Protective layer for automotive surfaces

Abstract

A protective layer embodying the principles of the present invention is configured for protection of automotive surfaces, including specifically, the protection of a truck-bed against wear induced by a truck-bed liner. The protective layer has a substantially planar configuration sized to permit the layer to be positioned generally between an associated truck-bed liner and a truck-bed, whereby the abrasion is significantly reduced. The layer comprises a fibrous nonwoven fabric formed from fibrous and / or filamentary elements, with the fibrous nonwoven fabric exhibiting a sufficiently reduced coefficient of friction and sufficient durability to absorb or distribute abrasive actions, while allowing passage of moisture, thus protecting the automotive surfaces against potentially detrimental environmental conditions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 282,814, filed Oct. 29, 2002, and claims the priority of Provisional Application No. 60 / 239,753, which was filed on Oct. 12, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to an arrangement for protecting automotive surfaces, including protection of the surfaces when in contact with abrasive agents, and more particularly, to a nonwoven fabric protective layer which aids in reducing abrasion between a truck-bed and a truck-bed liner. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Personal utility vehicles, in particular “pick-up” type trucks, have experienced an ever growing popularity due to the number of diverse tasks such vehicles can accomplish. Pick-up type trucks are favored by both limited-application residential users and commercial services for the ability to employ the truck-bed of this type of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Significantly reduces abrasion and oxidation, maintaining the truck-bed's integrity by distributing abrasive forces and allowing environmental protection, while being removable and adaptable for different liner configurations.

Problems solved by technology

Repeated use of pick-up type truck to transport large, heavy, or fouled materials tends to induce excessive wear of the truck-bed.

The wearing of the truck-bed has deleterious effects in terms of both aesthetic qualities as well as the continued performance of the truck-bed.

Scratches and dents tend to wear the paint away from the truck-bed, which detracts away from the appearance of cleanliness.

More significantly, removal or loss of the paint of the truck-bed results in increased opportunity for oxidation and rusting of the metallic substrate there beneath.

If the oxidation and rusting of the metallic substrate is allowed to continue, the metallic substrate will degrade and eventually fail.

This slack, compounded by vibrations induced in movement of the truck-bed, results in the truck-bed liner rubbing against the painted surface of the truck-bed.

Over time, and with continued abrasion, oxidation and rusting of the metallic substrate of the truck-bed begins to occur.

As the truck-bed liner obscures and / or prevents the ready recognition of this destruction of the truck-bed itself, the extent of damage is not obvious until critical failure occurs.

While such directly applied liners remove much of the problem of the wear induced by a truck-bed liner, the use of a directly applied liner is essentially permanent, which can pose an issue if a different liner is required or the vehicle is leased.

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