Air-cushioned vehicle cover
AssigneeLetltHail, LLC
InventorLawrence A. Favalora, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle cover having a plurality of interconnected air cells prevents damage to a vehicle's surface that may result from the impact of hail, debris, or other objects on the vehicle's surface. The vehicle cover has a first layer positioned on the vehicle, the plurality of inflatable air cells formed in an array and positioned on the first layer, a second layer positioned atop the array of inflatable air cells, and an air access point located on at least one air cell for interconnecting the air cell with a source of air.
Claims20
A vehicle cover for covering a vehicle, the vehicle cover comprising:
- a plurality of inflatable air cells formed in an array,
- wherein the array of inflatable air cells includes at least 100 individual air cells,
- wherein each air cell is formed of a pliable material that is configured to be inflated with air to form an internal air chamber,
- wherein each air cell has a width of approximately 1-10 inches, a length of approximately 1-10 inches, and a height of approximately 1-10 inches,
- wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of air cells are fluidly connected for the transfer of air through each of the first portion of the plurality of air cells,
- wherein at least a second portion of the plurality of air cells are fluidly connected for the transfer of air through each of the second portion of the plurality of air cells;
- and
- an air access point located on at least one air cell of said at least a first portion of the plurality of air cells for interconnecting said at least one air cell with a source of air,
- wherein the vehicle cover is configured to fit securely around and cover at least a portion of the vehicle, such that at least a portion of the array is in contact with the vehicle.
A vehicle cover for covering a vehicle, the vehicle cover comprising:
- a first layer configured for positioning proximal the vehicle and for contacting at least a portion of the vehicle;
- a plurality of inflatable air cells formed in an array,
- wherein each air cell is formed of a pliable material that is configured to be inflated with air to form an internal air chamber,
- wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of air cells are fluidly connected for the transfer of air through each of the first portion of the plurality of air cells,
- wherein at least a second portion of the plurality of air cells are fluidly connected for the transfer of air through each of the second portion of the plurality of air cells,
- wherein at least a portion of the array is coupled to and rests upon at least a portion of the first layer, such that the first layer serves as a substrate for said at least a portion of the array;
- an air access point located on at least one air cell of said at least a first portion of the plurality of air cells for interconnecting said at least one air cell with a source of air;
- and
- a second layer configured for positioning distal the vehicle and for facing an ambient environment in which the vehicle is located.
A method of covering a vehicle with a vehicle cover, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle cover including—
- a plurality of inflatable air cells formed in an array,
- wherein each air cell is formed of a pliable material that is configured to be inflated with air to form an internal air chamber,
- wherein at least a portion of the plurality of air cells are fluidly connected for the transfer of air through each of the at least a portion of the plurality of air cells;
- an air access point located on at least one air cell of said at least a portion of the plurality of air cells for interconnecting said at least one air cell with a source of air;
- and
- a top layer positioned over and substantially covering the array, wherein when the vehicle cover is covering the vehicle, the top layer faces an ambient environment in which the vehicle is located;
- instructing a user of the vehicle cover to lay the vehicle cover, in a deflated position, substantially over the vehicle;
- instructing the user of the vehicle cover to connect the air access point with said source of air;
- and
- instructing the user of the vehicle to inflate each air cell using the source of air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.