WO1991005674A2

WO1991005674A2 - Motor vehicle protective device

Info

Publication number: WO1991005674A2
Application number: PCT/GB1990/001616
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terence Michael Barrow; Paul Edgar Griffiths
Original assignee: Terence Michael Barrow; Paul Edgar Griffiths
Priority date: 1989-10-19
Filing date: 1990-10-19
Publication date: 1991-05-02
Also published as: AU6637290A; WO1991005674A3; GB8923603D0

Abstract

A method and device for preventing the ingress of debris into the body of a motor vehicle whilst work is being carried out on the vehicle, comprising securing a hollow flexible tube (9) of plastics material around the edge of one or more of the body openings (4, 5) of the vehicle. The tube (9) is preferably secured by means of doublesided adhesive tape (8), although mechanical clips could be used, and a continuous reel of tubes may be provided, each separated by perforations.

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE PROTECTIVE DEVICE

This invention relates to protective devices, particularly for use during the repair or maintenance of motor vehicles.

It is found when repair work is being carried out, particularly where so-called bodywork is involved, such as cutting out, filling and sanding down and spray-painting, that dust, grit and other debris finds its way into the interior of the vehicle. This is particularly noticeable when work is being done around the area of an open door or window.

It has hitherto been common to attempt to overcome this problem, by masking the open door or window area with paper stuck around the edge of the opening with masking tape. This is often unsatisfactory because of the fragility of the paper and because of the difficulty encountered where there is a need to join two or more pieces of paper together over an open window or door area.

In professional so-called "bodyshops" power tools, sanders, buffs, are in general use and these tend to create more dust and debris than is the case when hand tools are used. The problem of ingress of debris into the vehicle is more pronounced in such cases.

It is an object of this invention to provide a system and apparatus whereby the ingress of such dust, grit and other debris to the interior of the vehicle, is prevented.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of protecting the interior of a motor vehicle from the ingress of debris, which method includes providing a hollow flexible tubular member ^■ open at at least one end and securing the at least one open end around an edge of an opening in the body of the vehicle, so that any debris resulting from work being done on the vehicle is restricted to the interior of the tubular member.

An open end of the flexible tubular member may be secured to the edge of the opening in the body by an adhesive which may be in the form of doublesided adhesvie tape. The open end of the flexible tubular member may however be secured to the body by means of mechanical clips.

The tubular member may be open at both ends and each end may be secured to a different opening in the vehicle.

The invention further comprises a device for protecting the interior of the motor vehicle from the ingress of debris, the device including a hollow flexible tubular member open at at least one end and provided around its at least one open end with an adhesive and where the adhesive is covered by a protective strip of material when the device is not in use. The adhesive may be a strip of doublesided adhesive tape.

The invention further comprises a plurality of devices in the form of a length of flexible material formed at intervals with perforations and provided in the vicinity of the perforations with a layer of adhesive, each such layer being provided with a covering in the form of a protective strip of material, and the layer of adhesive may¬ be constituted by doublesided adhesive tape.

The plurality of the devices may comprise a continuous roll of tublular flexible plastics material, perforated at intervals and provided in the vicinity of the perforations with a layer of adhesive, each such layer being provided with a covering in the form of a protective material.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor car incorporating the invention,

Figure "2 -.is a section view through the motor car showing the protective sleeve in position,

Figure 3 is a scrap section view to a larger scale of parts seen in Figure 2 and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a circle of plastic tubing for use in the invention-

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figue 3 but showing part of a sleeve in position around a door opening.

In Figure 1 is illustrated a motor car with doors removed and in position for work to be done on defective areas of the body e.g. on rust patches R. A plastic sleeve 2 is passed through the motor car between the door openings 4 or window openings 5 and the open end portions 6 are turned outwardly to be temporarily attached to the car body- by double sided adhesive tape 8.

As will be clear from the drawings, particularly Figure 2, any debris resulting from work on the body of the car will then be trapped within the protective sleeve and can be removed together therewith when the work is finished.

As seen in Figure 4 a roll or coil 9 of hollow, flexible plastic tubing is provided at intervals along its length with perforations 10 and on either side of these perforations is fixed a length of double-sided tape 8. When a fresh protective sleeve is required for use, an operator simply tears it from the coil 9 along the perforations, then removes the protective backing strip from one side of the adhesive tape at one end, and sticks that part of the tube to the car body as already described.

The tube is then passed through the car body, the protective strip removed from the other end and that end is stuck to the door surround as in the first instance. Thus the sleeve forms a tunnel through the car.

The use of the protective tube or tunnel is not restricted to its being passed from one door opening to another door opening, but can interconnect any two openings within the car, for example two windows, or a door and a windscreen. If only one opening is present in the car, e.g. just one door, then the open end of the tube may be fixed with its double-sided adhesive tape as already described, and the other end ^"of the tube may be stuck together by means of its own double-sided adhesive tape to form a close-bottomed bag.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of a hollow plastic tube, then a plastic bag open at only one end and provided with double-sided adhesive tape may be used, in which case any debris will collect within the bag.

The plastics tube may be a continuously blow-formed tube, or it may be formed from a flat sheet of plastics

SUBSTITUTE SHEET material folded edge to edge and the edge portions either welded or adhered together.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

1. A method of protecting the interior of a motor vehicle from the ingress of debris, the method including providing a hollow flexible tubular member, open at at least one end and securing the at least one open end around an edge of an opening in the body of the vehicle, so that any debris resulting from work being done on the vehicle is restricted to the interior of the tubular member.

2. The method according to Claim 1 wherein the at least one open end of the flexible tubular member is secured to the edge of the opening in the body by an adhesive.

3. A method according to Claim 2 wherein the at least one end is secured by means of a double sided adhesive tape.

4. A method according to Claim 1 whereby the at least one end is secured by means of mechanical clips.

5. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the tubular member is open at both ends and each end is secured to a different opening in the vehicle.

6. A device for protecting the interior of a motor vehicle from the ingress of debris, which device includes a hollow flexible tubular member open at at least one end, and provided around its at least one open end with an adhesive and where the adhesive is covered by a protective strip of material when the device is not in use.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the adhesive is a strip of doublesided adhesive tape.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

8. A plurality of devices in accordance with Claim 6, comprising a length of tubular plastics flexible material formed at intervals with perforations and provided in the vicinity of the perforations with a layer of adhesive, each such layer being provided with a covering in the form of a protective strip of material.

9. A length of tubular plastics flexible material according to Claim 8 wherein the layer of adhesive is constituted by doublesided adhesive tape.

10. A plurality of devices according to Claims 8 or 9 comprising a continuous roll of tubular flexible plastics material perforated at intervals and provided in the vicinity of the perforations with a layer of adhesive, each such layer being provided with a covering in the form of a protective material.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET