CA1199662A - Passenger car-covering apparatus - Google Patents
Passenger car-covering apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1199662A CA1199662A CA000431372A CA431372A CA1199662A CA 1199662 A CA1199662 A CA 1199662A CA 000431372 A CA000431372 A CA 000431372A CA 431372 A CA431372 A CA 431372A CA 1199662 A CA1199662 A CA 1199662A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- roller
- shape frame
- vehicle
- car
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J11/00—Removable external protective coverings specially adapted for vehicles or parts of vehicles, e.g. parking covers
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A flexible water-proof sheet has one end attached to a winding roller and the other end attached to the cross-bar of a U-shape frame pivotally connected to a mounting structure.
Spring members urge the U-shape frame in a direction away from the roller to unwind the sheet and cover the passenger car.
A crank handle is connected to the roller to wind the sheet Against the action of the spring members. The pivot of the frame to the mounting structure is located below the bottom of the passenger car and in the vicinity of the vertical center-line of the drive side door, such that, when the sheet is fully wound, the side arms of the V-shape frame take a low-enough inclined position to fully clear said side door. The spring members are similarly positioned to clear the side door.
In one embodiment, the system is mounted on a stationary frame to be installed, for instance, in a house driveway, In the other embodiment, the entire apparatus is mounted on the car itself to be always available for use.
A flexible water-proof sheet has one end attached to a winding roller and the other end attached to the cross-bar of a U-shape frame pivotally connected to a mounting structure.
Spring members urge the U-shape frame in a direction away from the roller to unwind the sheet and cover the passenger car.
A crank handle is connected to the roller to wind the sheet Against the action of the spring members. The pivot of the frame to the mounting structure is located below the bottom of the passenger car and in the vicinity of the vertical center-line of the drive side door, such that, when the sheet is fully wound, the side arms of the V-shape frame take a low-enough inclined position to fully clear said side door. The spring members are similarly positioned to clear the side door.
In one embodiment, the system is mounted on a stationary frame to be installed, for instance, in a house driveway, In the other embodiment, the entire apparatus is mounted on the car itself to be always available for use.
Description
66;~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present lnvehtion relatea to an npparatu~ -used for a temporarily-covering pas~enger motor vehlcle to protect the lat~er mainly against snow and ice, 80 aa to avoid the necesslty of removlng the snow or scraplng the lce off the car windows.
BACKGROUN~ OF THE INVENTICN`
Conventional covers for the above purpo~e are difficult to install nd remove without ~oiling the user's hands or clothes. They are al80 difilcult to fold and store whenever lt is desired to use the vehlcle. Canadian Patent 894,683 clated March 7, 1972,in the name of Garnet, Oxler and al and entltled: "V~HIC~E COVERING APPARATUS", is deslgned for the load-carr~lng open top box of a truck; a flexlble sheet i9 aetached to a roller at one end and to the cross-bar of a U-~hape frame at the other end. The ~ide arms of the U-shape frame are plvoted to the sldes of the vehlcle lo~d-carrying box, and apring means extend along the sides of the box to urge the Ushape frame to a box-covering positlon.
This sy0tem cannot be u~ed in as~ociation with a passenger car, because it wlll not allow opening of the car slde doors when the sheet i6 in wound positlon.
OB~ECTS OF THE INVENTION
It 19 therefore the general obJect of the present inventlon to provide means for coverin~ a passenger car with flexible wate~-proof shee~ in a way ~hat the ~hee~ m~y readlly be applied to tbe vehicle and readlly removed therefrom and 80 arranged as to have ~ccess ~o the side door~ of ~he pas~enger car when the s~eet i~ in wound~up car-uncovering po~ltion.
Another object of the invention ia to provide a covering apparatus of the character described, whlch for~a a structure separate from the car, adapted to be atationarlly ~ounted.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present lnvehtion relatea to an npparatu~ -used for a temporarily-covering pas~enger motor vehlcle to protect the lat~er mainly against snow and ice, 80 aa to avoid the necesslty of removlng the snow or scraplng the lce off the car windows.
