US20060162873A1

US20060162873A1 - Vehicle self-collapsible cover

Info

Publication number: US20060162873A1
Application number: US11/273,632
Authority: US
Inventors: Thang Dao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-25
Filing date: 2005-11-15
Publication date: 2006-07-27

Abstract

The present invention discloses a vehicle self-collapsible cover including generally a protective awning, an extension-structure, and a storage-case. The protective awning comprises two or four rolls of thin and tough material able to substantially cover the vehicles body. The extension-structure is driven by a central-lead-screw having two kinds of thread including right-handed thread and left-handed thread so as to be able to extend said rolls of awning. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is divided into two symmetrical halves joined together by a hinge and therefore foldable. Each half of the storage-case is supported by its own supporting structures and respectively capable to store two rolls of awning and one extension-structure. In another embodiment of the invention, the device is one unit which is assembled either fixedly by clamping or actively by screws on the top of vehicle. The self-collapsible cover may be operated manually or by motors. It also can be controlled by a remote.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of priority to the U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/646,715 entitled, “Automobile Portable and Collapsible Cover”, filed on 25 Jan. 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to vehicle coverings and more particularly to a self-collapsible cover for vehicles body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many kinds of devices relating to coverings for vehicles available on the market now. However, it is hardly to find one which is flexible, convenient and efficient in using. Some of the available devices can cover only small areas of body of vehicle, a windshield, for instance. Other devices may be quite cumbersome for using and storage. Small coverings are obviously not efficient in regards to the protection of the vehicle from outside conditions, especially the heat of sun. The difficulty of storage brings an inconvenience in using of device.
The present invention overcomes those shortcomings and provides a new device of covering for vehicles body which is able to use instantly to protect proficiently the vehicle body from external elements such as the heat of sun, corrosion of rain, and the like. Because of features of lightweight and collapsible to a tidy shape, the new device of the present invention is really convenient in using in a manner as easy as we use our familiar umbrellas to shield ourselves from sun or rain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a self-collapsible cover for vehicles' body, including mainly a protective awning, an extension-structure, a central-lead-screw, and a storage-case. The protective awning consists of two or four rolls to be able to substantially cover a vehicle body. The extension-structure is driven by the central-lead-screw so as to be able to extend said rolls of awning. The storage-case is to store said rolls of awning and extension-structure. The self-collapsible cover may be instantly placed on the top of vehicle by using supporting structures such as suction-cups and supporting legs. The self-collapsible cover also can be assembled either fixedly by clamping or actively by screws on the top of vehicle. The self-collapsible cover may be operated manually or by motors. It also can be controlled by a remote.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side plan view of a preferred embodiment of a self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention depicting four rolls of awning 2, four extension-racks 3 including main-racks 3 a and sub-racks 3 b which join to the main-racks 3 a by joining structures 12, and a storage-case 8 to be supported by supporting structures including suction cups 9. The main-racks 3 have soft buffers 13 at two ends to prevent the potential of scratching surface of vehicle in contact with them.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting said four rolls of awning 2 to be extended by four extension-racks 3 which are driven by a central-lead-screw 4 via main-moving-pivots 6. The rotation of said four rolls of awnings 2 is also assisted by said central-lead-screw 4 by means of gears 5. In a preferred option, four extra rolls of covering material 7 could be appended. Anti-theft straps 29 with hooks may also be equipped at two ends of storage-case 8.
FIG. 3 is an elevated top view depicting said four extension-racks 3 in open position including main-racks 3 a and sub-racks 3 b which is joined to the main-racks 3 a by joining structures 12. The central-lead-screw 4 is divided into two halves having two kinds of thread, right-handed thread and left-handed thread.
FIG. 4 comprises of a plan front view, a top view and a section view depicting main leading components of the foldable-storage case 8 contained in a foldable-storage case 8 including the central-lead-screw 4, two main-moving-pivots 6, four sub-moving pivots 14 equipped with spring-tensioned-latches 15, and four latch-mate pallets 16 with holes 17 on them and being driven by sub-lead-screws 18.
