EP2451666A1

EP2451666A1 - Protective covering system for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2451666A1
Application number: EP10742191A
Authority: EP
Inventors: André Sassi; Jocelyne Sassi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-06
Filing date: 2010-07-05
Publication date: 2012-05-16
Also published as: JP2012532066A; CN102481830A; FR2962260A1; WO2011004105A1; US20120146358A1; FR2947489B1; IN2012DN00922A; FR2947489A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective covering system (1) for a motor vehicle (V) such as a car, including a flexible covering (6) for at least partially covering the vehicle (V) so as to protect said vehicle, the covering (6) defining a longitudinal direction (L) that extends along the length of the vehicle, characterized in that the covering (6) is provided with at least one stiffening element (61) that extends substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) in order to impart a certain stiffness to the flexible covering so as to facilitate the operation of covering the vehicle.

Description

Tarpaulin system

for a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a tarpaulin system for a motor vehicle, such as a car comprising a rear bumper, a trunk, a roof, a hood and a front bumper. The flexible tarpaulin is intended to at least partially cover the vehicle to protect it by extending from its rear bumper to its front bumper. The tarpaulin defines a longitudinal direction that extends in the length of the vehicle from the rear to the front. In other words, the tarpaulin is extended or pulled in the longitudinal direction to cover the vehicle from the rear to the front, or vice versa. Therefore, the preferred field of application of the present invention is that of passenger cars, but it is also possible to implement the present invention with other types of vehicles such as commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers, boats, etc.

Protective tarpaulins for motor vehicles have been in existence for a long time. The simplest models only provide a flexible tarpaulin that is unfolded and pulls on the top of the vehicle to cover it at least partially. Once in place, the tarpaulin can be attached to the vehicle by various techniques, such as elastics, hooks, etc. This type of rudimentary tarpaulin has two disadvantages. The first is the tarpaulin operation of extending the tarp over the top of the vehicle. It is necessary to turn several times around the vehicle to correctly position the tarpaulin on the vehicle. The other disadvantage is the storage of the tarp when not in use on the vehicle. It is indeed necessary to fold the tarpaulin correctly so that it has a minimum footprint. This latter disadvantage is partially solved by more complex tarpaulin systems using a winding drum on which the tarpaulin is wound into the storage position. When you want use the tarpaulin, it is pulled by a free end so as to unroll the cover of its winding drum. These winding drums can be installed at the front or rear, or on the roof of the vehicle. It is also possible to integrate the winding drum inside the trunk or trunk of the vehicle. However, even with a winding drum, the tarpaulin system does not solve the problem related to the sheeting operation of the vehicle. Indeed, it is always necessary to pull the free end of the cover and move to properly extend the flexible cover on the top of the vehicle. In other words, the winding drum is useful and effective during the operation of winding or unclogging of the vehicle, but it is absolutely of no use for the unfolding operation or sheeting of the vehicle.

The present invention aims to facilitate the sheeting operation of the vehicle so that its implementation does not require, or very little, the intervention of the user. The present invention is preferably applied to a tarpaulin system using a winding drum, but is not limited to this single embodiment. Another object of the present invention is to facilitate or automate the operation of covering the vehicle without interfering with or complicating the unstacking operation. Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate the sheeting operation without providing the tarpaulin rigid structure that is necessary to retract, fold, retract with complicated mechanisms.

To do this, the present invention provides a protective covering system for a motor vehicle, such as a car, comprising a flexible tarpaulin intended to cover at least partially the vehicle to protect it, the tarpaulin defining a longitudinal direction which extends in the length of the vehicle, the tarpaulin being provided with at least one stiffening element which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction to impart longitudinal stiffness to the flexible tarpaulin in order to facilitate the operation of covering the vehicle, the system comprising in in addition to a winding drum, advantageously installed at the rear bumper of the vehicle, the tarpaulin being rollable around the drum between a rolled storage position and a rolled down position, said at least one stiffening element extending substantially perpendicularly to the drum, said at least one stiffening element being windable around the winding drum or a winding shaft separate from the drum , characterized in that it further comprises a motor for driving the winding drum in rotation on itself.

Advantageously, the covering system further comprises guide means for guiding said at least one stiffening element longitudinally during its winding and / or unwinding. Preferably, the guide means comprise two rotary pressure rollers between which the stiffening element passes during unwinding and / or winding.

Advantageously, said at least one stiffening element is provided with activation means acting on the stiffening element to switch it selectively between an activated state in which the stiffening element is substantially stiff and a deactivated state in which the stiffening element is soft. . This is a very interesting feature of the invention to use one or more stiffener element (s) whose state can be controlled so that it (s) is temporarily stiff (s) the time of the operation of covering the vehicle, and the rest of the time soft or flexible, so as to confer again the tarpaulin all its qualities of flexibility. According to a preferred embodiment, the cover comprises at least two stiffening elements which are advantageously connected together by a connecting element, which may also be stiffener or not. However, it is not excluded to provide more than two stiffening elements some of which extend, not in the longitudinal direction, but transversely or even perpendicularly to this longitudinal direction. The stiffening elements may have a substantially rectilinear configuration, or on the contrary curved.

According to a particularly interesting aspect, said at least one stiffening element comprises an inflatable hose with a fluid under pressure. Advantageously, the activation means comprise inflation means, such as a pump or a compressor, which are in fluid communication with said at least one stiffening element. Preferably, the cover comprises a free end intended to cover the front of the vehicle and a connecting end integral with the winding drum, said stiffening element extending between the free and connecting ends, the inflation means being connected to said at least one stiffening element by a supply tube which is connected to said stiffening element near the free end to inflate it from the free end to the connecting end. Preferably, said at least one stiffening element and / or the feed tube extends slightly obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction in order to avoid accumulation of thickness in the wound storage position.

According to an alternative embodiment, the guide means comprise two rotary pressure rollers exerting on the inflatable hose a local pinch preventing its swelling in its part still wound on the drum during its unwinding. Advantageously, the sheet, the stiffening element and the feed tube are rollable around the winding drum separately, so as not to create extra thickness in the wound state.

Thus, the invention provides for using one or more hose (s) or inflatable tube (s) with a fluid under pressure which is generally air. However, it is not excluded to use other gases or liquids. The pipe in the non-inflated state is perfectly flexible, and preferably flat, so that it does not alter the flexibility and the thickness of the sheet. It is then very easy to wind the sheet with its pipe deflated on the winding drum. On the other hand, in the inflated state, the pipe becomes stiff or rigid under the effect of the fluid under pressure that it contains. This then gives the tarpaulin rigidity or stiffness that allows it to extend on the vehicle in the manner of a substantially rigid plate. Of course, it is preferable for the pipe (s) to extend in the longitudinal direction since the tarpaulin is unwound in this direction. However, in order to avoid wrapping the pipe on itself, it is preferable that it spreads slightly obliquely to the winding drum so that it will spiral helically around the drum. It is the same for the small supply tube which connects the pump or compressor to the pipe. In addition, by providing for inflating the pipe or pipes (x) from the front end of the sheet, it is avoided to inflate the portion of pipes still wound on the winding drum. This avoids any risk of blocking the cover inside its receptacle due to swelling of the pipe. In other words, only the portion of the pipe already unwound from the drum is inflated with the pressurized fluid, the still wound portion remaining flat.

According to a second different embodiment, said at least one stiffening element comprises a rollable tape which is substantially straight and rigid in the unwound state. For example, a profiled metal strip may be used, such as rollable tape measures. Advantageously, the ribbon is wrapped around a clean winding axis which extends parallel to the winding drum, the ribbon being advantageously driven to its unwound state by the drum. One can for example provide a notched ribbon which is driven by the drum, itself notched, like a rack.

According to another interesting aspect of the invention which is applicable to all the embodiments, the drum is housed in a receptacle, advantageously installed at the rear bumper of the vehicle, the receptacle comprising an elongate chute for the passage of the tarpaulin, the chute being provided with an outlet baffle adapted to direct the tarpaulin to the top of the vehicle, the baffle advantageously serving as a pivoting closure lid for the chute. Indeed, since the part of the sheet which is unwound is substantially rigid due to the stiffening elements, it is necessary to orient appropriately to the top of the vehicle so that the sheet can progress of itself by sliding on the vehicle to the front of the vehicle. The imposed orientation of the unwrapped sheet is provided by the outlet baffle whose orientation in use is predetermined. Advantageously, this deflector can serve shutter cover for closing the chute of the receptacle when the sheet is in the storage position in its receptacle.

According to another common aspect, said at least one stiffening element is connected to the sheet only at its free end intended to cover the front of the vehicle, to allow a separate winding of the stiffening element and the sheet.

According to a practical aspect, the tarpaulin system may furthermore comprise mounting means, advantageously snap-fitted, suitable for mounting the tarpaulin system on the vehicle, preferably at the rear of the vehicle, equipped with a fixed mounting device. on the chassis of the vehicle.

For example, it is possible to fix a metal plate on the chassis at the location of the conventional trailer coupling.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the tarpaulin system further comprises a traction device located at the front of the vehicle and connectable to the tarpaulin to guide it in the longitudinal direction.

In another aspect, the cover includes an area covered with photovoltaic cells.

One principle of the invention is to equip the flexible sheet of stiffening elements which are rollable on a drum rotated by an engine to unroll and / or wind the tarpaulin and its stiffening elements.

Another principle is to provide guide means to maintain the stiffening elements in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to facilitate their winding and / or unwinding.

Another principle of the invention lies in the fact of providing the flexible sheet with stiffening elements which act only temporarily during the sheeting operation, but which do not act during the unstacking operation so as not to not disturb or hinder the storage of the tarpaulin, whether by winding or by another system.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example two embodiments of the invention.

In the figures: FIGS. 1 to 4 very schematically show a vehicle equipped with a tarpaulin system according to the invention during different stages of covering,

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear portion of the vehicle incorporating the tarpaulin system of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a very schematic exploded view of the tarpaulin system of the invention according to a first non-limiting embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a tarpaulin system according to a variant of the first embodiment of FIG. 6. FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c are very schematic cross-sectional views at three different locations of the tarpaulin system of FIG. Figure 7

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic representation of the guiding and pinching means of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic representation of the guiding means of FIG. 11, and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the guiding means of FIG. 11.

The protective covering system of the present invention has been generally designated by reference numeral 1 in the various appended figures. This tarpaulin system is intended to be associated, mounted, added to or integrated with a motor vehicle, such as a private car or a commercial vehicle, a truck, a trailer or a boat. One can even consider using the covering system of the invention to cover other objects, mobile or not, and even buildings, such as a pool, a pool, etc. In Figures 1 to 5 which are used to illustrate the present invention, the tarpaulin system has been incorporated in a particular type of motor vehicle. This vehicle V conventionally comprises a chassis, several wheels, an engine, and a cockpit. The vehicle V also comprises a rear bumper P, a trunk M, a roof T, a front cover C and a front bumper, as shown in Figure 1. The top of the vehicle to be covered by the system The tarpaulin of the invention thus consists of the rear trunk M, the roof T, the hood C and part of the rear and front bumpers P and R. Of course, the tarpaulin system is also intended to cover at least partially the side blanks of the vehicle V where are located the driver and passenger doors. Finally, as shown in FIG. 4, the tarpaulin system of the invention covers substantially all of the car, excluding the wheels and a portion of the rear bumper. This is only an example of non-limiting embodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment used to illustrate the present invention, the tarpaulin system of the invention 1 is integrated inside the rear bumper P as visible in FIGS. 1 to 5. The tarpaulin system 1 is preferably extends over almost the entire width of the rear bumper P. This is only a non-limiting example of implementation, because it is also possible to mount the tarpaulin system of the invention elsewhere on the vehicle V, such as outside the bumper P, on or in the trunk M, on the roof T or outside or inside the front bumper A. It can for example be mounted removable the tarpaulin system of the invention at the rear bumper P in the manner of a trailer or a caravan. For this, one can for example fix a mounting device on the frame, in place of the trailer or caravan, this device comprising means for mounting, preferably by snapping, the tarpaulin system. In use, the tarpaulin system of the invention is attached to the rear of the vehicle, and when the tarpaulin system is not used, it can very simply be stored inside the car, for example in the trunk. It can then be considered that the tarpaulin system of the invention is in the form of a kit that can be installed at will on the vehicle.

One can also imagine an equivalent system for mounting the tarpaulin system on the roof T of the vehicle in the manner of a gallery. When the tarpaulin system of the invention is removable, it is of course necessary to provide electrical connection means for supplying electricity to the tarpaulin system with the energy of the vehicle, in general its battery. Whether integrated into the vehicle or removable, the tarpaulin system of the invention has a structure and a substantially identical operation or equivalent.

