NZ719085B2 - Off-road vehicle protective plates - Google Patents
Off-road vehicle protective plates Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ719085B2 NZ719085B2 NZ719085A NZ71908514A NZ719085B2 NZ 719085 B2 NZ719085 B2 NZ 719085B2 NZ 719085 A NZ719085 A NZ 719085A NZ 71908514 A NZ71908514 A NZ 71908514A NZ 719085 B2 NZ719085 B2 NZ 719085B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- protective plate
- body panel
- hard protective
- vehicle
- panel
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000001681 protective Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 181
- 230000002633 protecting Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 230000000295 complement Effects 0.000 claims abstract 3
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000007779 soft material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000002393 scratching Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000006748 scratching Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910001172 neodymium magnet Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 210000003660 Reticulum Anatomy 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229920000122 Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004676 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Substances 0.000 description 3
- XECAHXYUAAWDEL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Chemical compound C=CC=C.C=CC#N.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 XECAHXYUAAWDEL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000414 obstructive Effects 0.000 description 2
- YACLQRRMGMJLJV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chloroprene Chemical compound ClC(=C)C=C YACLQRRMGMJLJV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminum Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ILMFDGFXPJCFQW-UHFFFAOYSA-N azanide;azanidylideneiron;iron Chemical compound [NH2-].[Fe].[Fe].[Fe].[Fe].[Fe].[Fe]=[N-] ILMFDGFXPJCFQW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000000071 blow moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000748 compression moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001337 iron nitride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006011 modification reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004626 polylactic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011118 polyvinyl acetate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052761 rare earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002910 rare earth metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002210 silicon-based material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004528 spin coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003245 working Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J11/00—Removable external protective coverings specially adapted for vehicles or parts of vehicles, e.g. parking covers
- B60J11/06—Removable external protective coverings specially adapted for vehicles or parts of vehicles, e.g. parking covers for covering only specific parts of the vehicle, e.g. for doors
Abstract
Vehicles driven in an off-road environment are exposed to conditions which can scratch the surface of the vehicle. This is unsightly and detracts from the vehicle. The present invention provides a protection system for protecting at least an external portion (25) of these vehicles. The present system comprises at least one protective plate (11) which is adapted to be releasably secured to the at least an external portion (25) of a vehicle to protect the external portion (25) it is releasably secured to, the at least one protective plate (11) being adapted to be complementary in shape to the external portion (25) of the vehicle it is adapted to cover, the at least one protective plate is releasably secured to the vehicle using at least one magnet (15). m comprises at least one protective plate (11) which is adapted to be releasably secured to the at least an external portion (25) of a vehicle to protect the external portion (25) it is releasably secured to, the at least one protective plate (11) being adapted to be complementary in shape to the external portion (25) of the vehicle it is adapted to cover, the at least one protective plate is releasably secured to the vehicle using at least one magnet (15).
Description
OFF-ROAD VEHICLE PROTECTIVE PLATES
Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to protective panels for an off-road
vehicle.
Background Art
Off road vehicles such as 4WD’s are often expensive and have high quality
paint jobs. The high quality paint jobs are desirable so that the 4WD can drive in an
urban setting and blend in with other vehicles. These high quality paint jobs are
susceptible to being damaged if the 4WD is driven in an off-road environment. It is
common for 4WD’s to be driven in the off-road environment.
In an off-road environment, the 4WD is likely to encounter impacts all over the
surface of its outer body from rocks, animals, trees, embankments and other commonly
encountered off-road obstacles.
It is desirable for a 4WD to be driven in both the off-road environment and in the
urban environment without becoming an eyesore in the urban setting.
Protective covers for the body panels of a car in the urban environment are
known. These protective covers are used when the car is parked in an urban setting
with the associated infrastructure.
These conventional covers are attached to the car when the car is parked.
They protect the vehicle from light scratching encountered, for example, from falling
twigs, other vehicle doors, shopping trolleys, vandals and other common urban
infrastructure based light impacts.
Some of these conventional covers can remain on the vehicle body panels
when the vehicle is moved, but only when the vehicle is moved over relatively smooth
surfaces, such as a road.
Common forms of the conventional covers can be raised strips placed along the
length of door panels. These are designed to divert scratching away from commonly
scratched locations, such as at door handle height.
Another common form of vehicle protection is known as a car bra/ auto bra that
uses a protective strip of material or paint to stop chipping of the paint in commonly
chipped areas.
