US20040098925A1

US20040098925A1 - Luminescent parking cover

Info

Publication number: US20040098925A1
Application number: US10/305,484
Authority: US
Inventors: Young-sang Ki
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2002-11-27
Publication date: 2004-05-27

Abstract

The present invention discloses a luminescent parking cover fitted with a reflective unit composed of a recurrent reflective light and a luminite stored light on a simple parking cover that is used to protect vehicles or motorcycles from sunlight, snow or rain. This luminescent parking cover makes it possible to easily discern the parking cover even in the nighttime or bad weather and safely protect the vehicles or motorcycles parked inside. The surface of the sheet 112 of this luminescent parking cover 100 is fitted with a reflective unit 120 composed of a recurrent reflective light 122 that reflects the inflowing light again and a luminite stored light 124 that stores light and reflects the stored light again when the surroundings get dark.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a luminescent parking cover, and more specifically to a luminescent parking cover that can safely protect vehicles, etc. inside by making it possible to easily identify the parking cover even in the nighttime or bad weather, by fitting a luminescent unit composed of recurrent reflective light and luminite stored light on at least one side of a simple parking cover that is used to protect vehicles or motorcycles from sunlight, snow or rain during outdoor activity.

2. Description of the Related Art

In modem society, various outdoor activities using automobile are frequently made. Especially during mountain bicycle riding, rock-climbing or mountain climbing, we use vehicles to move to the base camp and park them before we start the next activities. At this time, to protect the vehicles from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, wind, rainwater, snow, or the sap of various trees, we use a luminescent parking cover as shown in FIG. 1.

If we take a look at the configuration of a

simple parking cover

10, it is composed of a sheet 12 woven with high-density polyethylene or low-density polyethylene, for example, and materials mixed with these, and a plurality of

frames

14 and 14′ supporting this sheet 12. And in the case of setting it up in a very windy area, the sheet 12 may also be fixed on the ground using many pegs 18 to prevent the parking cover from being blown away by the wind, etc.

A parking cover takes various forms depending on its use. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a tunnel

type parking cover

10 having a semi-circular roof for parking usually only one vehicle. The front of this tunnel type parking cover is normally open and the rear is closed with the sheet 12. If necessary, the front of the parking cover 10 is fitted with a front edge part 16 having a given width for reinforcement and aesthetic purposes.

Meanwhile, there is a tunnel type parking cover having a triangular roof that enables simultaneous parking of two vehicles. Besides, there is a scaled-down simple parking cover that enables temporary parking of a motorcycle or boat.

These conventional simple parking covers set up outdoors or in a rural house can protect vehicles, motorcycles or boats protected inside from outdoor natural elements such as rain, snow or wind in the daytime with good visibility. But in the nighttime or when visibility is poor due to bad weather, the motorists of other vehicles cannot notice the parking cover, causing various collision accidents.

Especially in the area such as a camping ground adjacent to a road where many parking covers are set up, when the visibility is poor, the parking covers are not discerned from outside, giving rise to a problem such as a chain of collisions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a luminescent parking cover that can safely protect vehicles, motorcycles or boats parked inside by making it possible to easily discern the parking cover from outside in the nighttime or when visibility is poor due to bad weather, by fitting a luminescent unit on the surface of the sheet composing the parking cover.

