# US 2014/0150937 A1 · Air-cushioned vehicle cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150937 A1 - Document ID: US20140150937A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/096,679 - Filed: 2013-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: LetltHail, LLC - Applicants: LetltHail, LLC - Inventors: Lawrence A. Favalora, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150937A1 ## CPC - B60J 11/04: for covering at least the roof of the vehicle, e.g. for covering the whole vehicle - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein the array of air cells includes at least one external air cell, and the air access point is located on said at least one external air cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein said first portion of the plurality of air cells is fluidly connected with said second portion of the plurality of air cells for the transfer of air through each of the first and second portions of the plurality of air cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein at least a first sub-portion of air cells of said first portion of air cells includes at least two air conduits for the transfer of air therethrough, and wherein at least a first sub-portion of air cells of said second portion of air cells includes at least two air conduits for the transfer of air therethrough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle cover of claim 1, wherein each air cell, when inflated, has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a cube, a rectangular parallelpiped, a sphere, an ovoid, an ellipsoid, a cylinder, and a hexahedron. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle cover of claim 6, wherein the array of inflatable air cells includes at least 10 individual air cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle cover of claim 7, wherein the array of inflatable air cells includes at least 50 individual air cells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle cover of claim 8, wherein the array of inflatable air cells includes at least 100 individual air cells. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The vehicle cover of claim 6, wherein the array of air cells includes at least one external air cell, and the air access point is located on said at least one external air cell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The vehicle cover of claim 6, wherein said first portion of the plurality of air cells is fluidly connected with said second portion of the plurality of air cells for the transfer of air through each of the first and second portions of the plurality of air cells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The vehicle cover of claim 6, wherein at least a first sub-portion of air cells of said first portion of air cells includes at least two air conduits for the transfer of air therethrough, and wherein at least a first sub-portion of air cells of said second portion of air cells includes at least two air conduits for the transfer of air therethrough. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The vehicle cover of claim 6, 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle cover of claim 13, wherein each air cell has a width of approximately 3-7 inches, a length of approximately 3-7 inches, and a height of approximately 3-7 inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The vehicle cover of claim 6, wherein each air cell, when inflated, has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a cube, a rectangular parallelpiped, a sphere, an ovoid, an ellipsoid, a cylinder, and a hexahedron. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the array of inflatable air cells includes at least 100 individual air cells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein each air cell has a width of approximately 3-7 inches, a length of approximately 3-7 inches, and a height of approximately 3-7 inches. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the array of air cells includes at least one external air cell, and the air access point is located on said at least one external air cell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle cover further includes a bottom layer, and at least a portion of the array is coupled to and rests upon at least a portion of the bottom layer, such that the bottom layer serves as a substrate for said at least a portion of the array.