GB2124187A

GB2124187A - A plastics material protective covering

Info

Publication number: GB2124187A
Application number: GB08314193A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hansdieter Engelmann
Original assignee: JH Benecke GmbH
Current assignee: JH Benecke GmbH
Priority date: 1982-05-27
Filing date: 1983-05-23
Publication date: 1984-02-15
Also published as: GB8314193D0; DE3316385C2; GB2124187B; DE3316385A1

Abstract

A plastics protective covering (1) in the form of a film for temporarily covering bodywork parts or interior fittings of motor vehicles is extruded or deep-drawn so that its shape corresponds to that of the part to be covered. The plastics material has such a semi-rigid nature that the protective covering is at least partially inherently stable. The protective covering can be used for protruding body parts such as door sills, which are partially enclosed by the protective covering. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A plastics material protective covering The present invention relates to a protective covering made of plastics material film suitable for use as a temporary covering for parts of the bodywork or interior fittings of motor vehicles..

Protective coverings of this general type are often used to protect parts of the bodywork or the interior fittings of motor vehicles from becoming damaged or dirty during manufacture, delivery or during repair-work. This protection is usually necessary because, in most modern motor vehicles, for sound-proofing and aesthetic reasons, the floor of the vehicle is provided with coverings of textile materials and dirt is very difficult to remove therefrom.

In fact, such dirt can only be removed by additional work being carried out.

It is, therefore, already known to protect textile surfaces in the interior of motor vehicles by means of thin polytethylene films which are often spread over the part to be protected as a loose cover. Alternatively, the film may be provided with adhesives which permit limited adhesion of the film to the surface of the textile material. A disadvantage of such known thin and flimsy protective films is that they are easily damaged or pushed aside so that they provide little effective protection. There is also the possibility that some of the adhesive may remain on the protected surfaces after the film has been removed. Dirt tends to collect at such locations and stains develop which are difficult to remove.

It is also known to place pieces of cardboard on the floor of the motor vehicle, but these are also easily movable and the danger of the floor becoming dirty remains. In addition, flat pieces of cardboard cannot simultaneously protect wall portions extending upwardly from the floor, so that the wall portions may become dirty. Finally, neither of these known protection systems can be used for the protection of protruding parts such as door sills.

The present invention seeks to eliminate the disadvantages of these known protective coverings by providing a protective covering made of plastics material film which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, can effectively protect parts of the bodywork and interior fittings, more especially the floor and adjacent wall portions, is easy to fit and remove, but which is, nevertheless, durable and reliable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a protective covering made from a plastics material film for temporarily covering bodywork parts or interior fittings of motor vehicles, wherein the plastics material film is extruded or deep-drawn to a shape corresponding generally to the configuration of the part to be covered, the covering being made from a material which is of a semi-rigid nature such that the covering is at least partially inherently stable.

The present invention thus provides a protective covering which corresponds exactly to the configuration of the part or parts of the motor vehicle to be protected. Accordingly these parts are not merely protected from dirt and damage, but also a form-fitting type of arrangement is achieved which prevents the protective covering from moving and hence exposing the protected parts. This form-fitting arrangement is also particularly advantageous when protruding parts of the bodywork, such as, for example, door sills are to be protected because the protruding parts are partially enclosed by the protective covering.

A preferred feature of the invention resides in the fact that weakened, advantageously perforate, parting lines are provided in the covering. These parting lines may define separable surface portions such as tabs or lugs, or may enclose detachable surface portions. This permits the separable or detachable surface portions to be securely clamped beneath parts of the interior fittings of the vehicle thereby ensuring that no accidental displacement of the covering occurs. Once the protective covering is no longer needed, it can easily be torn off and discarded. It is desirable, in such a case, if the parting lines are disposed so that they extend longitudinally of the edges of the covering which are clamped so that the lugs or surface portions clamped beneth the portion or portions of the vehicle remain invisible after the protective covering has been removed.At the same time, such lugs act as sealing members and rust preventatives. It is also significant to securely clamp separable portions of the protective covering, irrespective of the configuration of the protective covering.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention resides in the fact that the rear surface of the protective covering which, in use, abuts the part to be covered is provided with an adhesive surface. This surface may be formed from a coating of adhesive material such as a soft polyurethane. However, it is also possible to improve the adhesion mechanically by providing protrusions on the adhesive surface of the protective covering in a punching, stamping or coating operation, or by making the surface particularly smooth or glossy, so that the adhesion to prevent slipping of the covering is increased.

