Patent Abstract:
Small vehicle enclosures and methods for operating the same are disclosed. An example enclosure includes a base portion configured to receive a vehicle and includes at least one channel or groove configured to guide vehicle. The example enclosure further includes a cover portion configured to cover the vehicle when the vehicle is disposed on the base portion and sealingly engage the base when the cover is in a closed position.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0001]     This disclosure relates generally to vehicle enclosures and, more particularly, to small vehicle enclosures and methods of operating the same.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     It is often desirable to store a small vehicle such as a motorcycle, snow mobile, (all terrain vehicle) ATV, jet ski, and other such valuable vehicles in a protective enclosure. Storing a vehicle in an enclosure may serve to protect the vehicle from theft, vandalism and/or environmental hazards. A storage enclosure for a vehicle is particularly useful for a residence (e.g., a single family home, a condominium, an apartment) having no garage, a car port, a one-car garage, or a garage that otherwise lacks sufficient space for all of the vehicles, tools, and/or other items that are to be stored by the occupants of the residence. A vehicle enclosure is also useful for storing vehicles that are used infrequently or seasonally such as, for example, a snowmobile or jet ski.  
         [0003]     Portable vehicle storage structures or enclosures have also been used for the transportation of small vehicles. In addition to protecting small vehicles from theft, vandalism, and environmental dangers, such portable vehicle enclosures may also shelter a vehicle from damage that can occur during the transportation of the vehicle.  
         [0004]     Known small vehicle enclosures can typically be used to protect any vehicle contained therein from the above-mentioned hazards. However, not all environmental factors have been addressed with these structures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,616 to Crowfoot attempted to solve some of the foregoing problems. Crowfoot describes a motorcycle enclosure having a seal extending along the middle seam of a cover to create a watertight seal between two halves of the cover.  
         [0005]     However, the vehicle enclosure Crowfoot describes contains no structure at the base of the enclosure to provide the same environmentally protective features as the seal on the cover. As a result, environmental hazards near the base such as, for example, contaminated parking-lot run-off water, may seep into the vehicle enclosure at the base and reach a vehicle stored therein. Further, the enclosure disclosed by Crowfoot would also fail to prevent insects, vermin, etc. from entering the vehicle enclosure via the base. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example vehicle enclosure shown in an open condition.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the example vehicle enclosure of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the example vehicle enclosure of  FIG. 1  shown in a closed position.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the cover of the example vehicle enclosure of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the cover of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the base of the example vehicle enclosure of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is cross-sectional view of the base of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the base of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the portion of the base designated by the arrow labeled “B” in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the example vehicle enclosure taken along the  10 - 10  line of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of  FIG. 10  showing the junction of the cover and the base of the vehicle enclosure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example vehicle enclosure  100  constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The example enclosure  100  includes a cover  102  and a base  104 . As described in greater detail below, the cover  102  is rotatably or pivotally coupled (e.g., via a hinge assembly) to one end of the base  104 .  
         [0018]     The cover  102  may be disposed in an open position, i.e., the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the open position, the cover  102  is disposed at an angle relative to the base  104  such that one end of the cover  102  is spaced from a corresponding end of the base  104 , while the other ends of the cover  102  and the base  104  are rotatably or pivotally coupled or connected using, for example, a hinge structure. In the open position, a person can access the interior of the enclosure  100  to place a small vehicle (e.g., a motorcycle, a snowmobile, an ATV, a jet ski, etc.) inside the enclosure  100  for storage or to remove a small vehicle from the enclosure for use. In a closed position (e.g., the position shown in  FIG. 3 ), the cover  102  fits over and sealingly engages (e.g., overlaps) the base  104  to form a seal between the cover  102  and the base  104 .  
         [0019]     The cover  102  and the base  104  may be made of a durable plastic, such as, for example, TPO, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Of course, other materials, or any combination thereof, suitable for use in an outdoor environment could be used instead. Preferably, but not necessarily, the cover  102  and the base  104  are also configured (e.g., are made of materials) that enable the surfaces thereof (e.g., the exterior surfaces) to be painted and polished.  
         [0020]     In general, the cover  102  forms a shell having an opening  106  of sufficient size to encompass or cover a small vehicle. In use, a vehicle rests on the base  104  in the opening  106  between side walls  108 , a front wall  110  and a back wall  112 . The cover  102  includes a top portion  114 , which, in the example cover  102 , is rounded and slightly peaked. The cover  102  may be formed as one integral piece, or as two or more pieces that are sealingly coupled. The example cover  102  has a generally hemispherical shape. In the illustrated example, the cover  102  has a decreasing angular profile such that the wall  112  forms an angle relative to the plane of the opening  106  (which is generally horizontal when the enclosure  100  is in use) that is greater than the angle formed by the top portion  114  relative to the plane of the opening  106 . Additionally, the angle the top portion  114  makes with the plane of the opening  106  decreases along the length of the top portion  114  toward the wall  110 .  
