Abstract:
The vehicle cover includes a frame assembly having both vertical and lateral adjustment for supporting a tarp roll laterally thereon. The frame assembly is temporarily installed atop the vehicle, with forward and rearward anchors being installed laterally beneath the respective forward and rearward ends of the vehicle. A tarp or cover is unrolled from the tarp roll atop the frame assembly, and attached to the forward and rearward anchors to form a tent-like configuration having relatively steep forward and rearward slopes and near vertical sides. This configuration greatly improves the shedding of snow, ice, and leaves and other debris that would otherwise collect atop a cover resting directly atop the relatively flat surfaces of the vehicle. The entire frame and cover assembly remain clear of the underlying surface and contact only the vehicle, and are thus not considered permanent structures that might be subject to zoning or other local regulations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to temporary, portable protective covers for vehicles and the like. More specifically, the present invention is a vehicle cover having a roof-mounted frame that lifts the center of the cover well above the vehicle, and provides steeply sloping cover surfaces for shedding snow, leaves, etc. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Most owners and operators of automobiles, light trucks, etc. prefer to protect and shelter their vehicles from the elements, if at all possible. This is particularly true in more northern portions of the country, where snow and freezing rain are normal occurrences in the winter. Yet, not everyone has access to a permanent storage structure, such as a garage, shed, or the like, for various reasons. 
         [0005]    As a result, vehicle owners and operators will often tie a simple tarp over any otherwise exposed vehicles to provide some level of protection from the elements. Tarps are relatively inexpensive, although they are cumbersome to install and remove and do not provide optimum protection for the article secured therebeneath. A better solution is a specially made vehicle cover, particularly one which is shaped to conform to the dimensions and contours of the particular make and model of vehicle with which the cover is intended to be used. Such covers provide more complete protection and are generally less cumbersome to install and remove than a loosely fitting tarp or the like, although they are more costly than an unfitted tarp. 
         [0006]    The installation of a simple tarp or form-fitting vehicle cover over the vehicle, results in nearly all of the cover resting directly upon the surface of the vehicle. As most vehicle roofs, engine compartment hoods, and trunk lids are relatively flat and level, with only slight curvature, this can allow the buildup of snow and/or other debris upon the cover directly over these surfaces. The problem is magnified when a tarp or other cover is installed over a pickup type vehicle with an open bed, where snow, water, and/or other debris can collect on the cover over the bed of the vehicle and cause the cover to sag downwardly into the bed, thereby forming a large pocket that collects even more snow, water, and/or debris. 
         [0007]    Thus, a vehicle cover solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The vehicle cover includes a frame temporarily installed atop the roof of the vehicle, forward and rearward anchors disposed laterally beneath the respective ends of the vehicle, and a tarp or cover sheet deployed from the frame and extending downwardly to wrap around the front and rear of the vehicle and attach to the two anchors. The frame includes left and right side uprights that may be extended in height as desired to support a lateral tarp roll tube or pipe assembly thereacross. The additional height of the tarp roll tube above the roof of the vehicle results in a steep forward and rearward slope of the tarp from the tarp roll tube to the respective front and rear ends of the vehicle, with the steep slope serving to shed snow, rain, leaves, and/or other debris more readily than a conventional cover. 
         [0009]    The vehicle cover further includes lateral adjustment to accommodate vehicles of different sizes, with the rolled tarp or cover sheet accommodating different vehicle lengths according to the amount or degree that the tarp is unrolled. The tarp is cut or configured to provide essentially complete coverage of the top and ends of the vehicle, and at least the upper sides of the vehicle as well. The cover is supported completely by the vehicle to which it is attached, with none of the cover components being supported by the underlying surface or other structure. Thus, the present vehicle cover is considered a temporary cover or shelter, and is not subject to zoning or other ordinances affecting structures that are attached at least partially to the ground or other surface underlying the vehicle. 
