Vehicle cover for motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable and extendable vehicle cover for motor vehicles, mountable on the front, rear, or roof. The cover has an accordion-like folding structure, with a fixed profile holder securing one end to the vehicle and a movable profile holder with wheels sliding along guiding profiles to deploy or retract the cover over the vehicle in an inverted U-shape. A fixed base part and auxiliary part provide locking positions for closed and open states. Further improvements include integration of IoT and weather sensors with a GPS module for automatic deployment or retraction, as well as remote operation via mobile application or key fob. Flexible silicone solar panels embedded in the outer surface enable charging of electric vehicle batteries. A reflective outer layer protects against heat, while an inner heating layer provides cold-weather protection. An automatic cord- winding mechanism improves manual use, and a security feature links the cover to the vehicle alarm system.

Description

[0001] VEHICLE COVER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle cover, particularly for passenger cars, which covers the upper surface of a parked motor vehicle.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Conventional vehicle covers are commonly referred to as tarpaulins. These covers are typically manufactured from flexible sheet materials and are folded and stored in the trunk when not in use. In order to cover the vehicle, the tarpaulin has to be manually stretched over the entire body of the vehicle, and later removed and folded back for storage. This process is cumbersome and impractical.

[0006] The invention described in application TR 2024 / 012378 (priority date: 17 September 2024) provides a solution by integrating a vehicle cover that can be mounted on the front, rear, or roof section of a vehicle, easily extended to cover the vehicle, and folded back into a compact form within the mounted section.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The invention disclosed in TR. 2024 / 012378 concerns a foldable and extendable vehicle cover mounted on a motor vehicle. The cover may be used with or without a mechanism, and consists of four main parts:

[0009] Description of the Invention

[0010] The vehicle cover for motor vehicles can be mounted on the vehicle at regions such as the front fenders and bumper, or the rear fenders and bumper, or the right and left edges of the rear window extending to the roof portion. It can be used in two ways, either with a mechanism or without a mechanism. The cover consists of four parts: the cover portion; the portion composed of a movable profile holder and a fixed profile holder; the portion consisting of guiding profiles; and the portion consisting of the main fixed part, auxiliary parts, and channels.

[0011] The first part consists of a cover that is easily foldable along transverse and longitudinal folding lines, folded in an interlocking and accordion- pleated manner, and then unfolded and refolded to overlap again. When opened, the cover takes the shape of an inverted U fitted over the vehicle in conformity with the body of the vehicle, covering the vehicle. The outer surface of the cover is rigid to provide protection against impacts, while the inner surface that comes into contact with the vehicle is soft- textured so as not to damage the vehicle.

[0012] In order to prevent the inner surface of the cover, when fitted over the vehicle, from adhering completely to the vehicle body and to keep it at a higher level above the vehicle surface, the inner portion of the cover is provided with protrusions, extending along the folding lines, that are in the form of straight lines or semicircles with a soft texture and that come into contact with the vehicle.

[0013] Along the right and left sides or the middle of the cover, extending along its length, there are elastic cords or elastic plastic bands which stretch during opening and closing of the cover, facilitating its folding and compact retraction.

[0014] The cover is made of low-cost materials such as fabric, cardboard, plastic, or similar materials, and after being used for a certain period of time, it can be replaced in the same way as air filters or oil filters in vehicles, by removing the old one and installing a new one.

[0015] The second part consists of two profile holders, one being a movable profile holder and the other being a fixed profile holder. The movable profile holder is mounted at the front end of the cover length in order to move the cover described in the first part forward or backward on the vehicle. The fixed profile holder, on the other hand, is mounted at the rear end of the cover length in order to keep the cover attached to the vehicle. The fixed profile holder mounted at the rear end of the cover length is the part that provides the connection of the vehicle cover to the vehicle and ensures that it remains fixed in place once mounted on the vehicle. The movable profile holder is the part that enables the cover to move forward or backward on the vehicle, thereby allowing the cover to be deployed over the vehicle or folded back to a closed position.

[0016] When closed, the fixed and movable profile holders complement each other, and they can be folded or unfolded in a manner that allows the vehicle cover to remain in a folded state or to take an inverted U-shape when deployed. At the joining surfaces of the closed profile holders, the fixed profile holder has a channel-shaped recess, while the movable profile holder has a protrusion fitting into this channel, so that when joined and closed together, the protrusion fits into the channel and the two profile holders unite in a closed manner.

[0017] When the profile holders are in the closed position, there is an empty space between the two holders, and in this space, the folded cover is accommodated between the fixed and movable profile holders. The outer surfaces of the movable and fixed profile holders are rigid in order to hold and move the cover in either the open or closed state, while their inner surfaces, which face the vehicle and may come into contact with it, are of a soft texture to prevent damage to the vehicle.

