GB2535991A

GB2535991A - A device for protecting the side of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2535991A
Application number: GB1503236.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brendan Kelleher John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-26
Filing date: 2015-02-26
Publication date: 2016-09-07
Also published as: GB201503236D0

Abstract

A device 10 for protecting the side 12 of a motor vehicle 11, having an elongate base unit 13, which is moveable between a retracted position, under the chassis 14 of the motor vehicle 11, and a deployed position, in which the base unit 13 extends beyond and along the side 12 of the vehicle 11. A barrier 20, is attached to the base unit 13, the barrier 20 being moveable when the base unit 13 is in the deployed position, between a stored position on the base unit 13 and parallel thereto, and an extended position, covering the side 12 of the vehicle 11, with the movement of both the base unit 13 and the barrier 20 being powered. The barrier 20 may comprise a pair of lifting arms (21, 22, Fig. 2) and a pair of lever arms (40, 51, Fig. 2) for deployment, and a motor coupled to a threaded rod (100, 101, Fig. 6) may be used as a drive or power source.

Description

A device for protecting the side of a vehicle This invention relates to a device for protecting the body of a motor vehicle and, in particular, to a device, for protecting the sides of the vehicle.

A motor vehicle body, and particularly the sides thereof, is vulnerable to receiving minor dents and dinges when parked adjacent to another vehicle. The dents and dinges are caused, for example, when an individual opens a door of the other vehicle and knocks it against the first vehicle.

0 A number of protective guards have been designed to protect the sides of a motor vehicle by preventing a door of an adjacent vehicle from being banged against the side of the first vehicle. However these guards can be cumbersome and difficult to deploy against the side of the vehicle.

U.S. Patent No. 4,437,697 describes a retractable automobile sideguard device which includes first and second telescoping assemblies which are extendable from first and second tubular housings attached to the bottom of an automobile. Each telescoping assembly includes a first member which, when fully extended from the tubular housing, pivots and is locked into an upright position and a second member which, when fully extended from the first member, pivots to a horizontal position and engages a like member from the other telescoping mechanism, thereby forming a side rail that prevents damage to the finish of door panels and side panels of the automobile due to careless opening of doors of other cars that are too closely parked to the protected automobile.

A problem with this device is that it has to be deployed manually, which can be difficult and unpleasant when the device is dirty.

A further problem with this device is that it must first be extended in the plane of the underside of the automobile and beyond the side thereof, before the first member can be pivoted up and against the side of the automobile. Thus, it may be difficult or impossible to deploy the guard in a narrow parking space.

U.S. Patent No. 4,221,410 describes a protective guard to protect the sides of a motor vehicle comprising a bumper, apparatus to move the bumper from a position adjacent the vehicle to a position away from the vehicle, and apparatus to raise and lower the bumper when in the latter position.

A problem with this protective guard is that, although the movement of the bumper from a position adjacent the vehicle to a position away from the vehicle, may be hydraulically operated, the raising and lowering of the bumper, when in the latter position, is a manual operation and culminates in the manual locking of the guard in place.

Another problem with the protective guard is that, when in the closed position, the apparatus is aligned closely adjacent the vehicle and not under the chassis thereof This may present a hazard for an individual moving in proximity to the side of the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the protective devices hereinbefore described.

Thus, the invention provides a device for protecting the side of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an elongate base unit moveable between a retracted position, under the chassis of the vehicle, and a deployed position, in which it extends beyond and along the side of the vehicle, a barrier attached to the base unit and moveable, when the base unit is in the deployed position, in a plane parallel to the side of the vehicle between a stored position, on the base unit and parallel thereto, and an extended position, covering the side of the vehicle, with the movement of both the base unit and the barrier being powered.

An advantage of the device in accordance with the invention is 15 that the movement of the barrier between the stored and extended positions is close to the side of the vehicle and thus the barrier can be operated when the vehicle is parked in a confined space.

Another advantage of the device in accordance with the invention is that as the movement of both the base unit and the barrier is powered a 20 user does not have to manhandle the device in order to erect it against the side of the vehicle.

Preferably, the barrier has a pair of lifting arms, with a lifting arm being pivotally attached, near a lifting end thereof, to each end of the base unit, an elongate top section attached to the other ends of the lifting arms, and means connected to the or each lifting end for causing the lifting arms to pivot around their attachment points so as to raise the elongate top section up the side of the vehicle.

