Systems and methods for altering the color, appearance, or feel of a vehicle surface
OwnerSrinivas S. Devathiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for altering the appearance and/or texture of a vehicle surface include installing a vest relative to a vehicle surface such that an exterior side of the vest, spaced from the vehicle surface, defines a fluid-tight space between the vehicle surface and the exterior side of the vest. Visual media can be provided into and from the fluid-tight space using one or more ports, the exterior side being at least partially transparent or translucent such that the visible media within the fluid-tight space are visible through the exterior side of the vest, thereby allowing the repeatable alteration of the appearance of the surface.
Claims23
A system for altering the appearance of a vehicle surface, the system comprising:
- a vest comprising an edge secured to the vehicle surface and an exterior side spaced from the vehicle surface to define a fluid-tight space between the exterior side of the vest and the vehicle surface, wherein the exterior side is at least partially transparent, at least partially translucent, or combinations thereof for enabling visualization of visible media in the fluid-tight space through the exterior side;
- and
- at least one port communicating between the fluid-tight space and a region exterior to the fluid-tight space for receiving visible media into the fluid-tight space, removing visible media from the fluid-tight space, or combinations thereof.
A method for altering the appearance of a vehicle surface, the method comprising:
- providing a vest in association with the vehicle surface, wherein the vest comprises an exterior side spaced from the vehicle surface to define a fluid-tight space between the exterior side of the vest and the vehicle surface, and wherein the exterior side is at least partially transparent, at least partially translucent, or combinations thereof;
- and
- providing a first visible medium into the fluid-tight space through at least one port communicating between the fluid-tight space and a region exterior to the fluid-tight space.
A method for altering the appearance of a vehicle surface, the method comprising:
- providing a vest into association with a vehicle surface, wherein the vest comprises an exterior side spaced from the vehicle surface to define a fluid-tight space between the exterior side of the vest and the vehicle surface, wherein the exterior side is at least partially transparent, at least partially translucent, or combinations thereof, and wherein a first medium is disposed within the fluid-tight space and visible through the exterior side;
- engaging at least one conduit to at least one port associated with the vest;
- generating a suction pressure via said at least one conduit to draw the first medium through said at least one port to remove the first medium from the fluid-tight space;
- injecting an intermediate medium via said at least one conduit through said at least one port and into the fluid-tight space to displace the first medium, alter the first medium, clean an interior of the vest, or combinations thereof;
- generating a suction pressure via said at least one conduit to draw the intermediate medium through said at least one port to remove the intermediate medium from the fluid-tight space;
- injecting a gas via said at least one conduit through said at least one port and into the fluid-tight space to dry the interior of the vest;
- and
- injecting a second medium via said at least one conduit through said at least one port and into the fluid-tight space to at least partially fill the fluid-tight space, wherein the second medium is visible through the exterior side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.