[0018] In use, the movable profile holder separates from the fixed profile holder with which it is joined in the closed position and moves, pulling the cover with it. If the fixed profile holder is mounted on the front of the vehicle, the movable profile holder moves toward the rear of the vehicle; if the fixed profile holder is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, the movable profile holder moves toward the front, thereby pulling the cover along its folding lines and deploying it over the vehicle.

[0019] In order to fold the cover that has been deployed over the vehicle and fix it at the point where the fixed profile holder is located, the movable profile holder moves from its current position toward the fixed profile holder, causing the cover to fold along its folding lines and to be gathered into the empty space between the two profile holders. The movable profile holder then merges with the fixed profile holder, bringing the vehicle cover into the closed position.

[0020] The movable and fixed profile holders have folding sections compatible with the folding lines that enable the cover to be folded back over itself. The fixed and movable profile holders, when necessary, can also be folded together with the cover along these folding sections, in order to make movement of the cover over the vehicle easier or to reduce the space required in the closed position.

[0021] The movable profile holder is equipped with a locking system. The locking system on the movable profile holder locks onto the locking teeth on the main fixed part when the vehicle cover is closed, ensuring that the cover remains in the closed position, and locks onto the locking teeth on the auxiliary part when the vehicle cover is open, ensuring that the cover remains in the open position.

[0022] In the case of mechanized use of the vehicle cover, the movable profile holder is provided with at least two auxiliary parts, attached to its right and left sides, each of which is equipped with miniature wheels. These wheels enable the movable profile holder to move along the guiding profiles that extend along the vehicle from front to rear (or rear to front) depending on the mounting of the fixed profile holder.

[0023] The movable profile holder can be moved manually by pulling it back and forth to roll the wheels, or alternatively, the wheels can be driven by miniature electric motors mounted on the movable profile holder, or by durable ropes or steel wires placed inside the guiding profiles, which are pulled back and forth by electric motor power and to which the wheels are connected. In the case of non-mechanized use of the vehicle cover, the movable profile holder does not include these auxiliary parts.

[0024] The third part consists of guiding profiles that enable the mechanized use of the vehicle cover. These guiding profiles are mounted on the vehicle along its right and left sides, extending from the front bumper to the rear bumper, either along the outer side surfaces of the vehicle or passing through the roof sections above the doors. The movable profile holder moves along these guiding profiles, which serve as a guide.

[0025] The guiding profiles have channels in their middle sections. The miniature wheels located on the auxiliary parts of the movable profile holder fit into these channels and move along them, enabling the movable profile holder to move forward and backward along the guiding profiles throughout the length of the vehicle, thereby causing the cover to move, unfold, and be deployed over the vehicle, or to fold and be retracted.

[0026] For existing vehicles in use, the guiding profiles can be mounted externally on the outer surface of the vehicle. For newly manufactured vehicles, channels extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle, either along the side surfaces or through the roof section above the doors, may be created, and these channels serve as guiding profiles.

[0027] By placing durable ropes or steel wires driven by electric motor power inside uninterrupted guiding profile channels extending from the front bumper section, through the roof section above the doors, and to the rear bumper section, the wheels located on the auxiliary parts of the movable profile holder can be connected to these ropes or wires. Thus, the movable profile holder can be driven forward and backward by electric motor power.

[0028] In the non-mechanized use of the vehicle cover, the guiding profiles are not present.

[0029] The fourth part is the fixed section that provides the connection of the profile holders of the vehicle cover to the vehicle. The fixed section consists of two parts and channels: a main part mounted at the front of the vehicle and an auxiliary part mounted at the rear of the vehicle.

[0030] In the first part of the fixed section, which is the main part, the fixed profile holder is mounted, thereby providing the fixed attachment of the vehicle cover to the vehicle. The main part extends from one fender of the vehicle to the other across the bumper, or may be located only in the bumper region, and it has multiple connection points for mounting the fixed profile holder to the vehicle at more than one location.

[0031] On both the main part and the auxiliary part of the fixed section, there are locking teeth onto which the lock of the movable profile holder is fitted and secured. When the vehicle cover is folded and in the closed position, it remains fixed to the vehicle in the region where the main part is located by being locked. When the vehicle cover is open and deployed over the vehicle, the movable profile holder locks onto the locking teeth of the auxiliary part of the fixed section, thereby keeping the vehicle cover in the open and deployed position on the vehicle.

[0032] Both parts of the fixed section can be mounted afterwards on the exterior of existing motor vehicles, in a manner conforming to the vehicle body. For newly manufactured vehicles, channels are created in the vehicle body to accommodate the folded cover. If the vehicle cover is to be mounted at the front of the vehicle, such channels are formed in the front fenders and front bumper region; if the cover is to be mounted at the rear, the channels are formed in the rear fenders and rear bumper region. In this way, when the vehicle cover is folded and closed, it is placed into these channels, allowing the cover to be mounted on the vehicle without creating any protrusion on the outer surface of the vehicle.

[0033] When the vehicle cover is mounted in the closed position at the front of the vehicle, the main part of the fixed section and the channels in which the folded cover is accommodated are located in the front fenders and front bumper region, while the auxiliary part of the fixed section is located in the rear fenders and rear bumper region. When the vehicle cover is mounted in the closed position at the rear of the vehicle, the main part of the fixed section and the channels are located in the rear fenders and rear bumper region, while the auxiliary part is located in the front fenders and front bumper region.

[0034] When the vehicle cover is mounted in the closed position on the roof of the vehicle, the main part of the fixed section is located in the roof region of the vehicle. In this case, the auxiliary part of the fixed section consists of two parts, one located in the front fenders and front bumper region, and the other located in the rear fenders and rear bumper region.

[0035] Operation of the Vehicle Cover for Motor Vehicles

[0036] In the mechanized use of the vehicle cover, after unlocking the locked cover in the closed position, the movable profile holder is pulled outward from its closed position either manually or by means of electric motor power. The cover, thus brought from the closed to the open position, takes on an inverted U-shape over the vehicle. As the movable profile holder moves along the guiding profiles from one end of the vehicle to the other, the folded sections of the cover unfold, thereby covering the vehicle. Once the cover is fully opened and the movable profile holder is locked onto the auxiliary part of the fixed section, the vehicle cover is completely deployed and secured over the vehicle. To fold and close the vehicle cover, which is in the open position covering the top of the vehicle, the lock of the movable profile holder is first released. Then, either manually or by electric motor power, the movable profile holder is pulled along the guiding profiles from its open position toward the opposite end of the vehicle. As the holder moves, the cover folds along its folding lines and is gathered between the two profile holders. Once the cover is completely folded and the movable profile holder is positioned onto the fixed profile holder, it is locked onto the main part of the fixed section. If channels have been created on the vehicle, the closed vehicle cover is accommodated within these channels and remains locked therein.

[0037] In the non-mechanized use of the vehicle cover, since guiding profiles are absent, the movable profile holder is moved manually forward or backward over the vehicle, without direct contact with the vehicle surface, to deploy the cover over the vehicle or to fold and gather it. The locking operation in the non-mechanized use is the same as in the mechanized use.

[0038] The subject of this invention relates to a vehicle cover for motor vehicles, primarily passenger cars, that covers the vehicle while parked. This invention constitutes an addition to the previously filed patent application titled "Vehicle Cover for Motor Vehicles" with application number 2014 / 012378 submitted to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. As this is an additional application, only the parts differing from the original application are explained herein, while the unchanged parts are not described.

[0039] Additional Improvements (TR 2025 / 006385 - Priority Date: 19 May 2025)

[0040] The invention described above was further developed to incorporate advanced features enhancing practicality, energy efficiency, and security. The improvements include:

[0041] Smart Control System: Integration of loT sensors, weather condition sensors, and GPS modules enables automatic deployment or retraction of the vehicle cover in response to weather changes (rain, snow, hail, or high temperature) or when the vehicle is parked.

[0042] Remote Operation: The cover can be operated remotely via a mobile application or a key fob.

[0043] Solar Energy Integration: Flexible silicone solar panels are embedded into the outer surface of the cover, enabling charging of the electric vehicle battery while the cover is deployed. Thermal Protection: A reflective outer layer protects the vehicle from excessive heat in hot weather.

[0044] Heating Layer: An internal heating cable layer provides protection against cold weather in winter conditions.

[0045] Improved Manual Operation: The manual version includes stretchable cords extending along the cover, combined with an automatic winding and tensioning mechanism, to ensure smooth and reliable folding / unfolding.

[0046] Security Integration: The cover is linked to the vehicle's alarm system, triggering an audible alarm if the cover is tampered with or removed without authorization.

[0047] Industrial Applicability

[0048] These improvements expand the technical scope of the original invention and provide enhanced protection, convenience, and functionality for modern vehicles, especially electric vehicles.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 04 January 2026 (04.01.2026)1. A vehicle cover for motor vehicles, comprising at least one fixed profile holder secured to the vehicle, at least one movable profile holder whose position is changeable relative to said fixed profile holder, and a cover portion connected at one end to the fixed profile holder and at the other end to the movable profile holder, configured to fold and unfold along folding lines provided thereon; characterized in that; the fixed profile holder is positioned at a front region, a rear region, or a roof region of the vehicle, and the movement of the movable profile holder in a forward or backward direction relative to the fixed profile holder enables the cover portion to unfold along said folding lines to assume an inverted U-shape fitted over the vehicle or to return to a folded closed state.

2. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; it is configured for non-mechanized use wherein the movable profile holder is manually displaced directly over the vehicle body without the need for any guiding profiles.

3. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; the cover portion, the fixed profile holder, and the movable profile holder are fully retractable in a closed position into channels formed in the vehicle body, in particular in the front or rear fender and bumper region, and said channels are configured to be flush with the outer surface of the vehicle without creating any protrusion thereon.

4. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; the movable profile holder is configured to move mechanically on at least one pair of guiding profiles extending from the front region to the rear region on the right and left sides of the vehicle, and said guiding profiles guide the forward-backward movement of the movable profile holder along the length of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle cover according to Claim 4, characterized in that; the guiding profile is mountable onto the exterior of vehicles or integrated into the vehicle body.

6. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, or 3, characterized in that; the system further comprises a tensioning and winding mechanism including stretchable cordsor equivalent elastic tensioning elements to ensure smooth unfolding and regular folding of the cover portion when returning to the closed position.

7. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 or 4, characterized in that; it comprises a smart control system consisting of an electric drive unit for driving the movable profile holder, at least one weather condition sensor, and a control unit; and the control unit is configured to automatically activate the drive unit to deploy the cover portion or retract it from the open position to the closed position in response to signals of rain, snow, or hail when the vehicle is parked.

8. The vehicle cover according to Claim 7, characterized in that; the control unit further comprises a wireless receiver configured to operate the drive unit in response to a user command received from a mobile application or a key fob.

9. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that; flexible solar panels are integrated onto the outer surface of the cover portion in a manner compatible with its foldable structure; these panels are configured to generate electrical energy to power electrical components of the system (drive unit, control unit, sensors, heating layer) and / or to provide charging to the electric vehicle battery.

10. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that; the cover portion comprises a reflective outer layer and / or an internal heating cable layer for thermal protection against excessive heat and / or cold.

11. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that; the vehicle cover is functionally linked to the vehicle’s alarm system; and it is configured to trigger an audible alarm if the cover portion is subject to unauthorized removal or tampering.

12. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, or 3, characterized in that; the cover portion has a rigid outer surface for protection against impacts and a soft-textured inner surface to prevent damage to the vehicle; and the inner surface is provided with protrusions in the form of straight lines or semicircles that prevent the cover from adhering to the vehicle body.

13. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, or 3, characterized in that; the cover portion is made of low-cost material such as fabric, cardboard, or plastic, and is replaceable by being detached from the fixed and movable profile holders.

14. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; the cover portion comprises transverse and longitudinal folding lines.

15. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; the cover portion comprises transverse folding lines.

16. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; the cover portion comprises longitudinal folding lines.

17. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, or 3, characterized in that; when the fixed and movable profile holders are in the closed position, a channel-shaped recess on the fixed profile holder interlocks with a protrusion on the movable profile holder, forming a mechanically interlocked closed configuration.

18. The vehicle cover according to Claim 1 , 2, or 3, characterized in that; it comprises a locking system configured to secure the movable profile holder relative to the fixed profile holder, said locking system being arranged on the movable profile holder, and being configured to engage in the fully open position and / or the fully closed position of the cover portion.[0001][0002]STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 (1)[0003]In response to the International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, the Applicant has amended the claims pursuant to Article 19 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty. The originally filed claim set comprising thirty-three (33) claims has been replaced by a reduced and amended claim set comprising eighteen (18) claims. The amendments aim to clarify the inventive concept, improve consistency of terminology, and more clearly define the essential technical features of the invention, without introducing any new subject-matter beyond the content of the application as originally filed.[0004]Summary of Amendments[0005]Independent Claim 1 has been redrafted to more clearly define the core inventive concept, namely a vehicle cover system in which a cover portion is deployed and retracted by the relative forward or backward movement of a movable profile holder with respect to a fixed profile holder.[0006]The folding behavior of the cover is now defined in functional terms as folding and unfolding along folding lines, in full conformity with the originally filed description.[0007]Dependent claims have been reorganized and streamlined to clearly reflect optional and advantageous embodiments disclosed in the description, including: manual (non-mechanized) operation, integration into vehicle body channels, guided mechanical movement, tensioning and winding mechanisms, smart control systems and sensors, thermal protection layers, alarm integration, material configurations, and mechanical locking and interlocking features.[0008]The previous detailed definitions of folding configurations have been transferred from the independent claim to dependent claims, thereby strengthening the scope of protection while maintaining full support in the description.[0009]Redundant, overlapping, or non-essential claims from the originally filed claim set have been deleted to enhance clarity, unity, and conciseness.[0010]Compliance with Article 19 and Article 33(2) PCT[0011]All amendments are directly and unambiguously derivable from the application as originally filed. No new technical information has been added. The amendments are intended solely to clarify and limit the claimed subject-matter in light of the prior art cited in the International Search Report. Accordingly, the Applicant respectfully submits the amended claims for consideration under PCT Article 19.