Inflatable protective covers for motor vehicles

Abstract

Inflatable protective covers for motor vehicles including automobiles and motorcycles has a flexible bladder with respective upper and lower sheets of a waterproof, air-tight material shaped to cover the motor vehicle. The sheets have mating outer peripheries affixed together in an air-tight manner at a peripheral seam to form a single inflatable pocket therebetween. The single inflatable pocket may be sub-divided into a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets by affixing together the upper and lower sheets in airtight manner at one or more partial length seams disposed inside the peripheral seam with gaps therealong to keep the inflatable air pockets interconnected. A resilient nipple with stopper is affixed to the bladder to permit inflation and retention of air within the bladder. A quick deflation device has a tubular base affixed to the bladder and a removable screw cap to allow quick removal of air from the bladder. A draw cord extends through an elongate peripheral channel of the bladder with a cord outlet opening through which respective ends of the draw cord extend to removably retain the cover in a deployed, inflated position about the motor vehicle. The protective covers may be designed to fit baggily or be fitted to the motor vehicle and be reusable or disposable depending on the material from which made.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention generally relates to flexible protective covers for motor vehicles, and more particularly to inflatable protective covers for automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and motorbikes.

2. State of the Art

Protective covers for automobiles have been used for many years to protect automobiles parked outdoors from exposure to various environmental hazards such as dust, dirt, sunlight, acid rain, snow, frost, and ice which otherwise accumulates on the exterior surface of the automobile. This helps keep the automobile in a better condition and thus has longer life. Such protective covers are typically rolled up and/or folded for storage such as in the trunk of the automobile. Such protective covers also help prevent excessive heat build-up inside the automobile by being essentially opaque such that sunlight cannot directly heat the interior passenger compartment thereof.

Most protective covers are full car covers which are designed to cover the entire automobile down to the tires thereof. Such car covers are primarily a single sheet of waterproofed canvas which is cut and seamed to generally fit to the exterior shape of the automobile. A drawcord is disposed along a peripheral channel formed in a hemmed lower periphery of the sheet which extends completely around a lower periphery of the automobile when in a deployed position over the automobile. Respective ends of the drawcord extend outwardly through respective grommets of the sheet which may be pulled together and tied by hand to secure the car cover about the automobile. These car covers are typically rolled up and/or folded for storage such as in the trunk of the automobile. One such full car cover is the canvas auto cover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,728,437 issued on Sep. 17, 1929 to Mott.

These full car covers have several serious problems. Firstly, handling of such car covers such as unpacking and deploying onto the automobile is difficult due to their large size and heavy canvas construction, requiring individual persons to repeatedly move around the automobile to deploy the car cover. Removal of the car cover from the automobile and repacking for storage and later use is similarly inconvenient for a single person, with the peripheral edge catching on corners of the automobile if the car cover is not removed in the correct sequence of moves. Secondly, storage of such car covers is difficult because of their bulk and unwieldiness. Thirdly, such car covers typically do not provide protection from hail which can permanently damage the automobile. If the car cover is designed to provide protection from hail, it typically is constructed of a thick, heavy padding material in order to absorb hail impacts. The resulting car cover is bulky and difficult to install on the automobile. Fourthly, such car covers often do not fit the particular motor vehicle.

Inflatable car covers were developed to provide automobiles protection from hail damage without necessitating the use of overly heavy padding materials. One or more inflatable bladders are provided which provide sufficient thickness when inflated to absorb hail impacts without damaging the automobile. These inflatable car covers have a serious problem in that they typically require a portable electric air compressor which runs off the cigarette lighter socket of the automobile. Some use a flexible tube arrangement to direct bleed air from the vehicle tires into each bladder. In either case, the volume of air required to fill each bladder is substantial due to the large size of the bladders which is far too much to be supplied by human lung power. If an air compressor is used, it takes a long time to fill each bladder due to the limited air flow provided by most portable air compressors. If bleed air from the tires is used, the relatively low pressure of thirty-five pounds per square inch (PSI) and low volume of air contained in the tires renders partially flattens the bled tires rendering them unsafe for driving.

An example of such an inflatable car cover is the multi-air-bag cover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,000 issued to Wang on Sep. 27, 1994. The cover includes a plurality of interconnected air bags each having downward bent sides and which are disposed in parallel manner over the automobile. An air tube extends through the bags for receiving pressurized air to inflate the air bags. The air tube has a plurality of pressure valves disposed therealong which open to pass air at different pressures, one connecting the air tube to each air bag, such that the pressurized air inflates the air bags in a sequential manner. The inflated air bags cover the roof and doors of the automobile to shield it from the weather and provide insulation to prevent excessive heat build-up in the passenger compartment thereof. The multi-air-bag cover suffers from the serious problems enumerated above.

Some protective covers are partial car covers which are designed specifically to cover only certain areas of the automobile such as just the windows or the roof and windows thereof. Some of these car covers are a single sheet of waterproofed canvas which is cut and seamed to generally fit to the roof and window areas of the automobile. The car covers are anchored in position using a plurality of flexible straps having an upper end affixed to a lower periphery thereof which extend downwardly therefrom with lower ends thereof having respective end hooks that engage the automobile frame under the body thereof. The straps may alternatively be of a shorter length and configured to be entrapped between the body and respective doors or windows of the automobile. As an alternative to the straps, a plurality of special clips may be affixed to the lower periphery which attach to lower window moldings affixed to the body.

An example of such a partial car cover is the weather protection system for road vehicles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,197 issued to Fischer on Jun. 24, 1980. The weather protection system is for covering the windows of automobiles. The system includes a pair of protector parts which detachably connect to the automobile. The protector parts are made of a flexible material extending over the windows and are disposed near each other in the region of the front windshield and the rear window. The weather protection system suffers from the same serious problems enumerated above.

Protective covers for motorcycles have been developed more recently to protect motorcycle, parked outdoors from exposure to the above-mentioned various environmental hazards to helps keep the motorcycle in better condition and have a longer life. Such motorcycle covers are primarily a single sheet of waterproofed canvas which is cut and seamed to generally fit to the exterior shape of the motorcycle. A plurality of fasteners such as clips, snaps, or the like are used to retain the motorcycle cover to the motorcycle. This is time-consuming, requiring the user to attach and detach the fasteners from the motorcycle. Such protective covers are typically rolled up and folded for storage such as in the saddlebags of the motorcycle.

These motorcycle covers have several serious problems. Firstly, handling of such motorcycle covers such as unpacking and deploying onto the motorcycle is somewhat difficult due to their heavy canvas construction. Removal of the motorcycle cover from the motorcycle and repacking for storage and later use is similarly inconvenient. Secondly, storage of such motorcycle covers is difficult because of their bulk and unwieldiness which is particularly problematic on motorcycles due to the limited space available. Thirdly, such car covers typically do not provide protection from hail which can permanently damage the motorcycle. If the motorcycle cover is designed to provide protection from hail, it typically is constructed of a thick, heavy padding material in order to absorb hail impacts. The resulting car cover is bulky and difficult to install on the motorcycle.

