Method of identifying and documenting hail damage

• US 7,331,133 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jason Bauernfeind
• Original Assignee: Jason Bauernfeind
• Inventors: Bauernfeind, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US11/034,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 401/240.4, 406/610.1, 406/00
• US Class Current: 40/600
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 41/00 Fittings for identifying vehicles in case of collision; Fittings for marking or recording collision areas

Abstract

A consistent and effective method of identifying and documenting vehicle dent damage includes the steps of identifying dents on a damaged vehicle, applying an easily visible magnetic marker over each dent on the damaged vehicle, counting the markers on the damaged vehicle, photographing the markers on the damaged vehicle and removing the markers from the damaged vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of identifying and documenting hail damage, comprising the steps of:

identifying hail dents;

applying a marker over each dent;

documenting the markers;

removing the markers.

3. The method of identifying and documenting hail damage as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marker is magnetic.

4. The method of identifying and documenting hail damage as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of documenting the markers includes counting the markers.

5. The method of identifying and documenting hail damage as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of documenting the markers includes photographing the markers.

6. The method of identifying and documenting hail damage as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of documenting the markers includes video recording the markers.

2. The method of identifying and documenting hail damage as claimed 1 in claim wherein the hail dents are on a vehicle.

7. A method of identifying and documenting damage to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

identifying dents on a damaged vehicle;

applying a marker over each dent;

documenting the markers;

removing the markers.

8. The method of identifying and documenting damage to a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the damage includes hail dents.

9. The method of identifying and documenting damage to a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the marker is magnetic.

10. The method of identifying and documenting damage to a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of documenting the markers includes counting the markers.

11. The method of identifying and documenting damage to a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of documenting the markers includes photographing the markers.

12. A marker for documenting vehicle damage, comprising:

a base member adapted for placement over the vehicle damage; and

a damage marker component on a top surface of said base member and means for documenting the placement of said base member on the vehicle.

13. A marker as claimed in claim 12 wherein said base member is magnetic.

14. A marker as claimed in claimed in claim 12 wherein said base member is disk-shaped.

15. A marker as claimed in claim 12 where said marker component presents a placement stem.

16. A marker as claimed in claim 12 wherein said marker component is brightly colored.

17. A marker as claimed in claim 12 wherein said placement stem includes a bottom portion, a stem and a top portion;

said bottom portion being secured to said top surface of said base member;

said stem extending between said bottom and top portions facilitating the placement and removal of the markers.