BACKGROUN~ OF THE INVENTICN`
Conventional covers for the above purpo~e are difficult to install nd remove without ~oiling the user's hands or clothes. They are al80 difilcult to fold and store whenever lt is desired to use the vehlcle. Canadian Patent 894,683 clated March 7, 1972,in the name of Garnet, Oxler and al and entltled: "V~HIC~E COVERING APPARATUS", is deslgned for the load-carr~lng open top box of a truck; a flexlble sheet i9 aetached to a roller at one end and to the cross-bar of a U-~hape frame at the other end. The ~ide arms of the U-shape frame are plvoted to the sldes of the vehlcle lo~d-carrying box, and apring means extend along the sides of the box to urge the Ushape frame to a box-covering positlon.
This sy0tem cannot be u~ed in as~ociation with a passenger car, because it wlll not allow opening of the car slde doors when the sheet i6 in wound positlon.
OB~ECTS OF THE INVENTION
It 19 therefore the general obJect of the present inventlon to provide means for coverin~ a passenger car with flexible wate~-proof shee~ in a way ~hat the ~hee~ m~y readlly be applied to tbe vehicle and readlly removed therefrom and 80 arranged as to have ~ccess ~o the side door~ of ~he pas~enger car when the s~eet i~ in wound~up car-uncovering po~ltion.
Another object of the invention ia to provide a covering apparatus of the character described, whlch for~a a structure separate from the car, adapted to be atationarlly ~ounted.
- 2 _ -~-:
~gg~6Z
` Another obJect o~ the lnvention i~ to provide a passenger car-covering apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment, which is permanently ca~ried by the ca~ itself, so as to be readily accessible for use irrespectlve of the c~r location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The passenger car-covering apparstus of the invention comprises an elongated flexible waterproof sheet, a roller to which one end of said sheet ia attached for winding said sheet in car-uncovering position, a U-shape frame including side arms and a cross-b~r, the-other end ~f said sheet being attached to said cross-bar, the side arms adapted to ex*end at the sides of the car, mean~ to pivot the free ends o said side arma and spring meana to urge said frame away from aald roller to automatically unwind s~id sheet and cover aaid car, and, when sa~d vehicle. i8 positioned to be covered by ssld sheet, said pivot and spring means being located at a level below the bottom of said vehicle and on or close to the vertical centerline of ; the side door of ~he vehicle gaining access to the driver'a seat, so that, when the sheet is in car-uncovering position wound on said roller, said side arms and spring means cléar said side door to permit opening of the same.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a perspec~ive view oi a first embodi-ment ~f the invention as an apparatus separate from the passenger car and showing the sheet in car-uncovering wind-up position;
Figure 2 i8 a part.ial elevati.on showlng the crank mechanism used in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a 3ide view of the appar3tus oi Figure l and showing the sheet in car-covering po~ition.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the app~ratus in the position shown in Figure 3, ~ ~9~
` Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment permanently carried by the car nnd showlng the sheet in car-covering positlon;
Flgure 6 is a perspective view of the embodlment of Figure 5 shown ln an lntermedlate po~ltlon of the sheet;
Figure.i is a partial elevation showlng the roller of the second embodiment and its support installed ~n the rear bumper of the car;
Figure 3 i8 a side elevation of the second embodiment with the sheet in car-covering position;
~ Figure 9 is a top plan view of the second embodiment showi.ng the cover in rolled-up car-uncovering po~ition;
Figure 10 i9 a cross-ection along llne 10-10 o Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a partial top plan view, partlally in section, of the retractable crank handle for the roller of the second embodiment; and Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the torsion bar arrangement for the U-shape frame of the 0econd embodiment and lGoking underneath the car, partially shown in dotted line.