An advantage of having a lifting arm attached at each end of the base unit is that the elongate top section may be raised in a balanced manner.

In one embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the pivoting means is a lever arm connected to a motor.

An advantage of employing a lever arm is that, due the mechanical advantage of the lever arm a lower rated motor may be used when compared to a motor that would be required to lift the barrier directly 15 from the stored position to the extended position.

Preferably, when the barrier is in the stored position, the and each lever arm is in a retracted position and before the barrier starts to move towards the extended position the and each lever arm is moved from the retracted position to an engaged position against the respective lifting arm such that further movement of the and each lever arm results in a turning force being applied to the respective lifting arm.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the barrier, in the stored position, lies on the base unit, which base unit is enabled to move between its retracted and deployed positions without the barrier contacting the underside of the vehicle. It is only when the lever arm moves to the engaged position that the barrier will start to rise above the base unit. Furthermore, use of a retractable lever arm improves the ground clearance of the device.

Further, preferably, the motor is coupled to a threaded rod along which a connecting block is moveable, with the lever arm being connected to the connecting block by a connecting bar, such that, in use, the motor moves the connecting block in one direction along the threaded bar to cause the barrier to move from the stored position to the extended position and in the other direction to return the barrier to the stored position.

An advantage of this arrangement is that due to the coupling of the motor to the lifting arm the movement imparted to the barrier is a smooth 15 movement, with the barrier being lifted gradually up the side of the vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the elongate top section has a centre piece, and an extension piece to each side thereof, each extension piece being slideably mounted on the centre piece and each extension piece being attached at an inner end thereof to the other end of the respective lifting arm, such that, in use the inner ends of the extension pieces abut one another when the barrier is in the stored position, with the extension pieces sliding apart as the barrier is lifted to the extended position.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the barrier, in the stored position, is compact and when the barrier is in the extended position the elongate section extends along the side of the vehicle beyond the ends of the base unit.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the barrier, in the stored position, is folded flat into a barrier tray, which barrier tray is attached to the base unit.

An advantage of the tray is that the barrier, when stored under the vehicle chassis, is protected from the dirt from the roads during normal 10 use of the vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the barrier, in the extended position, is foldable away from the vehicle side to allow a door of the vehicle to be opened.

An advantage of this arrangement is that, in the event that the 15 barrier is deployed while the vehicle is occupied, the vehicle can be vacated without first having to return the barrier to the stored position.

Furthermore, if the power to the device is lost an individual can still enter and exit the vehicle by folding the barrier away from the vehicle side.

Preferably, the and each lifting arm is split into two sections, which are joined together by a moveable coupling.

This arrangement is one way to permit the folding of the barrier away from the side of the vehicle, when the barrier is in the extended position.

Further, preferably, the and each coupling is spring loaded so as to 5 bias the barrier against the vehicle side in the extended position.

An advantage of this arrangement is that an individual may vacate the vehicle while the barrier is in the extended position by folding it away from the side of the vehicle. The barrier will then spring back into the extended position once the door of the vehicle is closed again.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the base unit is moveable between the retracted and deployed position by a rod attached at each end of the base unit, with each rod being driven by an actuator motor.

By using a separate motor driving a rod at each end of the base 15 unit, the base unit moves smoothly between the retracted and deployed positions without sticking Preferably, each rod is threaded, with the actuator motor being mounted in a housing and connected to the threaded rod through rotary transmission means, and with the and each housing being mountable to 20 the underside of the vehicle chassis.

An advantage of this arrangement is that it is compact and the rods move through the respective actuator housings in a steady and smooth fashion.

A further advantage of this arrangement is that inexpensive motors 5 can be used to drive the rods Further, preferably, the length of the and each rod is sizable to suit a particular vehicle.

An advantage of this feature is that, in practice the device may be marketed with rods being available in a number of different lengths, and 10 the length of the rods can be reduced, as necessary, to suit a particular vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, a barrier tray cover is mounted between the housings, which barrier tray cover overlies the barrier tray when the base unit is in the stored position.

An advantage of this arrangement is that, when the device is not in use, the barrier is further protected from the accumulation of road dirt.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, when the barrier is in the extended position, the base unit is 20 partially withdrawable under the vehicle.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the barrier will be close to the side of the vehicle and the base unit will be flush to the vehicle side, thus reducing the likelihood of the barrier being hit by someone passing close to the vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the and each lifting arm is extendible.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the barrier can be raised so that it is at the optimum height to provide protection.

