Vehicle fenders – Buffer or bumper type – Bumper extends along side of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-26
2001-06-19
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Vehicle fenders
Buffer or bumper type
Bumper extends along side of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247734
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile and more specifically, to a new and novel automobile body protection apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile from minor dents, scratches, and the like caused by the impingement of objects such as doors from adjacent vehicles, shopping carts, and the like.
Automobiles, are often subject to being damaged when they are parked in close proximity to each other. Such damage typically takes the form of scratches, dents, chipped paint, abrasions, and related damage to the surface finish of the automobile's external body. Such damage frequently occurs when the door of an adjacent automobile is carelessly opened with sufficient force and comes in contact with an adjacent automobile. Such contact often results in the edge of the opened door chipping or otherwise marring the surface finish or even causing a dent in the body of the struck automobile. In addition, automobiles are also frequently parked in areas near shopping centers where metal shopping carts are used. Such carts are often carelessly pushed into contact with a parked automobile or are discarded in the parking areas where they may roll into contact with an automobile. Such contact with the metal shopping cart may also cause damage to the surface finish of the struck automobile. The cost to repair the surface finish of an automobile caused by such impacts can be costly and inconvenient and may diminish its value.
In order to reduce or eliminate such damage, manufactures have equipped automobiles with permanent molding strips that extend along the sides of an automobile in an effort to block doors, shopping carts, or the like from contacting the body of the automobile. Unfortunately, such strips are often of an inadequate width or thickness, or are positioned at a height for appearance purposes and may thereby limit the strips functionality.
Various devices have also been developed for attaching to and providing protection to an automobile. Many of the devices are however, relatively expensive to manufacture, difficult to install, or are not of adequate thickness to resist heavy impacts. Many such devices also do not easily adjust to the various surface configurations or body styling of automobiles. Further, during periods of rain, many such devices accumulate water across their top surface causing the device to sag out of position thereby reducing their effectiveness in providing protection to the automobile body.
Accordingly, a need exist for a new and novel automobile body protection apparatus, that can be easily installed along the body of an automobile, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is of adequate thickness to resist heavy impacts, easily adjusts to a variety of body configurations or styling, prevents or reduces the accumulation of water that can cause a device to sag out of position, and can be easily stored during periods of nonuse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile from minor dents, scratches, and the like caused by the impingement of objects such as doors from adjacent vehicles, shopping carts, and the like. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the automobile body protection apparatus comprises flexible convoluted tubing and means for attaching and for positioning the flexible convoluted tubing along the external surface of the automobile.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible convoluted tubing is formed of an elastomeric material tubing comprising a cylindrical wall with axially spaced annular circumferential continuous convolutions integral therewith.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible convoluted tubing is formed from at least two tubing sections for increasing the length of the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile includes an outer sheath.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile includes means for attaching the apparatus to the wheel wells of the automobile.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile includes means for attaching the apparatus to the wheel wells of the automobile which is adjustable for reducing the sag of the tubing.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile includes means for removably attaching the apparatus to the external surface of the automobile.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile includes suction means for removably attaching the apparatus to the external surface of the automobile.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile includes means for preventing theft of the apparatus.
A primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus for protecting the external body of an automobile from minor dents, scratches, and the like caused by the impingement of objects.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that can be easily mounted along the external surface of the body of the automobile.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that can be easily increased in length.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that is relatively flexible.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that can easily accommodate to various body configurations and body styles.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that can resist heavy impacts.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that includes an anti-theft means.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus that is relatively durable and lightweight in construction.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an automobile body protection apparatus which prevents the accumulation of rain water across the top of the apparatus reducing the tendency of the apparatus to sag.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
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Burden Elizabeth Ann
Hamilton Leonard O'Shannon
Hamilton William Hayes
Hamilton Trail La Blanche Juliette
Hamilton Tucker Gwendolyn Nadine
Pape Joseph D.
Smith Mark F.
Smith, Guttag & Bolin
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