FIG. 5 is a perspective front view depicting a main-moving-pivot 6 accompanying by two sub-moving pivots 14 which has a spring-tensioned latch 15. Said main-moving-pivot 6 has two loops 19 and two pairs of wedges 20.
FIG. 6 is a plan top view and side view depicting a latch-mate pallet 16 with a non-movable hole 17 on it.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view and a plan side view depicting a latch-mate pallet 16 with a movable hole 17 on it which is driven by sub-lead-screw 18.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view depicting the storage-case 8 of the present invention divided into two halves which are joined together by a hinge 21 having a spring 22 mounted on it, a pair of V-shaped springs 23, three or more suction-cups 9 which are driven by a base-gear 24 via planet gears 31, and a pair of cables 25 which are wound by reels 30 and connected to a supporting leg 26. An upper-base-wheel 27 has a thread to match with a spindle 28.
FIG. 9 is a plan side view depicting the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention in the open position on the top of a vehicle, including the storage-case 8, hinge 21, V-shaped springs 23, cable 25, supporting leg 26, reels 30, base-gear 24, upper base-wheel 27, spindle 28, and suction-cups 9.
FIG. 10 is a top view depicting another preferred embodiment of the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention in which the device is one unit consolidatedly.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the central-lead-screw 4 of the embodiment depicted in the FIG. 10 in which the central-lead-screw 4 is solidly including right-handed and left-handed threads.
FIG. 12 depicts the device of the present invention in the consolidated embodiment being fixedly mounted on the top of vehicles by clamping.
FIG. 13 depicts the device of the present invention in the consolidated embodiment being actively assembled in a groove on the top of vehicles by screws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, in one embodiment of the present invention a self-collapsible cover 1 for vehicles body is provided which is divided into two symmetric halves joined together by a hinge and therefore to be foldable after each time of using. It includes four rolls of awning 2 able to substantially cover the vehicle body. The expansion of said four rolls of awning 2 is executed by the extension of four extension-racks 3. Said four rolls of awning 2 can roll up by themselves due to ring-springs assembled inside. Each of said four extension-racks 3 includes main-racks 3 a and sub-racks 3 b which joins to the main-racks 3 a by joining structures 12. The main-racks 3 a have soft-cushions 13 at two ends contacting with the surface of vehicle to prevent potential scratching. The soft-cushions 13 may be made of rubber, polymers, elastic plastics, or the like, or combination thereof. In addition, the core of the soft-cushions 13 may have some magnetic bars affixed.
Said four rolls of awning 2 may be made of tough and thin material so as to minimize the weight of the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention. The awnings 2 protects vehicle from external conditions such as sun or rain, it therefore may be weather resistant. For example, it may be waterproof and reflective of heat and light. In general, it may be constructed from tough and thin material available on the market selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, gortex, cotton, parachute fabric, or the like, or a combination thereof.
In order to moderate the intensity of spring-tension of said four rolls of awning 2, the rotation of said four rolls of awning 2 is assisted by the rotation of central-lead-screw 4 by means of gears 5.
Firmly supported by supporting structures including suction cups 9 and supporting-leg 26 the storage-case 8 provides a house to extend or retract said extension-racks 3, and therefore collapse and store said four rolls of awning 2. The base-gear 24 monitors the operation of suction-cups 9 via planet-gears 31, and supporting leg 26 via cable 25 and reels 30.
Said four extension-racks 3 are driven by the central-lead-screw 4. Two halves of the central-lead-screw 4 respectively have two kinds of thread including right-handed thread and left-handed thread. These two kinds of thread are also respectively applied to the two main moving-pivots 6. The rotation of the central-lead-screw 4 makes two main-moving pivots 6 reciprocating oppositely one to the other, and it therefore results in the extension or retraction of the main-racks 3 a. In the meantime, each of the two main-moving-pivots 6 has one pair of sub-moving-pivots 14 accompanying which provide the extension or retraction of sub-racks 3 b.
In a preferred option of the present invention, the extension-racks 3 can be purposely designed to decline from the horizontal line to a certain angle of about 5 degree to 25 degree so that the device may become more harmonizing with the outline form of vehicles.