In a further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention, the and each extension piece is further extendible along the side of the vehicle.

An advantage of this arrangement is that protection can be afforded to the wings of the vehicle as well as the doors.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device for protecting the side of a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1, with the barrier in a partially raised position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1, with the barrier in a fully raised position; Fig. 4 is a view from the rear of the barrier of the device of Fig. 1, with the barrier lifting arms in a folded away position; Fig. 5 is a detail of a lifting end of the lifting arm of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 with the base unit in a retracted position; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 with the base unit in a deployed position.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a lifting arm of a further embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an extension piece of a further embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated generally at 10, a device for protecting the side of a motor vehicle 11, which device 10 is shown mounted on the motor vehicle 11 and protecting the side 12 thereof.

The device 10 has an elongate base unit 13, which is moveable between a retracted position, under the chassis 14 of the motor vehicle 11, and a deployed position (as illustrated), in which the base unit 13 extends beyond and along the side 12 of the vehicle 11. A barrier, illustrated generally at 20, is attached to the base unit 13, which barrier 20 is moveable, when the base unit 13 is in the deployed position, between a stored position, on the base unit 13 and parallel thereto, and an extended position (as illustrated), covering the side 12 of the vehicle 11, with the movement of both the base unit 13 and the barrier 20 being powered. Operation of the device is controlled wirelessly by using a remote control.

Referring to Fig. 2, the barrier 20 consists of a pair of lifting arms 21, 22, with the lifting arm 21 being pivotally attached, near a lifting end 23 thereof, to end 24 of the base unit 13 at pivoting point 25. Similarly, lifting arm 22 is pivotally attached, near a lifting end 26 thereof, to end 27 of the base unit 13 at pivoting point 28.

A central section of a front section 29 of the base unit 13 has been removed to reveal a mechanism, shown generally at 30, within. The 15 mechanism 30 causes the lifting arms 21, 22 to pivot around pivoting points 25, 28, respectively.

Mechanism 30 consists of a pair of motors 31, 32, which are connected together by a bar 33. Bar 33 has a right-handed thread section 34 at one end 35 thereof. An internally threaded, connecting block 36 is mounted on thread section 34 and is moveable therealong by the action of motor 31. A connecting bar 37 is pivotally mounted at one end 38 thereof, to the connecting block 36 at point 39. A lever arm 40 is pivotally mounted on the other end 41 of the connecting bar 37 at end 42, with the other end 43 of the lever arm 40 being connected to the lifting end 23 of the lifting arm 21 at pivoting point 44. In use, when viewed from behind the motor 31 and along the bar 33, anti-clockwise movement of the motor 31 causes the connecting block 36 to move along the bar 33 from left to right, resulting in the raising of the lifting arm 21.

Similarly, the bar 33 has a left-handed thread section 45 at other end 46 thereof. An internally threaded, connecting block 47 is mounted on the thread section 45 and is moveable therealong by the action of the motor 32. A connecting bar 48 is pivotally mounted at one end 49 thereof, to the connecting block 47 at point 50. A lever arm 51 is pivotally mounted on the other end 52 of the connecting bar 48 at end 53, with the other end 54 of the lever arm 51 being connected to the lifting end 26 of the lifting ann 22 at pivoting point 55. In use, when viewed from behind the motor 32 and along the bar 33, clockwise movement of the motor 32 causes the connecting block 47 to move along the bar 33 from right to left, resulting in the raising of lifting ann 22.

It will be apparent that in practice, as the motors 31, 32 are connected together by bar 33 the two motors 31, 32 work together to raise and lower the lifting arms 21, 22 and hence the barrier 20.

The barrier 20 has an elongate top section, shown generally at 60.

The elongate top section 60 has a centre piece 61 with an extension piece 62, 63 to each side thereof, each extension piece 62, 63 being slideably mounted on the centre piece 61with the extension piece 62 being attached at an inner end 64 thereof to the other end 65 of the lifting ann 21. Similarly, the extension piece 63 is attached at an inner end 66 thereof to the other end 67 of lifting arm 22.

Referring to Fig. 3, the barrier 20 is illustrated in the extended position, with the extension pieces 62, 63 fully extended to each side of 5 the centre piece 61.

Referring to both Figs. 2 and 3, in use, the inner ends 64 and 66 of the respective extension pieces 62, 63, abut one another when the barrier 20 is in the stored position, with the extension pieces 62, 63 sliding apart as the barrier 20 is lifted to the extended position.

Referring to Fig. 4, the barrier 20 of the device 10 is illustrated in a folded away position from the rear thereof. Barrier 20 is in the fully extended position except that the lifting arms 21, 22 have been folded through 90° to allow for the opening of the vehicle door (not shown) when the device 10 is fitted to the vehicle (not shown).

The lifting arm 22 is split into two sections 70, 71, which are joined at pivot point 72. A coil spring 73 is fixed across the pivot point 72 and is fixed at end 74 thereof to a peg 75, mounted on section 70, and at the other end 76 to a peg 77, mounted on section 71.

Similarly, the lifting arm 21 is split into two sections 78, 79, which 20 are joined at pivot point 80. A coil spring 81 is fixed across the pivot point 80 and is fixed at end 82 thereof to a peg 83, mounted on section 78 and at the other end 84 to a peg 85, mounted on section 79.

The coil springs 73, 81 are shown in a stretched state and if the barrier 20 is released it will revert back to its original extended state, as the coil springs 73, 81 revert to their resting state.

Referring to Fig. 5 the attachment of lifting arm 22 to the base unit 13 is shown in more detail. Coil spring 73 is in a resting state and sections 70, 71 are in line. The lever arm 51 is at right angles to the lifting arm 22 and is attached thereto by a releasable pivot 90. The lever arm 51 is restricted from further movement by a lever arm restricting piece 91, which abuts lifting end 26 of lifting arm 22 at position 92 and as the lever arm 51 is pulled by the connecting bar 48 the lifting arm 22 is pulled into the upright position.

When the motor 32 is reversed the lever arm 51 is temporarily relieved of pressure allowing the releasable pivot 90 to lock into position, the lever arm 51 then pushes the lifting arm 22 into a horizontal position parallel to the base unit 13. Further movement of the connecting bar 48 will result in the lever arm 51 popping out of position. The lever arm 51 will continue to pivot on the releasable pivot 90 until both the lever arm 51 and the connecting bar are in line with the base unit 13 and the barrier is in the fully stored position.

Referring to Fig. 6, the device 10 is shown with the base unit 13 in a retracted position, in which it would be hidden under the chassis of the vehicle. A threaded rod 100 is attached to end 24 of the base unit 13 and a second threaded rod 101 is attached to the other end 27 of the base unit 13. Threaded rods 100, 101 pass through housings 102, 103, respectively. The and each housing 102, 103 contains a motor and rotary transmission means (not shown) for driving the respective threaded bars 100, 101 therethrough. A barrier tray cover 104, which protects the barrier (not shown), is mounted between the housings 102, 103. In use, the device 10 is fixed to the underside of the vehicle using a plurality of fixing holes 105 located in the barrier tray cover 104.

Referring to Fig. 7, the device 10 is illustrated with the base unit 13 in a deployed position, in which position the base unit 13 would extend beyond and along the side of the vehicle to be protected. The barrier 20 is shown in the stored position with the components of the barrier 20 resting in a barrier tray 106, which is attached along the base unit 13.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the length of the threaded rods 100, 101 can be trimmed to suit a particular vehicle. The threaded rods 100, 101 15 are protected by rubber boots (not shown), which boots prevent fouling by road dirt.

The speeds of the motors, which drive the threaded rods, are synchronised resulting in a smooth movement of the base unit 13 between the retracted and deployed positions.

Referring to Fig. 8, a lifting arm 110 of a further embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment the lifting ann 110 comprises a hollow tube 111, which has an opening 112 at one end 113 thereof. A helical spring 114 is located within the hollow tube 111. One end 115 of the helical spring 114 sits on a stop 116 located within the hollow tube 111. A rod 117 is slideably located within the hollow tube 111 and sits on the other end 118 of helical spring 114. As illustrated, the helical spring 114 is in a resting state.

In use, when the lifting arm 110 is in the stored position the rod 117 is pushed fully home in the hollow tube 111 and the helical spring 114 is compressed. Then as barrier 119 is moved to the extended position the helical spring114 pushes the rod 117 out of the hollow tube 111 until the helical spring 114 reaches its resting state. As a result top elongate section 120 of the barrier 119 is deployed higher on the side of the vehicle.

Referring to Fig. 9, an extension piece of a further embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention, is illustrated generally at 130.

Extension piece 130 is slideably moimted on a centre piece 131 of an elongate top section 132. Extension piece 130 is attached at an inner end 133 thereof to the top 134 of a lifting arm 135. The inner end 133 of the extension piece is in the form of a housing 136 having an open-ended conduit 137 therein through which the centre piece 131 slides.

A support arm 138 is attached at one end 139 thereof to the housing 136 at position 140. A block 141 is moveable along the support arm 138, in use. A motor 142 located in the housing 136 is attached to a threaded rod 143, which passes through a complementary threaded channel in block 141.

A batten 144 is attached at one end 145 thereof to a side 146 of the block 141.

In use, when the barrier is in the stored position, block 141 abuts housing 136 and the extension piece 130 is in a retracted position. As the barrier moves to the extended position the motor 142 is activated and drives block 141 along the support arm 138 resulting in the extension of the batten 144 along the side of the vehicle.

Claims

Claims: - 1. A device for protecting the side of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an elongate base unit moveable between a retracted position, under the chassis of the vehicle, and a deployed position, in 5 which it extends beyond and along the side of the vehicle, a barrier attached to the base unit and moveable, when the base unit is in the deployed position, in a plane parallel to the side of the vehicle between a stored position, on the base unit and parallel thereto, and an extended position, covering the side of the vehicle, with the movement of both the I() base unit and the bather being powered.
2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the barrier has a pair of lifting arms, with a lifting arm being pivotally attached, near a lifting end thereof, to each end of the base unit, an elongate top section attached to the other ends of the lifting arms, and means connected to the or each lifting end for causing the lifting arms to pivot around their attachment points so as to raise the elongate top section up the side of the vehicle.
3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the pivoting means is a lever arm connected to a motor.
4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein, when the barrier is in the stored position, the and each lever arm is in a retracted position and before the barrier starts to move towards the extended position the and each lever arm is moved from the retracted position to an engaged position against the respective lifting arm such that further movement of the and each lever arm results in a turning force being applied to the respective lifting ann.
5. A device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the motor is 5 coupled to a threaded rod along which a connecting block is moveable, with the lever arm being connected to the connecting block by a connecting bar, such that, in use, the motor moves the connecting block in one direction along the threaded bar to cause the barrier to move from the stored position to the extended position and in the other direction to 10 return the barrier to the stored position.
6. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the elongate top section has a centre piece, and an extension piece to each side thereof, each extension piece being slideably mounted on the centre piece and each extension piece being attached at an inner end thereof to the other end of the respective lifting arm, such that, in use the inner ends of the extension pieces abut one another when the barrier is in the stored position, with the extension pieces sliding apart as the barrier is lifted to the extended position.
7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the 20 barrier, in the stored position, is folded flat into a barrier tray, which barrier tray is attached to the base unit.
8. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the barrier, in the extended position, is foldable away from the vehicle side to allow a door of the vehicle to be opened.
9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the and each lifting 5 arm is split into two sections, which are joined together by a moveable coupling.
10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the and each coupling is spring loaded so as to bias the barrier against the vehicle side in the extended position.
11. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the base unit is moveable between the retracted and deployed position by a rod attached at each end of the base unit, with each rod being driven by an actuator motor.
12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein each rod is threaded, with the actuator motor being mounted in a housing and connected to the threaded rod through rotary transmission means, and with the and each housing being mountable to the underside of the vehicle chassis.
13. A device according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the length of 20 the and each rod is sizable to suit a particular vehicle.
14. A device according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein a barrier tray cover is mounted between the housings, which barrier tray cover overlies the barrier tray when the base unit is in the stored position.
15. A device according to any one of Claims 9 to 14, wherein, 5 when the barrier is in the extended position, the base unit is partially withdrawable under the vehicle.
16. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 15, wherein the and each lifting arm is extendible.
17. A device according to any one of Claims 6 to 16, wherein, 10 the and each extension piece is further extendible along the side of the vehicle.
18. A device according to Claim 1 for protecting the side of a vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1-7, Fig. 8, and Fig. 9 of the accompanying 15 drawings.