These conventional covers for body panels are not designed to protect vehicle
panels all over their accessible surface or from all angles, only from angles commonly
needing protection in the urban or sealed road driving environment.
There are other paint layer products available that are designed to protect the
vehicle panels from damage through the paint layers absorbing impacts from foreign
objects. These layers incorporate plastics such as polyurethane.
These paint layers are only designed to protect against commonly encountered
urban impacts (such as at the lower front of a car) and are not suited for off-road
protection.
These conventional covers are not suitable for protecting 4WD body panels all
over their surfaces when they are driven off-road and encounter impacts from sources
uncommon in the typical urban setting.
The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an
understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement
or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general
knowledge as at the priority date of the application.
Summary of Invention
It is an object of this invention to ameliorate, mitigate or overcome, at least one
disadvantage of the prior art, or which will at least provide the public with a practical
choice.
The present invention is in the form of a protection system for protecting at least
an external body panel of a vehicle, the system comprises at least one hard protective
plate which is adapted to be releasably secured to the vehicle to protect the external
body panel, an inner surface of the at least one hard protective plate conforms to the
external body panel of the vehicle it is adapted to cover so that the hard protective plate
abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the shape of the protective plate
being such that it is arranged to receive the body panel, the at least one hard protective
plate is releasably secured to the vehicle using at least one magnet.
Preferably, the vehicle is an off-road vehicle.
Preferably, the vehicle is a 4WD.
Preferably the external portion of the vehicle is a body panel of the vehicle.
Preferably the at least one hard protective plate has an outer surface which is
exposed to the environment once fitted to a vehicle and an inner surface which lies
adjacent the vehicles external portion.
Preferably an inwardly projecting plate edge extends along at least one edge of
the at least one hard protective plate.
The plate edge may extend transverse to the inner surface of the protective
plate in a direction away from the outer surface.
Preferably one of the at least one hard protective plates is selected from one of
the following:
body panels;
a front quarter body panel;
a rear quarter body panel;
a front door panel;
a rear door panel;
a bonnet panel; and
a rear panel.
Preferably, at least a portion of the inner surface of the protective plate is
coated with a soft material.
Preferably, the protection system is a plate edge in the form of a labrum.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the present invention provides a
vehicle body panel hard protective plate wherein the hard protective plate is adapted to
engage a vehicle body panel and is shaped to conform exactly to the vehicle body panel
so that the hard protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the
shape of the protective plate being such that it is arranged to receive the body panel so
that the entire vehicle body panel is covered by the rigid protective plate;
wherein the hard protective plate includes a magnet to releasably secure the
hard protective plate to the body panel;
wherein the magnet is arranged to sit within a recess of the inner surface;
wherein the recess is shaped to match the profile of the magnet; and
wherein the rigid protective plate is adapted to remain fixed to the body panel
when the vehicle is driven in an off-road environment.
Preferably, the vehicle is designed to be driven on road and off-road.
By covering the entire panel of a vehicle body panel, the panel is protected from
damage incurred from a plurality of angles when driving a vehicle off road. The
magnetic fixing of the plate in a plurality of locations strengthens the attachment of the
plate.
Preferably the vehicle body panel hard protective plate is removable from the
body panel of a vehicle.
In being removable, the plate can be fitted and removed as needed for urban
and off-road use.
Preferably, a plurality of magnets are used to fix the protective plate to the body
panel.
Using magnets makes repeated removal and fitting a simple easily executed
process.
Preferably, the magnets are fixed to the hard protective plate.
Fixing the magnets to the hard protective plate means that the hard protective
plate can be made from a variety of different materials and still be supported by the
magnets.
Preferably, the magnets are removably fixed to the hard protective plate.
This allows the magnets to be transferred to different panels or for different
uses and to be replaced if necessary.
Preferably, the hard protective plate includes a recess on its internal surface
shaped to receive a magnet.
Preferably the magnet is adapted to sit between the internal surface of the plate
and the external surface of the vehicle body panel.
In one aspect of the invention, the hard protective plate is shaped and
contoured in the same manner as the body panel to which it is to be attached.
This creates different protective plates for different vehicle body panels.
In another aspect of the invention, the hard protective plate conforms to the
shape of the outer surface of the body panel of a vehicle.
Preferably, the hard protective plate is made of thermoformed plastic.
This makes the hard protective plate cheap and easy to make.
Preferably the thermoformed plastic is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
ABS is readily available and used. ABS’s hard properties make it well suited for
the present use.
