GB2171375A

GB2171375A - Motor vehicle and trailer protection

Info

Publication number: GB2171375A
Application number: GB08604640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-26
Filing date: 1986-02-25
Publication date: 1986-08-28
Also published as: GB8604640D0; GB8504924D0

Abstract

A cover for a motor vehicle or trailer comprises at least one flexible sheet material (10, 42) which, for convenience of positioning, is provided in rolled form (18,44) in a holder (20, 40). The holder is secured to the vehicle or trailer before the sheet material is unrolled to cover the vehicle or trailer. The or each flexible sheet material is wound on a spring loaded roller and clips are provided for securing the cover sheet (10, 42) to the sides and ends of the vehicle or trailer. The cover sheet comprises a longitudinal central section (12) and two side sections (14) which are foldable on top of the central section for storage in the holder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle and trailer protection This invention concerns protection for motorvehicles and trailers.

Many motor vehicles and trailers, especially caravans, are left out of doors for most of and often all of the time. They are thus open to attack from adverse weather conditions, such as rain and frost, that can cause severe damage. Plastics sheeting is availabie for covering cars but is not entirely satisfactory as it is difficult to secure in place.

The object of this invention is to provide covers for motor vehicles and trailers that is relatively easy to put in place and to secure.

According to this invention a cover for a motor vehicle or trailer is provided in rolled form in a holder therefor, the holder being securable to the motor vehicle or trailer before the cover is unrolled to cover the vehicle or trailer.

For a motor vehicle it may be convenient to provide the holder with brackets so that it can be secured to the boot lid or rear window section (if a hatchback) when open and closing of the lid or window traps the brackets. Alternatively, the holder could be provided with brackets for securement thereof to another vehicle part, such as a bumper.

Once the holder is secured in position, the cover can be unrolled over the vehicle. The cover may be provided with clips to secure its other end or sides to say the vehicle wheel arches, sills or front bumper or indeed any other suitable part of the vehicle.

Conveniently, the cover comprises a flexible sheet material and may be made of plastics or rubber material. A preferred material for the cover sheet is polyvinyl chloride. The cover sheet is advantageously brightly coloured so that the vehicle can be easily seen. Orange and yellow are thought to be good colours for the cover.

The holder itself may also be brightly coloured or have reflective material thereon to improve visibility of the vehicle. For example the holder may be striped such as with alternate orange and white stripes.

The holder could also be provided with lights which can be connected to a battery to operate, particularly at night.

The cover sheet may have a longitudinal central section and two side sections that are foldable on top of the central section for storage in the holder.

The side section may be integral with or attached to the central section in some way. Thus, the side sections could be welded or sewn onto the central section. The side sections can have wheel arch cut-outs and clips for attachment thereof to the vehicle at suitable points.

The holder may be in the form of an elongate box or cylinder having a longitudinal slot through which the cover is fed. Preferably the cover sheet is attached at one end to a spring loaded roller in the box or cylinder and preferably has at its other end a stop or stops to prevent the cover going entirely into the box or cylinder.

For a caravan and possibly some other vehicles, it may be more convenient to have two covers on the one holder i.e. two cover sheets which can be attached to the roof of a caravan more or less centrally and the two cover/sheets pulled down and attached to opposite ends of the caravan. The features already described above for a single cover sheet may also be applicable to this double cover embodiment.

As an additional feature, the covers of the invention may be connected to an alarm system, whereby the cover if removed while the alarm is live activates an alarm device such as the vehicle horn.

The holder for the cover may also have one or more drainage holes to allow escape of water that may enter the holder as a result of rain or snow or even condensation.

Thus the present invention provides a convenient easy to handle form of protection for motor vehicles and trailers that can protect the vehicle or trailer not only against the effects of adverse weather con di- tions but also against theft. Furthermore, the invention can be used virtually anywhere without inconvenience to others and indeed can have safety features added or included whereby a vehicle or trailer protected by a cover of the invention is highly visible.This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a fully extended protective cover for motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a close up of the holder of the cover of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the holder for protective cover of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a protective cover in place on a motor vehicle; Figure 5 and 6 show a protective cover suitable for a caravan.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a protective cover for a motor vehicle 5 comprises polyvinyl chloride sheeting 10 in the form of a central longitudinal section 12 and side sections 14 attached thereto along fold lines 16. The side sections can be folded over the central section for rolling up after use. One end of the central section 12 is attached to a roller 18 housed in an elongate rectantular box 20. The roller 18 is spring loaded so as always to urge the sheeting to be rolled up on the roller.

The box 20 has at each end a bracket 22 that fits around the edge of a motor vehicle boot lid. When the lid is closed, the brackets 22 are trapped so that the box 20 is held securely. The sheeting can then be rolled out over the vehicle.

To secure the sheeting in place about the vehicle clips 28, preferably of plastics material, are provided at suitable points on the edges thereof. These clips 28 fasten onto the wheel arches, sills and front bumper of the motor vehicle.

A stop 30 is provided on the end of the sheeting not attached to the roller so as to prevent the sheeting from going entirely into the box.

Not shown is a flap dependable from the box to cover the rear of the vehicle below the box.

Turning to Figures 5 and 6, for a caravan it may be more convenient to have a box 40 that fits centrally on the roof of the caravan with a pair of sheetings 42 on individual rollers 44. The sheetings will have the usual clips for securing the edges thereof to the caravan wheel arches and sills as desired.

Claims

1. Acoverfora motorvehicle ortrailercompris- ing at least one flexible sheet material provided in rolled form in a holder therefore, the holder being securable to the motor vehicle or trailer before the sheet material is unrolled to cover the vehicle or trailer.

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 comprising two cover sheets on respective rolls in the one holder for securing to the roof of the vehicle or trailer, whereby the two cover sheets can be pulled down and attached to opposite ends of the vehicle or trailer.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the holder is provided with bracket for securing it to the vehicle.

4. A cover as claimed in claim 3 when appended to claim 1 in which the brackets are adapted to be trapped by the boot lid or rear hatch back section when closed.

5. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cover sheet is provided with clips to secure its other end or sides to say the vehicle or trailer wheel arches, sills or front bumper or indeed any other suitable part of the vehicle or trailer.

6. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the sheet material is made of plastics or rubber material.

7. A cover as claimed in claim 6 in which the plastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

8. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sheet material is brightly coloured so that it can be easily seen.

9. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the holder is brightly coloured and/or has a reflective material thereon to improve visability of the vehicle.

10. A cover as claimed in claim 9 in which the holder is striped with alternative orange and white stripes.

11. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the holder is provided with lights.

12. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each sheet material comprises a longitudinal central section and two side sections that are fordable on top of the central section for storage in the holder.

13. A cover as claimed in claim 12 in which the side section or sections are either integral with or attached to the central section in some way.

14. A cover as claimed in claim 12 in which the side sections are welded or sewn onto the central section.

15. A cover as claimed in any one of claims 12, 13 or 14 in which the side sections have sheel arch cut-outs and clips for attachment thereof to the vehicle at suitable points.

16. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the holder is in the form of an elongate box or cylinder having a or a respective longitudinal slot through which the cover or respective cover is fed.

17. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each cover sheet is attached at one end to a spring loaded roller disposed in the holder.

18. A cover as claimed in claim 17 in which the other end of the cover has a stop or stops to prevent the cover going entirely in the holder.

19. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim when connected to an alarm system, whereby if the cover is removed while the alarm is live, the alarm is triggered.

20. A cover as claimed in any preceding claim in which the holder has one or more drainage holes to allow escape of water.

21. A cover constructed and arranged and adapted for use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.