Foldable Vehicle Cover With Hidden Proximity Theft Alarm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles are vulnerable to environmental damage and theft, with existing protective covers lacking effective anti-theft mechanisms that are easily detectable and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A foldable vehicle cover with integrated proximity-sensitive alarm modules that can be placed at user-designated locations, using RF or wireless communication to alert the owner of potential theft attempts, combined with a fabric design that allows for easy storage and secure attachment via staves and draw cords.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle cover is designed with integrated anti-theft alarm modules, then vehicle security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective cover function with anti-theft alarm functionality by integrating proximity-sensitive alarm modules directly into the cover structure. The alarm modules are positioned within the cover to detect when the covered vehicle is approached or touched, merging security protection with the existing cover system rather than adding separate standalone security devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides physical protection for the vehicle surface and integrates security monitoring capabilities through embedded alarm modules. This multi-functional design allows a single component (the cover) to perform both protective and security roles, reducing the need for separate security systems.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the alarm system is hidden within the cover, then detection difficulty for thieves is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm modules are nested within the cover structure, with the sensing elements positioned inside the cover material itself. This nesting arrangement hides the security system within the ordinary-looking cover, making it invisible to potential thieves while maintaining ease of operation through automated detection that requires no user intervention to activate.
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm system operates autonomously without requiring user activation or configuration. The proximity-sensitive modules automatically detect when the covered vehicle is approached or touched and trigger the alarm response independently, eliminating the need for users to manually activate or program the security system while maintaining hidden operation.
3Ease of operation
If the cover is designed for easy folding and storage, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into multiple fabric panels that can be folded and stored compactly, with the alarm modules distributed across these segments. This segmentation allows the cover to be easily collapsed for storage while maintaining protective coverage when deployed. The modular panel structure enables flexible folding without compromising the overall security function, as alarm modules are distributed throughout the segmented structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides comprehensive protection against environmental damage and theft by hiding the anti-theft system within the cover, allowing for easy deployment and storage, while ensuring the alarm system is activated when the cover is removed, thereby deterring theft and maintaining vehicle security.
Implementation Method 1
proximity-sensitive alarm modules that can be placed at user-designated locations
Implementation Method 2
sends and alarm signal to the user via radiofrequency RF or wireless network (cell phone network; wifi network; near field communications; or far field communications network)
Implementation Method 3
The alarm module has a magnet that can be attached to any vehicle with a metal surface
Data Source
AI summary
Foldable vehicle cover (armed/unarmed) covers vehicle's front, mid-section, and rear, longitudinally, laterally and vertically. Longitudinal staves in separate cover segments permit lateral collapse of cover with draw cords in lateral cover channels (one cord-end attached at closed channel end and the cord extending outboard from open channel end). The unarmed cover has four operating modes: covered, uncovered, laterally compressed and folded (front and rear segments folded atop mid-sectional segment). An alarmed cover includes either pouches on inboard side of vertical cover portions or module attachment systems on the inboard side. Proximity alarm module is pouch mounted or attached and is removably coupled to vehicle vertical element via an electromagnetic/mechanical attachment sub-system. A proximity sensor generates ALARM sensor not proximate vehicle element. A transmitter generates RF ALARM and a software App on user's causes ALARM annunciation.