Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protection device for vehicles, particularly hail-proof for cars.

Background Art

Hail is a type of atmospheric precipitation that consists in the fall of pieces of ice, known as hailstones, possibly accompanied by rain.

The size of hailstones can vary from a diameter of a few millimeters up to 5-6 centimeters, and even reach a weight of over 1 kg.

It is easy to understand, therefore, that such precipitation can lead to considerable damage to objects and people.

In particular, in the field of vehicles, especially cars, this problem is very much felt because the impact of hailstones on the car can lead to damage of even considerable importance.

The impact of hailstones can, in fact, lead to mainly aesthetic damage, such as dents to the bodywork, but also functional damage, such as e.g. the breakage of crystals or rigid plastic parts.

This entails considerable costs for the individual user but also for car dealers or shows, without adequate fixed covers, which risk considerable damage to the vehicles on display.

The most common hail-proof protection devices of known type consist of a sheet with elastic edges with which the vehicle can be covered.

In such devices, the sheet has a reinforcement bearing in the portion intended to come into contact with the upper part of the vehicle whose aim is to cushion the impact of hailstones on the surface of the vehicle.

This type of device, however, is not suitable in the case of severe hail precipitation because the sheet is in direct contact with the vehicle and is not able to protect the vehicle from large hailstones.

This problem is partly fixed by a second type of hail-proof protection devices that are provided with a covering element maintained at a predefined distance from the vehicle surface. This second type of devices comprises inflatable devices to be placed on the top of the vehicle or umbrella-like devices that are placed on the roof of the vehicle and extend to cover the upper part of the vehicle itself.

A common problem with these devices is that they simply protect the upper part of the vehicle and are inefficient in effectively protecting every part of the vehicle, including the side windows and doors.

In addition, the devices of known type are characterized by a complex and time- consuming installation system that does not offer immediate protection to the vehicle. In fact, hail precipitation is difficult to predict and often sudden, so it is difficult to offer adequate protection to the vehicles by using the known type of devices.

Also, the hail-proof protection devices of known type are considerably bulky and are difficult to store once their task is completed.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a protection device for vehicles that allows effectively protecting every part of the vehicle itself from hail precipitation.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a protection device for vehicles that allows practical and quick installation so as to reduce the risk of damage during the installation operation.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a protection device for vehicles characterized by reduced weight and volume so that it can be easily accommodated inside the car when not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a protection device for vehicles that allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

The objects set out above are achieved by the present protection device for vehicles having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a protection device for vehicles, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of the protection device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of the protection device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a third embodiment of the protection device according to the invention.

Fmbodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a protection device for vehicles.

The device 1 according to the invention comprises protection means 2 of a vehicle V against hail or similar precipitation.

In more detail, and as shown in the figures, the vehicle V is of the type of a car, but it cannot however be ruled out that the device 1 can also be used for the protection of different types of vehicles such as, e.g., trucks, campers, caravans, etc..

The protection means 2 are provided with at least one covering element 3 adapted to cover the vehicle V and made of a shock-resistant material.

The covering element 3 comprises an upper portion 3a adapted to cover the vehicle V at the top and at least one lateral portion 3b associated with the upper portion 3a and adapted to cover the vehicle V laterally.

Preferably, the covering element 3 comprises two lateral portions 3b associated with the upper portion 3a positioned between them, each one adapted to cover a respective lateral part of the vehicle V.

In other words, the protection means 2 are able to cover substantially the entire surface of the vehicle V exposed to the weather, thus ensuring protection from damage caused by the hail impact with the vehicle itself.

The protection means 2 are also provided with spacing means 4 associated with the covering element 3 and adapted to maintain the covering element 3 at a predefined distance from the vehicle V.

The predefined distance is variable and depends on the size of the spacing means 4.

The spacing means 4 have the function of maintaining the covering element 3 raised from the vehicle V in order to avoid the contact of hailstones with the vehicle itself.

The spacing means 4 are placed between the covering element 3 and the vehicle V.

Advantageously, the covering element 3 is provided with a plurality of holes adapted to allow the flow of water.

In fact, it is frequent that hail precipitation is accompanied by rain, even heavy rain.

The presence of the holes therefore avoids possible accumulation of rain which, by burdening the covering element 3, would not allow the latter to stay at the predefined distance.

The covering element 3 is of the type of a hail-proof net, structurally non- deformable and resistant to traction and tearing.

The covering element 3 is preferably made of a water-repellent material that does not absorb water and therefore does not increase in weight and allows for easy installation of the device 1 after completion of its task.

The covering element 3 is made of a polymeric material, e.g. polyethylene. Conveniently, the spacing means 4 comprise at least one spacing element 5. In particular, the spacing means 4 comprise a plurality of spacing elements 5.

The spacing elements 5 are made of a low density material in order to give a low weight to the device 1.

The spacing elements 5 are made of a polymeric material, e.g. polyethylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, or the like.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the at least one spacing element 5 is of substantially tubular conformation.

In this embodiment, the spacing elements 5 are associated with the covering element 3 so that they rest on specific areas of the vehicle V. In more detail, the spacing elements 5 are arranged at protruding parts of the vehicle V so that the covering element 3 is never in direct contact with the vehicle V and always remains at the predefined distance.

The spacing elements 5 are associated with the covering element 3 by the interposition of joining means.

The joining means comprise fastening elements of the type of resins or glues, clamps, seams or the like.

The joining means can be of the removable type to allow the correct positioning of the spacing element 5 with respect to the covering element 3, in order to adapt the protection means 2 to the actual dimensions of the vehicle V.

In addition, the joining means of the removable type allow the possible replacement of the spacing elements 5 or of the covering element 3 in case of damage or wear.

Conveniently, the device 1 comprises tensioning means 6 associated with the protection means 2 and adapted to tension and maintain the covering element 3 at the predefined distance from the vehicle V.

In fact, it is of considerable importance that, once the device 1 has been fitted, the covering element 3 is not in contact with the vehicle V and is sufficiently tensioned to repel hailstones and prevent them from hitting the vehicle V.

The tensioning means 6 are associated with the spacing means 4 and are adapted to space the spacing elements 5 away from each other in order to tension the covering element 3.

In more detail, by increasing the mutual distance between the spacing elements 5, the covering element 3 is maintained substantially evenly lying on the vehicle V.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the tensioning means 6 are of the type of an elastic cord.

The device 1 comprises locking means 7 associated with the protection means 2 and adapted to fasten the covering element 3 to the vehicle V.

The locking means 7 allow the protection means 2 to remain firmly anchored to the vehicle V, even in case of strong winds. The locking means 7 also operate in conjunction with the tensioning means 6 to maintain the protection means 2 correctly positioned.

The locking means 7 comprise at least one coupling element 8 associated with at least one of either the covering element 3 or the tensioning means 6.

The coupling element 8 may be of the type of a hook, pliers, suction cup, magnet or any device capable of fastening the protection means 2 to the vehicle

V.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the coupling element 8 is of the type of a hook.

The coupling element 8 is associated with the tensioning means 6 and is adapted to intercept a corresponding anchorage area A of the vehicle V.

By anchorage area A is meant an area of the vehicle V, of the bodywork or the wheels, to which the coupling element 8 may be attached to maintain the protection means 2 anchored to the vehicle itself.

In more detail, the anchorage area A can be located at the wheel arch, wheel, rim, front or rear fender or under door.

It is easy to understand, however, that any part of the vehicle V can represent an anchorage area A depending on the type of coupling element 8 you intend to use.

Once the device 1 has been placed on the vehicle V, the coupling elements 8 are anchored to the anchorage areas A by locking the protection means 2.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention wherein the at least one spacing element 5 is of substantially hemispherical conformation.

It cannot however be ruled out that the at least one spacing element 5 may be of spherical or multifaceted conformation.

In this embodiment, the spacing elements 5 are associated substantially evenly with the covering element 3 in order to adapt to any type of vehicle V.

According to the aforementioned second embodiment, the coupling element 8 is adapted to form a coupling to at least one anchorage element 9 associated with at least one of either the covering element 3 or the tensioning means 6.

In this case, the anchorage element 9 is of the type of a buttonhole and is associated with the covering element 3.

The coupling element 8, on the other hand, is of the type of a hook element and is associated with the tensioning means 6.

In particular, the tensioning means 6 are of the type of a suction cup or a magnet, so that its position can be easily changed to tension the covering element 3.

During the installation of the device 1, the anchorage element 9 is coupled to the coupling element 8 to stop the protection means 2 to the vehicle V and, then, the tensioning means 6 are positioned to tension the covering element 3.

It is important to emphasize that in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spacing elements 5 are made of a flexible material, able to deform at least partly to adapt to the surface of the vehicle V.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 3, the spacing elements 5 are, on the contrary, made of a rigid material, preferably of a rigid polymeric material.

This solution provides for the presence of at least one pair of spacing elements 5, mutually associated and positionable with each other so as to adapt to the vehicle V on which they are installed.

In this case, the spacing elements 5 are of the type of rods, or eventually telescopic rods, hinged to each other in a “scissors” fashion, so as to allow the mutual movement of the same and in order to adjust, on the top and on the sides, the predefined distance of the covering element 3.

The protection means 2 comprise a plurality of pairs of spacing elements 5 which are arranged at the protruding parts of the vehicle V so that the covering element 3 is never in direct contact with the vehicle V and always remains at the predefined distance.

The spacing elements 5 are associated with the coupling elements 8 and abut against corresponding anchorage area A to attach themselves to the vehicle V. The spacing elements 5 are also associated with the tensioning means 6 to tension the covering element 3.

According to this embodiment, the tensioning means 6 are of the type of elastic cords.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, not shown in detail in the figures, the coupling element 8 is of the magnetic type and, by interacting with the metal parts of the vehicle V, it maintains the protection means anchored to the vehicle V.

Conveniently, the coupling element 8 is associated with at least one of the spacing elements 5.

Once positioned on the vehicle V, the spacing elements 5, then, adhere and are instantly retained on the bodywork of the vehicle; by adequately positioning the spacing elements 5 with respect to each other, an adequate tensioning of the covering element 3 is obtained.

In other words, in this embodiment, the locking means 7 coincide with the tensioning means 6.

In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, not shown in detail in the figures, the locking means 7 comprise elastic means associated with the covering element 3 and extending along the perimeter of the latter.

The elastic means, therefore, surround the vehicle V and are adapted to facilitate the fastening of the protection means 2 to the vehicle V.

Further embodiments cannot be ruled out from the present discussion wherein, for example, the spacing means 4 comprise at least one inflatable or pre-inflated element associated with the covering element 3.

Further embodiments of the present discussion cannot also be ruled out wherein, for example, the tensioning means 6 may comprise rigid elements, such as sticks or telescopic rods, interposed between the spacing elements 5, or wherein the perimeter edge of the covering element 3 is ballasted by means of appropriate weights, so as to pull the covering element itself downwards by gravity.

Finally, further embodiments cannot be ruled out which are obtained by means of different combinations of the characteristic components described above.

It has, in practice, been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects and in particular it is emphasized that the weather protection device for vehicles allows effectively protecting every part of the vehicle from hail precipitation.

The weather protection device for vehicles according to the invention allows practical and quick installation in order to reduce the risk of damage during the installation operation.

In addition, the weather protection device for vehicles according to the present invention is characterized by reduced weight and volume so that it can be easily accommodated inside the vehicle when not in use.