In the following descrlption, like reference characters indicate like element3 througho~t.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The flrst embodlment, i:llustrated ln Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, is de~i8ned to be stationarlly mounted, for instance, on ~ driveway of a home to cover car A. ~ ~tationary structure, includlng the two side members 1, interconnected by a cross member 2, form a U-shape frame adapted to be positloned . flat on the ground, wi~h thP parallel 3ide member~ 1 sufficiently spaced apart to receive therebetween a passenger car A to be covered and protected against snow or ice. An elongated, fle~ible waterproof sheet 3 is attached at one end to a roller 4 rotatably supported at each extremity by vertical posts 5, which are ~ ~9~62 secured to the ends of the transYerse member 2 and are reinforced by braces 5' secured to the cross member 2 and side members 1. Secured .st each end of the roller 4 are dlscs 6, the purpose of which is t:o guide the sheet 3 when it i8 rolled on the roller 4 by means of a crank handle 7 fixed to one end of roller 4. The other end of sheet 3 is attached to the cross bar of an inverted U-shape frame 8, the free ends of the side arms of whi.ch are pivo'tally connected at 9 co the free ends of s~de members 1. The aide arms of the frame 8 are sufficiently spaced apart, 80 that the car A can be parked between these side arms and their lèngth i8 slightly more than half the length of car A. A reinfGrcing cross bar 10 located rearwardly of cross member 2, secured to the side members 1, nGt only maintain their parellelism but also serve as a stop for ~he front wheels of the car A, so that the latter will be properly positioned with respect to the roller 4 and to the pivots 9. The U-shape freme 8 can travel through an arc of substantially 180 over the car from a car'~uncovering po~.ition in whiph the cross member of the U-shape frame 8 rests on the sbeet 3 completely wound on the roller 4 and a car-covering position in which the sheet 3 comes to rest on the rear bumper of the car, with the sheet ~ sufficien~ly taut and coverlng the entire top of the csr together with the side windows of the s2me.
Spring means are provided to bias the U-shape frame 8 and the sheet' 3 in car-coverLng position, in which the cross member of U-shape frame 8 wlll normally abut the rear bumper of the car.
These spring means include compres~ion coil springs'11 which i'reely surround a gulde rod 12. The lower end of the guide rod 12 is pivoted at 12' to the related side member 1 of the ground-supportlng frame at a point close to, ~a9662 but at a certsin distance from the pivotal connection ~ of the lower end of the side arms of the U-shape frame 8 and between pivotal connection 9 and crosa member 3. A collar ll' i8 slldable on guide rod 12 and abuts the top of the coil spring ll. The collar 11' is pivoted to a bracket ll " , which is fixed to the side arm of the ~-shape frame 8. Because of the deforma~le triangles defined by the guide rods 12, the side members 1 and the side arms Gf the U-shape frame 8, it is clear that the com-pre~sionspri~gs ll have a maximum compression when the L-shape frame 8 i~ in car-uncovering positlo~, restin8 on the rolled.up sheet
~gg~6Z
` Another obJect o~ the lnvention i~ to provide a passenger car-covering apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment, which is permanently ca~ried by the ca~ itself, so as to be readily accessible for use irrespectlve of the c~r location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The passenger car-covering apparstus of the invention comprises an elongated flexible waterproof sheet, a roller to which one end of said sheet ia attached for winding said sheet in car-uncovering position, a U-shape frame including side arms and a cross-b~r, the-other end ~f said sheet being attached to said cross-bar, the side arms adapted to ex*end at the sides of the car, mean~ to pivot the free ends o said side arma and spring meana to urge said frame away from aald roller to automatically unwind s~id sheet and cover aaid car, and, when sa~d vehicle. i8 positioned to be covered by ssld sheet, said pivot and spring means being located at a level below the bottom of said vehicle and on or close to the vertical centerline of ; the side door of ~he vehicle gaining access to the driver'a seat, so that, when the sheet is in car-uncovering position wound on said roller, said side arms and spring means cléar said side door to permit opening of the same.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a perspec~ive view oi a first embodi-ment ~f the invention as an apparatus separate from the passenger car and showing the sheet in car-uncovering wind-up position;
Figure 2 i8 a part.ial elevati.on showlng the crank mechanism used in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a 3ide view of the appar3tus oi Figure l and showing the sheet in car-covering po~ition.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the app~ratus in the position shown in Figure 3, ~ ~9~
` Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment permanently carried by the car nnd showlng the sheet in car-covering positlon;
Flgure 6 is a perspective view of the embodlment of Figure 5 shown ln an lntermedlate po~ltlon of the sheet;
Figure.i is a partial elevation showlng the roller of the second embodiment and its support installed ~n the rear bumper of the car;
Figure 3 i8 a side elevation of the second embodiment with the sheet in car-covering position;
~ Figure 9 is a top plan view of the second embodiment showi.ng the cover in rolled-up car-uncovering po~ition;
Figure 10 i9 a cross-ection along llne 10-10 o Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a partial top plan view, partlally in section, of the retractable crank handle for the roller of the second embodiment; and Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the torsion bar arrangement for the U-shape frame of the 0econd embodiment and lGoking underneath the car, partially shown in dotted line.
