GB2486250A

GB2486250A - Vehicle body protector

Info

Publication number: GB2486250A
Application number: GB201020871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Mcinulty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-09
Filing date: 2010-12-09
Publication date: 2012-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-09
Also published as: GB201020871D0; GB2486250B

Abstract

A removable vehicle body part protection device comprises a protective element 15; mounting means, such as flexible magnetic strips, adapted to releasably mount the protective element to a vehicle body part; and a security tether 25 adapted to releasably connect to the buckle 31 of a safety belt of the vehicle to hinder theft of the device.

Description

I

VEHICLE ACCESSORY

Field of Invention

This invention relates to vehicle accessories and, in particular, to a removable vehicle accessory for protecting a vehicle body from dents, scuffs and scratches.

Background to the Invention

Vehicles (otherwise referred to as automobiles) such as cars, vans, etc may suffer damage to body parts/panels when parked in public areas such as car parks or parking lots and another vehicle comes into contact with it. Such damage may include scratches, dents, and chipped paint and can reduce the aesthetic appearance and/or value of the vehicle. Also, damage to the exterior surface of a vehicle can be expensive to repair.

The use of protector strips permanently affixed to the side panels and door panels of a vehicle is widely known. Such protective strips typically comprise a base with a resilient outer surface which projects slightly beyond the car body. This type of protector will prevent damage if the contact occurs against the protector, and is thus strategically positioned where another car's door is most likely to contact the side or door panel.

However, an extent to which a permanently affixed protector strip can project beyond the car's door and side panels must necessarily be limited due to size limitation and/or it aesthetic appearance. The chance that another vehicle impacts the protective strip when it hits the vehicle is therefore unsatisfactorily small.

It is therefore desirable to provide improved protection for body parts of a vehicle in the form of a removable protection device.

Summary of the invention

Proposed is a removable vehicle accessory for protecting a vehicle body from dents, scuffs and scratches.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a removable vehicle body part protection device comprising: a protective element; mounting means adapted to releasably mount the protective element to a vehicle body part; and a security tether adapted to connect to a safety belt of the vehicle to resist theft of the device.

Thus, there is provided a vehicle protective device that can be temporarily attached to the door and/or side panels of an vehicle so that the opening of an adjacent vehicle door or other like objects will impact against the device rather than the automobile body part(s).

The device may be attached to a vehicle when parked, and removed and stored when the vehicle is driven/operated. In this way, the device can be sized and/or shaped to cover a large portion of a vehicle's exterior area and therefore provide effective protection against impact damage.

The security tether connects to a safety belt of the vehicle so as to hinder or resist theft of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the security tether may comprise a female buckle part adapted to releasably connect to a male buckle part of a safety belt of the vehicle. In this way, the device may securely connect to the vehicle at a point which is not easily accessible from the exterior of the vehicle.

Further, since the mate buckle part of a vehicle safety belt is of a generally standardised shape and size across many types of vehicle, the device may The device may be flexible, durable and of lightweight construction, and may therefore be conveniently folded and compactly stored when not in use.

The device may be mounted to the automobile body by one or more magnets or suction pads.

Brief description of the drawings

Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. I is a perspective view of a car to which a removable vehicle body part protection device of the invention is mounted on the vehicle body; FIG. 2 is a cutaway end elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 3 in a storage condition.

Detailed description

The same reference numbers have been used in different figures to denote the same or similar features.

FIG. I illustrates an embodiment of the invention 10 in use on the body of a car 1. The device 10 is shown as used on the doors 2 and front and rear passenger-side wings 3 and 4 of the car 1.

The device 10 comprises a protective element 15 of sufficient length to extend along the portion of the automobile body desired to be protected, for example substantially between the front and rear passenger-side wings 3 and 4 of the car 1.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the preferred embodiment of the protective element 15. The protective element 15 comprises a flexible but resilient body, preferably a high density foam core 17 which functions to absorb the impact of another vehicle or object. In the illustrated embodiment, the foam is moulded or cut to provide a rectangular flat front surface 17a and a flat rear surface 17b. The foam core 17 is covered by a fabric sleeve 19, for example composed of nylon. The fabric sleeve 19 protects the exterior surface of the body panel from being scratched by the device 10 itself, and preferably provides some resistance to adverse weather conditions.