The presence of loops 19 and wedges 20 has determined the sub-moving-pivots 14 always accompanying the main-moving-pivots 6. A loop 19 is the means for main-moving-pivots 6 to bind and pull sub-moving-pivots 14 along behind them. In one moving direction, the main-moving-pivots 6 and sub-moving pivots 14 go together until they get to a certain point where the holes 17 are located. The spring-tensioned latches 15 is slid into holes 17 so the sub-moving-pivots 14 stops at the positions of the holes 17 whilst the main-moving-pivots 6 keeps going a short distance. This short distance makes the main-racks 3 a bended to an angle at the position of the joining structures 12 between the sub-racks 3 b and main-racks 3 a. As a result, two ends of the main-racks 3 a with the soft-cushions 13 go down to contact to vehicle. The angle between the main-rack 3 a and the sub-rack 3 b at the joining structures 12 is generally in a range of from 135 degree to 175 degree and may be controllable by changing the location of holes 17 and the short distance the main-moving-pivots 6 travel right after the sub-moving nuts 14 stop at the holes 17. The changeable angle and location of the hole may help the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention adaptable to various types and sizes of vehicles.
In adverse moving direction, the main-moving-pivots 6 go back from the short distance to the position of the sub-moving-pivots 14. Before the main-moving-pivots 6 touch the sub-moving-pivots 14, those wedges 20 come first and raise the spring-tensioned latches 15 up out of the holes 17. The sub-moving-pivots 14 are now free and immediately pushed by the main-moving-pivots 6 back to the departure position. Consequently at the same time, both main-racks 3 a and sub-racks 3 b retract back to the storage-case 8.
The combination of main-racks 3 a and sub-racks 3 b creates a flexible and steady structure. In addition, the linkage of the awnings 2 to the main-racks 3 a makes a suspension force as a complementary to the gravity of the extension-racks 3. These features bring a safety and reliability to the using of the present invention, especially on strong-wind days.
The latch-mate pallet 16 provides a platform where the latch 15 slides on. The hole 17 may be designed on the latch-mate pallet 16 to be non-movable or movable. The movable hole 17 is provided by dividing the latch-mate pallet 16 into two parts wherein the part with the hole 17 on it is movable and controlled by the sub-thread-rod 18. Each of the sub-lead-screws 18 also has two kinds of threads, right-handed thread and left-handed thread.
The storage-case 8 comprises of two halves which join together by a hinge 21. First half of the storage-case 8 stands on three or more suction-cups 9 which are driven by a base-gear 24. The other half of the storage-case 8 is supported by a supporting leg 26 which is pulled out from close position also by the base-gear 24 by means of a pair of cables 25. Another function of the cables 25 is to open the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention. To facilitate the operation of the cables 25, a pair of V-shaped springs 23 will raise the upper half of the storage case 8 to a certain angle from the lower half of the storage-case 8 then the cables 25 start pulling and securing the two halves of the storage-case 8 together. Adversely, from the open position, the storage case 8 may fold itself up due to a spring 22 mounted on the hinge 21. The storage case 8 may include a carrying handle and a fastening structure to fasten two halves of the case 8 together. The spindle 28 has a thread to match with the thread of the upper-base-wheel 27. The upper-base-wheel 27 is solidly attached to the base-gear 24. Therefore when the users of the present invention rotates the spindle 28, it makes the upper-base-wheel 27 and the base-gear 24 rotating. The rotation of the base-gear 24 in a certain direction will transmit to the planet-gears 31 and the reels 30. As a result, vacuum is created for the suction-cups 9 to suck on the surface of vehicle, and meanwhile the cables 25 are wound around the reels 30 to open both the supporting leg 26 and the storage-case 8. The self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention has now been secured on the top of vehicle, and the user may open the awnings 2 by rotating the central-lead-screw 4.
In order to secure the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention against theft or the like, the anti-theft straps 29 with hooks may also be equipped at two ends of the storage-case 8. The anti-theft straps 29 may be spring-tensioned and made of tough material. The users can hook them to the passenger handles available inside the vehicle.
Referring to FIGS. 10-13, in another preferred embodiment, the self-collapsible cover 1 of the present invention is one unit consolidatedly. In this embodiment, the device of the present invention is not divided by two as described in the first embodiment above [see FIGS. 10 and 11]. The device may be assembled onto the vehicle by a fixing structure such as clamping [see FIG. 12]. It also can be made as a standard part on vehicle when it is assembled actively on vehicle [see FIG. 13] on which it may be raised up or lowered down by screws. The operation of the device of the present invention may be motorized and controlled by a remote.