Preferably, the magnet is a neodymium magnet.
A strong magnet, such as a neodymium magnet is used so that the hard
protective plate does not become removed in the bumpy off-road environment.
Preferably, the magnet is coated with a soft material.
Coating the magnet with a soft material stops it from scratching the 4WD body
panels that the hard protective plate is protecting.
Preferably, the soft material is silicone.
Preferably, the soft material is a rubberized material.
Preferably, the soft material is neoprene.
Preferably, the hard protective plate includes a plate edge, wherein the plate
edge protrudes transverse to the surface of the hard protective plate.
Preferably the protrusion from the hard protective plate is in a labrum
arrangement.
Preferably, the hard protective plate includes a plurality of plate edges.
Preferably, when the hard protective plate is engaged with the 4WD body panel,
the plate edge is adapted to extend past the outer surface of the 4WD body panel
inwardly.
Preferably, the plate edge engages and conforms to a 4WD body panel edge.
By having the plate edge of the hard protective plate extend past the outer
surface of the 4WD body panel, the edges of the hard protective plate are inside the
outer surface of the 4WD. This removes the risk of branches or other obstructions
connecting with the edges of the plate as they scrape past the plate and pulling the
plate off by catching an edge of the plate. It also aids the hard protective plates to stay
in position on the 4WD body panels as the edges help the hard protective plate grip the
4WD body panel.
Preferably the hard protective plate includes a wheel arch edge that is adapted
to abut the wheel arch of a 4WD.
Preferably the wheel arch edge extends further than the plate edge in the
direction transverse to the surface of the hard protective plate.
In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an arrangement of 4WD
body panel hard protective plates, wherein the arrangement of 4WD body panel hard
protective plates are attached to all 4WD body panels.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement
of 4WD body panel protective plates, wherein the arrangement of 4WD body panel hard
protective plates are attached to all 4WD body panels except the roof.
In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method
of protecting the surface of 4WD body panels when being driven in an off-road
environment, including attaching a 4WD body panel hard protective plate, such as
herein described, against a corresponding 4WD body panel, so that an inner surface of
the hard protective plate abuts against and conforms to an outer surface of the 4WD
body panel so that the hard protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body
panel, the shape of the protective plate being such that it is arranged to receive the
body panel and so that the entire outer surface of the 4WD body panel is covered by the
hard protective plate to form an outer surface of the 4WD.
Preferably, when the hard protective plate is placed against the corresponding
4WD body panel, the plate edge extends past the outer surface of the 4WD body panel,
into the 4WD.
Preferably, the end of the plate edge is not exposed to the outer surface of the
4WD.
The present invention is in the form of a protection system for protecting at least
an external portion of a vehicle, the system comprises at least one protective panel, the
at least one protective panel comprising a first protective surface adapted to be
releasably secured to the external portion by at least one magnet.
In one aspect of the invention the first protective surface is adjacent the
vehicle’s external portion when releasably secured thereto.
In another aspect of the invention the first protective surface is spaced from the
vehicle’s external portion when releasably secured thereto.
In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
protection system for protecting at least an external body panel of a vehicle, the system
comprising:
placing at least one hard protective plate, which is adapted to be releasably
secured to the at least an external body panel of a vehicle to protect the external body
panel, against the at least an external body panel of the vehicle;
wherein an inner surface of the at least one protective plate conforms to the
external body panel of the vehicle it is adapted to be secured to so that the rigid
protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the inner surface
being arranged to receive the body panel so that the entire vehicle body panel is
covered by the protective plate; and
wherein the at least one protective plate is releasably secured to the vehicle
using at least one magnet;
wherein the magnet is arranged to sit within a recess of the inner surface; and
wherein the recess is shaped to match the profile of the magnet.
In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
protection system for protecting at least an external body panel of a vehicle, the system
comprising:
placing at least one hard protective plate, which is adapted to be releasably
secured to the at least an external body panel of a vehicle to protect the external body
panel, against the at least an external body panel of the vehicle;
wherein the protective plate includes a plate edge arranged to extend inwardly
towards the vehicle;
wherein an inner surface of the at least one hard protective plate conforms to
the external body panel of the vehicle it is adapted to be secured to so that the hard
protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the plate edge and
the inner surface being arranged to receive the body panel;
wherein the at least one hard protective plate is releasably secured to the
vehicle using at least one magnet; and
wherein the magnet is arranged to sit within a recess of the inner surface.
