GB2443691A

GB2443691A - Vehicle panel protection pad

Info

Publication number: GB2443691A
Application number: GB0622298A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Hayward
Original assignee: PRO DESIGN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: PRO DESIGN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-09
Filing date: 2006-11-09
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Also published as: GB0622298D0

Abstract

A vehicle panel protection device 1 includes a protection sleeve, pouch or pocket 3, and a removable pad 2 which provides a means of energy or impact absorption. Attachment to a vehicle panel may be by means of static cling where said device is merely pushed against a panel or door of a vehicle, alternatively said device may be glued in place using adhesive. The sleeve is constructed so that the pad is constrained laterally and vertically. The sleeve may be clear or transparent and may be printed thereon with graphics, signs or symbols. The device may movable on a panel allowing for vertical adjustment and may be removable from said panel.

Description

1 2443691 Vehicle exterior panel protection strip

Background

This invention relates to a device for preventing damage to vehicle exterior finish, in particular door panels. The damage is typically inflicted by edges of adjacent vehicle doors during unrestrained opening procedures. Dents to panels or chips to paintwork are typical of the resulting damage. The damage mainly occurs when leaving vehicles in public car parks, where the pitching of parking spaces is close. Contact with adjacent. vehicle during the opening of door is inevitable, Particularly during high winds and uncontrolled actions. Longitudinal vehicle bump strips or mouldings have been fitted to vehicle door panels to prevent this type of damage. The fitting of these mouldings required a series of fixing apertures to be provided in the host vehicle's outer door skin. The moulding or strips were not height adjustable in vertical plane, and were considered by both stylists and owners to be cosmetically undesirable. Conventional methods of protection are ineffective and unsightly, due to the height variance existing between vehicle types and the variance in manufacturers vertical positioning of the moulding strips with respect to the vehicle panel. The misalignment or failure to standardise the height of these mouldings in combination with the differing profile or curvature of vehicle doors, made it inevitable that some localised damage would still occur between adjacent vehicles fitted with bump mouldings. Other devices exist but were considered impractical, as fitting and removal was required each time the vehicle is used or parked. This is considered undesirable, time consuming and more importantly potentially dangerous if vehicle were to be driven with device still fitted.

Statement of Invention

To overcome these problems the present invention proposes a removable vehicle panel protection device, which is preferably fitted to the central region of a vehicle door panel or panels. The invention comprises of 2 parts, a clear or transparent outer sleeve, which has provision to retain or house an impact-absorbing pad. The panel protection device is fitted or attached to the vehicle panel by means of static cling. It is both removable and adjustable in the vertical plane to optimise zone of protection. The aforementioned device will not cause any deterioration to the vehicle external finish during fitting or during removal procedures.

Advantages The device can be fitted to both production vehicles or retrofitted to any other used vehicle. It can be used on vehicles with existing bump mouldings. Fitting does not require any specialist equipment or panel modifications and the device is intended to remain fitted to vehicle, when parked and more importantly when being driven, its removal is left to the convenience of the owner. The impact absorbing properties of the pad are variable and dependant upon material selection and thickness utilised. The fitting of this invention does not modify any of the vehicles safety or impact features and does not itself contribute to any deterioration in road safety due to the extremely low mass.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. Is a front elevation view and shows the panel protection device fitted to a typical vehicle door using, static cling to secure the invention to the panel.

Figure 2. Is a section according to figure 1 taken on A-A Figure 3. Is an Iso-elevation section view showing the panel protection device fitted to a typical vehicle door, using adhesive to secure invention to the panel.

Figure 4. Is a section according to figure 3 taken on B-B Figure 5. Is a longitudinal section and depicts the panel protection device assembled with additional retention features intended to prevent theft thereof.

Figure 6. Is an Iso view and depicts a one-piece panel protection device.

Figure 7. Is a front elevation and depicts an extension of the device to create larger area of PVC or similar material for attachment and permits ability for trimming.

Figure 8. Depicts a variation to method of attachment using magnetic vc materials or similar.

Detailed description

In figure 1, a vehicle panel protection device 1, includes, a removable impact absorbing pad 2, manufactured in a low density material such as VLD flexible polymer foam or similar foam elastomer, which is enclosed and retained by protection sleeve 3.

The inner surface of which is attached or applied to the surface of the vehicle panel 5, to be protected. The panel protection device 1, being adjustable to allow for optimal Positioning and protection. The said device 1, is attached to the vehicle panel using material proper-ties supportive of static cling. The protection sleeve 3 is manufactured in clear PVC or similar, to permit full visibility of the pad 2, When installed. The pad 2, will provide impact resistance by localiseci material compression and energy absorption. The pad material can be selected from a range of available foam or Polyurethane materials and ideally should possess high compression modulus, low density and non hydrophilic properties. The pad 2, or an additional strip 6, will be utilised to display graphics or text, for purposes of advertising and customisation. The panel protection device 1, is completely removable and will retrofit existing vehicles.

Installation will not require any modification to existing vehicle panels.

Figure 2, shows a sectional view relating to A-A on Figure 1, and typical configuration of said device, with optional strip 6, fitted.

