Protective cover, particularly for vehicles

p0001The invention relates to a protective cover for objects, in particular for protecting vehicles against damage, the protective cover on the edge of each pressure-tight bonded layers, preferably a top layer and a supporting layer, which is substantially at least two of air-impermeable material, which parallel in the pressurized state is substantially above the other are arranged.

p0002The state of the art on various occasions are special tarpaulins, covers and capes of plastic sheeting, woven material with plastic coating or combination foils made of a soft bedding material and a water-repellent cover layer, provided with special fasteners that are inverted and mounted on the protected vehicle. Due to the small thicknesses of such cases only a very limited protection is provided against as hailstorms. The protective effect is usually limited only to rain and sunlight. Therefore, the manufacturers of such cases also not guarantee reliable protection against damage to the vehicle by reducing flying objects, leave such. As hailstones. Furthermore, special fillable with air devices are known which provide protection against hail shoots or other flying solid objects, however, deviate from the subject invention in essential details:

p0003The US 6,415,832 discloses a protective sheath, consisting of a lower and an upper panel, each consisting of a lower and an upper surface and a circumferential edge. A plurality of longitudinally and transversely arranged in lines, that describe a grid structure, the upper panel with the lower panel in such a manner that a plurality of discrete pockets is formed. Using loops is fixed the protective cover on the vehicle. The disadvantage of this design is that due to the direct connection of the two panels, only a thin protective case can be generated, which therefore allows only limited protection against hail shoots with smaller dimensions.

p0004The US 6,439,644 A discloses a protective device for vehicles, vehicle groups or houses, in which the protection is achieved by means of air pressure within the cavity of the protective cover, which is constructed by means of an air blower. Using specially designed adjustable air valves, which are constructed as pressure relief valves, the pressure within the protective sheath during a dynamic load is kept constant and by the permanent working air blower, the escaped after a overpressure air volume is refilled. An essential disadvantage of this embodiment, the fact must be considered that escapes a momentary greater stress, caused by a greater number of simultaneous weft forming hail womb, system air and may quickly enough can be refilled not again, which is why the protective effect temporarily can not be guaranteed.

p0005The US 6,203,095 discloses a protective device, which can be partially applied by magnetic adhesive elements on the protected site of a vehicle. The protective device consisting of a thin material, is intended to prevent soiling of the protected vehicle range, and optionally with additionally mounted, shock-resistant elements, which can be plugged into the designated loops, upgradeable as protector against mechanical stresses. Because of the type only a limited range of the vehicle can be protected and additionally mounted shock-resistant elements no longer have relatively large dimensions, so that overall there is a bulky protective device based on the modest spatial scope, having large pack mass and therefore as hail protection in vehicle can be space-saving manner.

p0006The US 6,241,303 discloses a protective device for windshields of vehicles to the weather. The scope is limited space on the windshield and due to the special design a protective effect against flying hard objects or hail womb is not given.

p0007The US 6,044,881 discloses a device for protecting vehicles against damage by weather, consisting of a one-piece, inflatable envelope which is to be put on as a complete unit on the vehicle. In addition, other inflatable tubes may be integrated spiral or crossed. A disadvantage is the maximum design difficult installation on the vehicle and the lack of protection in the thinner regions between adjacent inflatable protective hoses.

p0008The US 6,056,347 discloses a device for protecting vehicles against all influences of the weather, such. As hail, rain, sun and snow. The protective device consists of a double, the vehicle specially fitted sheath, in the inflatable at defined intervals or solid, tubular chambers (shaper, spacers) are incorporated and which is provided with special bearing elements, so that the protective cover rests only on defined bearing surfaces on the vehicle and an air flux between the package and the vehicle is made possible. A disadvantage is the impact of the large gaps between the adjacent spacers, because is given in these spaces for a limited or insufficient protection against hail o. Ä..

p0009The US 6,070,629 discloses a device for protecting vehicles against hail or other falling objects, consisting of an inner and outer layer and an intermediate layer of an air cushion layer having a thickness of about 1.5 inches. As a special disadvantages of this embodiment are to be considered, that the protective cover has permanently the same thickness and can not be combined and stored to save space and the lack of ability to refill by diffusion from the air chambers escaping air, so that the protective effect even when not in use the protective device , steadily decreases. Furthermore, an indication is missing the pressure level, so that the protective effect can not be estimated.

p0010The US 5,890,525 A discloses a protective device for vehicles, consisting of densely stapled air chambers. The disadvantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that the individual air chambers in the pressurized state have an approximately circular cross-section and therefore the protection device having a different thickness; especially in those areas where two adjacent air chambers are joined together with a circular cross section, the protective sheath is too low for a sufficient protective effect thickness.

