GB2058696A - Vehicle cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle cover consists of a sheet of waterproof flexible material (14) shaped to fit over the bodyshell (4) of a vehicle (2) and to depend beyond the lower regions of said bodyshell (4). The sheet (14) terminates in a peripheral edge which incorporates a draw-cord (16), tensioning of said cord (16) drawing the lower regions of the sheet inwardly of and under the lower regions of the bodyshell (4) until the edge of the sheet (14) engages the wheels (10) whereby said wheels determine the limit of said inward movement of the sheet and the wheelbase of the vehicle defines the effective perimeter of the edge of the sheet (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to vehicle covers This invention relates to covers for location over vehicles, particularly motor cars, to protect said vehicles from the effects of the environment.

Because of the lack of garaging facilities, many cars have to be parked out of doors for extended periods. In such circumstances, the weather, harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and dust can all adversely affect the bodywork of such vehicles and can result in rusting thereof.

Accordingly there have been provided various covers for protecting vehicles from such conditions. However, extablished covers ail suffer from one or more of a number of disadvantages.

One known cover comprises a box-like enclosure of flexible waterproof sheet material that fits over the vehicle body, the sides of the cover dropping down vertically to about ground level. Such covers are in no way attached to the vehicle and rely on their weight to hold them in position. However the material of such covers is usually thin PVC with the result that they are very prone to being blown off the vehicles as well as to tearing.

An alternative known cover fits over the upper regions only of the vehicle, extending down to the waistline of said vehicle. Hooks or like securing means are provided which enable the cover to be fastened to the vehicle bumpers. However such covers only protect the upper, window regions of the vehicle, leaving the lower bodywork open to attack by the atmosphere, while the regions of the cover to which the hooks are attached must be heavily oversewn to withstand the tension on said holes and requires the use of a heavy material.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover for a wheeled vehicle, the cover comprising a protective sheet of flexible material shaped to fit over the body of the vehicle, said sheet terminating in a peripheral edge which, in use, bounds the vehicle at a level below the body thereof but above the ground, said edge incorporating therein a peripheral draw-cord which, on tensioning thereof, draws the edge of the sheet laterally inwardly of the vehicle against the wheels to secure the cover to the vehicle.

The cover is preferably of a waterproof material and may be of, for example, a plastics material such as nylon or polyvinylchloride. Alternatively, a natural fibre material may be used.

Conveniently the peripheral edge of the cover comprises a sleeve in which the draw-cord is housed, said sleeve being formed by, for example, sewing or heat welding the edge of the sheet back over itself.

The draw-cord is preferably of a non-perishable material and may be in the form of a narrow nylon belt.

Conveniently the draw-cord is provided with means for retaining the belt in any desired tensioned position, which means may comprise, for example, a buckle or, in the case of a nylon belt, a non-slip friction drum over which the belt passes. The cover may further include means for indicating the tension in the draw-cord.

A cover according to the invention may further comprise a supplementary sheet of material one edge of which is attached to a first part of the peripheral edge of said protective sheet to form an extension of said latter sheet, the supplementary sheet being so located on the protective sheet and of such a size that, with the cover in position on an associated wheeled vehicle, said supplementary sheet can extend from said first part of the peripheral edge of the protective sheet under the vehicle from one side of said vehicle to the other between the front and rear axles thereof, a free edge of the supplementary sheet being attachable to a further part of the peripheral edge of the protective sheet at the other side of the vehicle to retain said supplementary sheet in position underneath the vehicle.

The supplementary sheet is preferably of a more rigid material than the protective sheet, for example moulded polystyrene, to facilitate location beneath the vehicle.

The one edge of the supplementary sheet may be permanently secured to the protective sheet but is preferably releasably attached thereto by, for example, a zip fastener, buttons and hooks, poppers or the like. Similarly the free edge of the supplementary sheet may be attachable to the further part of the peripheral edge of the protective sheet by such devices.

By way of example only an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 shows a cover according to the invention in position on a motor vehicle, and Fig. 2 shows schematically the peripheral edge of the cover of Fig. 1 in relation to the underside of the vehicle.

Referring to the drawings, a typical saloon car is indicated generally at 2, said car including a bodyshell 4, front and rear bumpers 6, 8 and wheels 10.

A cover according to the invention is referenced 12 and comprises a sheet 14 of flexible waterproof material such as, for example, nylon or polyvinylchloride shaped to fit over and drape the bodyshell 4 of the vehicle, the lower edge of the sheet depending below the level of the bottom pf the bodyshell right around the vehicle for reasons which will become apparent.

The lower edge of the sheet 1 4 comprises a peripheral sleeve extending right around the sheet and formed by, for example, sewing or heat welding the edge region of the sheet back over on itself.

Housed within the sleeve is a draw-cord 1 6 preferably in the form of a narrow nylon belt the ends of which protrude from a common opening in the sleeve to lie adjacent one another.

On drawing together the ends of the belt to tension the draw-cord 16, the effective length of the edge of the sheet is reduced and the lower regions of said sheet are drawn under the lower side, front and rear regions of the vehicle until the extents of the sleeve adjacent the wheels engage with said wheels to determine the limit of inward movement of the lower edge of the sheet In this position, shown in the drawings, the peripheral edge of the sheet extends around a substantially rectangular path 1 8 defined by the wheels/tyres of the vehicle, which path lies within the perimeter 20 of the underside of the vehicle and beneath the lower regions of the bodyshell 4 whereby said bodyshell 4 is encased by the sheet.

More particularly, tensioning of the draw-cord 1 6 pulls the sheet 14 down over the front and rear bumpers 6, 8 and over the front and rear vaTances 22, 24 respectively of the car, as well as over the sills 26 along the sides of the car whereby the whole of the exterior bodywork of the car is protected from the adverse effects of the weather, harmful chemicals, dust and the like.

The draw-cord 1 6 may be retained in its tensioned position in any one of a number of different ways. For example a buckle 26 may be provided on one end of the cord for receiving the other end of said cord or, particularly when the draw-cord comprises a flat nylon belt, said belt may pass over a friction drum which retains said belt in any desried tensioned position. The drawcord may incorporate indicating means for showing the tension in the cord or for indicating when a predetermined tension in the cord is reached, while the draw-cord may be lockable in its tensioned position to prevent stealing of the cover.

It will be appreciated that the provision of a draw-cord 16 which, when tensioned, closely embraces the four wheels of the vehicle prevents inadvertent removal of the cover 12 by the wind.

Although body shapes of vehicles differ quite noticeably, the dimensions of the wheelbases of cars are generally closely related to their cubic capacity. As the effectiveness of the described cover is dependent upon the wheelbase dimensions of a car rather than the precise body shape thereof, a single cover can be used on any one of a number of different shaped cars. It is however envisaged that a range of covers will be provided, one for smaller vehicles up to about 1 200cc, one for medium sized vehicles up to about 2000cc and one for larger vehicles above 2000cc.

In certain circumstances it may prove desirable to provide means for protecting the underside of a vehicle as well as the outer bodywork thereof. In such a case a rectangular member 28 of the relatively stiff material such as moulded polystyrene and whose dimensions conform substantially with those of the extent of the underneath of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels is attached to one side extent of the edge of the sheet 14 to form an extension of said sheet. With the cover 12 in position on the car, the member 28 can be pushed underneath the car from one side to the other, the free edge of said member being attachable to an opposite side extent of the edge of the sheet 14 to complete encapsulation of the car.

Said member 28 may be stitched to the one side extent of the edge of the sheet 14 to be permanently attached to said sheet, or may be releasably attached thereto by means of a zip, buttons and hooks, poppers or like devices.

The free edge of the member 28 may similarly be attachable to said opposite side extent of the edge of the sheet 14 by a zip, buttons and hooks, poppers or like devices. The relatively stiff nature of the material of the member 28 enables said member to be pushed under the car from one side to the other without difficulty.

Claims (14)

1. A cover for a wheeled vehicle, the cover comprising a protective sheet of flexible material shaped to fit over the body of the vehicle, said sheet terminating in a peripheral edge which, in use, bounds the vehicle at a level below the body thereof but above the ground, said edge incorporating therein a peripheral draw-cord which, on tensioning thereof, draws the edge of the sheet laterally inwardly of the vehicle against the wheels to secure the cover to the vehicle.

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 of a waterproof plastics material.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the peripheral edge thereof comprises a sleeve in which the draw-cord is housed.

4. A cover as claimed in claim 3 in which the sleeve is formed by sewing or heat welding the edge of the sheet back over on itself.

5. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the draw-cord is of a synthetic, nonperishable material.

6. A cover as claimed in claim 5 in which the draw-cord comprises a nylon belt.

7. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 and further comprising means for retaining the draw-cord in any desired tensioned position.

8. A cover as claimed in claim 7 in which the retaining means comprises a buckle.

9. A cover as claimed in claim 7 together with claim 6 in which the retaining means comprises a non-slip friction drum over which the nylon belt passes.

10. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 and further comprising means for indicating the tension in the draw-cord.

11. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 and further comprising a supplementary sheet of material one edge of which is attached to a first part of the peripheral edge of said protective sheet to form an extension of said latter sheet, the supplementary sheet being so located on the protective sheet and of such a size that, with the cover in position on an associated wheeled vehicle, said supplementary sheet can extend from said first part of the peripheral edge of the protective sheet under the vehicle from one side of said vehicle to the other between the front and rear axles thereof, a free edge of the supplementary sheet being attachable to a further part of the peripheral edge of the protective sheet at the other side of the vehicle to retain said supplementary sheet in position underneath the vehicle.

12. A cover as claimed in claim 11 in which the supplementary sheet is of a more rigid material than the protective sheet.

13. A cover as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 in which the supplementary sheet is releasably attached to the protective sheet.

14. A cover for a wheeled vehicle, the cover being substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings