Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates generally to protective covers and more particularly to a flexible weather-resistant protective cover for personal mobility vehicles, (hereinafter referred to as a “PMV”). 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    PMVs are well known and are readily available for virtually all physically impaired individuals who find ambulation difficult at best, and impossible in worst-case scenarios. These physically impaired typically rely upon battery powered four-wheeled PMVs and three-wheeled PMVs sometimes referred to as “scooter trikes” or “power scooters”. 
         [0008]    The user of a PMV may become so reliant upon it that there becomes a need to carry the PMV when traveling and when stored outside. Lift platforms attached to the rear of a vehicle, typically to a trailer hitch, are utilized for this transportation function wherein the PMV is placed atop a platform held above the ground at the back of the vehicle and, when needed, the lift platform either lowers or tilts to allow for motorized deployment or loading of the PMV thereatop after use. 
         [0009]    During travel, inclement weather will take its toll on the PMV, as will the UV component of sunlight. Therefore, an investment in such a PMV of several thousands of dollars deserves adequate protection from the elements. Covers in the form of rigid or semi-rigid plastic or metallic material have been utilized in the past. These rigid covers tend to be oversized to accommodate a wide range of sizes of PMVs for universality. Flexible covers, also known in prior art, are typically formed of several rectangular panels, including a central band or panel and side panels to facilitate lateral expansion of the sides of the cover as these PMVs are typically in the range of 20″ to 30″ in width. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a generally universal configuration of a flexible weather resistant cover which is formed of only two side panels with a weather resistant seam running across the arcuately configured top surface of the invention. By properly selecting the height and length of each of the substantially identical side panels, virtually all sizes of PMVs may be accommodated for protective encasement thereof. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    This invention is directed to a protective cover for a personal mobility vehicle (PMV) for use when the PMV is stored on the ground or on a lift platform attached to a vehicle. Only two mating flexible flat side panels form the cover. The arcuate mating upper margins are connected together by weather stitching, the lower margins being unconnected for cover installation over the PMV and preferably include a casing and a drawstring for tightening the lower margins beneath the PMV. The weather stitching is formed by multiple closely spaced lines of stitching through an inward seam allowance. The arcuate upper margins may be semi-circular, ellipse-like in shape, or similar to a side elevation profile of the PMV. The panels are preferably formed having a weather resistant outer layer and a felt-like substantially non-abrasive inner layer. The cover has a cover length and a cover height preferably established by formulas related to PMV profile sizes. 
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a flexible weather resistant protective cover for a PMV when stored either atop a rear lift platform attached to a vehicle or stored on a flat surface. 
         [0013]    It is another object of this invention to provide an economically manufactured cover for a PMV which will accommodate virtually all sizes of PMVs. 
         [0014]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multi-layer cover for a PMV preferably formed of two substantially identical side panels and stitched together with a weather resistant leak resistant top seam which adds both strength and water resistance to the cover and its protective features. 
         [0015]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a PMV cover formed of double-layer sheet material having a weather-resistant outer layer and a scratch-free inner layer. 
         [0016]    In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a broken perspective view of the invention showing alternate arcuate upper profiles in phantom. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an end elevation view of the invention in its flattened configuration and in its open configuration shown in phantom. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of area C of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a view of  FIG. 3  with the cover in its open expanded configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial view of the invention in place over a PMV which is supported atop a lift platform attached to the rear of a vehicle. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the invention protectively deployed atop a PMV resting atop the ground. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is an end elevation view of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0025]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  are top plan views of two different configurations of PMVs showing the method of determining the cover length (CL) of the protective cover for each of these PMVs. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9   c  is a rear elevation view of a PMV showing the method of determining the cover height (CH) of the protective cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the preferred embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  10  and is formed of only two mating substantially identical panels  12  and  14  which are seemed together along an upper seam  16  having the arcuate configuration of the mating upper margins of each of the panels  12  and  14 . The straight lower margins of each of these panels  12  and  14  are formed having casings  18  and  20  which slidably support an elongated drawstring  26 , the ends of which are shown at  26   a  and  26   b , extending through substantially all of the casings  18  and  20 . 
         [0028]    The preferred material utilized for each of the flexible panels  12  and  14  is multi-layered as best seen in  FIG. 4 . The outer layer  30  is formed of a weather and water resistant vinyl material, while the inner layer  32  is formed of felt-like material to prevent abrasion to the painted or fiberglass surfaces of the PMV when the cover is put in place or removed, and during tow vehicle movement causing wind to blow and buffet against the exterior surface of the cover  10 . The preferred multilayer panel material is available from Reliatex, Inc. of Tampa, Fla. under the trade designation felt-backed vinyl. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 1 , the overall finished length of the cover  10  is shown generally at CL while the overall finished height of the cover  10  is generally shown at CH. The standard arcuate configuration of the upper margins of each of the mating sewn together flexible panels  12  and  14  is in the form of a uniform radius also shown at CH. However, to accommodate the side elevation profiles of unique PMVs as will be described herebelow, the arcuate configuration may be laterally expanded at  16 ′ or at  16 ″ or both into an oval-like profile to accommodate those unique PMV side elevation profiles. 
         [0030]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower straight unconnected margins of each of the side panels  12  and  14  includes a casing  18  and  20 , respectively, stitched together along stitching lines  22  and  24 , respectively, housing an elongated drawstring  26  to tighten the lower margins of the cover  10  around the lower margins of the PMV or, as will be described herebelow, around the edges of a support platform P of a lift platform attached to the rear of a vehicle. 