         [0021]     Thus, the example cover  102  has a profile that becomes more acute with respect to the plane of the opening  106  as the cover  102  progresses from its connection (e.g., via a hinge structure) to the base  104  toward the wall  110 . Although the example cover  102  is depicted as having a decreasing angular profile, different shapes for the cover  102  may be used for different types of small vehicles. For example, to minimize the amount of space occupied by the enclosure  100  and to decrease the material cost of the enclosure  100 , a smaller, differently shaped cover  102  may be used for a smaller vehicle, such as, for example a jet ski, than would be used for a larger vehicle, such as, for example, a motorcycle. In some examples, to minimize the overall size of the enclosure  100 , the profile of the cover  102  may be configured to roughly or closely conform to the profile of the vehicle that is stored in the enclosure  100 .  
         [0022]     The shape of the cover  102  makes the enclosure  100  more aerodynamic, which may be important if the enclosure  100  were transported in an open-top vehicle such as, for example, on the bed of a trailer. The shape of the cover  102  is also stackable with respect to other covers, which decreases the amount of space and costs necessary for shipping multiple covers.  
         [0023]     The bottom of the cover  102  includes a flared peripheral portion  116 . The flared peripheral portion  116  extends substantially around the perimeter of the bottom of the cover  102 . The flared peripheral portion  116  may be an angled portion of plastic that is integrally formed with the cover  102 . The flared peripheral portion  116  may alternatively be implemented as a component that is fastened to the cover  102  via any known or desired mechanical or chemical fastening technique. Alternatively, the flared peripheral portion  116  could instead be implemented as a groove or ridge in the cover  102 . The flared portion  116  is configured to channel water (e.g., rain) and to prevent water from entering the interior of the enclosure  100 . The flared portion  116  is also configured to protect the interior of the enclosure  100  from insects, vermin, etc.  
         [0024]     The interior portion of the cover  102  may include a sealing component  117  (see  FIG. 11 ) near the bottom of the walls  108 ,  110  and  112  or interior to the flared portion  116  that forms a gasket with the base  104  when the cover  102  is in the closed position. The sealing component may be made of foam, rubber or any other resiliently deformable material.  
         [0025]     The bottom of the wall  112  includes an extension, tab, or hinge portion or structure  118 . As discussed in greater detail below, the cover  102  is connected to the base  104  via the hinge structure  118 .  
         [0026]     The base  104  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9 . The base  104  includes a floor  120 , two side walls  122 , and a rear wall  124 , at which the cover  102  is connected to the base  104 . This connection is discussed in more detail below. The base  104  also includes a ramp  126  opposite the rear wall  124 . The ramp  126  is double-sided (e.g., includes an incline portion and a decline portion) and assists in securing the contents of the enclosure  100 , for example, by preventing a wheeled vehicle from rolling off the base  104  when the cover  102  is in the open position. The profile of the ramp  126  may be rounded, peaked, trapezoidal or any other shape that would assist in securing the contents of the enclosure  100 . The ramp  126  may be integrally formed with the base  104 . Alternatively, the ramp  126  may be implemented as a separate component that is fixed to the base  104 . Furthermore, the ramp and/or the base may be reinforced.  
         [0027]     The base  104  also includes a guide channel  128 . The illustrated base  104  is suitable for use with a motorcycle and, thus, includes only one guide channel  128 . However, different bases  104  configured for use with different vehicles may have, for example, two guide channels  128  in the case that the base  104  is configured for use with a different vehicle such as, for example, an ATV or a snowmobile.  
         [0028]     The base may also include a chock or stop  130  that is located at the rear wall  124  at the end of the guide channel  128 . The stop  130  indicates to the user that the vehicle is completely within the enclosure and helps to protect the rear of the base  104  and cover  102  from damage if, for example, a vehicle is driven too far into the enclosure. The stop  130  may also be integrally formed with the base  104 . Additionally, there may be a plurality of stops  130 . Furthermore, the example stop  130  is an open, curved rod structure, but the stop  130  may be configured as any shape that will prevent the vehicle from being placed too far into the enclosure.  
         [0029]     The example base  104  also includes platforms  132 , which can be used to support tie-down structures (not shown) on the floor  120 . The platforms  132  have a recessed area  133 . The tie-down structures are made of metal such as, for example, a metal plate that sits on the platform  132 . The interior of the metal plate may be opened to expose the recessed area  133 . A metal loop, D-rings or other structure may be coupled to the metal plate and positioned to sit in the recessed area  133  when not in use. Bolts, screws or any other mechanical or chemical fastener may be used to fasten the tie-down structures to the floor platform  132 . Rope or other straps (not shown) may be threaded and knotted to the tie-down structures at one end and connected to a small vehicle at the other end to secure the vehicle within the enclosure  100 . The tie-down structures may also be any structure that can be used to secure the vehicle in the enclosure  100  such as, for example, a durable plastic.  