         [0010]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a vehicle cover according to the present invention, showing the cover deployed upon a vehicle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the frame assembly of the cover, installed upon a vehicle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the frame assembly, showing the adjustable and folding features thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view in partial section of one of the tarp roll support members, showing further details thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side elevation view of the tarp roll assembly, showing its operation. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a broken away perspective view of the front and rear anchor assemblies, showing their installation on a vehicle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the operation of the temporary support of the tarp roll assembly during deployment of the cover. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the tarp used with the present vehicle cover. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The present invention is a vehicle cover having a rigid frame that mounts removably atop the vehicle, to support the center of the cover high above the vehicle and provide steeply sloping forward and rearward cover surfaces to shed snow, leaves, and other debris.  FIG. 1  provides a general perspective view of the vehicle cover assembly  10  installed upon an automobile A. The cover assembly  10  includes a frame  12  (shown in detail in  FIG. 2  and discussed further below), with a cover  14  having opposite forward and rearward panels  16  and  18  extending from a centrally disposed and elevated lateral cover support  20  supported by the underlying frame  12 . The forward and rearward ends  22  and  24  of the cover  14  attach to respective laterally disposed forward and rearward anchor members  26  and  28  removably disposed beneath the forward and rearward ends of the automobile A or other vehicle. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  provides a detailed perspective view of the frame assembly  12 . The frame assembly  12  includes a laterally disposed base member  30  having mutually opposed first and second ends  32  and  34 , with first and second upright supports  36  and  38  extending forwardly and rearwardly respectively from the first and second ends of the base member  30 . Each of the upright supports  36  and  38  comprises a central tube immovably affixed (welded, etc.) to the corresponding end  32  or  34  of the base member  30 . A smaller diameter pivot tube, respectively  40  and  42 , is installed within and extends beyond each end of each of the central tubular upright supports  36  and  38 , and comprises the base member of the upright assembly. First and second uprights, respectively  44  and  46 , are welded or otherwise immovably affixed to the respective pivot tubes  40  and  42  of each of the upright supports  36  and  38 , with opposite first and second diagonal braces  48  and  50  extending from the opposite ends of the two upright supports  36  and  38  to the upper ends of the uprights  44  and  46 . 
         [0022]    This structure allows the upright assemblies to pivot or fold downwardly adjacent to the central base member  30  for compact storage, as shown in  FIG. 3  with the second upright  46  and its attached upright assembly illustrated in an intermediate position during the folding or unfolding operation. Each upright  44  and  46  and associated assembly is locked in its fully deployed upright position, as shown by the first upright  44  and assembly in  FIG. 3 , by a two-link locking arm  52  extending between each of the first and second end components  32  and  34  and their respective attached first and second uprights  44  and  46 . The various lowermost members, i.e., the first and second ends  32  and  34  of the base member  30  and the two upright supports  36  and  38  and their corresponding pivot tubes  40  and  42 , are preferably provided with padding material  54  (sleeves, collars, etc.) thereon in order to preclude marring of the finish of the automobile or vehicle A. 
         [0023]    Each of the two uprights  44  and  46  supports an opposite end of the cover support member  20  thereon, with the cover support  20  raised well above the top of the automobile A or other vehicle when the present vehicle cover assembly  10  is installed and erected thereon. While the cover support  20  may be removably installed directly atop each of the uprights  44  and  46 , preferably each of the uprights includes a telescoping tubular extension, respectively  56  and  58 , therein to allow the height of the cover support (and thus the ridge line of the cover  14 ) to be adjusted as desired. This height adjustment mechanism for the cover support  20  is shown at least generally in several of the drawings, but is shown in greatest detail in the view of  FIG. 4  showing the first upright  44  and its associated structure. The first upright  44  includes a first upright extension  56  captured therein and extending from the upper end thereof. The upper ends of each upright  44  and  46  includes a crimp  60  or other restriction, with the lowermost end of each extension  56  and  58  having a stop  62  (e.g., washer, etc.) thereon to preclude separation of the extension member from its corresponding upright. While only a single upright extension member is shown with each of the uprights  44  and  46 , it will be seen that multiple telescoping extension members may be used to provide even greater height extension for the cover support  20 , if so desired. 
         [0024]    First and second lock rings  64  and  66  are disposed about the respective upright extensions  56  and  58 , above the crimped upper ends of the respective first and second uprights  44  and  46 . It will be noted in  FIG. 4  that the upper end  68  of the first diagonal brace member  48  is attached non-concentrically to the upper end of the first upright  44 , and extends slightly above the crimped upper end of the upright  44 . This higher upper end  68  of the first diagonal contacts the lock ring  64  to one side thereof, causing the lock ring to take a cant relative to the concentric axes of the upright  44  and its extension  56 . This results in the central passage of the ring  64  gripping the side of the extension member  56 , thus locking the extension member to prevent its retraction into the upright  44 . 
