GB2598822A

GB2598822A - Vehicle cover

Info

Publication number: GB2598822A
Application number: GB2107593.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Badrick Joel-Ledoux
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-09-14
Filing date: 2021-05-27
Publication date: 2022-03-16
Also published as: GB202014394D0; GB202018748D0; GB202107593D0; GB2598805A

Abstract

A vehicle cover 1 comprising a main sheet 2 for covering a car, a first strap 3a extending from the left-hand side of the front of the sheet, a second strap 3b extending from the left-hand side of the rear of the sheet, a third strap 4a extending from the right-hand side of the front of the sheet, and a fourth strap 4b extending from the right-hand side of the rear of the sheet. In use the first and second straps are configurable to pass behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle to be attached to a part of the cover 3c at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet, and the third and fourth straps are configurable to pass behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle to be attached to a part of the cover 4c at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet (see Fig.3). the straps may be adjustable and comprise webbing. The sheet may comprise a connector on each side for the straps to connect to, where the straps and connector may comprise a three-point side release buckle (see Fig.2). Also claimed method of securing the vehicle cover to a vehicle.

Description

Vehicle Cover The present invention relates to a vehicle cover.

Cars, and in particular classic cars are routinely covered when parked outside for protection against weather and sun damage.

Car covers sometimes comprise elasticated portions to aid retention of the covers when positioned on a car. However, in strong winds elasticated portions can be too insufficient to retain a cover in position.

To overcome this problem users can also employ under-car straps to retain covers in position. However, it can be difficult to position such straps from one side of a vehicle to the other such that they can be connected.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle cover comprising: a main sheet for covering a car; a first strap extending from the left-hand side of the front of the sheet; a second strap extending from the left-hand side of the rear of the sheet; a third strap extending from the right-hand side of the front of the sheet; a fourth strap extending from the right-hand side of the rear of the sheet; wherein in use: the first and second straps are configurable to pass behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle to be attached to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet; and the third and fourth straps are configurable to pass behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle to be attached to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet.

By providing straps that extend from the front and rear of a sheet and passing them behind the wheels of a vehicle and then attaching them to a part of the cover intermediate the front and rear of the sheet a cover is effectively tied to the vehicle around its wheels.

In some embodiments the first, second, third and fourth straps are configurable to be attached to a part of the cover at a point between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.

In some embodiments the first, second, third and fourth straps are configurable to be attached to a part of the cover at a point in the middle third of the sheet between the front and rear.

In some embodiments the first and second straps attach to each other.

In some embodiments the third and fourth straps attach to each other.

In some embodiments the first and second straps attach to each other by means of a side release buckle.

In some embodiments the third and fourth straps attach to each other by means of a side release buckle.

In some embodiments an aperture is provided at each side of the sheet intermediate the front and rear of the sheet for a strap to extend through when the cover is in use.

In some embodiments a plurality of apertures is provided at each side of the sheet intermediate the front and rear of the sheet for a strap to extend through when the cover is in use.

In some embodiments the first and second straps attach to the sheet.

In some embodiments the third and fourth straps attach to the sheet In some embodiments the cover comprises: at least one left-hand connector positioned between the first and second straps on the left-hand side of the sheet; and at least one right-hand connector positioned between the third and fourth straps on the right-hand side of the sheet; wherein in use the first and second straps are configurable to pass behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle to attach to a left-hand connector; the third and fourth straps are configurable to pass behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle to attach to a right-hand connector.

In some embodiments a right-hand connector and a left-hand connector are each three-point side release buckles and each of the first, second, third and fourth straps comprises a corresponding mating portion to connect thereto.

In some embodiments a right-hand connector and a left-hand connector are attached at sides of the sheet in the middle third of the sheet between the front and rear.

In some embodiments at least one strap on the left-hand side and one strap on the right-hand side are adjustable in length.

In some embodiments each of the first, second, third and fourth straps are adjustable in length.

In some embodiments the straps are formed of webbing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing a vehicle cover to a vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a cover made in accordance with any preceding statement of invention; positioning the cover over a vehicle; passing the first and second straps behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle and attaching them to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet; and passing the third and fourth straps behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle and attaching them to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle cover made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of car and the vehicle cover of Figure 1 illustrating how the cover is attached to the car; Figure 3 is a view of the underside of the car of Figure 2 with the cover attached thereto.

A vehicle cover 1 comprises a main sheet 2 for covering a vehicle. In the present embodiment sheet 2 is shaped to fit a car.

Extending from the left-hand side of front end of sheet 2 is webbing strap 3a and extending from the left-hand side of rear end of sheet 2 is webbing strap 3b.

Strap 3a comprises triglide male part 3d of a side release buckle, and strap 3b comprises triglide male part 3e of a side release buckle.

Positioned in between straps 3a and 3b and approximately equidistant from the front and rear ends of sheet 2 is located a female part 3c of three-point side release buckle, which is configured to mate with male parts 3d, 3e.

Extending from the right-hand side of front end of sheet 2 is webbing strap 4a and extending from the right-hand side of rear end of sheet 2 is webbing strap 4b.

Strap 4a comprises triglide male part 4d of a side release buckle, and strap 4b comprises triglide male part 4e of a side release buckle.