Preferably, the inner surface includes a soft inner lining adapted to stop the
external of the body panel scratching.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the
following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is
included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be
understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the
invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a 4WD body protection plate according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of a front quarter panel 4WD body protection plate in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is an isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a reverse isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a side view of a front door panel 4WD body protection plate in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is an isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a reverse isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a side view of a rear door panel 4WD body protection plate in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is an isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a reverse isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a side view of a rear quarter panel 4WD body protection plate in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 12 is an isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a reverse isomeric view of the protection plate of Figure 11; and
Figure 14 is a partial cross sectional view of the protection plate of Figure 2
attached to a 4WD body panel.
In the drawings, like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the
several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.
Description of Embodiments
Referring to Figures 1 to 14 generally, the present invention according to an
embodiment is in the form of a 4WD body panel protective plate 11. The protective
plate 11 is shaped so that its inner surface 12 is of a size, shape and profile to conform
to the outer surface of a corresponding 4WD body panel 25 so that the entire body
panel is covered by the protective plate 11.
The protective plate 11 deflects and absorbs impacts that are encountered
when a 4WD is driven. In a specific embodiment, the protective plate 11 deflects and
absorbs impacts, when a 4WD is driven in the off-road environment, from the 4WD body
panels 25 with its outer surface 62. As the protective plate 11 covers the entire body
panel of the 4WD to which it attaches, impacts from all angles and in all positions are
deflected and/or absorbed by the protective plate 11 with its outer surface 62.
The protective plates 11 include plate edges 14 that are positioned to abut the
edges of the corresponding 4WD door panel 25 when the plate 11 is engaged with and
against the corresponding panel. The plate edges 14 extend as a protrusion 13,
transverse to the inner surface 12 of the plate 11 in the direction of the plate 11’s
engagement with the 4WD body panel 25. The protrusion 13 takes the form of a
labrum. The protrusion 13 extends past the outer surface of the 4WD body panel to
which it is attached.
When a 4WD body panel protective plate 11 is placed on a 4WD body panel 25,
the protrusions 13 extend under and past the edge 26 of the corresponding 4WD body
panel 25. Where the edge 26 of the 4WD body panel 25 is adjacent another 4WD body
panel 25, the protrusion 13 extends into the gap (not shown) between the two 4WD
body panels 25. This places the plate edges 14 of the 4WD body panel protective plate
11 away from the outer surface of the 4WD body 25. Therefore, as the 4WD drives
amongst trees, embankments, sand dunes, etc. the edges are not exposed to be caught
on passing materials, only the outer surface 62 is exposed in this manner.
Where the 4WD body panel protective plates 11 is a rear quarter protective
plate 51, or a front quarter protective plate 21, a wheel arch 20 is covered. To allow the
edges of the front quarter protective plate 21 and the rear quarter protective plate 51 to
avoid being caught on passing material around the wheel arch, wheel arch edge 23 is
included. Wheel arch edge 23 extends further than protrusion 13 in the direction of
engagement with the 4WD body panels 25 to ensure that the wheel arch edge 23 is
covered. This stops wheel arch edge 23 from being caught on passing debris.
To assist in holding the protective plates 11 in place on the corresponding body
panels during rough rides associated with off-road 4WDing, the protective plates 11 use
magnets 15. Magnets 15 are placed in a plurality of positions over the inner surface of
the protective plate 11, so that the protective plate 11 includes magnets 15 in different
locations and importantly so that magnets 15 are evenly placed around the plate edges
14. The extensive use of magnets 15 proximate the plate edges 14 of the protective
panel 11 ensures that the plate edges 14 are evenly held down against the 4WD body
panel 25 and not susceptible to being caught on passing materials.
In a varied embodiment of the present invention, the magnets 15 take the form
of strips that are arranged around the inner surface 12 of the protective plate 11.
In a further varied embodiment of the present invention, the magnet 15 covers
all of, or the majority of the inner surface 12 of the protective plate 11.
To ensure that the protective plates 11 remain in position whilst driving over
rough terrain, the magnets 15 are neodymium magnets. Neodymium magnets are used
for their strong permanent magnet properties.
The use of magnets and plate edges 14 allows the protective plates 11 to be
easily placed on and removed from the 4WD body panel 25. This is described further
below.
In varied embodiments of the present invention, the magnets 15 are iron nitride,
other rare earth magnets or alternative strong magnets as understood by the skilled
addressee.
