GB2450500A

GB2450500A - Vehicle cover assembly having motor-assisted winding and unwinding of cover

Info

Publication number: GB2450500A
Application number: GB0712366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moshe Buhbut; Grigory Beskin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-26
Filing date: 2007-06-26
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: GB0712366D0

Abstract

A vehicle cover device comprises a cover 52 connected through a cable 51 to a central axis 18 in a drum-shaped housing 11. The cover device further includes a motor 31 for rotating the axis 18 in one of two directions, a first direction to pull the cover into the housing and to wrap it around the axis, and a second direction for removing the cover from the housing. The motor means 31 may comprise an electric motor with a gear box means 32. The device also features a carrying handle 13 and a mode switch 14 which defines the rotation of the axis 18 either to wind/un-wind the cover from the drum 1. The device may further include a vacuum plate or unit 41 for attaching the housing to a vehicle body. The operation of the device may be controlled from a remote control unit.

Description

* * I' 2450500 Vehicle Cover Device The invention relates to a vehicle

cover stored in a mobile drum, with motor-assisted mounting and removal.

It is desira6].e to cover a car while it is being parked. A problem with such covers is the difficulty in spreading the cover over the car.

Another problem is removing the cover prior to driving away.

Yet another problem is the storage of, the cover, so it will not interfere with other items in the baggage compartment and the cover itself will not be damaged there.

Prior art patents, which do not answer the above or other problems which are solved with the present invention, include: US patent 5;086,988 LaPoint-et al. Car cover deployment and storage system US patent 4,761.,998 Norris et al. -Retractable cover US design patent D537,403 Villani et al. -Reel in car cover case Accorclingto the present invention,, a vehicle' cover device-comprises a vehicle cover stored in a mobile drum, with motor-assisted mounting and removal means. The car cover may be, made of nylon or a plastic material.

Preferably, the material will have a measure of elasticity built in.

According to another aspect of the inventiOn, when the cover is not' in use, it is stored inside a mobile drum, wrapped around a central axis in the drum.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the central axis maybe rotated by an electric motor, to assist in removing the cover form its housing or in re-storing the cover there.

A handle in the drum allows to carry it for covering the car, for removing the cover and/or to carry the cover anyplace.

* Near the handle there is located an activation switch having three modes: Take cover out to cover the car, Re-store cover in its housing, Neutral. -2-.

Thus, the new device facilitates covering a car or removing the cover, using one hand to hold the drum and activate the device, and the other hand to attach an end of.the cover to the carorremove it therefrom, and to place the cover as required, and as detailed below.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a vacuum unit for attaching to the vehicle body, ie to the baggage compartment, as detailed below.

Benefits: 1. Mobile; easy to carry or store anywhere 2. Electric powered 3. Can be used in any type of car 4. Easy to use, fast covering of a car or removing it from car.

5. Easy to use, the device is, secured to the car's body when the cover is placed over the car or removed therefrom.

An example of a preferred embodiment of, the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows, in perspective, the cover-storing drum with its handle and activation switch Fig. 2 details, in cross-sectional longitudinal view, the cover-storing drum Referringto the.drawings,in.a preferred embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 1, a drum outer casing 11 is used to Store the vehicle cover 52 therein. There is an opening 12 in drum 11 for removing the cover (to cover the car) and for re-inserting the cover into casing 11 when not in use.

The device also has a carrying handle 13.

A mode switch 14 is preferably located near the handle 13, to allow both carrying the device and activating it, with one hand, for example holding the handle with four fingers and activating switch lie with the thumb. -.3-

The mode switch 14 can be activated into one of three modes: 1. Take cover 52 out to store the car -a central axis 18 (Fig. 2) in the device rotates so as to drive the cover out of the device. When stored, the cover is wrapped about the axis 18.

2. Re-store cover 52 in its housing -when removing the cover from the car, the central axis 18 is so rotated as to pull the cover into the device and wrap it about the axis 18.

3. Neutral -the cover 52 is held in the present state, either covering the car or stored in its housing.

The axis 18 is preferably rotatedusing an electric motor 31, which may be powered by abattery 21. Either aprimary or secondary (rechargeable) battery may be used. The battery 21.may be charged through connector 22, for example by connecting it to the car's electrièal system.

Alternately, the device will operate from the car's electrical energy supplied through connector 22, without the battery 21.

In another embodiment, the motor 31 may be replaced with a spring, which may be loaded prior to use and its energy released when desired.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a vacuum plate or unit 41 for attaching to the vehicle body, ie to the baggage compartment.

A vacuum handle 42 is used to create vacuum, for attaching the device to the car body when covering the car or when removing the cover.

This method eliminates the need for the user to carry the device by hand when covering the car. Rather, the device is mounted on the car itself.

The handle 42 is used to either create or release vacuum, to attach the device to the car's body or release it therefrom, respectively.

Furthermore, the device's operation may be controlled from a remote control unit, using for example radio waves and wherein unit 21 includes an electronic module or block, not just the battery.

In this case, as the device is attached to the car's body. the user pulls the cover 52 over the vehicle using the remote control unit (not shown) to activate the motor 31 so as to release the cover 52 (or to pull back the cover 52 into the device, as the need may be).

Fig. 2 details, in cross-sectional longitudinal view, the cover-storing drum 1. It includes a drum outer casing 11, with a space 16 in drum 11 for storing the cover therein when not in use.

The car cover, when not in use, is wrapped around.a central axis.18.

Axis 18 may be rotated by motor 31 through gear box 32 -the structure may include coupling means 33 (such as a hollow drum) attached to the axis 18 through securing means such as coupling screws 34.

The body of the gear box 32 is secured to the external housing 11.

Thus, when a torque develops in the gear box 32, it will rotate the axis 18.

By connecting the motor 31 to the battry 21 at the required polarity the switch 11. defines the direction of rotation of axis 18: either to exit the cover from.the drum 1, or to re-insert it there for storage.

* The cover 52. may be connected with a rope or cable 51 to the axis 18.

* Method 1 of operation -To cover a car without the vacuum unit 1. The drum 1 is removed, from the baggage compartment in the car, the switch 14 is activated to release part of the cover 52.

2. The external end of the cover 521s attached to the front of the car.

3. The switch 16 is activated to release all the cover 52, while the cover is placed over the car. Preferably,. there, is mechanical tension in the cover.

4. The drum 1, connected to the end of the cover 52 by a rope or cable 51, is replaced in the baggage cabinet. The cover 52 on the car is held at one end at the front of the car, and at the other end -through the rope 51, to the drum 1 in the baggage compartment.

** End of method ** Method 2 of operation -To cover a car with the vacuum unit 1. The drum 1 is removed from the baggage compartment in the car and is attached to the car's body (the top of the baggage compartment) using the vacuum unit 41 and handle 42.

2. The switch 14, or a remote control unit, is activated to release part of the cover 52.

3. The external end of the cover 52 is attached to the front of the car.

4. The switch 14, or the remote contról,'is activated to release all the cover 52, while the cover is placed over the car. Preferably, there is mechanical tension in the cover.

5. The drum 1 is removed from the top of the baggage compartment by releasing the vacuum from vacuum unIt 41 using handle 42.

6. The drum 1, connected to theend of the cover 52 by a rope or cable 51, is replaced in the baggage cabinet. The cover 52 on the car is held at one end at the front of the car, and at the other end -through the rope 51, to the drum 1 in the baggage compartment.

** End of method ** To remove the cover from the vehicle, the above procedure may be reversed accordingly.

It will be recognized that the foregoing is but one example of an apparatus and method within the scope of the present invention, and that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the

disclosure set forth hereinbefore.

Claims

1. A vehicle cover. device comprising a cover connected through a cable to a central axis in a drum-shaped housing, further including motor means for rotating the central axis in one of two directions, a first direction to pull the cover into the housing and to wrap it about the axis, and a second direction for.removing the cover from the housing.

2. The vehicle cover device according to claim 1, wherein the motor means comprise an electric motor with gear box means.

3. The vehicle cover device according to claim 1 or 2, further including handle means on the housing, for carrying the device.

4. The vehicle cover device according to claim 1 or 2, further including an activation switch for activating the device in one of three modes, "Take cover out" , "Re-store cover in its housing" and "Neutral"

5. -The-vehicle-cover device according to claim 1 or 2, further including vacuum unit means for attaching the device to a vehicle's body to facilitate covering the vehicle or remOving the cover.

6. The vehicle cover device according to claim 1, 2 or 5, further including remote control means for activating the electric motor in the device from a remote location.

7. A vehicle covering method comprising: a. The drum Is removed from the baggage compartment in the car, the switch is activated to release part of the cover; b. The external end of the cover is attached to-the front of the car; c. The switch is activated to release all the cover, while the cover * is placed over the car, preferably with mechanical tension in the cover; d. The drum, connected to the end of the cover by a rope or cable, is replaced in the baggage cabinet, the cover on the car is heldat one end at the front of the car, and at the other end -through the rope, to the. drum in the baggage compartment.