Various attempts have been made to overcome the deployment and storage problems of motorcycle covers. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,523 issued to Allen on May 20, 1975 is disclosed a protective covering for motorcycles which is permanently attached and stored within the seat of the motorcycle. The covering includes a generally contoured cover made of a flexible material contained within a covered storage compartment of the seat. The cover may be withdrawn through an opening in the seat to a deployed position completely covering the motorcycle. A portion of the cover is secured to the seat to prevent full removal of the cover from the storage compartment. The cover is foldable and collapsible into a compact package for reinsertion back into the storage compartment following use. The cover remains attached to the seat to for ready access thereto. While the covering is adequate for the purposes intended, it still suffers from the serious problems enumerated above. Additionally, when the user tries to repack the covering for storage, precise folding thereof is required to fit within the small space of the storage compartment.

There is a need for a protective cover for motor vehicles which: 1) is lightweight and non-bulky so as to be easy to unpack, deploy, and repack for storage by one person; 2) provides protection from hail to prevent damage the motor vehicle without being constructed of thick padding material; 3) has inflatable chambers which require a relatively small volume of air at low pressure to inflate for quick inflation; and 4) may be of a universal fit (e.g. small, medium, and large sizes) or custom fit to the particular motor vehicle. Additionally, the protective cover preferably may have added improvements including: 5) a big deflation valve to let air out quickly; 6) forms a bubble when inflated such that an automobile cannot be used as a junk shelf in a garage; 7) has different types of air valves for inflation using a compressed air line, a portable air compressor, a foot pump, a cannister of compressed gas, or inflation by mouth using the person's own lungs; 8) easily folds to a compact size for storage; 9) comes in both reusable and disposable versions; 10) has a drawstring and a draw clamp for easy securing about the motor vehicle; 11) has an inner layer which rests on the motor vehicle made of a non-marring, felt-like material; 12) the bladder is of a construction similar to conventional air mattresses with baffles; and 13) the bladder has a zip-off cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is inflatable protective covers for motor vehicles, preferably automobiles or motorcycles, though adaptable to fit other motorized and non-motorized wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, adult tricycles, and the like.

The protective covers each include a flexible bladder which includes respective upper and lower sheets each made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material of a shape adapted to substantially cover the motor vehicle. The sheets have mating outer peripheries affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam at an outer periphery of the bladder to form at least one inflatable pocket therebetween. A valve device is adapted to allow adding of air to the inflatable pocket to inflate the bladder when the protective cover is in a deployed position covering the motor vehicle and removing of air from the inflatable pocket to deflate the bladder prior to removing the protective cover to a stowed position disposed off the motor vehicle. A securing device is adapted to removably retain the outer periphery of the bladder about a lower periphery of the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position.

The bladders may be adapted to fit about the motor vehicles either baggily to fit a multiplicity of motor vehicles such as by having unitary upper and lower sheets, or custom-fit to the particular motor vehicle by the upper and lower sheets each comprising a plurality of panels affixed together at respective panel seams. The upper and lower sheets comprised of the plurality of panels have a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets formed by affixing the upper sheet to the lower sheet at a plurality of partial length seams inside the first peripheral seam of the bladder.

The valve device may comprise an inflation member such as a resilient nipple having an air hole extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket, and a stopper device adapted to closely removably fit within the air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within the bladder by inserting the stopper into the air hole. The nipple has an inflating position extending generally outwardly therefrom and a stowed position flush with the bladder extending inwardly through the inflation hole into the inflatable pocket.

The securing device may comprise a draw cord disposed along the outer periphery of the bladder disposed through an elongate peripheral channel of the bladder with a cord outlet opening through which respective ends of the draw cord extend. The peripheral channel is formed by doubling over the outer periphery of the bladder and affixing together at a second peripheral seam.

The protective covers may include a quick deflation device having a base affixed to the bladder in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket and a cap adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within the inflatable pocket. The valve device may alternatively be combined with the quick deflation device.

The protective covers may be reusable or disposable depending on the material from which the upper and lower sheets are made. In the reusable protective covers, the material may be a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material such as thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather, with such material being a top layer of the lower sheet with a soft, non-marring bottom layer bonded thereto made of a material such as felt or fluffed polyester fibers to cushion car cover on the motor vehicle. In the disposable protective covers, the material is a thin and readily foldable plastic film which allows the protective cover to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal. The bladder is folded in stages some at major fold lines some of which may be along respective seams of the bladder to provide the hand-held size. An outer package also made of a plastic film contains the protective cover prior to use.

The protective covers may be of a separable, three-piece construction by including a flexible bladder cover comprising respective upper and lower covers which zip together to form a bladder pocket therebetween adapted to closely receive the bladder therein. A closure device such as a zipper is adapted to retain together respective outer peripheries of the upper and lower sheets disposed about the bladder. The securing device is attached to the bladder cover to removably retain the bladder cover and the outer periphery of the bladder about the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position disposed about the motor vehicle.

THE DRAWINGS

The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment inflatable protective cover of the present invention comprising a first version car cover of unitary construction which is of a reusable type and has a single inflatable pocket, being shown in a deployed position on an automobile and inflated;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the first version car cover prior to attachment to the automobile and inflation;

FIG. 3, an exploded perspective view of the first version car cover showing an inflatable bladder formed from a hemmed upper sheet and a hemmed two-layer lower sheet, a draw cord, and a draw lock thereof prior to joining together;

FIG. 4, a perspective view of the first version car cover generally from above as completed with the upper sheet, lower sheet, draw cord, and draw lock thereof assembled together;

FIG. 5, a perspective view of the first version car cover as completed but generally from below showing a non-marring bottom layer of the lower sheet which rests on the automobile in the deployed position;

FIG. 6, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of the first version car cover taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the hemmed upper and lower sheets joined together at a first peripheral seam and a peripheral channel containing the draw cord formed in the bladder by doubling over the bladder and affixing at a second peripheral seam;

FIG. 7, a fragmentary perspective view of a first version quick deflation device affixed to the bladder and a first version valve device which connects thereto each for use on the reusable type protective covers of the present invention;

FIG. 8, a fragmentary perspective view of the first version car cover to an enlarged scale showing how the draw lock attaches to respective ends of the draw cord to pull the bladder tight around the automobile;

FIG. 9, a perspective view of a second embodiment inflatable protective cover of the present invention comprising a second version car cover of unitary construction which is of the reusable type and has a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets, being shown being shown in a deployed position on the automobile and inflated;

FIG. 10, an perspective view of the second version car cover prior to attachment to the automobile and inflation, the second version car cover having an inflatable bladder, the draw cord, and the draw lock;

FIG. 11, an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment inflatable protective cover of the present invention comprising a third version car cover of a separable, three-piece construction which is of the reusable type and has a single inflatable pocket, being shown prior to attachment to the automobile and inflation, the third version car cover having a bladder cover comprised of respective upper and lower covers that zip together about an inflatable bladder, the draw cord, and the draw lock;

FIG. 12, a perspective view of a fourth embodiment inflatable protective cover of the present invention comprising a fourth version car cover of unitary construction which is of a disposable type and has a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets, being shown in a completely unfolded position ready for attachment to the automobile and inflation;

FIG. 13, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover in a completely folded position inside an outer package as held in-hand as stored prior to use;

FIG. 14, a fragmentary perspective view of a first second version quick deflation device affixed to the bladder and a second version valve device used on the disposable type protective covers of the present invention;

FIG. 15, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover as removed from the outer package setting on a support surface ready for unfolding thereon;

FIG. 16, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover shown in a first stage of unfolding along a plurality of first major fold lines;

