Portable cover system apparatus for vehicular and other outdoor use

• US 5,241,977 A
• Filed: 04/28/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BERNARDO, CORNADO A. (FORTY PERCENT 40% INTEREST), Go! Products Incorporated, Mark J. Antosh
• Original Assignee: Go-Products A General Partnership
• Inventors: Flores, Victor, Antosh, Mark J., Bernardo, Conrado A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, LANNA
• Application Number:
  US07/875,757
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 135/87-89, 135/98, 135/99, 135/115, 135/119, 135/113, 135/107, 135/108, 135/109
• US Class Current: 135/88.06
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 11/00 Removable external protective coverings specially adapted for vehicles or parts of vehicles, e.g. parking covers covering of load on vehicles B60P7/00; guard strips for body finishing, identifying or decorating B60R13/04; tents for use as garages E04H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/58 Closures; Awnings; Sunshades
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/04 wheeled, hinged, foldable, telescopic, swinging or otherwise movable

Abstract

A portable cover apparatus for use in vehicular and outdoor applications where sheltering, such as shading from the sun and other environmental elements is desired. The apparatus includes a flexible cover adequate for the particular environmental covering task at hand, i.e. mesh or closed sheet material, supported by structurally independent mast and base supports. Each independent base support has a horizontal anchoring portion, and a vertically offset mast attachment portion that coacts with a telescoping variable length mast to accommodate various shapes and positioning of the flexible cover. In a preferred embodiment, the cover may be attached to the upper mast ends using hook-ended stretch cords, as a method of compensating for different sizes of objects to be covered as well to absorb stress from wind. The side curtains are detachable from the top cover using mating hook and loop fastening material. The portable covering application determines the number of independent mast and base supports required according to the geometrical configuration of the sheet covering material. The horizontal portion has suitable structure for receiving a weighted body, such as the wheels of an automobile and may include auxillary holes for anchoring to the ground. The manner of anchoring is discretionary considering the duration of the covering needs, surface hardness, security from theft of the covering apparatus, time to install, patience of the installer and other related human factor considerations.

Claims

1. A portable vehicle cover apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a fabric cover means for providing shelter, said cover means having a plurality of corner fastening means;

a plurality of structurally independent mast means for rising and supporting said cover means, each independent mast means comprising a substantially L-shaped base member and a detachably and pivotally secured variable length mast member, said L-shaped base member comprising a horizontal portion for receiving a vehicle'"'"'s wheels, a substantially vertical mast attachment portion, and interconnecting bracing extending from said mast attachment portion to said horizontal portion, said bracing being formed to locate said mast attachment portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees from said horizontal portion such that said detachably and pivotally secured variable length mast member will be maintained in an off-set relationship away from a vehicle utilizing said apparatus and thereby prevent inadvertent contact,

said mast attachment portion having cover tautness compensating means in the form of a pivot hole and a plurality of arcuately arranged mounting holes to facilitate said mast member being detachably and pivotably secured, and

said horizontal member comprises opposing tubular structure and a cross member having a second anchor facilitating means for receiving a ground driven anchor that facilitates an alternate way of anchoring said independent mast means; and

a plurality of hook-ended stretch cord means for attaching said corner fastening means to an upper mast member of said variable length mast member to effect rising and supporting said cover means.

2. A portable vehicle cover apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said fabric cover means includes a detachable top cover member and at least one side cover member, said fabric cover means comprises mesh sunscreen material, said top cover member having said corner fastening means, said top cover member having peripheral fastening means for facilitating securement to an edge fastening means provided on said at least one side cover member, said peripheral fastening means and said edge fastening means comprising mating hook and loop fastening material.

3. A portable vehicle cover apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a fabric cover means for providing shelter for a vehicle, said cover means including a detachable top cover member and at least one side cover member, said fabric cover means comprises mesh sunscreen material, said top cover member having corner fastening means, said top cover member having peripheral fastening means for facilitating securement to an edge fastening means provided on said at least one side cover member, said peripheral fastening means and said edge fastening means comprising mating hook and loop fastening material;

a plurality of structurally independent mast means for rising and supporting said cover means, each one of said plurality of mast means being structurally independent with respect to other ones of said plurality of mast means, each independent mast means comprising a variable length mast member and a substantially L-shaped base member, said mast member being detachably secured to said base member,

each said L-shaped base member included in said plurality of mast means comprising opposing horizontal tubular structure member and an adjacent substantially vertical mast attachment plate portion, said opposing horizontal tubular structure member forming a first anchor facilitating means for receiving a vehicle'"'"'s wheel, said opposing horizontal tubular structure member comprising bump means for indicating to a driver that a vehicle is atop said L-shaped base member,

said mast attachment plate portion having cover tautness compensating means in the form of a pivot hole and a plurality of arcuately arranged mounting holes for coacting with said detachably secured mast member to achieve a taut placement of said cover member over an object to be sheltered, such as a vehicle,

said L-shaped base member further comprising side bracing extending downward from said mast attachment portion to respective sides of said horizontal tubular structure member, said side bracing being formed to locate said mast attachment plate portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees from said horizontal tubular structure member such that said secured variable length mast member will be maintained in an off-set relationship away from said vehicle to prevent inadvertent contact with said vehicle; and

a plurality of hook-ended stretch cord means for attaching said corner fastening means to an upper mast member of said variable length mast member.

4. A portable cover apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a fabric cover member, including a detachable top cover member and at least one detachable side cover member; and

a plurality of structurally independent mast means for rising and supporting said cover member, each one of said plurality of mast means being structurally independent with respect to other ones of said plurality of mast means, each independent mast means comprising a variable length mast member and a substantially L-shaped base member, said mast member being detachably secured to said base member, said variable length mast member also comprising a plurality of telescopically connected units having interlocking means for preventing separation of said units,

each said L-shaped base member included in said plurality of mast means comprising a ground level horizontal member and a substantially vertical mast attachment portion,

said mast attachment portion having cover tautness compensating means in the form of a pivot hole and a plurality of arcuately arranged mounting holes for coacting with said detachably secured mast member to achieve a taut placement of said cover member over an object to be sheltered, such as a vehicle,

said horizontal member being shaped to form a first anchor facilitating means for receiving a vehicle'"'"'s wheel, which vehicle'"'"'s wheel functions as a weight anchor atop each independent mast means, said horizontal member having opposing bump means for indicating to a driver that said vehicle is atop said platform structure,

said L-shaped base member further comprising side bracing extending downward from said mast attachment portion to respective sides of said horizontal member, said side bracing being formed to locate said mast attachment portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees from said horizontal member such that said secured variable length mast member will be maintained in an off-set relationship away from said vehicle to prevent inadvertent contact with said vehicle,

said horizontal member further comprising opposing tubular structure and a cross member having a second anchor facilitating means for receiving a ground driven anchor that facilitates an alternate way of anchoring said independent mast means, and

one of said telescopically connected units having a mast bottom end portion for being pivotally attached to said pivot hole and for being selectively attached to one of said plurality of arcuately arranged mounting holes.

5. A portable cover apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said cover apparatus further comprising:

at least one ground driven anchor; and

bag means for storing said at least one anchor, said cover member and said plurality of independent mast means, and for facilitating portability of said cover apparatus, and

said fabric cover member comprises mesh sunscreen material, said top cover member having corner fastening means for being detachably secured to an upper mast member, and also having side fastening means for detachably securing to corresponding fastening means on said side fabric cover members.

6. A portable cover apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein:

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of hook-ended stretch cord members, a first hook end of each stretch cord member being detachably secured to a respective corner of said cover member, and a second hook end of each stretch cord member being detachably secured to an upper mast member of said variable length mast member.

7. A portable cover apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein:

said fabric cover member comprises mesh sunscreen material, said top cover member having peripheral fastening means for facilitating securement to an edge fastening means provided on said at least one side cover member, said peripheral fastening means and said edge fastening means comprising hook and loop fastening material.