In figure 3 and 4, a vehicle panel protection device 1, includes, a removable impact absorbing pad 2, manufactured in a low density material such as VLD flexible polymer foam or similar, which is enclosed and retained by protection sleeve 3. The inner surface of which is attached or applied to the surface of the vehicle panel 5, to be protected. The panel protection device 1, being adjustable to allow for optimal Positioning and protection. Figure 3 and 4 depict an alternative method of attachment of the panel protection device 1, whereby the protection sleeve 3, is attached to vehicle panel 5, with a low tack reusable adhesive 4. The protection sleeve 3 is manufactured in clear PVC or similar material, to permit full visibility of the pad 2. When installed. The pad 2, will provide impact resistance by localised material compression and energy absorption.

The pad 2, or an additional strip 6, will be utilised to display graphics or text, for purposes of advertising and customisation. The panel protection device 1, is completely removable and will retrofit existing vehicles, installation will not require any modification to existing vehicle panels.

In figure 5, a vehicle panel protection device 1, includes, a removable impact absorbing pad 2, manufactured in a low density material such as VLD flexible polymer foam or similar, which is enclosed and retained by protection sleeve 3. The inner surface of which is attached or applied to the surface of the vehicle panel 5, to be protected. The panel protection device 1, being adjustable to allow for optimal positioning and protection. The protection sleeve 3 is manufactured in clear PVC, or similar material to permit full visibility of the pad 2. When installed, the pad 2, will provide impact resistance by localised material compression and energy absorption.

The Panel protection device 1, is attached to vehicle panel with additional retention or safety features. A clip 7, is utilised at each end of the said device 1, to make assembly more secure and prevent theft or unintentional removal. The clip 7, is typically manufactured with a recessed or slotted edge which pushes over the said device 1, and then clips on to the door edge. The pad 2, or an additional strip 6, will be utilised to display graphics or text, for purposes of advertising and custom isation. The said device 1, is completely removable and will retrofit existing vehicles. Installation will not require any modification to existing vehicle panels.

Figure 6, depicts a one-piece configuration of the panel protection device 1, where attachment to vehicle is achieved with a contact adhesive 4. The said device 1, is combined as an impact absorbing pad and a means of applying customising graphics, patterns, advertising business information. it is typically manufactured in a low-density deformable material such as VLD flexible polymer foam, or similar. The adhesive 4 is applied at edges of invention and in longitudinal strips to allow the invention to be removed easily by edge peeling.

Figure 7, depicts an assembly similarly as described in figure 1, with extended PVC zones, which are normally outside the bump damage area, to further protect panel from stone chip damage. The vehicle panel protection device 1, includes, a removable impact absorbing pad 2, manufactured in a low density material such as VLD flexible polymer foam or similar, which is enclosed and retained by protection sleeve 3. The inner surface of which is attached or applied to the surface of the vehicle panel 5, to be protected. The said device 1, being adjustable to allow for optimal positioning and protection. The protection sleeve 3 is manufactured in clear PVC material or similar, to permit full visibility of the pad 2. When installed, the pad 2, will provide impact resistance by localised material compression and energy absorption, the pad 2, or an additional strip 6, will be utilised to display graphics or text, for purposes of advertising and customisation. The said device 1, is completely removable and will retrofit existing vehicles, installation will not require any modification to existing vehicle panels.

Figure 8, shows a variation in method of attachment using a magnetic PVC protection sleeve 8, which could also be used in conjunction with item 4. A vehicle panel protection device 1, includes, a removable impact absorbing pad 2, manufactured in a low density material such as VLD flexible polymer foam or similar, which is enclosed and retained by protection sleeve 8, the inner surface of which is attached or applied to the surface of the vehicle panel 5, to be protected. The said device 1, being adjustable to allow for optimal positioning and protection. The protection sleeve 8 is manufactured in clear magnetic PVC, or similar material to permit full visibility of the pad 2. When installed, the pad 2, will provide impact resistance by localised material compression and energy absorption. The pad 2, or an additional strip 6, will be utilised to display graphics or text, for purposes of advertising and customisation. The said device 1, is completely removable and will retrofit existing vehicles, installation will not require any modification to existing vehicle panels.

Claims

Claims Claim 1. To overcome these problems the present invention

proposes a removable vehicle panel protection device, which is preferably fitted to the central region of a vehicle door panel or panels. The invention comprises of 2 parts, a clear or transparent outer sleeve, which has provision to retain or house an impact-absorbing pad. The panel protection device is fitted or attached to the vehicle panel by means of static cling. It is both removable and adjustable in the vertical plane to optimise zone of protection. The aforementioned device will not cause any deterioration to the vehicle external finish during fitting or during removal procedures.
Claim 2. A panel protection device comprising a impact absorbing pad supported or restrained in position by a sleeve, the sleeve providing protection and a means of attachment to the vehicle panel, the attachment is achieved by use of material with static cling properties, the said elements being adjustable vertically in order to provide the most effective zone of bump protection for the vehicle panel.
Claim 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means of attachment of said elements to vehicle panel, is.provided by use of a low tack contact adhesive.
Claim 4. A device according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the means of attachment of said elements to vehicle panel is by combination of claims 1,2 or 3.
Claim 5. A device modified suitably to permit attachment of the pad directly to the vehicle panel according to claims 1, 2 or 3.
Claim 6. A device modified to allow varied pad thickness and composition, to provide greater resistance to bump and dent damage according to claims 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9.
Claim 7. Panel protection of any vehicle is achieved without modification or damage to door panel.
Claim 8. Panel protection device according to claim 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9 attached with additional retention features.
Claim 9. panel protection device according to claims 1,2, 5, 6 and 8 wherein the said device is retained in position using magnetic PVC material or similar material.