Protective cover for vehicle surface

• US 6,315,327 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clay F. Woolsey
• Original Assignee: Clay F. Woolsey
• Inventors: Woolsey, Clay F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/258,615
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 280/770, 293/128, 293/126, 293/41, 293/102, 296/136, 296/98, 296/40
• US Class Current: 280/770
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/04 External Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices thereon fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12

Abstract

A resilient protective cover for placement on a vehicle surface area such that the cover is disposed between the surface area and an item subsequently placed against that surface area. The cover includes a flexible resilient layer capable of absorbing weight pressure of the item subsequently placed there against, and a flexible magnetized layer releasably magnetically securable to the vehicle surface area and to which the resilient layer is adhered. The resilient layer preferably has a generally non-slip surface whose surface tension value inhibits slippage of the item placed against it. A score line can be provided at an anticipated bend site, and a cut-out portion likewise can be situated to accommodate vehicle equipment such as a brake light, for example, at an anticipated equipment site. The cover can be sized to extend externally from a roof site over an intersection site to a rear wall site of a cab portion of a pickup truck, with an edge of the resilient layer placeable on the roof site and meant to be oriented in a forward direction being beveled to counteract the tendency of head-on airflow caused by vehicle movement to lift the cover from the roof site. In this manner, a generally stationary protective cover for a vehicle surface is provided against which a cargo item can be positioned without damaging the underlying surface of the vehicle during transport.

Claims

1. A resilient protective cover for placement on a vehicle surface area such that said cover is disposed between the surface area and an item subsequently placed against said surface area, the cover comprising:

a) a flexible resilient layer capable of absorbing weight pressure of the item subsequently placed there against; and

b) a flexible magnetized layer releasably magnetically securable to the vehicle surface area and to which the resilient layer is adhered, said magnetized layer being substantially co-extensive with said resilient layer, with said cover having a cut-out portion situated to accommodate a vehicle equipment at an anticipated equipment site on the vehicle surface area.

2. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient layer has a generally non-slip surface whose surface tension value inhibits slippage of the item placed there against.

3. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 1 having in addition a score line disposed at an anticipated bend site.

4. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle equipment is a light at a light site.

5. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one edge of the resilient layer is beveled.

6. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 1 sized to extend externally from a roof site over an intersection site to a rear wall site of a cab portion of a pickup truck.

7. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 6 wherein said cover has a score line generally conforming in location to the intersection site.

8. A resilient protective cover for placement on a vehicle surface area such that said cover is disposed between the surface area and an item subsequently placed against said surface area, the cover comprising:

a) a flexible resilient layer capable of absorbing weight pressure of the item subsequently placed there against, said resilient layer having a generally non-slip surface whose surface tension value inhibits slippage of the item placed there against;

b) a flexible magnetized layer releasably magnetically securable to the vehicle surface area and to which the resilient layer is adhered;

c) a score line disposed at an anticipated bend site; and

d) a cut-out portion situated to accommodate vehicle equipment at an anticipated equipment site.

9. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cover is sized to extend externally from a roof site over an intersection site to a rear wall site of a cab portion of a pickup truck, and wherein the score line generally conforms in location to the intersection site.

10. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 9 wherein an edge of the resilient layer placeable on the roof site and directable forwardly is beveled.

11. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cut-out portion is situated to accommodate a stop light disposed on the rear wall site.

12. A resilient protective cover for placement on a vehicle surface area such that said cover is disposed between the surface area and an item subsequently placed against said surface area, the cover comprising:

a) a flexible resilient layer capable of absorbing weight pressure of the item subsequently placed there against; and

b) a flexible magnetized layer releasably magnetically securable to the vehicle surface area and to which the resilient layer is adhered, whereby said cover is sized to extend externally from a roof site over an intersection site to a rear wall site of the vehicle surface area, with said cover having a cut-out portion situated to accommodate a vehicle equipment at an anticipated equipment site on the vehicle surface area.

13. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 12 wherein the resilient layer has a generally non-slip surface whose surface tension value inhibits slippage of the item placed there against.

14. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 12 having in addition a score line disposed at an anticipated bend site.

15. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 12 wherein the vehicle equipment is a light at a light site.

16. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one edge of the resilient layer is beveled.

17. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 12 wherein said cover has a score line generally conforming in location to the intersection site.

18. A resilient protective cover for placement on a vehicle surface area such that said cover is disposed between the surface area and an item subsequently placed against said surface area, the cover comprising:

a) a flexible resilient layer capable of absorbing weight pressure of the item subsequently placed there against; and

b) a flexible magnetized layer releasably magnetically securable to the vehicle surface area and to which the resilient layer is adhered, said magnetized layer being substantially co-extensive with said resilient layer, wherein said cover is sized to extend externally from a roof site over an intersection site to a rear wall site of the vehicle surface area.

19. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 18 wherein said cover has a score line generally conforming in location to the intersection site.

20. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 18 having in addition a score line disposed at an anticipated bend site.

21. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 18 wherein at least one edge of the resilient layer is beveled.

22. A resilient protective cover as claimed in claim 18 wherein the resilient layer has a generally non-slip surface whose surface tension value inhibits slippage of the item placed there against.