         [0031]    The unobvious expandability nature of the invention  10  which is formed of only two substantially identical panels  12  and  14  as previously described, is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . From the flattened position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2 , the flexible panels  12  and  14  are expanded laterally into the general configuration shown in phantom in  FIG. 2  and in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 1 . By adjusting the overall length (CL) and height (CH) of each of the panels  12  and  14 , as will be described herebelow, the complete protective enclosure of virtually any PMV is accommodated and without excess material despite the fact that there is no expandable rectangular center panel to this invention. 
         [0032]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another important aspect of the invention is there shown. Typically, conventional stitch seaming between panels does not render the seam water resistant. Therefore, leakage may occur which can stain or damage the article beneath such a protective covering. To accomplish a substantially watertight seam along  16 , a total of four separate closely spaced stitching lines  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  are utilized for this purpose and will now be described with respect to the process of their implementation. 
         [0033]    Initially, the flexible panels  12  and  14  are laid back to back atop a flat surface with the outer vinyl surfaces  30  facing one another, and then the first seam  22  is stitched into place in inside-out pillowcase fashion. This initial stitching along  22  forms a seam allowance formed of arcuate edge portions  12   a  and  14   a  which typically measure about 1″ in width. Thereafter, a second stitching seam at  24  is installed along the entire arcuate seam  16  for added strength. Then, the now sewn together panels are reversed from the inside out orientation, one of the panels ( 12  or  14 ) is folded over against itself along fold line  14   b  and two additional closely spaced stitching lines are sewn at  26  and  28  through the three layers, the seam allowances  12   a ,  14   a  and  14  so that, when the cover  10  is expanded in the in-use configuration as shown typically in  FIG. 4 , the visible seam  16  is secured from water intrusion by no less than four stitching lines  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  along the interface surface  16   a  to insure weather tightness of this junction. Note that it is preferred to use a double needle machine to install stitches  24  and  26  simultaneously. 
         [0034]    As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , after the PMV (shown in phantom) has been positioned atop the platform P of the lift L which is attached at the back of the tow vehicle by conventional trailer hitch T, the cover  10  is then deployed over the PMV and the drawstrings within casings  18  and  20  are tightened and tied together at  40  to secure this arrangement in place around the lower margins of platform P. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the seat back SB will typically be tipped inwardly to reduce the necessary overall size of the cover  10  as previously described. 
         [0035]    As seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the cover  10  may also be utilized to cover the PMV when it rests atop the ground or on a garage surface when not in use. Again, the drawstrings  26   a  and  26   b  may be tied together within casings  18  and  20  to secure this arrangement from weather and wind and to substantially protect the PMV therewithin. 
       Dimensional Formulas 
       [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C, the important dimensional aspects of the cover  10  are there described. In  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a four-wheeled PMV is shown in top plan view in  FIG. 9A  and a three-wheeled PMV is shown in top plan view in  FIG. 9B . The minimum actual length AL 1  required of the cover  10  of each of the panels  12  and  14  is shown in phantom. In relation to the length L 1  and the width W 1  of the PMV, a formula utilizing these overall dimensions may be developed. With respect to  FIG. 9A , the cover length CL may be defined as being equal to L plus W. When actually comparing the dimension L 1  plus W 1 , the ratio of (L 1  plus W 1 ) to the actual length AL 1  is equal to 1.09. That is to say that, if the cover length CL is established at (L 1  plus W 1 ), there will be a 9% looseness factor (LF) of the cover length CL, the CL being 9% larger than the actual length AL 1  of the PMV top plan view profile of  FIG. 9A . 
         [0037]    However, it is typically desired that the looseness factor LF be somewhat larger for easier deployment and removal and, therefore, in this instance, a looseness factor of an additional 10% added to the overall length to establish the preferred cover length CL is utilized. This renders the net looseness factor LF to be about 20% so that the cover length CL will be approximately 120% of the actual length AL 1 . 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 9B , the three-wheeled PMV has the cover length calculated to be again the length plus width (L plus W). This calculated cover length (L plus W) is larger than the actual length AL 2  by a factor of approximately 16% as determined by actual measurement so that, if the cover length CL is established at (L 2  plus W 2 ), the cover length CL will be 16% longer than the actual length AL 2 . Again, by applying a preferred looseness factor of an additional 10%, the overall cover length CL with the looseness factor of approximately 26% produces a cover length with a looseness factor of 126% of AL 2 , making the cover  10  itself very easy to deploy protectively over the PMV of  FIG. 9B  and then depending upon the drawstrings previously described to secure the lower straight margins of the cover  10  over the lower margins of the PMB or the platform P atop which it is supported. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 9C , the height H plus the width W 3  of a typical three-wheeled PMV of  FIG. 9B  is there described. The actual height AH is shown in phantom and extends from the top center of the PMV to the hem  18  which typically will be tightened beneath the lower wheels or edges of the PMV. By applying the formula of (H plus ½ W 3 ) to establish the cover height CH as shown in  FIG. 1 , an actual looseness factor of only approximately 2% as compared to the actual height AH is established. Should an additional 10% looseness factor LF be desired, the overall looseness factor of 12% may be incorporated into the cover height CH for installation ease and certainty of full protective coverage of the PMV shown in  FIG. 9C . 
         [0040]    While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

Technology Category: 7