         [0025]    Adjustment of the extension  56  is easily accomplished by raising the extension slightly to disengage the lock, and holding the lock ring  64  in a plane substantially normal to the axes of the upright  44  and its extension  56 . This allows the extension  56  to slip through the central passage of the lock ring  64  for extension or retraction as desired, with the lock ring  64  then being repositioned to rest at a cant upon the upper end  68  of the diagonal  48  and grip the extension  56  passing therethrough. The opposite second upright  46 , extension  58 , diagonal  48 , and lock ring  66  operate in the same manner. Other height locking means for the extensions  56  and  58  may be provided alternatively, e.g., cutting the upper ends of the two uprights  44  and  46  at an angle to cause the lock rings  64  and  66  to rest at a cant thereon, etc. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  also provides a detailed illustration of the removable installation of the cover support  20  to the upper end of the first extension  56 . The installation of the cover support to the opposite second extension is the same. The cover support  20  comprises a central tubular member, with opposite first and second telescoping extension members  70  and  72  extending therefrom. The first cover support extension  70  is shown in  FIG. 4 , with its outermost portion passing through the eye of an eyebolt  74  or the like to allow the cover support extensions  70 ,  72  and central cover support member  20  to rotate relative to the eyebolts  74  and underlying upright assemblies. The shank of the eyebolt  74  is inserted removably into the open upper end of the first upright extension  56  to secure the cover support  20  to the upright extension  56  and upright  44 . A linchpin  76  or the like is secured to the shank of the eyebolt  74 , with the ring  78  extending from the linchpin being placed about a tab  80  extending laterally from the upper end of the upright extension  56  to preclude inadvertent removal of the eyebolt  74  from the extension  56 . When removal of the cover support  20  and its extensions  70 ,  72  from the underlying first and second upright assemblies is desired, the linchpin ring  78  is pivoted away from the tab  80  and the cover support assembly  20  is lifted upwardly to withdraw the two eyebolts  74  from the upper ends of their respective upright extensions  56  and  58 . 
         [0027]    The frame assembly of the cover may be adjusted in width as well, to accommodate vehicles of different sizes.  FIG. 3  illustrates the structure providing for the adjustment of the frame base member  30  and its two end components  32  and  34 . The frame base member  30  includes opposite first and second end components  32  and  34  telescopically assembled to the central base member. The frame base member  30  includes a series of locking holes or passages  82  therethrough, with the inboard ends of the end components  32  and  34  having similar passages  82 . Selected ones of the passages are aligned with one another through the base member  30  and end components  32 ,  34 , and a locking pin  84  (linchpin, etc.) is installed therethrough to secure the assembly to the desired width. This adjustment is generally only required once for fitting the frame assembly  12  of the car cover  10  to any specific vehicle make and model of vehicle. 
         [0028]    The vehicle cover support member  20  also comprises a series of three telescoping tubes, as shown in various drawing FIGS. However, the central member  20 , which supports the vehicle cover sheet  14  thereon, has a larger diameter than the two roll cover support extensions  70  and  72 , which telescope into the central member  20 . The larger diameter central member  20  allows the cover  14  to be rolled thereon and unrolled therefrom without interference from the sliding of the telescoping extensions  70  and  72 . No length locking means is provided for this assembly, as the central member  20  is retained between the two eyebolts  74  and the extensions  70  and  72  are retained by their passages through the two eyebolts. The anchor bars or members  26  and  28  may be constructed in the same general manner, i.e., with a larger diameter central member and opposite smaller diameter telescoping extensions. The extensions are secured in the central member in the manner described further above for the two uprights  44 ,  46  and their extensions  56 ,  58 . 
         [0029]    Although there are no lock pins or the like extending through or from the vehicle cover support member  20 , there are a series of medial cover support attachment tabs  86  extending therefrom, as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 2 . The cover  14  ( FIG. 8 ) includes a medially and laterally disposed cover support attachment  88  secured thereacross, which in turn secures to the cover attachment tabs  86  extending from the cover support member  20  and provides a stronger material to which the fasteners attach. Various means may be used to secure the cover support attachment  88  to the support member  20 , e.g. self-tapping screws which engage holes in the tabs  86 , plastic locking ties, etc. as desired. The attachment of the cover  14  to the support member  20  is a permanent or at least a semi-permanent installation, with the cover  14  being rolled onto the support member  20  for storage. The cover support attachment  88  of the cover  14  also serves to secure the two cover portions  16  and  18  together and reinforce the center of the cover, where some of the greatest stress in the fully extended cover is developed due to the relatively narrow width of the cover  14  at this point. 