We can now refer to Figure 6 which shows schematically all the constituent elements of the tarpaulin system of the invention. Thus, the covering system comprises a receptacle 2 internally defining a housing which communicates with the outside through an elongate trough 26. The receptacle 2 may for example have a substantially circular cross section and a length which is less than the width of the vehicle . It is thus possible to integrate the receptacle 2 inside the rear bumper P of the vehicle V, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 5. The tarpaulin system also comprises a winding drum 3 which is in the form of an axis or an elongated shaft capable of being rotated on itself by an electric motor 4 mounted at one of its ends. The drum 3 and the motor 4 are intended to be housed inside the receptacle 2. However, in Figure 6, these elements have been shown extracted from the receptacle 2 for the sake of clarity. At its other end, the drum 3 is equipped with inflation means 5 which can be in the form of a pump or a compressor. It is also possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to mount the motor 4 and the inflating means 5 at another place, inside or even outside, of the receptacle 2. The drum of winding 3 is further provided with a tarpaulin primer section 31 which is of sufficient length to allow this section 31 to protrude out of the trough 26 when it is fully unwound from the drum 3. This primer section 31 has a free end which is provided with an attachment edge 36 intended to cooperate with a complementary connecting edge 63 of a flexible sheet 6. This flexible sheet 6 may for example be made using a material generally used by survival blankets. It may for example be a metallized polyester gold or silver. This type of material is known for its high strength, extreme fineness and isothermal qualities. This is an example, but one can of course make the tarpaulin of the invention with any film, fabric, nonwoven, etc. Preferably, the cover is transparent to leave certain parts of the vehicle apparent, such as number plates, insurance sticker, etc. The tarpaulin may also include a ticket pocket. It is also possible to make the primer section 31 with the same material as the cover 6. To connect the cover 6 to the primer section 31, the attachment fixing edges 36

63 may for example be a zipper. Other conventional and known types of fasteners can of course also be used.

According to the invention, the flexible sheet 6 is provided with an inflatable hose 61, 62 which extends in this non-limiting embodiment in the form of a U or a bucket. Inflatable hose means a hose whose section varies according to the pressure of the fluid that it contains. Preferably, the inflatable hose is completely flat when not subjected to fluid pressure, and takes a substantially circular section when subjected to pressure. This is for example the principle of fire hose. It can be considered that the sheet 6 comprises a single inflatable hose having the shape of a U: alternatively, it can also be considered that the sheet 6 is provided with three sections of inflatable tubes, namely two substantially longitudinal sections 61 connected by a transverse connection section 62. The sections 61 are here rectilinear and extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L which coincides with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. However, it may be noted that the pipe sections 61 are very slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal direction L so that their free ends are farther apart than their opposite ends connected by the transverse connection section 62. In a variant, the two sections of pipes 61 can be perfectly parallel or extend obliquely opposite. It is also possible to make the pipe sections 61 non-rectilinear, for example corrugated, curved, zigzag, etc. It is important, however, that the pipe sections 61 extend over all or a major part of the longitudinal direction L. In the example used to illustrate the present invention, there are two longitudinal pipe sections 61, but one could have provided more longitudinal sections, or on the contrary only a single longitudinal section. The embodiment of FIG. 6 is a preferred mode, which is however not limiting. It distributes the inflatable hose over a large and uniform expanse of the cover 6 covering its entire longitudinal extent. As mentioned above, the inflatable hose 61 has the ability to be inflated under pressure with a fluid, which is generally air, but which can also be another gas or even a liquid. For this, the cover also includes a feed tube 65 which connects the inflatable hose 61 to the inflation means 5. More specifically, the feed tube 65 can be connected to a connecting tube 56 extending in the section d primer 31 which itself is connected to a pipe 55 which preferably extends inside the winding drum 3. Thus, the inflation means 5 are connected to the inflatable pipe. The pressurized fluid supplied by the pump 5 thus inflates the inflation hose so as to give it a certain stiffness. It is then easily understood that the inflation of the pipe makes it possible to stiffen or stiffen the flexible sheet 6. This latter no longer behaves as an amorphous material, but rather as a substantially rigid plate. The orientation of the sections 61 longitudinally makes it possible to give the sheet 6 a particular rigidity in the longitudinal direction L. Of course, the fact that there are two longitudinal sections 61 makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity in the longitudinal direction. The transverse section 62 has almost no other function than to connect the two longitudinal sections 61. Advantageously, it may be noted that the feed tube 65 is connected to the inflatable hose at the junction section 62. Thus, the fluid under pressure reaches the longitudinal sections 61 at the free end 6a of the tank. We will see below what is the advantage induced by these characteristics. Alternatively not shown, it is also possible to dispense with the feed tube 65 and connect the connecting tube 56 directly at the connecting end 6b of the tarpaulin, so that the pipe inflates from its part still wound on the drum 3.