FIG. 17, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover shown in a second stage of unfolding along a plurality of second major fold lines;

FIG. 18, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover shown in a third stage of unfolding along a third major fold line;

FIG. 19, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover shown in a fourth stage of unfolding along a plurality of fourth major fold lines;

FIG. 20, a perspective view of the fourth version car cover shown in a fifth stage of unfolding along a plurality of fifth major fold lines, and ready for unfolding along a plurality of sixth major fold lines to the completely unfolded position of FIG. 12 ready for attachment to the automobile and inflation;

FIG. 21, a perspective view of a fifth embodiment inflatable protective cover of the present invention comprising a first version motorcycle cover of unitary construction which is of the reusable type and has a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets, being shown ready for attachment to a motorcycle and inflation;

FIG. 22, a perspective view of a sixth embodiment inflatable protective cover of the present invention comprising a second version motorcycle cover of unitary construction which is of the disposable type and has a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets, being shown in a completely unfolded position ready for attachment to the motorcycle and inflation;

FIG. 23, a perspective view of the second version motorcycle cover shown in a first stage of unfolding along a plurality of first major fold lines; and

FIG. 24, a perspective view of the second version motorcycle cover shown in a second stage of unfolding along a plurality of second major fold lines, and ready for unfolding along a plurality of third major fold lines to the completely unfolded position of FIG. 22 ready for attachment to the automobile and inflation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, therein is shown a first embodiment inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles of the present invention comprising a first version car cover, designated generally at 20, of unitary construction of a reusable type, being shown in a deployed position on an automobile 22 and inflated. Car cover 20, as well as those that follow are inflatable to provide protection from the sun and weather, including preventing hail damage to automobile 22 without being constructed of thick padding material.

Referring to FIGS. 2-8, the car cover 20 includes a flexible bladder 24, a first version valve device 26, a first version quick deflation device 27, a securing device in the form of a draw cord 28, and a draw lock 30. The bladder 24 is made to fit somewhat baggily about the automobile 22 to fit a multiplicity of automobiles 22 of various body types and sizes, including over a pair of rearview mirror 32 thereof. The cover 20 may come in various generic configurations designed to fit automobiles 22 such as with sizes small, medium, and large, or in custom configurations and sizes designed to more closely fit the particular body type and size of the automobile 22. The bladder 24 has an upper sheet 34 of rounded rectangular shape adapted to substantially cover the automobile 22 with an outer periphery 36 hemmed at a peripheral seam 38 formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. The upper sheet 34 is made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material such as thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material such as used for camping tents manufactured by AirZone Recreation Inc. of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, or other material which resist the effects of weather. The upper sheet 34 is shown having a configuration at a pair of vehicle exhaust pipes (not shown) wherein a pair of optional flexible exhaustpipe panels 39 (dotted lines) are affixed in place of some of the non-heat-resistant sheet vinyl or other materials of upper sheet 34, or as heat shields affixed thereover where the upper sheet 34 might contact the exhaust pipes. This permits the car cover 20 to be placed onto automobiles 22 while the exhaust pipes are still hot such as from a recent drive. The heat-resistant material may be any suitable thin, flexible heat-resistant material or materials such a thin cloth-backed metal film comprised of an aluminum film backed with a heat-resistant cloth such as fiberglass, asbestos, or similar flexible heat-resistant material. The lower sheet 40 may include similar exhaust pipe panels (not shown) and the draw cord 28 may be made of a similarly heat-resistant material or shielded at the exhaust pipes for the same purpose. Such heat-shielding of the car cover 20 equally applies to all of the subsequent embodiments of the vehicle covers of the invention with similar modifications thereto though not explicitly described therein. Bladder 24 also has a lower sheet 40 of mating rounded rectangular shape to upper sheet 34 adapted to substantially cover the automobile 22 with an outer periphery 42 hemmed at a peripheral seam 44 formed such as by sewing or other suitable process. The lower sheet 40 includes a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight top layer 46 made of a material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather, and a soft, non-marring bottom layer 48 adhesively or otherwise bonded thereto made of a material such as felt or fluffed polyester fibers to cushion car cover 20 on the automobile 22. The upper and lower sheets 34 and 40 have mating outer peripheries 36 and 42 affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam 50 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process at an outer periphery 51 of bladder 24 to form a single inflatable pocket 52 therebetween. Pocket 52, as well as the pockets in the protective covers that follow, is filled with air, compressed carbon dioxide, or the like preferably to a thickness of between about one to three inches. This requires a relatively small volume of air at low pressure, preferably between about one to four PSI, to inflate pocket 52 for quick inflation thereof even manually inflating using one's lungs.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the valve device 26 and the quick deflation device 27 are connected together in the car cover 20. The valve device 26 is adapted to allow adding of air to the inflatable pocket 52 to inflate the bladder 24 when the car cover 20 is in a deployed position covering the automobile 22 and for removing of air from the inflatable pocket 52 to deflate the bladder 24 prior to removing the car cover 20 to a stowed position disposed off the automobile 22. The quick deflation device 27 is affixed to the bladder 24 in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket 52, being adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within the inflatable pocket 52. The quick deflation device 27 includes a tubular base in the form of a flanged base 54 with a longitudinal hole 55 therethrough, and a mating deflation cap 56 which threadably attaches to the base 54. The base 54 includes a flat annular flange 58 and an upstanding tubular neck 60 which is externally threaded. The base 54 and the cap 56 are preferably injection molded from a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene. Flange 58 is affixed to the upper sheet 34 of bladder 24 within the inflatable pocket 52 such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process with the neck 60 having an external thread 61 extending through a deflation hole 62 therethrough with the longitudinal hole 55 in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket 52 through the deflation hole 62 through the bladder 24.

The cap 56 includes a circular end wall 64 having a nipple hole 65 therethrough and a dependent annular peripheral wall 66 having an internal thread 67 to matingly engage neck 60. The cap 56 is removably affixable to base 54 and adapted to provide an air-tight seal therewith by having a resilient gasket ring 68 affixed to end wall 64 adapted to engage an annular end surface 70 of neck 60 to provide the air-tight seal therewith.

The valve device 26 comprises an inflation member in the form of a resilient nipple 72 made of a rubber-like material such as silicone rubber. Nipple 72 is operably affixed to bladder 24 by a base 74 thereof adapted to be closely received within the nipple hole 65 of the cap 56 in air-tight manner, with an annular groove 78 adapted for anchoring thereto. A tip 80 of nipple 72 distal from the bladder 24 includes a stopper device in the form of an integral stopper 82 retained thereto by an integral strap 84. The stopper 82 is adapted to closely removably fit within an air hole 86 extending through nipple 72 which is in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket 52 to permit inflation and retention of air within the bladder 24 by inserting the stopper 82 into the air hole 86 to allow selective sealing and unsealing of the air hole 86. Nipple 72 has an inflating position extending generally outwardly from bladder 24.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the draw cord 28 is adapted to removably retain the outer periphery 51 of bladder 24 about a lower periphery 87 of the automobile 22 when the car cover 20 is in the deployed position. The draw cord 28 is braided nylon or other suitable material of an outer diameter of between about one-quarter and three-eighths inch. The draw cord 28 is disposed within an elongate peripheral pocket or channel 88 of bladder 24 formed by doubling over the affixed together outer peripheries 36 and 42 of upper and lower sheets 34 and 40 and affixing together at a second peripheral seam 90 formed such as by sewing or other suitable process which defines a cord outlet opening in the form of a space 92 in second peripheral seam 90 through which respective ends 94 of draw cord 28 extend. Second peripheral seam 90 is disposed peripherally outwardly from first peripheral seam 50 which forms the inflatable pocket 52 and thus does not need to be air-tight. The draw cord 28 is disposed along the outer periphery 51 of the bladder 24 extending substantially completely around the lower periphery 87 of the automobile 22 in the deployed position with the ends 94 of the draw cord 28 being adapted for drawing the outer periphery 51 inwardly about the automobile 22 and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together the ends 94 of the draw cord 28. The draw lock 30 may be used to receive the ends 94 of draw cord 28 therethrough in side-by-side manner. Alternatively, draw lock 30 may be eliminated and the ends 94 of draw cord 28 may be tied together.

