Protective Canopy Systems and Associated Methods of Installing and Taking Down

Abstract

A protective canopy system that may cover vehicles and other types of inventory stored outside is disclosed, and that protects against damage that would otherwise occur from hailstorms or other severe weather is disclosed. The system may include a screen or canopy that is positioned over the inventory by a support system that may include columns.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 121,874, filed Dec. 5, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The current invention generally relates to protective canopies and systems to protect items that are stored outside from the elements, such as hail, rain, sun, snow and / or other weather elements. The current invention includes canopies that protect inventory, such as cars, trucks, recreational vehicles and other vehicles, or any other type of inventory that may be located or stored outside and that may otherwise be fully exposed to the elements. The current invention also includes canopies that protect individuals or groups of people.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Many car dealerships store significant inventory outside, and oftentimes, this inventory comprises fleets of cars and trucks parked in large parking lots. Such inventory has typically been ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The innovative weather-protection system described in this patent provides a cost-effective and effective solution for protecting vehicles and other inventory outside from hailstorms and other severe weather. The system uses a screen or mesh material that prevents hailstones from impacting the inventory and also has fire resistance and sufficient tensile strength. The system is easy to install and take down, allowing for quick disassembly when not needed and easy reassembly in the spring. The system can also be used to protect individual vehicles and other items located outside a residence or other location. Overall, the protective system described in this patent offers an optimal return on investment and lowers insurance costs, while providing a better safety and reliability for outdoor activities and events.

Problems solved by technology

Such inventory has typically been stored outside because it would be commercially impractical to build warehouses having a sufficiently large area to house fleets of vehicles.

However, when fleets of vehicles are stored outside, they are exposed to the elements, such as hail, rain, sun and wind, which may cause damage to the vehicles.

Vehicles stored outside may also be more susceptible to vandalism or theft.

The damage caused by, for example, a severe hailstorm can result in a significant financial burden.

Indeed, hail damage to a fleet of several hundred vehicles can cost in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

And while insurance may cover some or all of this damage, the insurance itself may be a significant expense.

Furthermore, recent weather patterns indicate that hailstorms, and other extreme weather conditions are occurring more frequently and are increasingly more severe and destructive.

Vehicles damaged by severe weather also expose the owner to skyrocketing insurance premiums.

Indeed, after paying out billions of dollars of losses from hailstorms in the past few years, many insurance carriers have left the market and the rest are exponentially raising their insurance premiums.

Beyond the foregoing, vehicles parked at a residence e.g., in a driveway, are also susceptible to hail damage or damage from other weather elements.

However, such car covers have the drawback that they must be put on before hail starts falling, and this may be difficult because hailstorms may occur without much, if any, advance warning.

Beyond the foregoing, hailstorms and other severe weather may adversely impact events where people gather, such as family functions, sporting events or other gatherings.

And where a hailstorm may occur without warning, if there is no building or other structure in which the people may take refuge, they may be exposed to hail stones which can cause injury.

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