In addition to the inflatable hose, the cover also comprises several lateral transverse elastics 66 which make it possible to gather the cover in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The cover 6 is also provided with loops 67 making it possible to fix the cover laterally at the level of hooks. fastening F integral with the vehicle, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 4. It can thus reduce its width to be able to wind on the winding drum 3 through the chute 26 of the receptacle 2. Indeed, can see that the chute 26 has a length less than the width of the sheet 6.

We have just seen that the flexible sheet 6 is provided with one or more inflatable pipe (s) 61, 62 which can be connected continuously, or on the contrary separated from each other. It has also been seen that the pressure inflation of these pipes makes it possible to stiffen them so as to give the flexible sheet 6 a certain stiffness. In other words, the inflatable pipe (s) constitute (s) stiffening elements of the tarpaulin which can be selectively activated or deactivated by means of inflation means which fulfill a function of means activation acting directly on the stiffening elements. It is thus possible to selectively switch the stiffening elements between an activated state in which they are substantially stiff and a deactivated state in which they are substantially soft or amorphous. The two longitudinal stiffening elements 61 are here connected by a stiffening junction element 62. However, one can very well made the connecting element 62 by a simple tube whose size does not vary with the pressure. One can also imagine that the feed tube 65 forms a y-fork for feeding the two longitudinal stiffening elements 61, which would be totally independent of each other. In this latter configuration, it would be possible to delete the joining element 62.

The tarpaulin system of the invention may also comprise a traction device E, such as a mechanical retractor spring, located at the front of the vehicle. The traction device E comprises a connection end that can be manually connected to the cover to maintain it in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This traction device E does not have the function of unrolling the tarpaulin, but simply to prevent it from deviating from its trajectory during unwinding: it can be considered as longitudinal guiding means. For winding, the traction device is not necessary.

Referring again to Figures 1 to 4 to now explain a complete operating cycle of sheeting a motor vehicle V. In Figures 1 and 5, it can be seen that the cover 6 is substantially whole wound on the winding drum 3 located inside the receptacle 2 housed inside the rear bumper P of the vehicle V. Only the free end 6a of the cover 6 protrudes out of the receptacle 2 through the chute 26, so that the end 6a is already positioned at the rear end of the trunk M. In FIG. 5, which is an enlarged representation, it can be seen that the trough 26 is provided with an outlet deflector 27 which is oriented inclined towards the vehicle, so as to force the sheet 6 to extend towards the top of the vehicle. Advantageously, the outlet baffle 27 is hingedly mounted at 28 on the chute 26 and can thus serve as a closure cover for the chute 26 when the cover is in its fully wound position inside the receptacle.

2. Of course, it is necessary to maintain the free end 6a inside the chute 26, to allow the sheet to extract itself of the receptacle 2 and its chute 26. The actuation of the deflector output 27 may be mechanical or electrical. The configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 corresponds to the very beginning of the sheeting operation, just after the deflector 27 has been placed in the operational position and the free end 6a has just left the receptacle 2. tarpaulin 6, which is intrasquely flexible, out of itself and automatically from the chute 26, is actuated activation means or inflation 5 so as to inject fluid under pressure in the or inflatable pipe (s) (s). This has the effect of stiffening at least locally the flexible sheet 6, which allows it to come out of itself with a certain rigidity of the chute 26. This is shown in Figures 1 and 5. Of course , the activation of the activation or inflation means 5 must be coordinated with the activation of the motor 4 for driving the drum 3 in rotation. Thus, fluid is injected into the inflatable hose simultaneously and the tarpaulin of the shaft 3 is unrolled. The tarpaulin 6 continues to run with a certain rigidity on the vehicle with the pressurized hoses, as represented in FIG. tarpaulin 6 is forced to extend over the vehicle under the action of the output deflector 27 which forces it to take a predetermined direction. The unfolding of the cover and the swelling of the pipe 61 continue until the cover 6 covers the vehicle V, as seen in FIG. 3. The cover 6 is not yet in its final operative position, but it is now possible to deactivate both the activation means 5 and the motor 4. This has the effect of deflating the pipes 61 and giving the tarpaulin its natural flexibility. The tarpaulin can then marry the outer forms of the vehicle. It is sufficient for the user to set up the loops 67 on the hooks F and to wrap the front bumper with the free end 6a. This is shown in Figure 4. The hose 61 is flat again and no longer gives rigidity to the tarpaulin. Alternatively, it is possible to keep the pipes in the inflated state to give the tank a rounded hull configuration.

