AU2005216999B2 - Hail blanket - Google Patents

Description

WO 2005/082661 PCTiAU2005/000289 HAIL BLANKET TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hail blanket for a vehicle. The invention has been developed primarily for use with automobiles and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application.

BACKGROUND

It is known to use car covers for protecting vehicles from weather, particulate, and impacting objects. Some of these covers are fabricated with an impact dampening material to protect the vehicle panelling from denting. For example, US 6070629 (Whiteside) discloses a vehicle cover that achieves such dampening by embedding small pockets of air in the blanket material. Similarly, a number of protective covers have been disclosed that achieve dampening by including some plurality of inflatable members. For example, US 5242206 (Heck), US 6056347 (D'Adamo), and US 5941594 (O'Neil) each teach variations of inflatable covers with multiple air pockets.

Whilst a multi-pocketed configuration provides heightened stability and impact dampening, it adds complexity, cost and weight to the cover. Further, the extra material precludes these covers from being folded into a compact storage volume when in its normal, deflated state.

The majority of covers disclosed are also custom fitted to a particular vehicle body style. The custom fitting nature of these blankets increases the amount of time required to deploy the blanket and the amount of space required to store the blanket.

Furthermore, users of the prior art covers are required to properly orient them relative to their vehicles, a frustrating and potentially time consuming task. In the event that a hailstorm occurs suddenly, these time consuming complexities have required the user to stand in the storm for a dangerously long amount of time.

The present invention seeks to provide a hail blanket that will overcome or ameliorate at least one of the deficiencies of, or provide an alternative to, the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention consists in a hail blanket for use on multiple types of vehicles, said hail blanket comprising: a chamber existing between an upper and a lower wall both being substantially rectangular, said chamber being rapidly inflatable and adapted to at least substantially cover the upwardly facing surfaces of said vehicles, at least one of said upper and lower walls being at least partially shaped in a series of semi-tubular ribs when said chamber is inflated, wherein when said blanket is fitted to said vehicle at least one of said semi-tubular ribs extends laterally across said hail blanket between opposite sides of said vehicle, and a main valve affixed to said chamber and adapted to be engaged selectively by either inflation means or deflation means to respectively inflate or deflate said chamber, and securing means for securing said hail blanket to said vehicle.

Preferably, the interior of said chamber being substantially void, wherein no structural members connect between said upper and lower walls other than along their peripheries.

WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU20051000289 3 Preferably, said upper and lower walls each comprising at least a polyvinyl chloride layer.

Preferably, said polyvinyl chloride layer having thickness less than lmm. More preferably, said polyvinyl chloride layer having thickness less than 0.3mm.

Preferably, said upper wall further comprising a nylon layer substantially overlying said polyvinyl chloride layer. Preferably, said nylon layer having thickness less than 1mm.

More preferably, said nylon layer having thickness less than 0.3mm.

Preferably, said securing means comprising at least a first and a second strap, each having ends adapted to be releasably attached to one of a plurality of attachment points affixed external said chamber, wherein in use said first and second straps are wrapped underneath said vehicle.

Preferably, said securing means further comprising at least one door strap having a fixed end affixed to said chamber and having a free end adapted to be releasably secured in a closing portion of said vehicles. Preferably, said closing portion consisting in a door window. More preferably, said closing portion consisting in a door.

Preferably, said inflation means and said deflation means comprise an electric air pump adapted to selectively inflate or deflate said chamber. In one embodiment, said electric air pump being powered by a rechargeable battery. In an alternative embodiment, said electric air pump being powered by the electrical distribution system of said vehicle. In one embodiment, said electric air pump being affixed to said chamber.

Preferably, said hail blanket further comprises a plurality of exhaust ports affixed to said chamber that allow for any residual air to exhaust when said hail blanket is being folded.

Preferably, said hail blanket further comprises at least one auxiliary valve affixed to said chamber and adapted to be engaged by said inflation means, wherein said auxiliary valve is accessible from within said vehicle while said hail blanket is secured thereon.

Preferably all of said semi-tubular ribs extends laterally across said hail blanket.

Preferably, a method for rapidly deploying said hail blanket onto a vehicle comprises the steps of: placing said hail blanket on an upper surface at one end of said vehicle; (ii) unfolding said hail blanket laterally across said upper surface; (iii) securing a first portion of said hail blanket to said vehicle using said securing means; (iv) unrolling said hail blanket to the other end of said vehicle; securing a second portion of said hail blanket to said vehicle using said securing means; and (vi) inflating said hail blanket with said inflation means Preferably, a method for removing said hail blanket from a vehicle comprises the steps of: WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU2005/000289 deflating said hail blanket using said deflation means; (ii) releasing a first portion of said securing means to release a first portion of said hail blanket; (iii) rolling said first portion of said hail blanket towards the other end of said vehicle (iv) releasing remaining portions of said securing means; and folding said hail blanket for storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view showing a hail blanket according to the present invention deployed on a vehicle.

Fig 2 is a perspective cutaway view of the hail blanket deflated.

Fig 3 is a perspective cutaway view of the hail blanket inflated.

Fig 4 is an enlarged partial cutaway view of the hail blanket.

Fig 5 is a partial plan view of the hail blanket.

Fig 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the hail blanket.

Fig 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the hail blanket.

Fig 8 is a plan view of the hail blanket.

Fig 9 is a bottom view of the hail blanket.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION The figures depict a preferred embodiment of a hail blanket 1 capable of being rapidly deployed over a vehicle 4 at the onset of a hailstorm. Referring to Fig 1, hail blanket 1 WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU2005/000289 6 comprises a substantially rectangular chamber 2 that may be rapidly inflated or deflated by using an electric air pump 3 (not shown) engaged with main valve 17. In use, chamber 2 is secured to vehicle 4 by first strap 5 and second strap 6, each passing within respective front and rear wheel wells to prevent hail blanket 1 from slipping.

Referring to Figs 2 4, chamber 2 if formed from substantially rectangular upper and lower walls 7 and 8, which are sealed to each other along their peripheries. Lower wall 8 is fabricated generally from a non-permeable material providing sufficient resilience to enable inflation, preferably polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The thickness of lower wall 8 is about 0.285 mm, being thin enough to allow compact folding for storage, but thick enough to provide the durability necessary to endure a hailstorm. Upper wall 7 consists of a nylon layer 10 adhered overtop PVC layer 9. Nylon layer 10 has a thickness of about 0.3mm and PVC layer 9 has the same thickness to lower wall 8. Nylon layer adds further durability to hail blanket 1 by generally distributing the force of each hail impact and protecting the otherwise vulnerable PVC layer 9 from puncture. The materials and their thicknesses achieve both a compact storage volume and durability.

Figs 3 and 4 particularly depict the special configuration of chamber 2. Chamber 2 is a single compartment having void 11, which is uninterrupted by structural members such as PVC walls or columns extending between upper and lower walls 7 and 8. The single chamber design allows hail blanket 1 to be rapidly inflated and deflated via a single valve, rather than having to reengage multiple valves to fill multiple chambers.

Unobstructed void 11 further minimises any airflow resistance during inflation and deflation by removing tortuous flow paths. Unobstructed void 11 also reduces the potential for air becoming trapped in pockets that could otherwise be formed within chamber 2. These features also allow rapid and complete deflation by electric air pump 3.

After forcibly deflating blanket 1, a plurality of exhaust ports 18 may be opened to allow any residual air to exhaust when folding blanket 1 for storage. The construction of chamber 2 and exhaust ports 18 allows hail blanket 1 to be quickly folded into a compact volume.