The draw lock 30 includes a tubular housing 96 of oval cross-section having a longitudinal hole 97 therethrough adapted to closely receive the ends 94 of the draw cord 28 therethrough in side-by-side manner. A cam-lock lever 98 pivotally connected to the housing 96 disposed within a transverse hole 100 of rectangular shape which extends into the housing 96 to the longitudinal hole 97, being pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin 102 through each. The housing 96 and lever 98 are preferably injection molded from a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene. The lever 98 has a toothed camming surface 104 adapted to frictionally engage the ends 94 of draw cord 28 within the housing 96 to permit movement of the draw lock 30 towards the bladder 24 but not away therefrom so as to tighten car cover 20 about the automobile 22. The lever 98 is releasable by gripping in-hand and pivoting outwardly to remove the camming surface 104 from contact with the ends 94 of draw cord 28. Alternatively, draw lock 30 may be eliminated and the ends 94 of draw cord 28 may be tied together. The ends 94 of draw cord 28 are preferably knotted to prevent withdrawal back through draw lock 30 into the peripheral channel 88 of bladder 24.

The car cover 20 is used to cover automobile 22 following removal from wherever stored such as within a trunk (not shown) of automobile 22 in a stored configuration rolled up and folded therein. Cover 20 is then unrolled and unfolded from the stored configuration to that shown in FIG. 2 and placed in the deployed position of FIG. 1 on the automobile 22. The housing 96 of draw lock 30 is grasped in one hand held close to the lower periphery 87 of automobile 22 and the ends 94 of draw cord 28 grasped in the other hand and pulled away from draw lock 30 through housing 96. Cam-lock lever 98 pivots slightly outwardly to permit ends 94 to pass the toothed camming surface 104 to pull draw cord 28 and the outer periphery 51 of bladder 24 inwardly about the automobile 22. Once hand force is released on ends 94 which start to move in the opposite direction, lever 98 pivots inwardly due to frictional engagement of camming surface 104 therewith. A source of pressurized gas (not shown) such as an electric air compressor, a cannister of compressed carbon dioxide, or the like is used to inflate bladder 24. An air hose (not shown) extends from the source of pressurized gas and terminates at a frustoconical or other suitable tip adapted to engage the air hole 86 of nipple 72 to inflate pocket 52 of bladder 24. Nipple 72 may also be used for inflation by mouth using one's lungs. Note also that other valve devices 26 other than nipple 72 may be used adapted to fit the tip of the air hose of the particular inflation device (not shown) used such as a fixed compressor of a service station having a conventional compressed air line, a portable air compressor, a foot pump, or a cannister of compressed gas. Once bladder 24 is inflated a desired amount, the tip is removed from nipple 72 and stopper 82 is immediately inserted into air hole 86 to retain the gas within bladder 24. When removal of cover 20 is desired, the above process is reversed except that the gas may be quickly removed from bladder 24 by unscrewing the deflation cap 56 from base 54. Lever 98 may be lifted outwardly to release ends 94 of draw cord 28 during removal of cover 20 from the automobile 22.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, therein is shown a second embodiment inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles of the present invention comprising a second version car cover 106 of unitary construction which is of the reusable type, being shown being shown in a deployed position on the automobile 22 and inflated. The cover 106 may come in various generic configurations designed to fit automobiles 22 such as with sizes small, medium, and large, or in custom configurations and sizes designed to more closely fit the particular body type and size of the automobile 22.

The car cover 106 includes a flexible bladder 108, the valve device 26, the quick deflation device 27, the draw cord 28, and the draw lock 30. The bladder 108 is more fitted to the automobile 22 than bladder 24, and thus is more custom-fit to the particular automobile 22 of various body types and sizes, including over the rearview mirrors 32 thereof. The bladder 108 includes an upper sheet 110 made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather. Upper sheet 110 includes a roof panel 112, respective side panels 114, respective pairs of mirror panels 116 and 118, a front windshield panel 120, a rear windshield panel 122, a front bumper panel 124, a hood panel 125, a trunk panel 126, and a rear bumper panel 128. The panels 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 125, 126, and 128 maybe individually cut and affixed together at respective curved or straight panel edges or seams 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, and 142 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of upper sheet 110. This allows curved panel seams 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, and 142 to be made to better fit to the contours of automobile 22, including the rearview mirrors 32. Upper sheet 110 has an outer periphery 148 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

Bladder 108 also has a lower sheet 152 of mating shape to upper sheet 110 which includes a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight top layer (not shown) made of a material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather, and a soft, non-marring bottom layer (not shown) adhesively or otherwise bonded thereto made of a material such as the felt or fluffed polyester fibers to cushion car cover 106 on the automobile 22. Lower sheet 152 includes a roof panel 158, respective side panels 160, respective pairs of mirror panels 162 and 164, a front windshield panel 166, a rear windshield panel 168, a front bumper panel 170, a hood panel 171, a trunk panel 172, and a rear bumper panel 174. The panels 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 171, 172, and 174 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective curved or straight panel edges or seams 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, and 188 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of lower sheet 152. This allows curved panel seams 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, and 188 to be made to better fit to the contours of automobile 22, including the rearview mirrors 32. Lower sheet 152 has an outer periphery 194 hemmed at a peripheral seam 196 formed such as by sewing or other suitable process.

The upper and lower sheets 110 and 152 have mating outer peripheries 148 and 194 affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam 198 at an outer periphery 199 of bladder 108. All of the bladders disclosed herein initially have a single inflatable pocket formed by the first peripheral seam which may be sub-divided into a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets by affixing together the upper and lower sheets in airtight manner at one or more partial length seams disposed inside the peripheral seam. These seams are called partial length seams because they do not completely extend across the bladder so as to begin and terminate at the first peripheral seam.

Rather, they leave one or more gaps somewhere therealong to keep the inflatable air pockets interconnected. Bladder 108 has a pair of vertical partial length seams 200, as viewed when the bladder 108 is in the deployed position covering the automobile 22, formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process to form a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets therebetween including a roof pocket 204, respective side pockets 206, respective pairs of mirror pockets 208 and 210, a front windshield pocket 212, a rear windshield pocket 214, a front bumper pocket 216, a hood pocket 217, a trunk pocket 218, and a rear bumper pocket 220.

The valve device 26 includes the nipple 72 operably affixed to the bladder 108 by the base 74 thereof fitting within the nipple hole 65 through cap 56 to permit inflation of bladder 108 and retention of air therein by inserting stopper 82 into air hole 86.

The quick deflation device 27 includes the base 54 with the flange 58 thereof affixed to the rear bumper panel 128 of upper sheet 110 such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process with neck 60 extending through a deflation hole 222 therethrough. The cap 56 threads to the neck 60 to permit inflation and deflation of bladder 108.

The draw cord 28 is disposed within an elongate peripheral pocket or channel 224 of bladder 108 formed by doubling over the affixed together outer peripheries 148 and 194 of upper and lower sheets 110 and 152 and affixing together at a second peripheral seam 226 formed such as by sewing or other suitable process which defines a cord outlet opening in the form of a space (not shown) in second peripheral seam 226 through which respective ends 94 of draw cord 28 extend. Second peripheral seam 226 is disposed peripherally outwardly from the first peripheral seam and the vertical partial length seams 200 which form the inflatable pockets 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, and 220 and thus does not need to be air-tight. The draw cord 28 is disposed along the outer periphery 199 of the bladder 108 extending substantially completely around the lower periphery 87 of the automobile 22 in the deployed position with the ends 94 of draw cord 28 being adapted for drawing the outer periphery 199 inwardly about the automobile 22 and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together the ends 94 of draw cord 28. The draw lock 30 may be used to receive the ends 94 of draw cord 28 therethrough in side-by-side manner. Alternatively, draw lock 30 may be eliminated and the ends 94 of draw cord 28 may be tied together. The ends 94 of draw cord 28 are preferably knotted to prevent withdrawal back through draw lock 30 into the peripheral channel 224 of bladder 108.

The car cover 106 is used to cover automobile 22 in the same manner as cover 20.

Referring to FIG. 11, therein is shown a third embodiment inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles of the present invention comprising a third version car cover 230 of a separable, three-piece construction which is of the reusable type, being shown prior to attachment to the automobile 22 and inflation. The cover 230 may come in various generic configurations designed to fit automobiles 22 such as with sizes small, medium, and large, or in custom configurations and sizes designed to more closely fit the particular body type and size of the automobile 22.

The car cover 230 includes a flexible bladder cover 231 comprised of respective upper and lower covers 232 and 234 and a closure device in the form of a zipper 235 adapted to retain together the upper and lower sheet covers 232 and 234, a flexible bladder 236, and the draw lock 30. The car cover 230 is shown as made to fit somewhat baggily about the automobile 22 like car cover 20 to fit a multiplicity of automobiles 22 of various body types and sizes, including over the rearview mirrors 32 thereof. Alternatively, car cover 230 may be made to be more fitted to the automobile 22 using a plurality of panels (not shown) to make the upper cover 232, the lower cover 234, and the bladder 236 fit like car cover 106 so as to be more custom-fit to the particular automobile 22 of various body types and sizes, including over the rearview mirrors 32 thereof.

The upper cover 232 includes an upper sheet 238, an elongate first track half 240 of zipper 235, and the draw cord 28. The upper sheet 238 is of rounded rectangular shape adapted to substantially cover the automobile 22 with an outer periphery 244 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. The upper sheet 238 is made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather. The material may also be of any readily available, breathable waterproof material if desired. The draw cord 28 is disposed within an elongate peripheral pocket or channel 248 of upper cover 232 formed by doubling over outer periphery 244 and affixing at a peripheral seam 250 formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. A pair of grommets 252 made of metal or plastic reinforce respective cord outlet openings in the form of holes 254 of upper sheet 238 through which the ends 94 of draw cord 28 extend. The first track half 240 is affixed along substantially an entire length of the outer periphery 244 of upper sheet 238 at a zipper seam 256 formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. The drawcord 28 is disposed along the outer periphery 244 of the upper sheet 238 extending substantially completely around the lower periphery 87 of the automobile 22 in the deployed position with the ends 94 of draw cord 28 being adapted for drawing the outer periphery 244 inwardly about the automobile 22 and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together the ends 94 of draw cord 28. The draw lock 30 may be used to receive the ends 94 of draw cord 28 therethrough in side-by-side manner. Alternatively, draw lock 30 may be eliminated and the ends 94 of draw cord 28 may be tied together. The ends 94 of draw cord 28 are preferably knotted to prevent withdrawal back through draw lock 30 into the peripheral channel 248 of upper cover 232.

The bladder 236 includes an upper sheet 258, a lower sheet 260, the valve device 26, and the quick deflation device 27. The upper sheet 258 is of rounded rectangular shape adapted to substantially cover the automobile 22 with an outer periphery 262 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. The lower sheet 260 is of mating rounded rectangular shape to upper sheet 258 adapted to substantially cover the automobile 22 with an outer periphery 266 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. Both of the upper sheet 258 and the lower sheet 260 are made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather. The upper and lower sheets 258 and 260 have mating outer peripheries 262 and 266 affixed together in an air-tight manner at a peripheral seam 270 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process at an outer periphery 271 of bladder 236 to form a single inflatable pocket 272 therebetween.

The valve device 26 includes the nipple 72 operably affixed to the bladder 236 by the base 74 thereof fitting within the nipple hole 65 through cap 56 to permit inflation of bladder 236 and retention of air therein by inserting the stopper 82 into air hole 86.

The quick deflation device 27 includes the base 54 with the flange 58 thereof affixed to the upper sheet 258 such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process with neck 60 extending through a deflation hole 274 therethrough and a hemmed deflation hole 275 through the upper sheet 238 of upper cover 232. The cap 56 threads to the neck 60 to permit inflation and deflation of bladder 236.

The lower cover 234 includes a lower sheet 276 and an elongate second track half 278 of the zipper 235. The lower sheet 276 is of rounded rectangular shape of adapted to substantially cover the automobile 22 with an outer periphery 280 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. The lower sheet 276 includes a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight top layer 284 made of a material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather, and a soft, non-marring bottom layer (not shown) adhesively or otherwise bonded thereto made of a material such as the felt or fluffed polyester fibers to cushion car cover 230 on the automobile 22. The material may also be of any readily available, breathable waterproof material if desired. The second track half 278 is affixed along substantially an entire length of the outer periphery 280 of lower sheet 276 at a zipper seam 288 formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

The outer peripheries 244 and 280 of upper and lower sheets 238 and 276 mate together such that when zipped using a movable zipping member 289 of zipper 235 to interconnect the first track half 240 to the second track half 278 they form an outer periphery 290 of bladder cover 231 and form a bladder pocket 291 therebetween adapted to closely receive and removably retain the bladder 236 in both inflated and deflated conditions of bladder 236. The draw cord 28 is attached to the bladder cover 231 to removably retain the outer periphery 271 of bladder 236 about the automobile 22 when the car cover 230 is in the deployed position disposed about the automobile 22.

The car cover 230 is used to cover automobile 22 in the same manner as covers 20 and 106. Bladder 236 may be removed from the bladder cover 231 for washing of the upper and lower covers 232 and 234 if so desired.

Referring to FIG. 12, therein is shown a fourth embodiment inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles of the present invention comprising a fourth version car cover 292 of unitary construction which is of the disposable type, being shown in a completely unfolded position ready for attachment to the automobile 22 and inflation. The cover 292 may come in various generic configurations designed to fit automobiles 22 such as with sizes small, medium, and large, or in custom configurations and sizes designed to more closely fit the particular body type and size of the automobile 22.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 13 as initially contained in a completely folded configuration inside an outer package 293 as held in-hand prior to use. The package 293 is made of a plastic film such as polyethylene or other suitable packaging. The outer package 293 may be sealed about the car cover 292 in an air-tight manner to minimize the size thereof. Packaging thereof would then be done by vacuum packaging to remove air from within the outer package 293 to minimize the size thereof. The outer package 293 may include a release band 294 such as used for gum, compact disks, and the like. Band 294 extends around outer package 293 and is adapted for gripping in-hand and opening the outer package 293.

As best shown in FIG. 12, the car cover 292 includes a thin, foldable, flexible bladder 295, a second version valve device 296, a second version quick deflation device 297, and a securing device in the form of a draw cord 298. The bladder 295 is more fitted to the automobile 22, but with substantially straight edges (see panel seams below) to facilitate folding and packaged thereof into the compact hand-held size. The bladder 295 comes in various sizes and configurations to fit the particular body type and size. The bladder 295 includes an upper sheet 300 made of a thin, pliable, foldable, waterproof, air-tight material, preferably a plastic film which may be clear or be dyed to a desired color and made of recyclable plastic or biodegradable material. Suitable plastic films include cellophane, polyetheylene and the like which are lightweight. The plastic film material may be metal-coated such as mylar, which is aluminum coated plastic film. The plastic film is typically of a thickness ranging from about 1 mils to about 6 mils. The plastic film material is thin and readily foldable so as to allow the car cover 292 to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal. Upper sheet 300 includes a roof panel 302, respective side panels 304, a front windshield panel 306, a rear windshield panel 308, a front bumper panel 310, a hood panel 311, a trunk panel 312, and a rear bumper panel 314. The panels 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 311, 312, and 314 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective straight panel edges or seams 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, and 328 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of upper sheet 300. Upper sheet 300 has an outer periphery 334 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

Bladder 295 also has a lower sheet 338 of mating shape to upper sheet 300 made of a thin, pliable, foldable, waterproof, air-tight material, preferably the plastic film which may be clear or be dyed to a desired color and made of recyclable plastic or biodegradable material. Suitable plastic films include cellophane, polyetheylene and the like which are lightweight. The plastic film material may be metal-coated such as mylar, which is aluminum coated plastic film. The plastic film is typically of a thickness ranging from about 1 mils to about 6 mils. The plastic film material is thin and readily foldable so as to allow the car cover 292 to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal. Lower sheet 338 includes a roof panel 340, respective side panels 342, a front windshield panel 344, a rear windshield panel 346, a front bumper panel 348, a hood panel 349, a trunk panel 350, and a rear bumper panel 352. The panels 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, and 352 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective straight panel edges or seams 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, and 366 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of lower sheet 338. Lower sheet 338 has an outer periphery (not shown) hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

The upper and lower sheets 300 and 338 have mating outer peripheries 334 and 372 affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam 376 at an outer periphery 377 of bladder 295, at a plurality of horizontal partial length seams 378, and at a plurality of vertical partial length seams 380 as viewed when the bladder 295 is in the deployed position covering the automobile 22, being disposed in seam groups 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, and 388 of parallel seams all formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process to form a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets therebetween including a plurality of roof pockets 389, side pockets 390, front windshield pockets 391, rear windshield pockets 392, front bumper pockets 393, hood pockets 394, trunk pockets 395, and rear bumper pockets 396. As best shown in FIG. 14, the valve device 296 and the quick deflation device 297 are not combined together in the car cover 292. The valve device 296 is adapted to allow adding of air to the inflatable pockets 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 396 to inflate the bladder 295 when the car cover 292 is in a deployed position covering the automobile 22 and for removing of air from the inflatable pockets 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 396 to deflate the bladder 295 prior to removing the car cover 292 to a stowed position disposed off the automobile 22. The quick deflation device 297 is affixed to the bladder 295 in fluid communication with the inflatable pockets 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 396, being adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within the inflatable pockets 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 396.

The quick deflation device 297 is of a thin design to facilitate compact folding of the car cover 292 for packaging, including a thin, flat annular base 398 which is circular and a mating thin, flat deflation cover 400. The base 398 has a flat exterior surface 401 and a center hole 402. Base 398 is exteriorly affixed to the upper sheet 300 such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process coaxially with a deflation hole 403 therethrough with the exterior surface 401 outwardly disposed and the center hole 402 in fluid communication with the inflatable pockets 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 396 through the deflation hole 403. The cover 400 includes a circular disk 404 and an integral gripping tab 406. The cover 400 is removably affixed to the exterior surface 401 of base 398 in air-tight manner therewith such as by using an adhesive layer 408 to permit inflation of bladder 295 while being removable therefrom to permit quick deflation of bladder 295. The base 398 and the cover 400 are preferably respectively injection molded and die cut each from a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene.

The valve device 296 comprises an inflation member in the form of a resilient nipple 410 made of a rubber-like material such as silicone rubber. Nipple 410 comprises a flared base 412 comprised of a thin wall 414 affixed at an inflation hole 416 through bladder 295 in air-tight manner such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing. A tip 418 of nipple 410 distal from the bladder 295 includes a stopper device in the form of an integral stopper 420 retained thereto by an integral strap 422. The stopper 420 is adapted to closely removably fit within an air hole 424 extending through nipple 410 which is in fluid communication with the inflatable pockets 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 396 to permit inflation and retention of air within the bladder 295 by inserting the stopper 420 into the air hole 424 to allow selective sealing and unsealing of the air hole 424. Nipple 410 has an inflating position extending generally outwardly from bladder 295

and a doubled-over, stowed position flush with the bladder 295 extending inwardly through the inflation hole 416 into the rear bumper pocket 396 to facilitate compact folding of the car cover 292 for packaging Referring again to FIG. 12, the draw cord 298 is adapted to removably retain the outer periphery 377 of bladder 295 about the lower periphery 87 of the automobile 22 when the car cover 292 is in the deployed position. The draw cord 298 is braided nylon or other suitable material of an outer diameter of between about one-sixteenth and three-thirty-seconds inch to facilitate compact folding of the car cover 292. The draw cord 298 is disposed within an elongate peripheral pocket or channel 426 of bladder 295 formed by doubling over the affixed together outer peripheries 334 and 372 of upper and lower sheets 300 and 338 and affixing together at a second peripheral seam 428 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. A pair of the grommets 252 reinforce respective cord outlet openings in the form of holes 430 of upper sheet 300 through which respective ends 432 of draw cord 298 extend. The draw cord 298 is disposed along the outer periphery 377 of the bladder 295 extending substantially completely around the lower periphery 87 of the automobile 22 in the deployed position with the ends 432 of the draw cord 298 being adapted for drawing the outer periphery 377 inwardly about the automobile 22 and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together the ends 432 of draw cord 298.

A draw lock (not shown) similar to draw lock 30 but adapted for use with the smaller diameter of draw cord 298 may be used to receive the ends 432 of draw cord 298 therethrough in side-by-side manner. Alternatively, the modified draw lock may be eliminated and the ends 432 of draw cord 298 may be tied together. The ends 432 of draw cord 298 are preferably knotted to prevent withdrawal back through any draw lock used into the peripheral channel 426 of bladder 295.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 15 as removed from the outer package 293 by tearing using the release band 294. The cover 292 is shown setting on a flat support surface 436 ready for unfolding thereon. Cover 292 is folded prior to placing in outer package 293, then unfolded prior to use in stages, some of which are an accordion folding, at respective major fold lines to provide the hand-held size. Some of the major fold lines are along seams of the bladder 295.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 16 in a first stage of unfolding along a plurality of first major fold lines 438 from the accordion configuration shown in FIG. 13.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 17 in a second stage of unfolding along a plurality of second major fold lines 440 along the horizontal partial length seams 378 at the roof panels 302 and 340 from the accordion configuration shown in FIG. 14.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 18 in a third stage of unfolding along a plurality of third major fold lines 442 from the doubled-over configuration shown in FIG. 17.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 19 in a fourth stage of unfolding along a plurality of fourth major fold lines 444, 446, 448, 449, 450, 452, and 454 from the configuration shown in FIG. 18.

The cover 292 is shown in FIG. 20 in a fifth stage of unfolding along a plurality of fifth major fold lines 456, 458, 460, 462, and 463 from the configuration shown in FIG. 18. The cover 292 is then unfolded along a plurality of sixth major fold lines 464, 466, 468, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, and 478 to the completely unfolded position of FIG. 12 ready for attachment to the automobile 22 and inflation;

The car cover 292 is used to cover automobile 22 following removal from wherever stored such as within a glove compartment (not shown) of automobile 22 in the completely folded configuration inside the outer package 293 as shown in FIG. 13. Cover 292 is then removed from outer package 293, unfolded as described above to the position of FIG. 12, and placed in a deployed position on the automobile 22. The bladder 295 is grasped in one hand held close to the lower periphery 87 of automobile 22 and the ends 432 of draw cord 298 grasped in the other hand and pulled away from bladder 295 to pull draw cord 298 and the outer periphery 377 of bladder 295 inwardly about the automobile 22. The ends 94 are tied together while maintaining hand force on draw cord 298 to retain cover 292 securely about the automobile 22. The source of pressurized gas with attached air hose described above is used to inflate bladder 295 using the frustoconical tip to engage the air hole 424 of nipple 410. Nipple 410 may also be used for inflation by mouth using one's lungs. Note also that other valve devices 296 other than nipple 410 may be used adapted to fit the tip of the air hose of the particular inflation device (not shown) used such as a fixed compressor of a service station having a conventional compressed air line, a portable air compressor, a foot pump, or a cannister of compressed gas. Once bladder 295 is inflated a desired amount, the tip is removed from nipple 410 and stopper 420 is immediately inserted into air hole 424 to retain the gas within bladder 295. When removal of cover 292 is desired, the above process is reversed except that the gas may be quickly removed from bladder 295 by grasping tab 406 and peeling the deflation cover 400 from base 398. Cover 292 is then disposed of by tossing in the trash or recycled.

Referring to FIG. 21, therein is shown a fifth embodiment inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles of the present invention comprising a first version motorcycle cover 480 of unitarily construction which is of the reusable type, being shown ready for attachment to a motorcycle 482 and inflation. The cover 480 may come in various generic configurations designed to fit motorcycles 482 such as with sizes small, medium, and large, or in custom configurations and sizes designed to more closely fit the particular body type and size of the motorcycle 482.

The motorcycle cover 480 includes a flexible bladder 484, the valve device 26, the quick deflation device 27, a securing device in the form of a draw cord 486, and the draw lock 30. The bladder 484 shown is more custom-fit to the particular motorcycle 482 of various body types and sizes, including over respective saddlebags 488 thereof similarly to car cover 292 is to automobile 22. A more baggy single inflatable pocket design similar to bladder 24 but adapted to fit a multiplicity of motorcycles 482 may also be constructed. The bladder 484 includes an upper sheet 490 made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather. Upper sheet 490 includes atop handlebars panel 492, a front handlebars panel 494, a rear handlebars panel 496, a front wheel panel 498, a rear wheel panel 500, respective side panels 502, a front bumper panel 504, and a rear bumper panel 506. The panels 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, and 506 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective panel edges or seams 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, and 524 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of upper sheet 490. Upper sheet 490 has an outer periphery 526 hemmed at a peripheral seam 528 formed such as by sewing, heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

Bladder 484 also has a lower sheet 530 of mating shape to upper sheet 490 which includes a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight top layer (not shown) made of a material such as the thin sheet vinyl material, polyester fabric, laminated Polyester or Nylon Rip-Stop material, or other material which resist the effects of weather, and a soft, non-marring bottom layer (not shown) adhesively or otherwise bonded thereto made of a material such as the felt or fluffed polyester fibers to cushion motorcycle cover 480 on the motorcycle 482. Lower sheet 530 includes a top handlebars panel 536, a front handlebars panel 538, a rear handlebars panel 540, a front wheel panel 542, a rear wheel panel 544, respective side panels 546, a front bumper panel 548, and a rear bumper panel 550.

The panels 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, and 550 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective panel edges or seams 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, 566, and 568 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of lower sheet 530. Lower sheet 530 has an outer periphery (not shown) hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by sewing or other suitable process. The upper and lower sheets 490 and 530 have mating outer peripheries 526 and 570 affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam 574 at an outer periphery 575 of bladder 484, at a plurality of horizontal partial length seams 576, and at a plurality of vertical partial length seams 578 as viewed when the bladder 484 is in the deployed position covering the motorcycle 482, being disposed in seam groups 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, and 586 of parallel seams all formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process to form a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets therebetween including a plurality of top handlebars pockets 587 front handlebars pockets 588, rear handlebars pockets 589, front wheel pockets 590, rear wheel pockets 591, side pockets 592, front bumper pockets 594, and rear bumper pockets 596.

The valve device 26 includes the nipple 72 operably affixed to the bladder 484 by the base 74 thereof fitting within the nipple hole 65 through cap 56 to permit inflation of bladder 484 and retention of air therein by inserting stopper 82 into air hole 86.

The quick deflation device 27 includes the base 54 with the flange 58 thereof affixed to the rear bumper panel 506 of upper sheet 490 such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process with neck 60 extending through a deflation hole 598 therethrough. The cap 56 threads to the neck 60 to permit inflation and deflation of bladder 484.

The draw cord 486 is adapted to removably retain the outer periphery 575 of bladder 484 about a lower periphery 599 of the motorcycle 482 when the motorcycle cover 480 is in a deployed position. The draw cord 486 is braided nylon or other suitable material of an outer diameter of between about one-quarter and three-eighths inch. The draw cord 486 is disposed within an elongate peripheral pocket or channel 600 of bladder 484 formed by doubling over the affixed together outer peripheries 526 and 570 of upper and lower sheets 490 and 530 and affixing together at a second peripheral seam 602 formed such as by sewing or other suitable process which defines a cord outlet opening in the form of a space 604 in second peripheral seam 602 through which respective ends 606 of draw cord 486 extend. Second peripheral seam 602 is disposed peripherally outwardly from the first peripheral seam, the horizontal partial length seams 576, and the vertical partial length seams 578 which form the inflatable pockets 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592, 594, and 596 and thus does not need to be air-tight. The draw cord 486 is disposed along the outer periphery 575 of the bladder 484 extending substantially completely around the lower periphery 599 of the motorcycle 482 in the deployed position with the ends 606 of draw cord 486 being adapted for drawing the outer periphery 575 inwardly about the motorcycle 482 and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together the ends 606 of draw cord 486. The draw lock 30 may be used to receive the ends 606 of draw cord 486 therethrough in side-by-side manner. Alternatively, draw lock 30 may be eliminated and the ends 606 of draw cord 486 may be tied together. The ends 606 of draw cord 486 are preferably knotted to prevent withdrawal back through draw lock 30 into the peripheral channel 600 of bladder 484.