The unstacking or winding operation is conventional: it is sufficient to feed the motor 4 to wind the cover on the drum 3 without activating the means 5, which play absolutely no role during this operation. Once the cover is completely wound inside the receptacle 2, it is sufficient to close the baffle cover 27 to close the chute 26.

The slightly oblique orientation of the inflatable tubes and the feed tube has the advantage of not creating a cumulative thickness on the drum 3 inside the receptacle 2. In fact, by slightly inclining the pipes and tubes, they wind helically spiral around the tube 3, and not on themselves, thus avoiding any extra thickness at the interior of the receptacle 2, which could affect the proper operation of the tarpaulin system of the invention.

The tarpaulin can also be provided with accessories, such as for example a reproduction of the license plate, a transparent pouch, solar collectors, etc.

The power supply of the motor 4 and inflation means 5 is provided by the vehicle battery or a dedicated battery. Solar collectors can provide a supply of power.

Referring now to Figure 7 to describe a variant of the first embodiment of Figure 6. In this variant, the sheeting system also comprises a receptacle 2 provided with a chute 26, a winding drum 3, a motor 4, inflation means 5, a flexible sheet 6 rollable on the drum 3, two inflatable tubes 61 and two supply tubes 65. These elements may be similar or identical to those of the embodiment of FIG. 6. However, this embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG. 6 in that the inflatable hoses 61 are not integrated with the cover 6, but instead are situated laterally on either side of the cover 6 while being only connected to the level of the free end of the flexible sheet 6 by fasteners 68. To maintain the spacing between the fasteners 68, the flexible sheet 6 may be provided with a spacer 62 ', which fulfills a role of ra transversal idiom. The two inflatable hoses 61 are rollable on the drum 3, as in the embodiment of FIG. 6. However, while the hoses 61 were integrated in the cover 6 in FIG. 6, the inflatable hoses 61 of FIG. are separated from the cover 6, except at the fasteners 68, and as a result, the pipes 61 are wound on the shaft 3 independently of the cover 6. More precisely, it can be seen in FIG. 7 that the receptacle 2 is divided into several compartments 21, 22 and 23 which are all traversed by the winding drum 3. The compartment central 21, which is the largest, is intended to receive the cover 6. On either side of the compartment 21, there is a lateral compartment 22 for receiving the flexible hoses 61. Finally, on the outside, it there are two compartments 23 for receiving the flexible supply pipes 65, which are also wound directly on the shaft 3. Thus, rather than cumulatively winding the sheet 6 and the pipes 61 and / or the tubes 65, as this is the case in Figure 6, this embodiment of Figure 7 provides to wind all the elements separately to avoid a cumulative thickness that would affect the size and size of the receptacle 2. Through in this configuration, the diameter of the receptacle 2 can be considerably reduced.

The length of the receptacle 2 is slightly increased, but this increase is minimal, keeping in mind that the compartments 22 and 23 do not need to be very wide.

According to another interesting feature of this embodiment, the sheeting system is provided with guiding means 7 for longitudinally guiding the ribbons 61 during their unwinding. Indeed, to be able to properly wind the ribbons, it is better to guide them perfectly, to prevent lateral misalignment of the tarpaulin. The guide means may for example be housed inside the compartment 22. They may for example comprise two pressure rollers 71, 72 biased against each other so as to further generate a local pinch. The ribbons 61 pass and are guided between the two pressure rollers 71, 72 which thus cut the passage inside the pipe. In this way, the part of the pipe wound on the drum 3 inside the compartment 22 is not inflated, since the pressurized air is prevented from propagating inside this part of the pipe because of the pinch sealing local generated by the two pressure rollers 71, 72. This is schematically shown in Figure 8a. Figures 8b and 8c show very schematically the configuration of the sheet 6 and pipes 65 inside the compartments 21 and 23, respectively. It should be noted that this local waterproof pinch device 7 can also be implemented in the embodiment of FIG. 6. The operation of the sheeting system of FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIG. 6. When it is desired to cover the vehicle, both the motor 4 and the inflating means 5 are actuated so that the cover 6 unrolled from its drum 3 and the pipes 61 are inflated through the tubes 65. It should be noted that the swelling of the pipes 61 contributes to the unwinding of the drum 3. The part of the pipes 61 already inflated and located outside the compartments 22 stiffens and drives the sheet 6, since connected at the fasteners 68. The tarpaulin 6 and the inflated pipes 61, as in the embodiment of Figure 6, are appropriately deflected, for example using deflector 27, to orient the tarpaulin on the top of the vehicle. When the sheeting operation is completed, the motor 4 and the inflation means 5 are cut at the same time. The user can then manually end the stowage of the tarpaulin on the vehicle, as previously described. The uncovering operation is strictly identical to that previously described, by actuating the motor 4, in order to wind both the cover 6, the deflated pipes 61 and the tubes 65 on the winding drum 3, separately in their compartments. dedicated. When the unblocking operation is completed, the sheet 6, the deflated pipes 61 and the tubes 65 remain connected together at the spacer 62 'by the fasteners 68.

Figures 9 and 10 show a preferred embodiment which differs from the previous embodiments by the following features:

lateral feeding tube 65 extends only on one side of the sheet and then extends transversely to connect the other inflatable tube 61,

the tarpaulin forms a zone Z which is covered with photovoltaic cells to produce usable electricity for the vehicle, in particular when it is a partially or entirely electric vehicle,

the guide means 7 comprise two pressure rollers 71,

72 which are profiled, as the pipe or ribbon 61 to improve its guidance and local pinching. Reference will now be made to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 to describe a second embodiment which differs principally from the foregoing embodiments in that it does not use inflatable hoses as stiffening elements. Indeed, the stiffening elements 61 'are here in the form of a rollable tape which extends on either side of the sheet 6. This tape 61' is connected to the free end of the sheet 6 by fasteners 68 near the spacer 62 ', as in the previous embodiment of Figure 7. In other words, the tape 61' is connected to the cover at the fasteners 68. The rollable tape 61 'may for example be in the form of a profiled metal strip which extends straight and rigid in the unwound state, while retaining the possibility of winding it on itself. Such a tape is already known in the prior art, in particular in its use as a roll-up tape master. The ribbon can then be slightly concave, which allows it to give it a certain rigidity in the unwound state, while allowing it to be rollable. In the context of the invention, it is possible for example to use a windable ribbon 61 'which is biased by a spring in the wound state around a clean winding axis 83 which is distinct from the winding drum 3. is shown in Figure 10. The ribbon 61 'may for example be housed inside a housing 8 in the manner of a conventional winding tape master. To extract and pull the tape 61 'from its housing 8, an ingenious drive system is provided according to the invention which uses the driving force of the winding drum 3. More precisely, a support roller 9 urges the ribbon 61 against the shaft 3 so that the shaft 3 pulls the ribbon 61 '. Advantageously, it is possible to lock one side of the ribbon 61 ', as well as the part of the drum 3 which comes into contact with the ribbon 61', so as to generate a rack-type drive. The support roller 9 then ensures that the meshing of the ribbon 61 'and the drum 3 is optimal. Of course, instead of the support roller 9 can be provided any other device to ensure effective contact between the ribbon 61 and the drum 3. As in the embodiment of Figure 7, the receptacle 2 is divided into several compartments 21 and 24: the central compartment 21 receives the rolled sheet 6, while the lateral compartments 24 receive the housing 8 with its wound tape and the support roller 9.

In a variant shown in FIG. 13, the tarpaulin system may comprise guiding means in the form of two rollers 71 'and 72' between which the ribbon 61 'passes and is guided. More specifically, the roller 71 'forms two rows of pins 75 which penetrate into two rows of recesses 76 formed by the second roller 72'. The ribbon 61 'is made with two rows of lateral perforations in the manner of a cinematographic film ribbon, so that the pins 75 penetrate the recesses to scroll the ribbon 61'. To drive the rollers in rotation, the roller 72 'can be coupled to the drum 3 by a drive system with wheels 73, 33 and belt 74.

The advantage of this second embodiment is that it does not need to implement inflation means, the only electrical element being the drive motor 4, which allows to wind and unwind the ribbons and tarpaulin simultaneously.

In all embodiments, the stiffening elements 61 and 61 'are rollable either directly on the drum 3 or on a separate axis such as the axis 83, using a motor. It may also be noted that in the wound state, the stiffening elements do not fulfill any stiffening function, so that they adopt two totally different states.

Thanks to the invention, the flexible sheet incorporates stiffening means which act only during the sheeting or unwinding operation, and are totally inoperative and invisible during the unstacking or winding operation.

Claims

claims

1.- tarpaulin system (1) for a motor vehicle (V), such as a car, comprising a flexible tarpaulin (6) intended to cover at least partially the vehicle (V) to protect it, the tarpaulin (6); ) defining a longitudinal direction (L) extending in the length of the vehicle, the sheet (6) being provided with at least one stiffening element (61; 61 ') extending substantially in the longitudinal direction (L) to provide longitudinal stiffness to the flexible tarpaulin to facilitate the sheeting operation of the vehicle, the system further comprising a winding drum (3), advantageously installed at the rear bumper of the vehicle, the tarpaulin (6 ) being rollable around the drum (3) between a wound storage position and a rolled up position, said at least one stiffening element (61; 61 ') extending substantially perpendicular to the drum (3), said at least one element stiffener being wound around the winding drum (3) or a winding shaft (83) separate from the drum (3), characterized in that it further comprises a motor (4) for driving the winding drum ( 3) in rotation on itself.

2. Tarpaulin system according to claim 1, further comprising guide means (7; E) for longitudinally guiding said at least one stiffening element during its winding and / or unwinding.

3.- tarpaulin system according to claim 2, wherein the guide means (7) comprise two rotary pressure rollers (71, 72) between which the stiffening element passes during unwinding and / or winding.

4. Tarpaulin system according to any one of the claims

1 to 3, wherein said at least one stiffening element (61) is provided with activating means (5) acting on the stiffening element (61) for selectively switching between an activated state in which the stiffening element is substantially stiff and a deactivated state in which the stiffening element is soft, said at least one stiffening element (61) comprising an inflatable hose with a pressurized fluid, the activation means comprising inflating means (5), such as a pump or a compressor, which are in fluid communication with said at least one stiffening element (61).

5. Tarpaulin system according to claim 4, wherein the cover (6) comprises a free end (6a) intended to cover the front of the vehicle and a connecting end (6b) integral with the winding drum (3). said at least one stiffening element (61) extending between the free (6a) and connecting (6b) ends, the inflation means (5) being connected to said at least one stiffening element (61) by a tube of power supply (65) which is connected to said stiffening element (61) near the free end (6a) to inflate it from the free end to the connecting end (6b).

6. A tarpaulin system according to claim 5, wherein the guide means (7) comprise two rotary pressure rollers (71,

72), exerting on the inflatable hose a local pinch preventing its swelling in its part still wound on the drum (3) during its unwinding.

The tarpaulin system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the tarpaulin (6), the stiffening member (61) and the feed tube are windable around the winding drum (3) separately, so not to create extra thickness in the wound state.

The tarpaulin system of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said at least one stiffening member comprises a rollable tape (61 ') which is substantially straight and rigid in the unwound state.

9. A tarpaulin system according to claim 8, wherein the ribbon (61 ') is wrapped around a clean winding axis (83) which extends parallel to the winding drum (3), the ribbon being advantageously driven to its unwound state by the drum.

10. Tarpaulin system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one stiffening element (61; 61 ') is connected to the sheet (6) only at its free end (6a) intended to cover the front of the vehicle, to allow a separate winding of the stiffening element and the tarpaulin.

11. Tarpaulin system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (3) is housed in a receptacle (2), preferably installed at the rear bumper of the vehicle, the receptacle (2) comprising a elongated trough (26) for the passage of the cover (6), the trough (26) being provided with an outlet baffle (27) adapted to direct the cover (6) towards the top of the vehicle during the unwinding of the cover , the deflector (27) advantageously serving as a pivoting closure cover for the chute (26).

12. Tarpaulin system according to any one of the preceding claims, the guide means comprise a traction device (E) located at the front of the vehicle and connectable to the sheet (6) to guide it in the longitudinal direction.

13. A tarpaulin system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (6) comprises a zone (Z) covered with photovoltaic cells.