Inflatable protective covers for motor vehicles

Abstract

Inflatable protective covers for motor vehicles including automobiles and motorcycles has a flexible bladder with respective upper and lower sheets of a waterproof, air-tight material shaped to cover the motor vehicle. The sheets have mating outer peripheries affixed together in an air-tight manner at a peripheral seam to form a single inflatable pocket therebetween. The single inflatable pocket may be sub-divided into a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets by affixing together the upper and lower sheets in airtight manner at one or more partial length seams disposed inside the peripheral seam with gaps therealong to keep the inflatable air pockets interconnected. A resilient nipple with stopper is affixed to the bladder to permit inflation and retention of air within the bladder. A quick deflation device has a tubular base affixed to the bladder and a removable screw cap to allow quick removal of air from the bladder. A draw cord extends through an elongate peripheral channel of the bladder with a cord outlet opening through which respective ends of the draw cord extend to removably retain the cover in a deployed, inflated position about the motor vehicle. The protective covers may be designed to fit baggily or be fitted to the motor vehicle and be reusable or disposable depending on the material from which made.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field [0002] The present invention generally relates to flexible protective covers for motor vehicles, and more particularly to inflatable protective covers for automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and motorbikes. [0003] 2. State of the Art [0004] Protective covers for automobiles have been used for many years to protect automobiles parked outdoors from exposure to various environmental hazards such as dust, dirt, sunlight, acid rain, snow, frost, and ice which otherwise accumulates on the exterior surface of the automobile. This helps keep the automobile in a better condition and thus has longer life. Such protective covers are typically rolled up and / or folded for storage such as in the trunk of the automobile. Such protective covers also help prevent excessive heat build-up inside the automobile by being essentially opaque such that sunlight cannot directly heat the interior passenger compartment thereof. [0005] Most protective covers are full c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] The protective covers each include a flexible bladder which includes respective upper and lower sheets each made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material of a shape adapted to substantially cover the motor vehicle. The sheets have mating outer peripheries affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam at an outer periphery of the bladder to form at least one inflatable pocket therebetween. A valve device is adapted to allow adding of air to the inflatable pocket to inflate the bladder when the protective cover is in a deployed position covering the motor vehicle and removing of air from the inflatable pocket to deflate the bladder prior to removing the protective cover to a stowed position disposed off the motor vehicle. A securing device is adapted to removably retain the outer periphery of the bladder about a lower periphery of the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position.

Problems solved by technology

These full car covers have several serious problems.

Firstly, handling of such car covers such as unpacking and deploying onto the automobile is difficult due to their large size and heavy canvas construction, requiring individual persons to repeatedly move around the automobile to deploy the car cover.

Removal of the car cover from the automobile and repacking for storage and later use is similarly inconvenient for a single person, with the peripheral edge catching on corners of the automobile if the car cover is not removed in the correct sequence of moves.

Secondly, storage of such car covers is difficult because of their bulk and unwieldiness.

Thirdly, such car covers typically do not provide protection from hail which can permanently damage the automobile.

The resulting car cover is bulky and difficult to install on the automobile.

Fourthly, such car covers often do not fit the particular motor vehicle.

These inflatable car covers have a serious problem in that they typically require a portable electric air compressor which runs off the cigarette lighter socket of the automobile.

In either case, the volume of air required to fill each bladder is substantial due to the large size of the bladders which is far too much to be supplied by human lung power.

If an air compressor is used, it takes a long time to fill each bladder due to the limited air flow provided by most portable air compressors.

If bleed air from the tires is used, the relatively low pressure of thirty-five pounds per square inch (PSI) and low volume of air contained in the tires renders partially flattens the bled tires rendering them unsafe for driving.

The multi-air-bag cover suffers from the serious problems enumerated above.

The weather protection system suffers from the same serious problems enumerated above.

This is time-consuming, requiring the user to attach and detach the fasteners from the motorcycle.

These motorcycle covers have several serious problems.

Firstly, handling of such motorcycle covers such as unpacking and deploying onto the motorcycle is somewhat difficult due to their heavy canvas construction.

Removal of the motorcycle cover from the motorcycle and repacking for storage and later use is similarly inconvenient.

Secondly, storage of such motorcycle covers is difficult because of their bulk and unwieldiness which is particularly problematic on motorcycles due to the limited space available.

Thirdly, such car covers typically do not provide protection from hail which can permanently damage the motorcycle.

The resulting car cover is bulky and difficult to install on the motorcycle.

While the covering is adequate for the purposes intended, it still suffers from the serious problems enumerated above.

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