The fabric sleeve 19 also enables the device 10 to function as an advertising medium since various logos, patches and/or designs may be placed directly onto the fabric sleeve 19. Moreover, the device 10 can be shaped to look like an advertised product to enhance its promotional function.

The fabric sleeve 19 is provided with magnetic strips 21 on the side of the sleeve covering the flat rear surface 17b. Here, the magnetic strips 21 are affixed to the sleeve 19 using a suitable adhesive or by any other suitable means. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnet strips 21 are flexible magnets which allow for a secure removable engagement to the vehicle body.

The magnetic strips 21 are provided in spaced apart locations along the rear surface side of the fabric sleeve 19.

As shown in FIG. I and 3, the device 10 also has a security tether 25 adapted to connect to a safety belt 30 of the vehicle 1 to hinder theft of the device 10. The security tether 25 comprises a cord 27 which is attached to the protective element 15 at one end and provided with a female buckle part 29 at the other end. The female buckle part 29 is adapted to releasably connect to a male buckle part 31 of a vehicle safety belt. Thus, when the device 10 is in use and the vehicle door is closed and locked, the device 10 becomes secured by the security tether 50 because the female buckle part 29 of the security tether 25 is connected to the vehicle's safety belt and locked inside the car.

Typically, male buckle parts of vehicle safety belts are of a standardised shape and size irrespective of the make or model of the vehicle.

The female buckle part 29 may therefore receive a male buckle part of a wide range of vehicles without requiring modification.

In use, the device 10 is oriented so that the rear surface 17b of the protective element 15 is facing the vehicle body. The protective element 15 is placed on one or more of the vehicle body parts/panels to be protected (for example the passenger side doors 2) and is thus removably mounted to the vehicle body by the magnetic strips 21.

One of the doors 2 is opened, and the female buckle part 29 of the security tether 25 is connected to the male buckle part 31 of the vehicle's safety belt. The door is then closed and locked to secure the device 10.

The security tether 25 may, alternatively, be connected to the buckle of the vehicle's safety belt before the protective element 15 has been mounted on the vehicle body.

After use, the protective device 10 is removed from the automobile by exerting sufficient pulling force to overcome the magnetic attraction of the protective element 15 to the vehicle body and opening the door to access and disconnect the female buckle part 29 from the vehicle safety belt.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device I can then be folded into a compact configuration for easy and convenient storage (in the vehicle for example).

It will be appreciated that the principles of the invention apply to the use of the device 10 on any part of a vehicle body, including side panels, fender panels, and the roof (for example to protect the roof when carrying items on top of the automobile), and on any type of vehicle such as a car, a van, a truck, a multi-purpose vehicle, etc. Although the illustrated embodiment of the device 10 uses a single protective element 15, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of a greater number of protective elements and/or protective elements of different sizes and shapes will equally provide the advantages of the invention.

Also, other mechanisms, such as suction cups, may alternatively be used to adhere the protective device to the vehicle body. Furthermore, security tether may be adapted to releasably connect to a female buckle part of a vehicle safety belt (rather than a male buckle part).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A removable vehicle body part protection device comprising: a protective element; mounting means adapted to releasably mount the protective element to a vehicle body part; and a security tether adapted to releasably connect to a safety belt of the vehicle to hinder theft of the device.
2. The device of claim 1, where in the security tether comprises a coupling member adapted to releasably connect to a buckle part of the safety belt.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the coupling member comprises a female buckle part adapted to releasably connect to a male buckle part of the safety belt.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the coupling member comprises a male buckle part adapted to releasably connect to female buckle part of the safety belt.
5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the protective element comprises a foam body having a flat surface.
6. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the protective element is covered by a fabric sleeve.
7. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means comprise at least one magnet.
8. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means comprise at least one suction pad.
9. A removable vehicle body part protection device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying figures