Positioned in between straps 4a and 4b and approximately equidistant from the front and rear ends of sheet 2 is located a female part 4c of three-point side release buckle, which is configured to mate with male parts 4d, 4e.

Female parts 3c, 4c of three-point side release buckles are attached to sheet 2 by a short section of webbing strap.

Whilst in the present embodiment female parts 3c, 4c of three-point side release buckles are approximately equidistant from the front and rear ends of sheet 2 in other embodiments connectors may be positioned differently, but are likely in mot embodiments to be located in the middle third of a sheet between front and rear such that front and rear straps are of similar length.

Each of straps 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b are adjustable length between sheet 2 and male parts 3d, 3e, 4d, 4e in owing to the slidable triglide attachments of male parts 3d, 3e, 4d, 4e.

Turning to cover 1 in use and referring to Figures 2 and 3 a user first positions sheet 2 over a car 5.

The user then passes strap 3a, behind the front left-hand wheel 6a of car Sand mates male part 3d with connector 3c. The user then passes strap 3b, behind the rear left-hand wheel 6b of car sand mates male part 3e with connector 3c.

The user then passes strap 4a, behind the front left-hand wheel 6c of car Sand mates male part 4d with connector 4c. The user then passes strap 4b, behind the rear left-hand wheel 6d of car Sand mates male part 4e with connector 4c.

If necessary the user may tighten cover 1 in position by reducing the effective length of straps 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d using the triglide attachments thereof.

Cover 1 is thereby retained securely on cars.

In the present embodiment three-point connectors are used to attach straps 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet to thereby secure cover 1 to a car.

However, in other embodiments other means to attachment may be used. For example a front and rear strap on a side of a car may comprise parts of a side release buckle that mate together so as to attach to each other.

In such an embodiment one or more apertures may be provided in the sheet adjacent the edge of the cover such that a strap may be threaded therethrough and assist in retaining the cover in position. Such apertures may be reinforced with, for example, a peripheral metal or plastic member.

In other embodiments two connectors may be attached to a sheet at its side. For example, first and second female side-release buckle parts may mate with corresponding male parts on straps.

In other embodiments other forms of connectors may be used. For example, hooks and rings, hook and loop fastening, carabiners. The invention is not limited by the type of connector.

Sheet 2 will typically be made of a suitable weatherproof material and may be provided with an elasticated periphery to provide a snug fit.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A vehicle cover comprising: a main sheet for covering a car; a first strap extending from the left-hand side of the front of the sheet; a second strap extending from the left-hand side of the rear of the sheet; a third strap extending from the right-hand side of the front of the sheet; a fourth strap extending from the right-hand side of the rear of the sheet; wherein in use: the first and second straps are configurable to pass behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle to be attached to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet; and the third and fourth straps are configurable to pass behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle to be attached to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the first, second, third and fourth straps are configurable to be attached to a part of the cover at a point between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
3. The cover of claim 1 or 2 wherein the first, second, third and fourth straps are configurable to be attached to a part of the cover at a point in the middle third of the sheet between the front and rear.
4. The cover of any preceding claim wherein the first and second straps attach to each other.
5. The cover of any preceding claim wherein the third and fourth straps attach to each other.
6. The cover of claim 4 wherein the first and second straps attach to each other by means of a side release buckle.
7. The cover of claim 5 wherein the third and fourth straps attach to each other by means of a side release buckle.
8. The cover of any of claims 4 to 7 wherein an aperture is provided at each side of the sheet intermediate the front and rear of the sheet for a strap to extend through when the cover is in use.
9. The cover of any of claims 4 to 8 wherein a plurality of apertures is provided at each side of the sheet intermediate the front and rear of the sheet for a strap to extend through when the cover is in use.
10. The cover of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first and second straps attach to the sheet.
11. The cover of any of claims 1 to 3 or 10 wherein the third and fourth straps attach to the sheet
12. The cover of any of claims 1-3, 10 or 11 wherein the cover comprises: at least one left-hand connector positioned between the first and second straps on the left-hand side of the sheet; and at least one right-hand connector positioned between the third and fourth straps on the right-hand side of the sheet; wherein in use the first and second straps are configurable to pass behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle to attach to a left-hand connector; the third and fourth straps are configurable to pass behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle to attach to a right-hand connector.
13. The cover of claim 12 wherein a right-hand connector and a left-hand connector are each three-point side release buckles and each of the first, second, third and fourth straps comprises a corresponding mating portion to connect thereto.
14. The cover of claim 12 or 13 wherein a right-hand connector and a left-hand connector are attached at sides of the sheet in the middle third of the sheet between the front and rear.
15. The cover of any preceding claim wherein at least one strap on the left-hand side and one strap on the right-hand side are adjustable in length.
16. The cover of any preceding claim wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth straps are adjustable in length.
17. The cover of any preceding claim wherein the straps are formed of webbing.
18. A method of securing a vehicle cover to a vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a cover made in accordance with any preceding claim; positioning the cover over a vehicle; passing the first and second straps behind left-hand wheels of the vehicle and attaching them to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet; and passing the third and fourth straps behind right-hand wheels of the vehicle and attaching them to a part of the cover at a point intermediate the front and rear of the sheet.