GB2337734A

GB2337734A - Lightweight car cover

Info

Publication number: GB2337734A
Application number: GB9811239A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Woods
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-27
Filing date: 1998-05-27
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Also published as: GB9811239D0

Abstract

A car cover is secured by placing it under the windcreen or rear screen wipers or under the edge of the front or rear engine or boot compartment or trapping it by a window or door of the car. The cover has a rib 10 of foam rubber sheathed in plastic over which the wiper is placed and a wedge (11, Fig 3) of foam rubber covered with fabric which is fitted under the edge of the front or rear engine or boot compartment or which is trapped by a window or door. The cover is made from a lightweight material and is designed to fit the cockpit only of the car.

Description

2337734 1 LIGHTWEIGHT CAR COVER This invention relates to a car cover Car

covers are available for weather protection, principally against rain and frost. Similar covers would provide protecton of the car interior from the sun by preventing the greenhouse effect of the sun's rays passing through the windscreen and windows. Cardboard sun shields are currently placed inside windscreens and towels wedged in windows but car covers are seldom used for sun protection being bulky, complicated to fit and unaesthetic Some convertible cars have car hoods that are not condusive to ease of entry and egress and are difficult to erect. These difficulties prevent some owners from using the car on days when variations in the weather might be expected. Standard convertible car hoods do not provide protection from the sun's rays passing through the windows. Some sports cars have minimal storage space and a conventional car cover is difficult to carry with the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a car cover wherein one or more means of securing the cover is by placing the cover underneath the windscreen (or rear screen) wiperls or under the edge of the front or rear enginelboot compartment, or between a window and the window frame, or between a window/window frame and the door pillar/car body, or between a door and the door pillar/car body, together with other means of securing 9 necessary.

Embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of two examples with reference to the accompanying perspective drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows, the cover fitted to the front of a saloon car.

Figure 2 shows a sewn-in rib 10 before the wiper is placed over it.

Figure 3 shows a fabric covered wedge 11 placed between the driver's door and the door pillar prior to the door being closed.

Figure 4 shows a fabric covered wedge 11 fitted under the boot lip prior to the boot being closed Figure 5 shows the cover and a tapered wedge 11 after being slid under the front 2 service compartment ofa Lotus Elise convertible.

Figure 6 shows a toggle and elastic fitting 13 at the mirror of a Lotus Elise.

Figure 7 shows the cover fitting at the body buttress of a Lotus Elise.

Figure 8 shows the front arrangements for securing the cover to a Lotus Elise.

Figure 9 shows the Lotus Elise carbon fibre bow 12 placed before fitting the cover Referring to the drawings, the sequence of fitting the cover to a saloon car would be to place the cover on the windscreen, lift each of the front wipers and replace them over the cover and above the sewn-in ribs 10 (Figs 1 & 2). The side of the cover would be next secured by fitting a wedge 11 in between the driver's door and the door pillar (Fig 3). The rear section of the cover would be secured by trapping a wedge 11 under the boot lip (Fig 4) or, in the case of a hatch-back, under the rear wiper as Figure 2. Finally the nearside of the cover would be secured as at Figure 3. There is no standard size for the rib or wedge; each model may require different sizes. A useful cross section of the rib would be 3 cm x 1.5 cm.

In the example of the Lotus Elise convertible sports car, the sequence would be to fit a tapered wedge 11 first by sliding it between the windscreen and the front service compartment towards the driver's mirror (Fig 5); then secure the offside mirror elastic and toggle 13 (Fig 6), followed by the nearside bead and bungee 14 into the existing keyhole slots in the body buttress (Fig 7). The offside arrangements would follow with the bead and bungee fitting, the offside mirror elastic and toggle, and finally the cover and rib 10 being placed under the windscreen wiper (Fig 8).

The cover for the Lotus Elise would offer some weather protection. Additional drainage from the lightweight cover could be provided by utilising one (or both) of the carbon fibre bows 12 (existing): by placing them across the roll-over bar cover and windscreen before the lightweight cover is secured (Fig 9). Protection for the paint work of the roll-over bar cover could be afforded by placing one end of a carbon fibre bow into the lightweight cover storage bag. However, in conditions other than occasional showers the car hood provided would be necessary.

3

Claims

1. A car cover wherein one or more means of securing the cover is by placing the cover underneath the windscreen (or rear screen) wiperls or under the edge of the front or rear enginelboot compartment, or between a window and the window frame, or between a window/window frame and the door pillar/car body, or between a door and the door pillar/car body, together with other means of securing 9 necessary.

2. A car cover as claimed in C. 1, wherein the cover security consists of a rib attached to the cover over which the wiper is placed thus exerting pressure down on the cover which is held in place by the rib; or, a wedge attached to the cover and fitted under the edge of the front or rear enginelboot compartment, or between a window and the window frame, or between a window/window frame and the door pillar/car body, or between a door and the door pillar/car body,

3. A car cover as claimed in C.2, wherein the rib is sewn into the cover and fitted at an angle corresponding with the angle of the &parked' wiper or where the wedge is covered with fabric to prevent damage the car paint work.

4. A car cover as claimed in C.3 in which the rib or wedge is made from a waterproofed compressible material.

5. A car cover as claimed in C.4 in which the rib or wedge is made from foam rubber first sheathed in plastic to render waterproof before being sewn-in andlor covered in fabric.

6. A car cover as claimed in C.5 in which the cover is tailored to fit the type of car so fitted.

7. A car cover as claimed in C.6 in which the cover is tailored to fit the cockpit only of the car.

8. A car cover as claimed in C.7 in which the cover is lightweight and space saving.