Technical Field

The invention relates to a protective cover which has been developed for protecting the motor vehicles like an automobile, from disasters such as a sudden heavy hail.

Prior Art

The glasses and/or bodies and/or the other components of the motor vehicles are damaged due to disasters, such as a sudden heavy hail. This causes a significant cost for repairing the vehicles again. In the state of the art, articles like canvas, blanket, carpet, etc. are used to protect the motor vehicles from disasters such as a heavy hail. The articles used as canvas both do not provide sufficient protection for the vehicle as they are thin and are difficult for the users to store and repackage them due to their size and the area they cover, after use. On the other hand, the inflatable articles in another state of the art are made ready for use by being inflated very slowly. Furthermore, the vehicle should be enabled not to be damaged and/or to be damaged at a minimum level with a rapid intervention during a sudden hail. Said systems are inflated very slowly during an emergency such as a heavy hail and are difficult to be stored thereafter.

Thus, there is a need for a system which minimizes or eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages in the state of the art.

Brief Description of the Invention:

The object of the invention is to provide a protective cover which has been developed for protecting the motor vehicles like an automobile, from disasters such as a sudden heavy hail.

In order to achieve said object, the air ducts of the cover according to the invention are inflated using compressed gas cylinders containing Nitrogen and/or Argon and/or CO2. Thus, an automobile is not damaged even though the hail stones hit thereon due to the cover with ducts comprising air. Furthermore, any material damage to the vehicle’s body and/or glasses and/or the other components is prevented with the cover of the invention when a rapid intervention is needed during a sudden hail.

Description of the References in the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention, the numbers in the drawings are provided below:

10. Cover

1. Duct

2. Compressed air supply

2.1 Reservoir

2.2 Trigger mechanism

2.3 Triggering pin

2.4 Part

2.5 Line

3. Fastening unit

4. Flap

T. Vehicle

Detailed Description of the Invention:

In one embodiment of the invention, the cover (10) of the invention developed so as to be located on a vehicle (T) for protecting the motor vehicles from disasters such as a sudden heavy hail comprises at least one duct (1) independent from each other, at least one compressed air supply (2) used for blowing air (or gas) into the ducts to inflate said ducts (1), at least one connecting unit (3) to fasten the cover (10) onto the vehicle (T), and at least one flap (4) to protect the side doors and/or glasses of the vehicle (T).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said ducts (1) are arranged parallel to each other at the predetermined distances and have predetermined lengths, but are not limited thereto.

The compressed air supply (1) is a compressed gas cylinder containing Nitrogen and/or Argon and/or CO2 ... etc. Air is blown into the ducts (2) very rapidly using said compressed air supply (1). In this way, the cover (10) of the invention is made ready for use by being inflated in a very short time. Moreover, the cover (10) may be installed in a very short time. The cover (10) can be easily stored in the trunk of the vehicle (T) to be used during an emergency and does not take up space due to the size thereof.

The cover (10) of the invention is laid on the vehicle (T) and fixed to the vehicle (T) by at least one connecting unit (3) connected to the cover (10). The connecting unit (3) is at least one elastic or nonelastic thread and/or rope and/or at least one ring, which has a predetermined thickness according to the embodiments of the invention. In addition, the numbers, places, lengths, widths, and geometries of said connecting units (3) may vary depending on the size and type of the vehicle (T). Upon connection, the compressed air supply (2) which is mounted inside the cover (10) or connected to the cover (10) by an external apparatus is actuated and the ducts (1) are inflated, so the cover (10) is made more protective against the impacts.

The compressed air supply (2) comprises at least one reservoir (2.1), at least one trigger mechanism (2.2), a triggering pin (2.3) of a predetermined size in length for filing a compressed air from said mechanism into the ducts (1), at least one part (2.4) for enabling a user to easily hold the triggering pin (2.3), and at least one line (2.5) for filing the air (or gas) from the reservoir (2.1) into the ducts (1).

On the cover (10), the compressed gas inside the reservoir (2.1) is filled into the ducts (1) using the compressed air supply (2) which may be mounted to the cover (10), via the line (2.5) in the compressed air supply (2). The reservoir (2.1) containing the compressed gas is pierced using the pin (2.3) (or trigger), and the gas is filled into the ducts (1) through the line (2.5), thereby the cover (10) being inflated. The trigger mechanism (2.2) used on the cover (10) works by pulling the pin (2.3) and piercing a mouth at a gas outlet in the reservoir (2.1) using a piercing member, for example a needle, in the trigger mechanism (2.2).

Filing of the compressed gas in the reservoir (2.1) into the ducts (1) in a very short time via the trigger mechanism (2.2) facilitates the inflation of the cover (10) during an emergency. The cover (10) consisting of air ducts (1) has a valve which will retain the air therein. Thus, the gas filled in is prevented from escaping out again. The cover (10) with ducts may be inflated using a single valve, although the hundreds of air ducts (1) on the cover (10) are independent from each other. The gas in the cover (10) will not run out, as any gas leakage from any duct (1) by way of piercing does not affect the other ducts (1). Only the duct (1) which has been punctured collapses. Thus, each of the ducts (1) which are full of gas has an individual air-tight valve design therein. Once a duct (1) is inflated, it does not collapse until it is pierced.

The cover (10) is made more protective against various external environmental factors when the ducts (1) of the cover are inflated.

After the cover (10) is located on the vehicle (T) during or before hail, the air ducts are inflated using the compressed air supplies (2), and the vehicle’s body and/or glasses and/or the other components are protected from any possible damage caused by a heavy hail.

The cover (10) is made from an impact-resistant material (Polyethylene). In addition, the cover (10) of the invention is disposable and may be discarded for recycling after use during an emergency. The cover (10), the air of which is discharged through the ducts (1) therein may be thrown away into a recycle bin, or may be kept for use later. It may be used for a few times under suitable circumstances depending on the user, however the cover (10) is not possible to be packaged again upon inflation, or once a cover (10) collapses, it is not possible to be inflated again for use.

After the cover (10) is located on the vehicle (T) and inflated, it shrinks by 20% - 30% as compared to the uninflated state. The ducts (1) inflated using the compressed gas enable the cover (10) to be shrunk in length and width. This causes the cover (10) to better grasp and protect the vehicle (T) after being laid on the vehicle (T). Upon this shrinkage, the connecting units (3) connected to the vehicle (T) increase the strength to the turbulences.

The cover (10) is manufactured in different sizes and types to be used for various vehicles (T). The cover (10) with ducts according to the invention is designed so as to protect the roof and/or trunk and/or hood and/or front bumper and/or rear bumper and/or the entire glasses and/or doors of the vehicle (T). These designs may vary as the shapes and sizes of the vehicle (T) are different. The cover (10) comprises at least one inflating point as the sizes of the vehicles (T) vary, and the cover (10) may be inflated through said points. The cover (10) has at least one inflating point, although all ducts (1) are independent from each other.

The cover (10) of the invention has at least one usage. In other words, the cover (10) may be used consistently to protect the motor vehicle (T) from the external environmental factors such as sunlight and/or snowing and/or rainfall when there is no heavy hail, as desired by a user. In addition, the time for the vehicle (T) to become dirty is prolonged and the time and money spent for washing the vehicle (T) are reduced, as it protects the vehicle (T) from said environmental factors.

Thus, the cover (10) of the invention which has been developed to be located on a vehicle (T) so as to protect the motor vehicle (T) from the external factors such as sunlight and/or snowing and/or rainfall when there is no heavy hail comprises, in another embodiment of the invention, at least one duct (1), at least one connecting unit (3), and at least one flap (4).

The cover (10) which has been laid on the vehicle (T) before the hail falls, may be removed from the vehicle, folded as required and stored to be used in the future risky cases.

The cover (10) may be made from different recyclable materials such as Polyethylene (PE) and the like. The cover (10) is designed so as to have colors and warnings to attract attention of the vehicles (T) and pedestrians under the bad weathers. Thus, the vehicle (T) and the owner thereof are protected from the possible accidents.

Industrial Applicability of the Invention:

The cover (10) of the invention has industrial applicability to be used in automobile sectors.

The invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments, and a person skilled in the art may easily reveal the other different embodiments of the invention. These should be considered within the scope of the protection of the invention claimed in the claims.