p0011The US 5,800,006 discloses a device for protecting vehicles against damage from hail or other free falling objects, wherein the protective device comprises a multi-layer shell. The protective effect is produced by routing the outer local load on the shock absorbing layers underneath. The disadvantage is given by the thickness required for the protective effect that a small pack size, when not in use, preventing and disproportionate weight.

p0012The US 5,653,492 A discloses a protective device for vehicles consisting of three stable elements, which are assembled by means of zippers to a garage-like protective device, the three stable elements are made of solid panels. When not in use are bulky, elements that also can be very heavy depending on the version and can be kept outside of a vehicle.

p0013The US 5,664,825 A discloses a protective device for vehicles comprising a plurality of energy absorbing elements which are closely spaced and integrated into two flexible outer layers, wherein the cross-sectional shape of these elements is circular. Due to the proposed design, the protective device also when not in use the same thickness, which is why a space-saving storage in the vehicle is not possible. Another drawback is given by the circular cross section of the energy absorbing elements, which allows only an uneven protective effect that goes at the joints almost to zero.

p0014The AT 000 725 U1 discloses a protective mat for vehicles, consisting of the protective mat, a special exhaust filter, a pressure relief valve and a mounting strap to attach the mat to the side mirrors. The disadvantage with this system, the basic structure of the mat, which is similar to an air mattress of two longitudinally welded in several panels covering layers, and forms when pressurized bead chambers with varying thickness, build a different protective effect and shrinks the width when pressure.

p0015The US 5,287,904 A discloses an inflatable sleeve for vehicles with a cotton fabric as a support on the vehicle. A disadvantage is the design of the protective cover, which is adapted to the vehicle shape precisely and therefore can be applied only with difficulty by a person in a short time on the vehicle.

p0016The DE 94 02 268 U1 discloses an inflatable sleeve for vehicles, which is divided into a plurality of internal, interconnected air chambers and is formed as a cover pad or cover and is inflated with a gas cylinder via an inflation valve. As serious disadvantages the enormous risk potential are here for a considered, emanating from a gas filling, and second, the uneven thickness and therefore uneven protective effect of the protective case, conditionally interconnected by the basic structure of air chambers.

p0017The US 5,350,000 A discloses an inflatable protection device for vehicles designed as a multi-airbag, which is inflated on the engine exhaust line. Disadvantageous affect in this system, the enormous size of the different airbags, their design, uneven thickness and thus have an uneven protective effect and the required oversize the protector because this is inflated with pressurized filling and shrinks in the longitudinal and transverse direction.

p0018The DE 43 16 504 A1 discloses an inflatable protection device for vehicles, which is divided into a plurality of interconnected air chambers and is filled with a gas cartridge. Again the same drawbacks as for the DE 94 02 268 U1 apply.

p0019The US 5,242,206 A discloses an inflatable sleeve for vehicles, consisting of a lower and an upper cover layer, which are connected airtight at the periphery, and subsequently additional compounds of the lower and upper cover layer together form the circumference one or more air-tight chambers. A disadvantage of this embodiment is different under pressure thickness of the protective covering that creates a different protective effect to see.

p0020The DE 39 28 695 A1 discloses a device for protecting vehicles against hail, which consists of at least an inflatable hollow body and flat covering elements. Disadvantageous affect in such a system, that the protective effect is uneven and must be subject to adequate protection, the sheet-like covering an enormous bias and held in a large distance from the vehicle surface by means of the inflatable hollow body. This caused high system pressures and high preload forces which in turn relatively expensive materials with high strength properties and large wall thicknesses, and thus a high weight of the guard condition.

p0021The DE 36 29 426 A1 discloses an inflatable protection device for vehicles which essentially consists of two superimposed airtight tarpaulins connected airtight to each other on the periphery. Furthermore, the two planar on the inner side along in the form of meanders or parallel strips are welded to one another, or are tube-like hollow body, which either closely spaced to each other or are arranged at larger intervals, is introduced. A disadvantage is seen that in the inflated state creates a case with different thicknesses and different protection.

p0022The US 4,294,483 A discloses an inflatable protection device for vehicles comprising at least one inflatable member and a vehicle adapted form. As disadvantages, the problem of applying a pre-formed protective cover and the uneven thickness of the inflated element may be mentioned (uneven protective effect).

p0023The US 2002/0139408 A1 discloses an inflatable sleeve for cars and planes, as well as an inflatable tent from an inflatable envelope. Both the inflatable protective sheath and the inflatable tent shell made of two layers, which are connected by a vertical inner walls such that a plurality of air chambers is formed, being located in the inner walls of openings that allow a uniform distribution of pressure within the inflatable envelope. The subdivision of the cover with internal walls into a plurality of air chambers leads to enormous drawbacks. The shell thickness (height of the inner walls) is defined having 1 to 15 cm, the distance between the vertical inner walls to each other in the width direction is defined as having from 2 to 20 cm and in the longitudinal direction of 2 to 30 cm. This means that at smaller intervals, of the inner walls to each other a large number is formed in the air chambers, the sheath at a filling with air a somewhat uniform thickness (only slight bulging), which however, due to the high number of inner walls of a higher weight is achieved. another case of larger distances between the inner walls forming larger air chambers and the number of interior walls is lower, which indeed brings a weight advantage, but with the disadvantage of an uneven shell thickness (bulging) is connected for air filling and an uneven protective effect against zoom flying hailstones etc. leads , Another disadvantage of the disclosed protective case results from the special shape of the protective cover, which has a three-dimensional shape due to the preformed corner training, and therefore can be applied only with great difficulty over the vehicle under wind action if necessary. The pressure distribution in the interior of the protective covering is ensured by means of the specific apertures in the internal walls; However, this has the disadvantage results in that larger flow resistances in the air flow will be set up in filling for use or for emptying after a use of the protective sleeve and therefore a rapid filling or emptying is not possible and hence a longer time for assembly and dismantling is required. When not in use the protective cover should be merged to the smallest possible pack size / can be rolled, wherein the plurality of interior walls, which also have a volume, increase the pack size.

p0024EP 1213172 A1 discloses a protective cover for vehicles with two pressure-tight bonded layers of air-permeable material, which are arranged parallel one above the other in the pressurized state.

p0025DE 36 29 426 A1 a protective cover for vehicles made of welded plastic film webs is known. To fill the cover a spare tire or a small compressor is proposed.

p0026Known cases are kept in a folded or rolled state.

p0027In the acute use case, ie at about suddenly occurring hail, the protective sheath must as quickly and easily can be brought and spread over the vehicle. However, this is not always guaranteed with conventional cases, in particular when the protective sheath is applied by a single person.

p0028The object of the subject invention is to develop a protective cover that can be folded or rolled up when not in use to a very small pack size and spread out when needed, for example, of an impending hailstorm, and simply brought very quickly about the protected vehicle and with air can be filled.

p0029This is achieved in that the rollable trained Cases least one, preferably at least two, preferably integrated straps, the length of which corresponds to at least the length of the package and which are rolled up together with the protective sheath that by pulling in Entrollrichtung the protective sheath rapidly over the can be unrolled object to be protected. This allows a quick installation of the case to protect possible of impending damage to an object. The rollable trained Cases consists of a special double-walled material which is hermetically sealed to the outer edges. In the intermediate region between the layers elastic spacers are preferably provided which guarantee a uniform thickness by feeding air into the double-walled protective sheath. This creates a double protective shell, in their central position an air cushion is built up so that even with larger down flying hailstones by damping effect the kinetic energy can be reduced to an uncritical residual and distribution of local pressure load to a larger area fraction, the remaining local pressure load on the vehicle can not cause permanent damage. The air flow can by means of a special, integrated into the protective sheath manually operated air pump, similar to a bellows, or by means of an electrically operated pump. A rapid filling with air is of enormous importance, since the protective cover if necessary possible to immediately provide protection against hail must. Furthermore, it is important that the air charge also deflated after completion of the hailstorm again very quickly and the protective sleeve itself is removed very rapidly back and folded to a small pack size or can be rolled up. These large valves or pressure-tight zippers are provided.

p0030A simple maneuvering provided with a protective sheath vehicle is possible when the protective sleeve is provided with at least one viewing window, which allows the driver a view out of the vehicle, is preferably provided that at least one side of the protective sleeve is designed such that a access to the vehicle or leaving the vehicle is made possible with case closed.

p0031The protective cover is designed so that the protective effect is due to a reduction of kinetic energy of the descending flying hailstone or object and a pressure distribution over a larger area, which means the air cushion in the protective sheath a resistance is opposed. The special design of the protective cover in a special way shock is resistant, has high damping capacity and allows a distribution of pressure load from the outside over a larger area so that valuable items, in particular vehicles such as cars, motorcycles and caravans up during a storm in freefall falling objects such. B. hailstones (hail CASTLE) in the usual order (diameter up to 50 mm), stones, branches, etc. in such a way can be protected so that permanent or visible damage can be largely prevented. This protective cover is collapsible when not in use to a very small, noncritical bulk and therefore can be permanently taken without substantial deterioration of the storage space in the vehicle. Furthermore, the protective sleeve is characterized by a low weight and can be applied when needed very quickly to the vehicle, mounted and inflated with air. Large, air-tight sealable openings allow for a use a quick emptying of the air volume.

p0032In a further embodiment, the protective shell of at least three layers, which are connected by elastic spacers and forming at least two can be filled with air air chambers. Between the cover layer and the support layer is at least one intermediate layer, preferably, disposed of air-impermeable material. The two air chambers can be acted upon by different pressures. This allows - at substantially the same thickness of the protective sheath - an increased protective effect against zoom flying objects are achieved.

p0033The invention is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>the protective casing of the invention for use on a vehicle in an oblique view;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a detail of the cover in a first embodiment in the inflated state;</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a detail of a protective case at zero pressure;</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>the protective sleeve during a Entrollvorganges;</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>the protective sleeve during a Entrollvorganges on a vehicle;</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>the protective sleeve in the extended condition; and</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>a detail of the cover in a second embodiment.</dd></dl>

p0034As is clear from the overall view of an embodiment variant of the protective covering 10 according to the invention shown in Fig. 1, the protective sheath 10 from the middle section 1, the two side parts 2 and 3, the connecting portions 2 'and 3', an optional viewing surface 5, which is provided for quick release integrated, pressure-tight zipper 6 and the integrated bellows 4. the protective sleeve 10 is placed over the protected vehicle 7 and secured by means not shown here attachments on the vehicle. 7

p0035Fig. 2 shows the basic structure of the protective sheath 10 according to the invention in the inflated state, consisting of the outer cover layer 1a, 1b of the support layer, the bendable spacers 1c and the air chamber 1d. Thus, an overpressure in the interior of the protective sheath 10 can be constructed, the outer cover layer 1a and the plating layer 1b on the outer edge all round a pressure-tight connected to one another. When inflated, the thickness of the protective covering 25 is - 100 mm, preferably 50 - 75 mm. The pressure is preferably from about 0.5 bar to 1.5 bar.

p0036Fig. 3 shows the shield 10 in the unpressurized state, so that the outer cover layer 1a comes to rest directly on the support layer 1b and the entire protective cover 10 can be folded into the smallest space. The thickness of the protective cover 10 in the unpressurized state is approximately 0.6 to 1.5 mm.

p0037Fig. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a protection device 10, which is rolled up when not in use to a handy roll and when rolled during Einrollvorganges two straps 8 with.

p0038Fig. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a protective device such as this is attached, if necessary, with fastening elements on the front or rear of the vehicle 7 and unrolled by hand pull in Entrollrichtung 9 at the two fixing strips 8 of the vehicle 7. After a first fixing this unrolled strip was made, the two side parts 2, 3 folded respectively downwardly and by means of special clamping elements (z. B. Velcro, hooks and eyes) can be fixed. Only then filling with air by means of the integrated bellows 4 or an electrically operated fan is made.

p0039Fig. Figure 6 shows the protective device 10 in a spread state, thereby the center part 1, the two side parts 2 and 3 and the fastening tapes 8 are shown.

p0040Fig. 7 shows a further variant of the protective sheath 10 in the inflated condition, comprising the outer cover layer 1a, the plating layer 1b, the bendable spacers 1c, the first air chamber 1d, the second air chamber 1e and the intermediate layer 1f. In this two air chambers 1d, 1e having a protective case 10, two different sizes of spacings between the layers 1a, 1b, 1f and different pressures in the air chambers 1d, 1e are provided. The outer top layer 1a has a thickness of about 10 - 30% of the total thickness of the protective sleeve 10th The adjoining the top layer 1a outer second air chamber 1e is charged with an approximately twice as high as the pressure adjoining the pad protective layer 1b inner first air chamber 1d. This achieves a much higher level of protection against flying objects zoom with the same total thickness of the protective cover 10 as shown in FIG. 2. The higher stiffness of the outer layer 1a is utilized, which results from the higher internal pressure in the second air chamber 1e. Due to the lower thickness of the outer second air chamber 1e opposite to the inner first air chamber 1d is a lower burden of the outer sleeve (film) is given even at the higher internal pressure.

p0041In a first embodiment, the protective sheath 10 of a double-film body which is provided with spacers 1c and is closed all round pressure-sealed at the outer edge. This universal protective cover 10 has an approximately rectangular cross section and is placed and fixed in the unpressurized state of the vehicle to be protected. 7 Subsequently, the cavity between the two foil walls is filled with air, so that a uniform thickness is formed. For air filling an integrated, manually operated air pump 4 or an electrically operated fan is provided. After use, the air escapes through large-scale, pressure-tight sealable openings, such. As zippers. 6

p0042In a preferred embodiment, the protective sheath 10 is tuned to the three-dimensional geometric shape of the vehicle. 7 The protective cover 10 consists of a central part 1 and two with the central part directly connected side parts 2, 3. In the air-filled state, the thickness of the central part 1 is greater than the thickness of the side parts 2, 3, tuned to the preferred impact direction of the hailstones. standardized sizes and embodiments are provided for the different vehicle types and sizes.