and/or texture which differs from the color and/or texture of the underlying vehicle panel to which it is magnetically adhered in a reversible manner (i.e., it can be removed and reapplied without damage or alteration to the vehicle). Alternatively, the accessory may be provided in the same color and/or surface texture (gloss, matte, etc.) as the vehicle panel such that the accessory does not alter the appearance of the vehicle but may provide protection against scratches, dents, rust, etc. 
     In one interesting embodiment, the accessory may have various shapes, including logos, pictograms, trademarks, symbols, letters, words, and the like, embossed therein or preferably cut-out such that when the accessory is affixed to the vehicle the underlying surface of the vehicle is visible through the cut-out space. Referring to  FIG. 4 , an accessory according to this embodiment is illustrated wherein the letter “C” is cut out. In this manner, the accessory may by personalized by the user to include any desired cut-out shape, for example, the car owner&#39;s name, or the vehicle&#39;s manufacturer (e.g., by cutting-out the letters “FORD”). Thus, the invention further provides a method for providing advertising on the exterior of a vehicle whereby logos, tradenames, trademarks and the like may be prominently displayed on the vehicle. In embodiments where shapes are cut out of the flexible magnetic accessory, it is preferably to provide the accessory in a different color and/or texture than the underlying car panel such that there exists sufficient contrast between the car panel and the accessory to visualize the shape. 
     The invention having been described by the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the skilled artisan may make modifications and variations of these embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.