In accordance with the present invention a parking cover comprising a sheet for keeping off wind, snow or rainwater and a plurality of frames that support this sheet to provide a tunnel-shape internal space for vehicles, etc. to park in, the luminescent parking cover includes: a reflective unit composed of at least one selected from a recurrent reflective light that reflects inflowing light again and a luminite stored light that stores light and reflects the stored light when the surroundings get dark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0012]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing how a conventional luminescent parking cover is used; [0013]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the third embodiment of the present invention; [0016]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Below will be described in detail the luminescent parking cover according to the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. [0018]
First, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [0019]
If we take a look at the configuration of the [0020] luminescent parking cover 100 fitted with a luminescent unit according to the first embodiment, it is made up of a sheet 112 fitted with a luminescent unit 120 and a plurality of frames 114 and 114′ that provide a tunnel-shape internal space while supporting the sheet 112 so that vehicles can be parked. And in the area where strong winds or tornadoes frequently occur, a plurality of pegs 118 can be used to fix it firmly.
Here, the [0021] luminescent unit 120 is composed of a recurrent reflective light 122 and a luminite stored light 124. And the luminescent unit 120 can be fitted on the surface of the sheet 112 with adhesive tape such as Velcro fastener, can be sewed into one unit to the surface of the sheet 112 using sewing machine, or adhered into one unit to the surface of the sheet 112 by thermofusion.
The luminite stored [0022] light 124 disclosed in the present invention has a characteristic that after storing light, it becomes luminescent of itself when the surroundings get dark. The recurrent reflective light 122 plays the role of reflecting the irradiated outside light again in the direction of inflow.
In this first embodiment, the recurrent [0023] reflective light 122 and the luminite stored light 124 that compose the luminescent unit 120 are extended horizontally line by line lengthwise of the tunnel. And in the vertical direction, the recurrent reflective light 122 and the luminite store light 124 are placed line by line alternately.
Also, though not illustrated, the recurrent [0024] reflective light 122 and the luminite store light 124 can be formed vertically lengthwise line by line and then placed horizontally line by line alternately lengthwise of the tunnel. At this time, light is reflected by the recurrent reflective light 122 in a sunny place; in a dark place without light, the light stored by the luminite stored light 124 becomes luminescent. So even in the nighttime, it enables other people to discern the location of the parking cover 100.
Since the [0025] parking cover 100 is usually set up with the rear hidden by a mountain or wall, it is preferable that the luminescent units 120 of the present design are fitted on both sides of the sheet 112. But if necessary, they can be fitted not only on the sides but also on the rear in the same manner, and they can be fitted also on the front edge part 116, as illustrated.
After all, depending on the uses of the simple parking cover or the circumstances of the area mainly used, the luminescent units can be attached to the location that can be discerned most easily by the motorists of other vehicles. The width and length also may be composed suitably by choosing according to the overall size of the parking cover. [0026]
Next, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments below, the parts that are the same as the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2 are marked with the same numbers and the description on them is omitted. [0027]
In the [0028] luminescent parking cover 100 a according to this embodiment, the recurrent reflective light 132 and the luminite stored light 134 that compose the luminescent unit 130 are extended horizontally lengthwise of the tunnel, and has the same structure as the parking cover 100 described in FIG. 2 except that they are placed alternately also in the vertical direction.
Like this, since the recurrent [0029] reflective light 132 and the luminite stored light 134 that compose the luminescent unit 130 are equipped on the surface of the sheet 112 a while they are placed alternately in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction, which is a lengthwise direction of the tunnel, we can enhance the nighttime discerning effect. Likewise, we can fit a luminescent unit also on the front edge part 116 a.
Next, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [0030]
The [0031] luminescent parking cover 100 b according to this embodiment has the same structure as the parking cover 100 described in FIG. 2, except that it has a luminescent unit 140 that is extended in a band shape along the edge form of the parking cover.
Like this, since the [0032] luminescent unit 140 is fitted on the surface of the sheet 112 b while making a band-shape array along the outside of the parking cover 100 b, we can provide an equal nighttime discerning effect while reducing the installation area of the recurrent reflective light 142 and the luminite stored light 144 that compose the luminescent unit 140, so it is advantageous in terms of cost. Likewise, we can fit a band-shape luminescent unit also on the front edge part 116 b.
Next, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a luminescent parking cover according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [0033]
The [0034] luminescent parking cover 100 c according to this embodiment has the same structure as the parking cover 100 described in FIG. 2, except that the luminescent unit 150 is arrayed in a form of letter or figure.
In the [0035] luminescent parking cover 100 c illustrated here, the luminescent unit 150 composed of the recurrent reflective light 152 and the luminite stored light 154 is sewed on one side of the sheet 112 c by sewing thread or fitted into one unit by adhesive tape or thermofusion, etc., so we can provide a higher nighttime discerning effect by means of letter or figure.
Of course, we can fit a [0036] luminescent unit 166 c made of separate letters or figures also on the front edge part 116 c.
According to the present invention described above, the surface of the sheet composing the luminescent parking cover is fitted with a reflective unit composed of a recurrent reflective light that reflects the inflowing light again and a luminite stored light that stores light an reflects the stored light again when the surroundings get dark, making it possible to easily discern the parking cover even in the nighttime or bad weather, so we can safely protect vehicles or motorcycles parked inside. [0037]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A parking cover comprising a sheet for keeping off wind, snow or rainwater and a plurality of frames that support this sheet to provide a tunnel-shape internal space for vehicles, etc. to park in, the luminescent parking cover including:

a reflective unit composed of at least one selected from a recurrent reflective light that reflects inflowing light again and a luminite stored light that stores light and reflects the stored light when the surroundings get dark.

2. The luminescent parking cover of claim 1 characterized by that the recurrent reflective light and the luminite stored light that compose said luminescent unit are formed long of one line and placed line by line alternately.

3. The luminescent packing cover of claim 1 characterized by that the recurrent reflective light and the luminite stored light that compose said luminescent unit are extended horizontally alternately lengthwise of the tunnel and placed alternately also in the vertical direction.

4. The luminescent parking cover of claim 1 characterized by that said luminescent unit is extended in a band shape along the edge form of the parking cover.

5. The luminescent parking cover of claim 1 characterized by that said luminescent unit is arrayed in a form of letter or figure.