         [0030]     The base  104  also includes wheels  138 . The wheels  138  are disposed in wheel wells  140  that are located at the front of the base  104  adjacent to the tie-down structures  132 . When it is desirable to move the enclosure  100 , the user may lift the end of the base  104  that has the ramp  126  to shift the weight of the enclosure to the wheels  138  and then roll the enclosure  100  to another location. Although the illustrated example includes two wheels  138 , additional wheels may be located along the rear end of the base  104 .  
         [0031]     The floor  120  of the base  104  may also have holes (not shown) through which mechanical fasteners (not shown) may be threaded to anchor the enclosure  100  to a surface such as, for example, a concrete slab, the ground, or the bed of another vehicle such as, for example, a pick-up truck or trailer. In the illustrated example, there may be any number of such holes, for example, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Additionally, the holes may be located toward the rear of the base  104 , toward the front, or anywhere along the perimeter or surface area of the floor  120 .  
         [0032]     The top outer portion of the side walls  122  and rear wall  124  may include a sealing component (not shown) that complements the piece coupled to the cover  102  to complete the seal when the cover  102  is in the closed position.  
         [0033]     Returning to  FIGS. 1-3 , which illustrate the cover  102  coupled to the base  104 . In this example, the cover  102  is coupled to the base  104  at the rear. The hinge structure  118  of the cover  102  interlocks with the rear wall  124  of the base  104 . In the illustrated example, the hinge structure is formed as an extension or tab having an aperture  133 , which aligns with an aperture  134  on the base. A pin, screw, rivet or other mechanical fastener is passed through the apertures  133 ,  134  to form a hinge structure and pivotally couple the cover  102  to the base  104 . The fastener may be a metal, hard rubber or the like. Further, the cover  102  and base  104  may be coupled through other types of hinges such as, for example, a living hinge where the cover  102  and base  104  are integrally formed.  
         [0034]     The illustrated example also includes struts  136  that further support the cover  102  on the base  104 . In the illustrated example, the struts  136  are gas springs. The use of gas springs  136  assists the user in opening and closing the cover  102  because the user will not have to bear all the weight of the cover  102 . The gas springs  136  are connected to both the cover  102  and the base  104  via mechanical fasteners (not shown) that are threaded through holes (not shown) in the cover  102  and base  104 . The gas springs  136  may also be connected via any other known fastener. Further, the illustrated example includes two gas springs, but any number of springs may be used.  
         [0035]     The base  104  may also have a gutter (not shown) that is located along the top edge of the side walls  122  and rear wall  124 . The gutter works in cooperation with the flared portion  116  of the cover  102  to protect the interior of the enclosure  100  from water, vermin or other environmental hazards. The gutter may be sloped inward at an angle such as, for example, twenty degrees.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate the seam between the cover  102  and the base  104 . The flared portion  116  is at the bottom of the side wall  108  of the cover  102 , as described above. The flared portion  116  overhangs the top of the side wall  122  of the base  104 . In the case where the example enclosure  100  includes sealing gasket components  117 , these components are disposed between the top of the side wall  122  of the base  104  and the flared portion  116 .  
         [0037]     The enclosure  100  may also include or be configured to include various accessories. For example, the enclosure  100  may have a lock  113  ( FIG. 1 ) that can be used to secure the contents of the enclosure  100  when the cover  102  is closed. The example lock  113  is a T-lock, but the lock  113  can be any type locking mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, an alarm (not shown) may be connected to the enclosure  100 , where the user would have to deactivate the alarm before opening the cover  102 . Further, in interior of the cover  102  may be equipped with studs, hooks, hangers, etc. (not shown) from which a helmet or other accessories or equipment may be hung. Still further the enclosure  100  may include a vent structure  111  ( FIG. 1 ). The vent structure  111  may be implemented by forming a plurality of louvers, slits, or other suitable openings in the cover  102  to permit ambient air to enter the enclosure  100 , while prevent the ingress of moisture, vermin, etc. Additionally, the vent  111  may be configured to facilitate the escape and dissipation of chemical vapors (e.g., gasoline fumes) from the interior of the enclosure  100 . Allowing chemical vapors such as gasoline fumes and the like to easily escape from the interior of the enclosure  100  prevents the buildup of dangerous (e.g., toxic, explosive, etc.) levels of gasses. The vent  111  may be integrally formed in the cover  102 , or the vent  111  may be a separate structure that is screwed, bolted, welded or otherwise mechanically or chemically fastened to the cover  102 .  
         [0038]     Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4