Claims

1. A self-collapsible cover for a vehicle body comprising:

a) a protective awning is divided into four rolls able to substantially cover a vehicle body, in which each roll has one or more ring-springs mounted inside to keep it tensioned all the time; and

b) an extension structure able to extend said four rolls of awning comprising:

i) four extension-racks, in which each comprises a main-rack and a sub-rack which is joined to the main-rack by a joining structure; and

ii) a central-lead-screw being divided into two halves respectively having right-handed thread and left-handed thread; and

iii) two main-moving-pivots; and

iv) four sub-moving-pivots; and

c) a storage-case being divided into two halves which join together by a hinge to be able to store said four rolls of awnings and said extension structure, and comprising:

i) a base-gear, a cable, and reels; and

ii) supporting structures including suction-cups and supporting leg;

2. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein said protective awning is constructed from tough and thin material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, gortex, cotton, parachute fabric, or a combination thereof.

3. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein said protective awning is made of reflective and water-resistant material.

4. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of said four rolls of awning is assisted by the rotation of the central-lead-screw by means of gears.

5. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein four extra-rolls of coverings are added to expand the ability of the device of the present invention to cover more effectively the sides of vehicle body.

6. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein each of said sub-racks is controlled by a sub-moving-pivot which is pulled and pushed by the main-moving-pivot.

7. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 6, wherein the main-moving-pivot pulls the sub-moving-pivot by means of a loop and a spring-tensioned latch.

8. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 7, wherein the spring-tensioned latch slides on a latch-mate pallet.

9. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 8, wherein the latch-mate pallet has a hole for the spring-tensioned latch able to fall into it.

10. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 9, wherein the hole is either non-movable or movable being controlled by a sub-thread-rod.

11. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 6, wherein the main-moving-pivot pushes the sub-moving-pivot right after a wedge raises the spring-tensioned latch up out of the hole.

12. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein the hinge of the storage-case is appended with a spring so as to keep the storage-case to be able to fold itself up when the cable is released from the reels.

13. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein the foldable-storage case is equipped with a pair of V-shaped springs to make an angle between two halves of the storage-case so as to facilitate the cable to pull and open the foldable-storage case.

14. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, wherein the foldable-storage case is secured by a spring-tensioned and tough-material anti-theft straps with hooks.

15. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating means able to rotate the base-gear.

16. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating means able to rotate the central-lead-screw.

17. A self-collapsible cover for a vehicle body comprising:

a) a protective awning is divided into two rolls able to substantially cover a vehicle body, in which each roll has one or more ring-springs mounted inside to keep it tensioned all the time; and

b) an extension structure able to extend said two rolls of awning comprising:

i) two extension-racks, in which each comprises a main-rack and a sub-rack which is joined to the main-rack by a joining structure; and

ii) a central-lead-screw having right-handed thread and left-handed thread; and

iii) two main-moving-pivots; and

iv) four sub-moving-pivots; and

c) a storage-case being able to store said two rolls of awnings and said extension structure.

18. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 17, wherein the self-collapsible cover is assembled fixedly on the top of vehicle by a fixing structure, for example, but not limited to, a clamping.

19. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 17, wherein the self-collapsible cover is assembled actively in a groove on the top of vehicle by a mounting structure, for example, but not limited to, screws.

20. The self-collapsible cover according to claim 17, wherein the self-collapsible cover is operated by motors and controlled by a remote.