Upper wall 7 is shaped in a series of laterally extending semi-tubular ribs 12. The semitubular ribs 12 become circular in shape as hail blanket 1 is inflated, as is illustrated by comparing hail blanket 1 deflated as shown in Fig 2 to when it is inflated as shown in Fig 3. Upper wall 7 is fabricated by bonding nylon layer 10 overtop PVC layer 9 and then heat treating from the PVC layer 9 side along rows 14. The heat-treated rows 14 are stiff relative to the rest of upper wall 7. Upon inflation, the flexible portions of upper wall 7 expand to form the semi-tubular shape of ribs 12. The series of semi-tubular shaped ribs 12 provides hail blanket 1 with significant hail impact dampening and allows the thin wall thickness of upper wall 7. Furthermore, as depicted in Fig 2, the ribs return to a compact form when deflated for storage. While ribs 12 may be oriented in one or more directions, their preferred orientation is lateral, which allows hail blanket 1 to adaptively follow the shape of a wide variety of vehicles through their major contours, for example, at the corner created where the bonnet meets the windshield. By "lateral" what is meant is that the longitudinal extent of ribs 12 substantially extend between opposite sides of the vehicle as shown in Fig. 1 rather than between the front and rear ends of the vehicle.

Figs 5 7 further depict the securing means used to secure hail blanket 1 to vehicle 4. In use, first and second straps 5 and 6 are clipped into one of several attachment points 13.

Attachment points 13 consist in a male receptor 15 affixed to a pad 16. Pad 16 provides robustness by distributing the stresses caused when tensioning straps 5 and 6.

WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU2005/000289 8 A plurality of attachment points 13 are provided so that a single sized hail blanket 1 may be fitted to a wide variety of vehicle types and sizes. In practice, a vehicle owner may wish to determine the attachment points 13 that suit their vehicle and leave one end of first and second straps 5 and 6 attached to the appropriate attachment point 13, so as to only require making two attachments in the event of a hailstorm.

Figs 8 and 9 depict first and second door straps 20 and 21 that also assist in quickly securing hail blanket 1 to vehicle 4. Each of door straps 20 and 21 have a fixed end affixed to chamber 2 and a free end that may be secured by shutting it between the door jamb and door of vehicle 4. Door straps 20 and 21 could just as easily be secured by shutting them within another closure such as a door window of vehicle 4.

In use, hail blanket 1 is removed from storage, typically the boot of vehicle 4, and laid laterally onto a first end of the vehicle. Either end of vehicle 4 may be indiscriminately selected as hail blanket 1 is substantially reversible, having no front or back per se. Hail blanket 1 is then unfolded laterally and secured by strap 5 around the first end of vehicle 4. Blanket 1 is then unrolled to a second end of vehicle 4 and secured thereon by strap 6 and door straps 20 and 21. Once hail blanket 1 is secured to vehicle 4, electric air pump 3 is fitted to main valve 17 to rapidly inflate chamber 2. Preferably, electric air pump 3 fully inflates hail blanket 1 in approximately 20 seconds. In the event that the hailstorm has begun before blanket 1 is inflated, the consumer may alternatively inflate blanket 1 using either of the auxiliary valves 19 shown in Fig 9, accessible while safely inside vehicle 4. When protection is no longer needed, electric air pump 3 is used to deflate chamber 2 for subsequent removal and storage. The features detailed above allow compact storage in a small portion of the boot of vehicle 4.

WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU2005/000289 9 In other, not shown preferred embodiments, hail blanket 1 may be secured to vehicle 4 by alternative means such as magnets or weights and may be affixed to points on, rather than wrapping underneath, vehicle 4. In further not shown embodiments, chamber 2 may be fitted with a lining material suitable for contact with the finished surfaces of a vehicle. Hail blanket 1 may also be manufactured in two or more sizes to generically cover the upwardly facing surfaces of the majority of vehicle types. Electric air pump 3 is preferably powered from the vehicle's electrical distribution system via the cigarette lighter outlet. A rechargeable battery pack may further provide a source of electrical power. In other preferred embodiments, electric air pump 3 may be affixed or preferably integral to hail blanket 1 near main valve 17.

The foregoing describes only preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (22)

1. A hail blanket for use on multiple types of vehicles, said hail blanket comprising: a chamber existing between an upper and a lower wall both being substantially rectangular, said chamber being rapidly inflatable and adapted to at least substantially cover the upwardly facing surfaces of said vehicles, at least one of said upper and lower walls being at least partially shaped in a series of semi-tubular ribs when said chamber is inflated, wherein when said blanket is fitted to said vehicle, at least one of said semi-tubular ribs extends laterally across said hail blanket between opposite sides of said vehicle, and a main valve affixed to said chamber and adapted to be engaged selectively by either inflation means or deflation means to respectively inflate or deflate said chamber, and securing means for securing said hail blanket to said vehicle.

2. The hail blanket as in claim 1, the interior of said chamber being substantially void, wherein no structural members connect between said upper and lower walls other than along their peripheries.

3. The hail blanket as in claim 2, said upper and lower walls each comprising at least a polyvinyl chloride layer.

4. The hail blanket as in claim 3, said polyvinyl chloride layer having thickness less than 1mm.

WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU2005/000289 11 The hail blanket as in claim 3, said polyvinyl chloride layer having thickness less than 0.3mm.

6. The hail blanket as in claim 1, said upper wall further comprising a nylon layer substantially overlying said polyvinyl chloride layer.

7. The hail blanket as in claim 6, said nylon layer having thickness less than 1mm.

8. The hail blanket as in claim 6, said nylon layer having thickness less than 0.3mm.

9. The hail blanket as in claim 1, said securing means comprising at least a first and a second strap, each having ends adapted to be releasably attached to one of a plurality of attachment points affixed external said chamber, wherein in use said first and second straps are wrapped underneath said vehicle.

The hail blanket as in claim 9, said securing means further comprising at least one door strap having a fixed end affixed to said chamber and having a free end adapted to be releasably secured in a closing portion of said vehicles.

11. The hail blanket as in claim 10, said closing portion consisting in a door window.

12. The hail blanket as in claim 10, said closing portion consisting in a door. 12

13. The hail blanket as in claim 1, wherein said inflation means and said deflation means comprise an electric air pump adapted to selectively inflate or deflate said chamber.

14. The hail blanket as in claim 13, said electric air pump being powered by a rechargeable battery.

The hail blanket as in claim 13, said electric air pump being powered by the electrical distribution system of said vehicle.

16. The hail blanket as in claim 13, said electric air pump being affixed to said chamber.

17. The hail blanket as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of exhaust ports affixed to said chamber that allow for any residual air to exhaust when said hail blanket is being folded.

18. The hail blanket as in claim 1, further comprising at least one auxiliary valve affixed to said chamber and adapted to be engaged by said inflation means, wherein said auxiliary valve is accessible from within said vehicle while said hail blanket is secured thereon.

19. The hail blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein all of said semi-tubular ribs extend laterally across said hail blanket.

WO 2005/082661 PCT/AU2005/000289 13 A method for rapidly deploying the hail blanket as in claim 1 onto a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: placing said hail blanket on an upper surface at one end of said vehicle; (ii) unfolding said hail blanket laterally across said upper surface; (iii) securing a first portion of said hail blanket to said vehicle using said securing means; (iv) unrolling said hail blanket to the other end of said vehicle; securing a second portion of said hail blanket to said vehicle using said securing means; and (vi) inflating said hail blanket with said inflation means.

21. A method for removing the hail blanket as in claim 1 from a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: deflating said hail blanket using said deflation means; (ii) releasing a first portion of said securing means to release a first portion of said hail blanket; (iii) rolling said first portion of said hail blanket towards the other end of said vehicle; (iv) releasing remaining portions of said securing means; and folding said hail blanket for storage.

22. A hail blanket as substantially herein before described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.