To avoid the protective plate 11, or the magnets 15 damaging the surface of the
4WD body panels 25 due to movement and friction between the two surfaces when
passing over rough terrain, the magnets 15 are coated with a silicon material. This
provides a soft interface between the magnets 15, protective plate 11 and the 4WD
body panel 25.
In a varied embodiment of the present invention, the magnets 15 are rubberized
to avoid damaging the 4WD body panels 25.
The inner surface 12 includes recesses 22. Recesses 22 are of the same
profile as the magnets 15 that are placed within them. This allows the inner surface 12
of the protective plate 11 to abut the 4WD body panel.
The magnets 15 are fixed within the recesses permanently. This is achieved
with an adhesive, through the profile of the magnets and recess or otherwise as would
be understood by the skilled addressee.
Alternatively the magnets 15 are removable engaged with the recesses 22.
This is achieved through the use of clips, pins or otherwise as understood by the skilled
addressee.
Where the magnets 15 are removably engaged with the recesses 22, the
magnets 15 can be removed and repositioned as desired.
The protective plate 11 is formed of Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic
so that it is light, cheap and easy to use. The protective plate can be formed using
thermoforming, injection moulding, gas assisted moulding, blow moulding, rotation
moulding, compression moulding or spin casting.
In a different embodiment of the present invention, the protective plate 11 is
formed of Polylactic acid (PLA) plastic, Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) plastic.
In a varied embodiment of the present invention, the protective plate 11 can be
made from composite materials, aluminium or other materials that are sufficiently strong
and hard to protect the 4WD body panels 25 without adding significant amounts of
weight to the 4WD as understood by the skilled addressee.
Referring to Figures 1, 11, 12 and 13, an embodiment of the protective plate 11
of the present invention is a rear quarter protective plate 51. The rear quarter protective
plate 51 includes wheel arch edge 23 that hugs a rear wheel arch of a 4WD. It also
includes plate edges 14 that hug the rear quarter body panel edges of a 4WD.
Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 an embodiment of the protective plate 11 of the
present invention is a front quarter protective plate 21. The front quarter protective plate
21 includes wheel arch edge 23 that hugs a front wheel arch of a 4WD. It also includes
plate edges 14 that hug the front quarter body panel edges of a 4WD.
Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7 an embodiment of the protective plate 11 of the
present invention is a front door protective plate 31. The front door protective plate 31
includes plate edges 14 with protrusions 13 that hug the rear front door panel edges of
a 4WD.
Referring to Figures 8, 9 and 10 an embodiment of the protective plate 11 of the
present invention is a rear door protective plate 41. The rear door protective plate 41
includes plate edges 14 with protrusions 13 that hug the rear front door panel edges of
a 4WD.
It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a bonnet protective
plate 11 (not shown) and a rear panel protective plate (not shown).
Referring to Figure 14, the protective plate 11, abuts the 4WD body panel 25.
The protective plate 11 protects the 4WD body panel 25 from impacts and scratching.
It is within the scope of the present invention for the protective plates 11 to be
used with a 2WD on road vehicle. It is also within the scope of the present invention for
the protective plates to be used on a purely off-road vehicle.
The workings of the protective plate 11 according to the present invention will
be further described in a specific example. The example is not exhaustive and is not to
be taken as limiting the present invention to the example only.
Example
A collection of protective plates 11, including rear and front quarter protective
plates 51, 21, front and rear door protective plates 41, 31 are transported on sealed
roads to a 4WD off-road track entrance.
Prior to traveling over an off-road track, the protective plates 11 are positioned
over corresponding 4WD body panels so that the inner surface 12 of the protective plate
abuts outer surface of the corresponding 4WD body panel 25. The protruding edge 13
is positioned so that it abuts a corresponding edge 26 of 4WD body panel 25. With the
inner surface 12 abutting 4WD body panel 25, the magnets 22 become magnetically
fixed to the 4WD body panel 25.
The magnetic fixing of the protective plate 11 to a corresponding 4WD body
panel 25 strongly fixes the protective plate in place. The magnetic fixing stops the
protective plates 11 from falling off the 4WD body panel 25.
Alternatively the protective plates 11 can be attached prior to the 4WD traveling
over sealed roads to an off-road 4WD track entrance.
The skilled addressee would understand that different models of 4WD have
different profiled body panels to differentiate models from each other. In addition to
providing different protective plates 11 for different body panels of a 4WD, it is within the
scope of this invention to provide different protective plates 11 for different models of
4WD.
