Cover assemblies for covering objects

Abstract

A cover assembly comprises a covering member having an object-covering shape, and a container for containing the covering member. The container has a containment configuration and a deployment configuration, and has a defined orientation relative to a notional object to be covered. The container also has an anchor for non-invasively maintaining the container in position on the notional object to be covered. The covering member is secured to the container at a predetermined position of the covering member and in alignment with the defined orientation of the container. Placement of the container at a predetermined position of the notional object to be covered corresponding to the predetermined position of the covering member, with the defined orientation of the container matching the orientation of the notional object to be covered, aligns the object-covering shape of the covering member with a shape of the notional object to be covered.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 448,801, filed Jun. 7, 2006, entitled “BARBEQUE COVER ASSEMBLY,” and a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12,333,496, filed Dec. 12, 2008, entitled “BARBEQUE COVER ASSEMBLY,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to cover assemblies, and more particularly to cover assemblies for use in covering various objects.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is often advantageous to position a cover over certain objects when those objects are not in use. For example, barbecues, vehicles and outdoor furniture may be covered when not in use, to protect them from the elements. As such, many different kinds of covers are known for covering various objects. However, known covers are often difficult to fit onto and to remove from the object to be covered, and are also often cumbersome and unsi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]According to an aspect of the present invention, a cover assembly is provided. The cover assembly includes a covering member for covering a notional object, and a container for containing the covering member when the covering member is not in use. The covering member has an object-covering shape, and the container is selectively configurable in a containment configuration in which the covering member can be housed within the container, and a deployment configuration from which the covering member may be deployed to cover the notional object. The container has a defined orientation relative to the notional object to be covered, and the covering member is secured to the container at a predetermined position of the covering member and in alignment with the defined orientation of the container. As a result, when the container is placed in a predetermined position on the notional object to be covered, corresponding to the predetermined position of the covering member, with the defined orientation of the container matching the orientation of the notional object to be covered, the object-covering shape of the covering member will be aligned with the shape of the notional object to be covered. This facilitates easy and rapid deployment of the covering member to cover the object. In addition, the container may be provided with an anchor for maintaining the container in position on the notional object to be covered during deployment of the covering member. The anchor may be, for example, a high-friction material, one or more suction cups, one or more straps, or one or more magnets.

Problems solved by technology

However, known covers are often difficult to fit onto and to remove from the object to be covered, and are also often cumbersome and unsightly when not in use.

In addition, during the deployment and removal process, the covers are often dragged across the ground, which is unsanitary and can lead to dirt being transferred from the cover to the object being covered.

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