         [0030]    The vehicle cover  10  is installed and deployed on the vehicle by initially placing the frame  12  atop the vehicle and extending the two upright or cover roll support assemblies, generally as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. Any adjustment in the width of the frame base member  30  and its extensions  32  and  34  may be carried out at this time, if this has not been previously accomplished. The frame  12  is secured to the top of the vehicle by first and second door capture anchor straps, respectively  90  and  92  (see particularly  FIGS. 2 and 7 ), which extend from first and second adjuster buckles  94  and  96  attached respectively to the first and second uprights  44  and  46 . The free ends of the straps  90  and  92  are captured between the upper door frame and vehicle roof, or between the upper edge of the glass and the vehicle roof in the case of a hard top, and the straps are pulled taut and locked by means of the adjuster buckles  94  and  96 . The forward and rearward anchor bars  26  and  28  may be positioned loosely beneath the forward and rearward ends of the vehicle at this time. 
         [0031]    Once the above has been accomplished, the roll cover support member  20  with the cover  14  rolled thereon may be installed atop the first and second uprights  44  and  46  and their respective extensions  56  and  58 . It will be recognized that the cover  14  is relatively bulky and heavy, and is awkward to handle during this installation step. Accordingly, the frame  12  includes additional structure to facilitate this cover roll installation. First and second supplemental cover supports  98  and  100  are attached at an angle across the respective first and second uprights  44  and  46  and their respective first diagonal braces  48 . The angle between each supplemental cover support  98 ,  100  and its respective upright  44 ,  46  forms an upwardly oriented crotch or notch  102 , which serves as a temporary support for one end of the cover roll assembly during erection of the cover. 
         [0032]    Initially, the cover roll assembly, i.e., the cover support roll  20  and its extensions  70  and  72  and the cover  14  rolled upon the support roll  20 , is set into place atop the frame assembly with each of the cover support extensions  70  and  72  resting temporarily in the two opposite crotches or notches  102 . The installer is then free to move around to either side of the vehicle to install the appropriate eyebolt  74  in the corresponding extension end  70  or  72 , as desired.  FIG. 7  illustrates this operation, with the cover roll assembly being temporarily supported at its first extension end  70  within the first crotch  102  while the shank of the eyebolt  74  of the opposite second extension end  72  has been installed within the upper end of the second extension  58 . The installer will then move to the opposite side of the vehicle and install that eyebolt  74  in the first extension  56  to complete the cover roll assembly installation. Additional extension of the two upright extensions  56  and  58  to steepen the slopes of the forward and rearward cover panels  16  and  18  may be accomplished either before installing the cover roll assembly eyebolts  74  in the upper ends of the extensions, or after such installation, as desired. Removal of the cover roll assembly is accomplished by reversing the above-described procedure. 
         [0033]    At this point, the cover  14  is unrolled from the cover support roller  20 , which is free to rotate within the eyes of the two opposed eyebolts  74  placed in the upper ends of the first and second upright extensions  56  and  58 . The person deploying the cover  14  need only grasp one of the two free ends of the cover and pull that end toward the appropriate end of the vehicle. As the cover  14  is attached to the support roller  20  along the medial support attachment band  88  of the cover, the cover  14  is rolled and unrolled from its center.  FIG. 5  provides an illustration of this arrangement, with both the forward panel  16  and rearward panel  18  being deployed simultaneously in generally opposite directions from the central cover support roller  20 . 
         [0034]    When the cover  14  has been extended over the forward and rearward portions of the vehicle as required, it is connected to the respective forward and rearward anchor bars  26  and  28  using the anchor attachment straps  104  extending from the forward and rearward ends  22  and  24  of the cover  14 . These attachment straps or ties  104  are shown in the plan view of the cover  14  in  FIG. 8 , and are shown in use in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The two anchors  26  and  28  may include a corresponding series of attachment points, or the straps  104  may be tied around the anchor bars  26  and  28  as desired. 
         [0035]    At this point, the anchor bars  26  and  28  are positioned beneath the respective forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, and secured in place against the underside of the vehicle and tires by using straps  106  extending from the ends of the anchors and bungee cords  108  extending from the medial corner edges of the cover  14 . The plan view of the cover shown in  FIG. 8  shows these bungees  108  extending from the cover, with  FIGS. 1 and 6  showing the connections of these laterally deployed straps  106  and/or bungees  108  in securing the sides of the cover  14  over the vehicle or automobile A. The straps  106  extending from the two anchors  26  and  28  preferably have a series of holes therein, to accept corresponding hooks installed upon the distal ends of the cover bungees  108 . These strap attachment hooks on the bungees  108  may be adjustably installed on the bungees to provide additional adjustment for the assembly if needed. It will be noted in the various drawing FIGS. that attaching and tightening the straps  106  and bungees  108  to one another, draws the sides of the cover  14  downwardly along the sides of the automobile A to provide good coverage and protection for the vehicle beneath the cover assembly  10 . 
         [0036]    In the event that excessive cover length is provided for the vehicle, the cover  14  need not be completely unrolled from its cover roll  20 . However, it will be seen that the cover  14  will not remain taut over the vehicle unless some means is provided for holding the partial cover roll in place and preventing it from unwinding further.  FIG. 5  illustrates a means for accomplishing this, with a crank handle  110  installed in a fitting or coupling  112  in the outboard end of the first cover support extension  70 . Each of the two cover support extensions  70  and  72  may include crank fittings or couplings  112  in their distal ends, e.g., square sockets, etc., mating with the drive end of the crank  110  to lock the crank rotationally relative to the cover support extensions. The extensions  70 ,  72  may be locked rotationally relative to the central cover roller  20  by splines, longitudinal slots and radially disposed pins, etc. 
         [0037]    The crank handle  110  is in turn prevented from rotating by a crank retainer bungee  114 , the distal end of which is hooked to one of the ends of the first upright pivot tube  40 . A series of such retainer bungees  114  may be provided and stored conveniently by securing them between the ends of the upright pivot tubes  40  and  42  and the ends of the two supplemental cover support members  98 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . The retainer bungees  114  may also be wound around the rolled cover  14  to prevent the cover  14  from unrolling when rolled for storage, in lieu of using the end straps  104  extending from the cover. The crank handle  110  is stored when not in use by hanging from a conventional hook or the like extending from the frame assembly  12 , generally as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  7 . 
         [0038]    The cover assembly  10  is removed from the automobile A or other vehicle essentially by reversing the installation procedure described above. In the event that the cover  14  was not completely unwound to cover the vehicle during deployment, any locking means used to prevent the rolled cover  14  from unrolling further (e.g., retainer bungee  114 ) may be removed or unlatched to provide slack for loosening and removing the forward and rearward straps or ties from the corresponding forward and rearward anchor bars  26  and  28 . The lateral cover retaining bungees  108  may be unhooked from their respective anchor bar straps or ties  106  at this point, as well. 
         [0039]    At this point, the sides of the cover  14  may be folded toward the center of the cover, and the crank handle  110  used to wind the cover  14  onto its roller  20 . When the cover  14  has been wound completely onto its support roller  20 , one of the retainer bungees  114  may be hooked to the crank handle  110  to prevent the cover  14  from unrolling while the eyebolt  74  at the opposite end of the support roller, e.g., the second support extension  72 , is withdrawn from its socket at the upper end of the corresponding second upright extension  58 . The second support extension  72  is temporarily placed in the crotch or notch  102  at that side of the structure, and the person disassembling the cover assembly  10  returns to the opposite side of the vehicle. The retainer bungee  114  and crank handle  110  are removed, and the support roll  20 , its extensions  70  and  72 , and the cover  14  wound thereon are removed from the cover frame  12  for storage along with the previously freed anchor bars  26  and  28 . 
         [0040]    Having accomplished the above, all that remains is to fold the two opposite upright assemblies, i.e., the first and second uprights  44 ,  46 , their extensions  56 ,  58 , and their diagonals  48 ,  50 , downwardly against the frame base member  30 , open the doors of the vehicle to release the two retaining straps  90  and  92 , and remove the frame assembly  12  from the roof of the vehicle. The frame assembly  12 , rolled cover  14 , and anchor members  26  and  28  are sufficiently compact when configured for storage to be stored within the trunk of the automobile A or other vehicle, if so desired, allowing the cover assembly  10  to be carried with the vehicle for deployment and use as required. 
         [0041]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.