The labrum like protrusions 13 of the edges 14 of the protective plates 11
removes edges from the outer surface of the 4WD. This removes the risk of branches
or other obstructions catching edges 14 and pulling the protective plates 11 off.
When the 4WD is returned to the urban environment, the protective plates 11
are removed and stored for later use.
Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee
are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is
not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These
embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally
equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the
invention as described herein.
Reference to positional descriptions, such as lower and upper, are to be taken
in context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting
the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood
by the skilled addressee.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word
“ co m p r is e ” or variations such as “ co m p r ises” or “ co m p r isi n g ”, will be understood to imply
the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other
integer or group of integers.
Claims (21)
1. A protection system for protecting at least an external body panel of a vehicle, the system comprising: placing at least one hard protective plate, which is adapted to be releasably secured to the at least an external body panel of a vehicle to protect the external body panel, against the at least an external body panel of the vehicle; wherein an inner surface of the at least one hard protective plate conforms to the external body panel of the vehicle it is adapted to be secured to so that the hard protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the inner surface being arranged to receive the body panel so that substantially the entire vehicle body panel is covered by the hard protective plate; wherein the at least one hard protective plate is releasably secured to the vehicle using at least one magnet; and wherein the magnet is arranged to sit within a recess of the inner surface; and wherein the recess is shaped to match the profile of the magnet.
2. The protection system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the inner surface includes a soft inner lining adapted to stop the external of the body panel scratching.
3. The protection system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the external body panel is selected from one of the following: a front quarter body panel; a rear quarter body panel; a front door panel; a rear door panel; a bonnet panel; and a rear panel.
4. The protection system as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hard protective plate is made of thermoformed plastic.
5. The protection system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the at least one hard protective plate includes a plate edge that projects inwardly towards the vehicle when the hard protective plate is secured to the vehicle.
6. The protection system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the vehicle is an off-road vehicle.
7. The protection system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle is a 4WD.
8. The protection system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the hard protective plate is coated with a soft material.
9. The protection system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a plate edge in the form of a labrum.
10. A vehicle body panel hard protective plate adapted to engage a vehicle body panel and is shaped to conform exactly to the vehicle body panel so that the hard protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the shape of the protective plate being such that it is arranged to receive the body panel so that the entire vehicle body panel is covered by the rigid protective plate; wherein the hard protective plate includes a magnet to releasably secure the hard protective plate to the body panel such that the hard protective plate remains fixed to the body panel when the vehicle is driven in an off-road environment; wherein the magnet is arranged to sit within a recess of an inner surface; and wherein the recess is shaped to match the profile of the magnet.
11. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the hard protective plate is complementary in shape to one of the following body panels: a front quarter body panel; rear quarter body panel; a front door panel; a rear door panel; a bonnet panel; and a rear panel.
12. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the vehicle body panel is part of an off-road vehicle.
13. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the vehicle body panel is part of a 4WD.
14. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the hard protective plate is removable from the body panel of a vehicle.
15. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 14, wherein the magnet is fixed to the hard protective plate.
16. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 14, wherein the magnet is removable from the hard protective plate.
17. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 16, wherein the magnet is a neodymium magnet.
18. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 17, wherein the magnet is coated with a soft material.
19. The vehicle body panel hard protective plate as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 18, including a plate edge, wherein the plate edge protrudes transverse to the surface of the hard protective plate.
20. The hard protective plate according to claim 10 wherein the inner surface of the hard protective plate is shaped to conform to the vehicle body panel.
21. A method of protecting the surface of 4WD body panels when being driven in an off-road environment, including attaching a hard protective plate as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 20 against a corresponding 4WD body panel, so that an inner surface of the hard protective plate abuts against and conforms to an outer surface of the 4WD body panel so that the hard protective plate abuts and is of the same shape as the body panel, the shape of the protective plate being such that it is arranged to receive the body panel and so that the entire outer surface of the 4WD body panel is covered by the hard protective plate to form an outer surface of the 4WD.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2013903981 | 2013-10-16 | ||
AU2013903981A AU2013903981A0 (en) | 2013-10-16 | Off-Road Vehicle Protective Plates | |
PCT/AU2014/000966 WO2015054723A1 (en) | 2013-10-16 | 2014-10-10 | Off-road vehicle protective plates |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ719085A NZ719085A (en) | 2021-03-26 |
NZ719085B2 true NZ719085B2 (en) | 2021-06-29 |
Family
ID=
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