Retractable roll-up cover
OwnerMarty Sedighzadehinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover system for motor vehicles and other items is described. In one embodiment, the cover system includes a fabric folded in a predetermined manner wound around a roller that is contained in a housing. A front end of the fabric cover is mounted to a guide bar that includes means for securing the guide bar in place when the cover is deployed. In preferred variations, a tubular motor is utilized to facilitate rolling and unrolling of the cover. When used with motor vehicles, the cover system can be mounted in the trunk of the motor vehicle.
Claims20
A cover system comprising:
- a roller having a first length;
- mounting brackets rotatably coupled with the roller for mounting the cover system to an item to be covered;
- a fabric cover (i) having a first width greater than or equal to the first length when in an unfolded configuration, (ii) having a second width equal to or less than the first length when in a folded configuration, (iii) including a plurality of connectors distributed on surfaces of the cover to maintain the cover in the folded configuration, (iv) including one or more sewn seams proximate one or more fold lines to create one or more tabs, each tab extending at least a substantial portion of a length of an associated fold and (iv) being coupled to the roller;
- and
- a guide-bar coupled to an end of the fabric cover. The seams in fabric will cross each other but will not ride on each other when roll in the housing.
In combination a motor vehicle and a cover system, the combination comprising:
- the vehicle including a trunk and a trunk lid the trunk lid having (a) a bottom surface facing into the trunk when the lid is closed, and (b) a front edge facing generally towards the front of the vehicle;
- and the cover system including (i) a roller, (ii) a housing substantially enclosing the roller, the housing including a lengthwise extending slot, (iii) a fabric cover coupled to the roller with at least a portion extending through the slot, and (iv) a guide-bar coupled to one end of the fabric cover;
- wherein the cover system is mounted in a trunk of the motor vehicle.
A method of deploying a vehicle cover, the method comprising:
- opening a trunk lid of a motor vehicle;
- passing a guide-bar attached to a fabric cover through a gap between a front edge of the trunk lid and an edge of the vehicle body at the rear windshield and pulling the fabric cover therethrough;
- guiding the guide-bar and attached cover fabric over the top of the vehicle;
- and
- securing the guide-bar to a location under a front bumper of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.