GB2279622A

GB2279622A - Vehicle door protector

Info

Publication number: GB2279622A
Application number: GB9314218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Peter Forbes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-09
Filing date: 1993-07-09
Publication date: 1995-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-09
Also published as: GB2279622B; GB9314218D0

Abstract

A vehicle door protector comprises two end pieces 10 and 11 which can be clipped onto opposite edges of a vehicle door and an elongate piece 12 for extending between the two end pieces. Preferably, the protector also comprises a resilient elongate element 20 connectible between the two end pieces to apply an urging force to the two end pieces tending to urge them towards one another to hold the end pieces in position on the door. The protector described above can have any desired depth and, in particular, it can be deeper than conventional factory filled door protectors. Flexible strip magnets 15 assist in securing the protector to the door. <IMAGE>

Description

"Vehicle Door Protector" This invention relates to a vehicle door protector.

Some vehicles are provided with factory fitted door protectors which extend over the width of the doors.

Other vehicles are not provided with door protectors and this leaves them prone to damage. It is known to provide as an accessory door protectors which can be fixed to the edge of the door remote from the hinges, but these only protect the one edge of the door from becoming damaged when the door is opened against, inter alia, a wall or other vehicle. It does not protect the door from being damaged by the door of another vehicle parked alongside.

The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle door protector which can be fitted as an accessory to a vehicle and which can protect the door over substantially its entire width.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle door protector comprising two end pieces which can be clipped onto opposite edges of a vehicle door and an elongate piece for extending between the two end pieces.

Preferably, the protector also comprises a resilient elongate element connectible between the two end pieces to apply an urging force to the two end pieces tending to urge them towards one another to hold the end pieces in position on the vehicle door.

Preferably, each end piece comprises a moulded part for making contact with the outer surface of the vehicle door and a clip for clipping the end piece to an edge of the door.

The clips may be of metal, typically coated in plastics material, and may be riveted or heatstaked to respective moulded parts.

Preferably, the elongate piece is an extrusion.

Advantageously, the end pieces have projections which extend into sockets at opposite ends of the elongate piece. In this case, the sockets may be defined by opposite ends of an elongate groove or passage extending along the longitudinal extent of the elongate piece.

The elongate piece and/or the end pieces may be provided with one or more permanent magnets, preferably flexible strip magnets, for holding the elongate piece and/or end pieces against a metal door.

The elongate piece may also be provided with a length scale.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view taken from the top and rear of one embodiment of a vehicle door protector according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the protector of Figure 1 fitted to a vehicle door; Figure 3 is an end view of the front end piece of the protector; Figure 4 is an end view of the rear end piece of the protector; and Figure 5 is a section taken through the elongate piece of the protector.

Referring to the drawings, the protector shown therein is intended as an accessory to road vehicles, particularly cars, and comprises front and rear end pieces 10 and 11, respectively, and an elongate piece 12 extending between the two end pieces.

The elongate piece 12 is in the form of an extrusion having a T-shaped groove 13 therein. The groove 13 extends the entire length of the elongate piece 12 and the narrow end of the groove opens onto the rear face of the elongate piece 12. The elongate piece 12 also has integral ribs 14 extending along the length of its front face and two flexible strip magnets 15 on its rear face, one on either side of the narrow end of the groove 13.

The end pieces 10 and 11 may additionally or alternatively be provided with one or more flexible strip magnets on their rear faces.

Each end piece 10, 11 comprises a moulded part 16 and a metal clip 17 which is typically coated in plastics material, e.g. polyurethane resin, to improve grip and protect the vehicle door. Each clip 17 is secured to its respective part 16 such as by heatstaking to a protrusion 18 in a recess 19 in the rear face of the part 16, or by one or more rivets (not shown). The clips 17 each have a hook-shaped end which hooks around a respective edge of a vehicle door. As shown, the hookshaped end of the clip on the rear part 16 is bifurcated.

The hook-shaped ends of the clips 17 may have threaded apertures 19 for receiving fixing screws (not shown) which can be used to clamp the end pieces 10, 11 to the door.

The moulded parts 16 have exposed portions 16a, and integral projections 16b which extend into opposite ends of the groove 13 in the elongate piece 12 when all three pieces 10, 11 and 12 are assembled together. Each exposed portion 16a at one end substantially matches the cross-sectional shape of the elongate piece 12 and tapers in depth and width towards its free end where the clip 17 is secured to moulded part 16.

The end pieces 10 and 11, with the exception of the clips 17, and the elongated piece 12 are typically of polyurethane foam.

The door protector also comprises an elongate tensioner 20 comprising an elasticated cord 21 and hooks 22 at opposite ends of the cord 21. The hooks 22 can be hooked over headed studs 23 projecting rearwards from the base of a recess 24 in each projection 16b to urge the two end pieces 10 and 11 towards one another when clipped over opposite edges of a vehicle door to hold the end pieces in position on the vehicle door.

The door protectors may be tailored for individual models of vehicles or could be supplied for a range of vehicle models with instructions for a user to cut the elongate piece 12 to an appropriate length. In this case, a length scale 25 could be provided on the rear face of the elongate piece 12 and the instructions could include a chart giving the correct length of the elongate piece 12 for each appropriate vehicle model.

In order to fit the door protector to a vehicle door, the elongate piece 12 is first cut to size, if necessary. The end pieces 10 and 11 are then clipped over opposite edges of the vehicle door and the tensioner 20 is then hooked over the headed studs 23 of the end pieces.

The elongate piece 12 is then fitted over the projections 16b of the end pieces 10 and 11. Alternatively, the end pieces 10 and 11, elongate piece 12 and tensioner 20 can be pre-assembled before fitting to a vehicle door. In this case, the groove 13 need not open onto the rear face of the elongate piece 12. If a more permanent connection is required, screws are threaded into the threaded apertures 19 in the hook-shaped ends of the clips 17 in order to clamp the end pieces 10 and 11 to the door.

The door protector described above can have any desired depth. It can be deeper than conventional factory fitted door protectors and typically has a depth of at least 3mm and more preferably 5mm from the ribs 14 to the base of the elongate piece 12.

The door protector described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the tensioner could be in the form of a helical tension spring.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle door protector comprising two end pieces which can be clipped onto opposite edges of a vehicle door and an elongate piece for extending between the two end pieces.

2. A protector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a resilient elongate element connectible between the two end pieces to apply an urging force to the two end pieces tending to urge them towards one another to hold the end pieces in position on the vehicle door.

3. A protector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each end piece comprises a moulded part for making contact with the outer surface of the vehicle door and a clip for clipping the end piece to an edge of the door.

4. A protector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clips are of metal.

5. A protector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal clips are coated in plastics material.

6. A protector as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the clips are riveted or heatstaked to respective moulded parts.

7. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate piece is an extrusion.

8. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end pieces have projections which extend into sockets at opposite ends of the elongate piece.

9. A protector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sockets are defined by opposite ends of an elongate groove or passage extending along the longitudinal extent of the elongate piece.

10. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate piece and/or the end pieces are provided with one or more permanent magnets for holding the elongate piece and/or end pieces against a metal door.

11. A protector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the magnets are flexible strip magnets.

12. A protector as claimed in any one of- the preceding claims, wherein the elongate piece is providedwith integral ribs extending along the length of its front face.

13. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the depth of the elongate piece is at least 3mm.

14. A protector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the depth of the elongate piece is at least 5mm.

15. A protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate piece is provided with a length scale.

16. A vehicle door protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.