Three embodiments of the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view through a first embodiment of protective covering according to the present invention which can be used for protecting door sills of motor vehicles; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the covering shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the covering shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but of a second embodiment of a covering in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 of a third embodiment of a covering in accordance with the present invention.

A protective covering 1, as is shown in Figs, 1 to 3, is made of a plastics material film having a mean thickness of at least 0.1 mm which is extruded or deep-drawn to form the substantially U-shaped configuration shown in Fig. 1. The film 1 has an upper transversely extending portion 2 which, in use, is mountable on the upper edge of a door sill of a vehicle. Downwardly extending arms 3 and 4 are provided at each end of the portion 2 and, in use, abut against the adjacent lateral portions of the door sill. The portion 2 includes a shoulder or step portion 5 which engages in an appropriately recessed portion of a door sill. Accordingly, the door of the motor vehicle can still be closed despite the fact that the protective covering 1 has been mounted on the sill. The protective covering 1 can therefore remain on the door sill even whilst the vehicle is being used.

The internal surface 6 of the plastics material film of the protective covering 1 is provided with a highly glossy surface. This ensures very good adhesion between the protective covering 1 and the door sill. If, on the other hand, the protective covering is of a different shape and is intended for use on the floor of the motor vehicle, the surface 6 could be highly glossy, but it would also be advantageous to provide roughened portions, such as small protrusions, thereon to prevent the covering from slipping.

From Fig. 3, it will be seen that perforations 7 and 8 are provided in the region of the transverse portion 2, which perforations extend longitudinally. The surface portion 9 located between the perforations 7 and 8 can, in such circumstances, be clamped beneath a plastics material strip, such as a strip which is permanently mounted on a door sill for protection purposes. This permits the protective covering 1 and to be joined in a particularly secure manner. After the covering 1 has served its purpose, the surface portions 3, 4 and 5 can be separated from the portion 2 by tearing along the perforations 7 and 8. The surface portion 9 remains on the vehicle, under the plastics strip, and is therefore invisible.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in which a perforate parting line 11 extends along a lower edge 10 of the arm 3, so that a tab or flap 1 2 is formed. This flap 1 2 can be clamped in position in such a manner similar to the surface portion 9 shown in Fig. 3. The flap 12 will also subsequently remain invisible on the vehicle.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, wherein individual tabs or lugs 13, 14 and 1 5 are provided instead of one large tab or lug. These individual tabs or lugs are separable by means of perforations 16, 17 and 18.

Claims

1. A protective covering made from a plastics material film for temporarily covering bodywork parts or interior fittings of motor vehicles, wherein the plastics material film is extruded or deep-drawn to a shape corresponding generally to the configuration of the part to be covered, the covering being made from a material which is of a semi-rigid nature such that the covering is at last partially inherently stable.

2. A protective covering as claimed in claim 1, in which the covering is formed with the shape of the floor of a motor vehicle.

3. A protective covering as claimed in claim 1 in which the covering is formed with the shape of a door sill of a motor vehicle.

4. A protective covering as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which weakened parting lines are provided in the covering the plastics material film being tearable along such parting lines.

5. A protective covering as claimed in claim 4 wherein the parting lines are perfo rated.

6. A protective covering as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the parting lines define separable surface areas or portions.

7. A protective covering as claimed in claim 6 wherein the separable portions are in the form of tabs or lugs.

8. A protective covering as claimed in claim 6 wherein the separable portion is in the form of a strip.

9. A protective covering as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the film has a mean thickness of at least 0.1 mm.

10. A protective covering as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the plastics material film is made from an acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene mixed polymerisate or co polymer.

11. A protective covering as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the rear surface thereof which, in use, abuts the part to be covered is provided with an adhesive surface.

1 2. A protective covering as claimed in claim 11, in which the adhesive surface is in the form of a co3ting of adhesive material disposed on the rear surface of the film.

1 3. A protective covering as claimed in claim 12, in which the coating of adhesive material comprises a soft polyurethane having a Shore A hardness of less than 90'.

14. A protective covering as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the surface of the film is provided with protrusions produced by a punching, stamping or coating operation

1 5. A protective covering as claimed in claim 11, in which the rear surface which, in use, abuts the part to be covered is highly glossy.

16. A protective covering as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.