In the following descrlption, like reference characters indicate like element3 througho~t.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The flrst embodlment, i:llustrated ln Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, is de~i8ned to be stationarlly mounted, for instance, on ~ driveway of a home to cover car A. ~ ~tationary structure, includlng the two side members 1, interconnected by a cross member 2, form a U-shape frame adapted to be positloned . flat on the ground, wi~h thP parallel 3ide member~ 1 sufficiently spaced apart to receive therebetween a passenger car A to be covered and protected against snow or ice. An elongated, fle~ible waterproof sheet 3 is attached at one end to a roller 4 rotatably supported at each extremity by vertical posts 5, which are ~ ~9~62 secured to the ends of the transYerse member 2 and are reinforced by braces 5' secured to the cross member 2 and side members 1. Secured .st each end of the roller 4 are dlscs 6, the purpose of which is t:o guide the sheet 3 when it i8 rolled on the roller 4 by means of a crank handle 7 fixed to one end of roller 4. The other end of sheet 3 is attached to the cross bar of an inverted U-shape frame 8, the free ends of the side arms of whi.ch are pivo'tally connected at 9 co the free ends of s~de members 1. The aide arms of the frame 8 are sufficiently spaced apart, 80 that the car A can be parked between these side arms and their lèngth i8 slightly more than half the length of car A. A reinfGrcing cross bar 10 located rearwardly of cross member 2, secured to the side members 1, nGt only maintain their parellelism but also serve as a stop for ~he front wheels of the car A, so that the latter will be properly positioned with respect to the roller 4 and to the pivots 9. The U-shape freme 8 can travel through an arc of substantially 180 over the car from a car'~uncovering po~.ition in whiph the cross member of the U-shape frame 8 rests on the sbeet 3 completely wound on the roller 4 and a car-covering position in which the sheet 3 comes to rest on the rear bumper of the car, with the sheet ~ sufficien~ly taut and coverlng the entire top of the csr together with the side windows of the s2me.
Spring means are provided to bias the U-shape frame 8 and the sheet' 3 in car-coverLng position, in which the cross member of U-shape frame 8 wlll normally abut the rear bumper of the car.
These spring means include compres~ion coil springs'11 which i'reely surround a gulde rod 12. The lower end of the guide rod 12 is pivoted at 12' to the related side member 1 of the ground-supportlng frame at a point close to, ~a9662 but at a certsin distance from the pivotal connection ~ of the lower end of the side arms of the U-shape frame 8 and between pivotal connection 9 and crosa member 3. A collar ll' i8 slldable on guide rod 12 and abuts the top of the coil spring ll. The collar 11' is pivoted to a bracket ll " , which is fixed to the side arm of the ~-shape frame 8. Because of the deforma~le triangles defined by the guide rods 12, the side members 1 and the side arms Gf the U-shape frame 8, it is clear that the com-pre~sionspri~gs ll have a maximum compression when the L-shape frame 8 i~ in car-uncovering positlo~, restin8 on the rolled.up sheet
3 on roller 4, and these springs, each associated with one of the two side arms of the U-shape frame 8, upon e~pansion, produce pivot~l ~ovement of the II-shape frame 8 towards car-covering position. The force exerted by the springs is sufficient to automstically cause the frame o to unwind the sheet 3 fro~ the roller~4 and draw said sheet over the car without the use of any external force.
When the car A iB in proper positiQn with respect to the apparatus, the front bumper is close to the front roller 4 and the U-shape fra~.e i.s of such dimensions and its pivots 9 BO loCAted with respect to the car that the cross member of the U-shape frame 8 wlll abut against the rear bumper of the car in car-covering position, Also,and most lmportantly, the pivots 9 of the V-shape frame 8 are located below the underside of the car and on, or in close proximity to the vertical centerline of the side door of the car which give~ a.ccess to the driver's seat It will be noted that the coil springs ll and their guiding rod 12 are so located ahead of the pivots 9 and, con--sequently, of the side arms of the U shape frame 8, so that, when said l)-shape frame 8 is In car-uncovering position lying on top of the rolled-up sheet on the roller 4, the side door B of the car is completely clear of the side arms of the U-shape frame 8 ~966Z
and of the coil 3pring arrangement 11, 80 that this aide door may be fully open to give accesa to the car, ln order to be able to drive the car away from the apparatu3~
Crank handle 7 18 used to wind up the sheet and, conssequently, pivot the U-shape frame to car-uncoverlng position. In order-to prevent accidental unwinding of the sheet, a ratchet wheel 13, 88 shown in Figure 2, is fixed to the shaft of the roller 4 and a pawl lever 14 engages this ratchet wheel 13. The pawl lever 14 ls plvoted at i5 lntermediaté
its ends on the post S. With the sheet 3 in rolled-up condition, it is only necessary to pivot lever pawl 14 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 to lnitiate the car-covering operation.
This system iB advanta~eoua in that lt provldes protection for a pas~enger car, wlthout the coYt of building a garage.~
Figures S to 11 show another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, more specially designed to be fixed to the passenger car itself, so a9 to be always available for u~e. In this embodiment, the roller 4 serving to wind the sheet 3, which i9 attached to said roller at one end, i9 rotatably mounted at its ends on support~ 2n which are upstanding from, and are secured to, brackets 21 designed to be secured at the back ~f the car ad3acent the rear bumper of the car.
Roller 4 i3 provided with a collapsible operating crank handle instead of the rigid crank handle 7 oi the first embodiment. The crank handle 7' comprises an arm 22 rigidly secured to the roller shaft and ~he handle proper 23, pivoted at 24 to the outer end of arm 22 and provided with ~ flat spring 25 which serves to maintain the handle 22 in either an operating posi~ion at right angle to the arm 22 or in collapsed po3ition ilat against said arm. Otherwises the roller 4 is also provided with the pawl-and-ratchet system 13 and 14, aa in the fir3t embodiment, to prevent accidental unrolling of the she2t 3.
6~
The other end of the sheet 3 i3 attached to the cross-bar of a U-shape frame 8' of the same type AB the V-frame 8 of the first embodiment, but the ~lde ~rms of the same are tubular and receive in telescoplc engagement, and are aecured to, the.
outer end portions 26;of a pair of torsion bars 27, of similar shape.
Each torsion bar 21 includes a central st~aight port$on 28 and two straight end portion~ 29 and 30 bent at an angle and directe`d in the sa~e direction with respect to the central portion 28 and lying in a com~on plane with port$on 28.
The cen~al portion 28 of the two torsion bars 27 are crossed and slidably inserted in a pair of angle brackets 31, which are secured to the underside of the car in about the central portion of the same. The inner and shorter end portions 29 of the two toraion bars 27 are applied flat against the under side of the car and retained therein by means of clamps 32 secured to the car. The outer and longer ends 30 of the two torsion bars are inserted within and are secured to the side arms of the U-shape frame 8~, after they have been twisted through about l80 to the full line position shown in Figure 12. In this figure, the ends 30t shown in full line, arè directed to~ards the rear of the car.
Thus, it will.be understood that with the U-frame 8' in car-uncovering position resting on the sheet 8 woound on roller 4, the torsion bars 27 have a maximum ~tream and tend to draw the sheet towards the front of the car by the bias applied to the U-shape frame 8'. This car-covering operation is dcne automatically upon release of the pawl lever 14.
When the car A iB in proper positiQn with respect to the apparatus, the front bumper is close to the front roller 4 and the U-shape fra~.e i.s of such dimensions and its pivots 9 BO loCAted with respect to the car that the cross member of the U-shape frame 8 wlll abut against the rear bumper of the car in car-covering position, Also,and most lmportantly, the pivots 9 of the V-shape frame 8 are located below the underside of the car and on, or in close proximity to the vertical centerline of the side door of the car which give~ a.ccess to the driver's seat It will be noted that the coil springs ll and their guiding rod 12 are so located ahead of the pivots 9 and, con--sequently, of the side arms of the U shape frame 8, so that, when said l)-shape frame 8 is In car-uncovering position lying on top of the rolled-up sheet on the roller 4, the side door B of the car is completely clear of the side arms of the U-shape frame 8 ~966Z
and of the coil 3pring arrangement 11, 80 that this aide door may be fully open to give accesa to the car, ln order to be able to drive the car away from the apparatu3~
Crank handle 7 18 used to wind up the sheet and, conssequently, pivot the U-shape frame to car-uncoverlng position. In order-to prevent accidental unwinding of the sheet, a ratchet wheel 13, 88 shown in Figure 2, is fixed to the shaft of the roller 4 and a pawl lever 14 engages this ratchet wheel 13. The pawl lever 14 ls plvoted at i5 lntermediaté
its ends on the post S. With the sheet 3 in rolled-up condition, it is only necessary to pivot lever pawl 14 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 to lnitiate the car-covering operation.
This system iB advanta~eoua in that lt provldes protection for a pas~enger car, wlthout the coYt of building a garage.~
Figures S to 11 show another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, more specially designed to be fixed to the passenger car itself, so a9 to be always available for u~e. In this embodiment, the roller 4 serving to wind the sheet 3, which i9 attached to said roller at one end, i9 rotatably mounted at its ends on support~ 2n which are upstanding from, and are secured to, brackets 21 designed to be secured at the back ~f the car ad3acent the rear bumper of the car.
Roller 4 i3 provided with a collapsible operating crank handle instead of the rigid crank handle 7 oi the first embodiment. The crank handle 7' comprises an arm 22 rigidly secured to the roller shaft and ~he handle proper 23, pivoted at 24 to the outer end of arm 22 and provided with ~ flat spring 25 which serves to maintain the handle 22 in either an operating posi~ion at right angle to the arm 22 or in collapsed po3ition ilat against said arm. Otherwises the roller 4 is also provided with the pawl-and-ratchet system 13 and 14, aa in the fir3t embodiment, to prevent accidental unrolling of the she2t 3.
6~
The other end of the sheet 3 i3 attached to the cross-bar of a U-shape frame 8' of the same type AB the V-frame 8 of the first embodiment, but the ~lde ~rms of the same are tubular and receive in telescoplc engagement, and are aecured to, the.
outer end portions 26;of a pair of torsion bars 27, of similar shape.
Each torsion bar 21 includes a central st~aight port$on 28 and two straight end portion~ 29 and 30 bent at an angle and directe`d in the sa~e direction with respect to the central portion 28 and lying in a com~on plane with port$on 28.
The cen~al portion 28 of the two torsion bars 27 are crossed and slidably inserted in a pair of angle brackets 31, which are secured to the underside of the car in about the central portion of the same. The inner and shorter end portions 29 of the two toraion bars 27 are applied flat against the under side of the car and retained therein by means of clamps 32 secured to the car. The outer and longer ends 30 of the two torsion bars are inserted within and are secured to the side arms of the U-shape frame 8~, after they have been twisted through about l80 to the full line position shown in Figure 12. In this figure, the ends 30t shown in full line, arè directed to~ards the rear of the car.
Thus, it will.be understood that with the U-frame 8' in car-uncovering position resting on the sheet 8 woound on roller 4, the torsion bars 27 have a maximum ~tream and tend to draw the sheet towards the front of the car by the bias applied to the U-shape frame 8'. This car-covering operation is dcne automatically upon release of the pawl lever 14.
Claims (6)
- THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED, ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
l. An apparatus for covering a passenger motor vehicle having at least one side door to gain access to the driver's seat and a front and a rear bumper, said apparatus comprising a generally rectangular flexible waterproof vehicle covering sheet, a support structure associated with said motor vehicle, on inverted first U-shape frame including a pair of side arms joined by a cross-bar at a first end, pivot means joining the other end of said side arms to said support structure, one end of said sheet being attached to said cross-bar, a roller to which is connected the other end of said sheet, said roller being mounted at one end of said motor vehicle for receiving said sheet in a roll thereon, spring means connected to said side arms and biasing said U shape frame and sheet towards the other end of said vehicle, thus covering said vehicle with said sheet, a manual winding means connected to said roller for rotating the latter to roll said sheet on said roller and draw said U-shape frame towards said roller against the action of said spring means to uncover said motor vehicle, and means to releasably maintain said roller with said sheet rolled up on the same, said pivot means and said spring means being positioned on or close to the vertical centerline of said door, and said pivot means being located at a level below the bottom of said vehicle, said side arms, when said sheet is fully rolled up on said roller, taking a sufficiently inclined position to clear said side door and permit its opening to allow access to, or egress from, the driver's seat of said vehicle. - 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support structure consists of a second U-shape frame adapted to lay flat on the ground and including a cross member and side members, said side members adapted to lie on either side of the vehicle, with the cross member adjacent the front end of said vehicle, posts upstanding from said second U-shape frame in the region of said cross member, said roller being mounted on said posts, the side arms of said first U-shape frame being pivoted directly to the side members of said second U-shape frame, said spring means being connected to said side members.
- 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spring means comprise guiding rods pivotally mounted on said side members close to the pivotal connections of said side arms to said side members, and between said pivotal connection and said cross member, helical compression springs loosely surrounding said guide rods, a collar slidably mounted on said guide rods and engaging said compression springs and brackets pivotally attaching said collars to said side arms of said first U-shape frame.
- 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further including a stop bar interconnecting the side members of said second U-shape frame to maintain parallel relationship between said side members and serving as an abutment for the front wheels of a motor vehicle positioned within said second U-shape frame.
- 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure is adapted to be fixed underneath said motor vehicle, said spring means also constituting said pivot means and constituting said pivot means and consisting of torsion bar means carried by said support structure at one end and adapted to be located underneath said motor vehicle, said torsion bar means being attached at the other end to the respective other ends of said side arms of said first U-shape frame, and bracket means supporting said roller and adapted to be attached to said motor vehicle to support said roller in the region of the rear bumper of said motor vehicle.
- 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said torsion bar means consists of a pair of torsion bars crossing each other under said motor vehicle and each having a similar shape, including a first and a second being end, and a straight central portion, the first bent end adapted to be secured flat against the underside of said vehicle by said support structure, said support structure further including apertured brackets adapted to be secured to the underside of said vehicle and rotatably receiv-ing the central portions of the respective torsion bars, the second bent ends of said torsion bars being secured to and in alignment with the other ends of the side arms of said first U-shape frame.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000431372A CA1199662A (en) | 1983-06-28 | 1983-06-28 | Passenger car-covering apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000431372A CA1199662A (en) | 1983-06-28 | 1983-06-28 | Passenger car-covering apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1199662A true CA1199662A (en) | 1986-01-21 |
Family
ID=4125580
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000431372A Expired CA1199662A (en) | 1983-06-28 | 1983-06-28 | Passenger car-covering apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1199662A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2743340A1 (en) * | 1996-01-04 | 1997-07-11 | Veyssiere Guy | Sun shade for motor vehicle |
| CN103419609A (en) * | 2012-05-23 | 2013-12-04 | 常熟南师大发展研究院有限公司 | Vehicle dustproof cover |
-
1983
- 1983-06-28 CA CA000431372A patent/CA1199662A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2743340A1 (en) * | 1996-01-04 | 1997-07-11 | Veyssiere Guy | Sun shade for motor vehicle |
| CN103419609A (en) * | 2012-05-23 | 2013-12-04 | 常熟南师大发展研究院有限公司 | Vehicle dustproof cover |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |