Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Storm-front shield – apron – or robe
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-06
2001-06-05
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Storm-front shield, apron, or robe
C150S168000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241303
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of motor vehicle maintenance, and more particularly to weather protection devices for the windshields and other exposed surfaces of motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, boats and airplanes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, boats and airplanes are commonly parked outdoors where they are exposed to adverse or potentially damaging weather conditions. Frost, fog, snow, sleet and dust can coat the windshield of such a motor vehicle and obscure the driver's view unless the windshield is scraped or brushed off before the vehicle is driven. Hail can pit, and in extreme cases, break the windshield. As a result, various covers have been proposed to protect the windshield from adverse weather conditions.
Among the materials proposed for use in such covers are waterproof canvas, waterproof cardboard or paper, and soft plastic materials such as nylon or vinyl. One drawback to covers made from these materials is that these materials are relatively thin and provide little impact protection for the windshield. Another drawback to covers made from such materials is that they tend to be relatively ineffective in protecting the windshield against coating by frost unless the covers are sealed along substantially their entire periphery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These drawbacks and others are addressed by a device for protecting a windshield of a motor vehicle against adverse weather comprising a cover so dimensioned to at least substantially cover the windshield and a plurality of straps extending from the cover. The cover includes a plurality of fibriles extending from one of its sides. The device is used by positioning the cover over the exposed surface such that the side of the cover from which the fibriles extend faces the exposed surface of the windshield and securing the cover to the motor vehicle by means of the straps.
In a preferred form, hook and loop material is positioned at the free ends of the straps for engagement to secure free ends of the straps in the interior of the vehicle. In another preferred form, the cover is made up of natural or synthetic fir and a backing material is positioned along a back side of the cover opposite the fibrous side to display an image visible to the exterior of the motor vehicle.
One advantage of the preferred cover of the invention is that the contact of the fibrous material against the exposed surface of the windshield inhibits the icing of the windshield without the need to carefully seal the cover against the windshield along substantially its entire periphery. Another advantage of the preferred cover is that the fibriles cushions the windshield against impacts.
Therefore, it is one object of the invention to provide a cover for a windshield or other exposed surface which provides year-round protection against adverse weather conditions. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be described in further detail in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2223145 (1940-11-01), Wise
patent: 2646118 (1953-07-01), Berty
patent: 2807356 (1957-09-01), Blum
patent: 3338293 (1967-08-01), Hohmann
patent: 4257464 (1981-03-01), Binney
patent: 4635993 (1987-01-01), Hooper et al.
patent: 4726406 (1988-02-01), Weatherspoon
patent: 4867216 (1989-09-01), McKee
patent: 4973098 (1990-11-01), McFall
patent: 4993471 (1991-02-01), Golden
patent: 5123468 (1992-06-01), Mater, Jr.
patent: 5287904 (1994-02-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5343915 (1994-09-01), Newsome
patent: 5364155 (1994-11-01), Kuwahara et al.
patent: 5615923 (1997-04-01), Madison
patent: 5678878 (1997-10-01), Clark
patent: 6089007 (2000-07-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 6093469 (2000-07-01), Callas
patent: 674216 (1963-11-01), None
Biebel & French
Pape Joseph D.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for protecting an exposed surface of a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for protecting an exposed surface of a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for protecting an exposed surface of a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2441428