The motorcycle cover 480 is used to cover motorcycle 482 following removal from wherever stored such as within one of the saddlebags 488 of motorcycle 482 in a stored configuration rolled up and folded therein. Cover 480 is then unrolled and unfolded from the stored configuration to that shown in FIG. 21 and placed in a deployed position on the motorcycle 482. The draw lock 30 is used as described above with the ends 606 of draw cord 486 to retain cover 480 securely about the motorcycle 482. The source of pressurized gas with attached air hose is used as described above to inflate bladder 484 through nipple 72, and stopper 82 is used to retain the gas within bladder 484.

When removal of cover 480 is desired, the above process is reversed except that the gas may be quickly removed from bladder 484 by unscrewing the deflation cap 56 from base 54. Lever 98 may be lifted outwardly to release ends 606 of draw cord 486 during removal of cover 480 from the motorcycle 482.

Referring to FIG. 22, therein is shown a sixth embodiment inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles of the present invention comprising a second version motorcycle cover 608 of unitary construction which is of the disposable type, being shown in a completely unfolded position ready for attachment to the motorcycle 482 and inflation. The cover 608 may come in various generic configurations designed to fit motorcycles 482 such as with sizes small, medium, and large, or in custom configurations and sizes designed to more closely fit the particular body type and size of the motorcycle 482.

The motorcycle cover 608 includes a thin, foldable, flexible bladder 610, the valve device 296, the quick deflation device 297, and a securing device in the form of a draw cord 612. The bladder 610 shown is more custom-fit to custom-fit to the particular motorcycle 482, but with substantially straight edges (see panel seams below) to facilitate folding and packaged thereof into the compact hand-held size. The bladder 610 includes an upper sheet 614 made of a thin, pliable, foldable, waterproof, air-tight material, preferably the plastic film which may be clear or be dyed to a desired color and made of recyclable plastic or biodegradable material. Suitable plastic films include cellophane, polyetheylene and the like which are lightweight. The plastic film material may be metal-coated such as mylar, which is aluminum coated plastic film. The plastic film is typically of a thickness ranging from about 1 mils to about 6 mils. The plastic film material is thin and readily foldable so as to allow the motorcycle cover 608 to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal. Upper sheet 614 includes a top handlebars panel 616, a front handlebars panel 618, a rear handlebars panel 620, a front wheel panel 622, a rear wheel panel 624, respective side panels 626, a front bumper panel 628, and a rear bumper panel 630. The panels 616, 618, 620, 622, 624, 626, 628, and 630 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective straight panel edges or seams 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 638, 640, 642, 644, 646, and 648 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of upper sheet 614.

Upper sheet 614 has an outer periphery 650 hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

Bladder 610 also has a lower sheet 654 of mating shape to upper sheet 614 made of a thin, pliable, foldable, waterproof, air-tight material, preferably the plastic film which may be clear or be dyed to a desired color and made of recyclable plastic or biodegradable material. Suitable plastic films include cellophane, polyetheylene and the like which are lightweight. The plastic film material may be metal-coated such as mylar, which is aluminum coated plastic film. The plastic film is typically of a thickness ranging from about 1 mils to about 6 mils. The plastic film material is thin and readily foldable so as to allow the motorcycle cover 608 to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal. Lower sheet 654 includes a top handlebars panel 656, a front handlebars panel 658, a rear handlebars panel 660, a front wheel panel 662, a rear wheel panel 664, respective side panels 666, a front bumper panel 668, and a rear bumper panel 670.

The panels 656, 658, 660, 662, 664, 666, 668, and 670 may be individually cut and affixed together at respective straight panel edges or seams 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 678, 680, 682, 684, 686, and 688 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process in slightly overlapping manner to form the unitary structure of lower sheet 654. Lower sheet 654 has an outer periphery (not shown) hemmed at a peripheral seam (not shown) formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process.

The upper and lower sheets 614 and 654 have mating outer peripheries 650 and 690 affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam 694 at an outer periphery 695 of bladder 610, at a plurality of horizontal partial length seams 696, and at a plurality of vertical partial length seams 698 as viewed when the bladder 610 is in the deployed position covering the motorcycle 482, being disposed in seam groups 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, and 706 of parallel seams all formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process to form a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets therebetween including a plurality of top handlebars pockets 707, front handlebars pockets 708, rear handlebars pockets 709, front wheel pockets 710, rear wheel pockets 711, side pockets 712, front bumper pockets 714, and rear bumper pockets 716.

The valve device 296 includes the nipple 410 affixed to the bladder 610 by the base 412 thereof being affixed at an inflation hole 718 through bladder 610 to permit inflation of bladder 610 and retention of air therein by inserting stopper 420 into air hole 424.

The quick deflation device 297 includes the base 398 exteriorly affixed to the upper sheet 614 such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process coaxially with a deflation hole 719 therethrough. The cover 400 is removably affixed to the base 398 to permit inflation and deflation of bladder 610.

The draw cord 612 is adapted to removably retain the outer periphery 695 of bladder 610 about the lower periphery 599 of the motorcycle 482 when the motorcycle cover 608 is in the deployed position. The draw cord 612 is braided nylon or other suitable material of an outer diameter of between about one-sixteenth and three-thirty-seconds inch to facilitate compact folding of motorcycle cover 608. The draw cord 612 is disposed within an elongate peripheral pocket or channel 720 of bladder 610 formed by doubling over the affixed together outer peripheries 650 and 690 of upper and lower sheets 614 and 654 and affixing together at a second peripheral seam 722 formed such as by heat sealing under pressure, thermal welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other suitable process. A pair of the grommets 252 reinforce respective cord outlet openings in the form of holes 724 of upper sheet 614 through which respective ends 726 of draw cord 612 extend. The draw cord 612 is disposed along the outer periphery 695 of the bladder 610 extending substantially completely around the lower periphery 599 of the motorcycle 482 in the deployed position with the ends 726 of the draw cord 612 being adapted for drawing the outer periphery 695 inwardly about the motorcycle 482 and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together the ends 726 of draw cord 612. The draw lock described above for use with draw cord 298 may be used to receive the ends 726 of draw cord 612 therethrough in side-by-side manner. Alternatively, the modified draw lock may be eliminated and the ends 726 of draw cord 612 may be tied together. The ends 726 of draw cord 612 are preferably knotted to prevent withdrawal back through any draw lock used into the peripheral channel 720 of bladder 610.

The cover 608 is initially in a completely folded position inside the outer package 293 for holding in-hand and as stored prior to use, as shown for car cover 292 in FIG. 15. The outer package 293 may be air-tight when sealed, and packaging of cover 608 within package 293 may be done by vacuum packaging to remove air from within cover 608 and package 293 to minimize the size thereof.

The cover 608 is removed from the outer package 293 such as by tearing the release band 294 of outer package 293, as shown for car cover 292 in FIG. 15 setting on the flat support surface 436 ready for unfolding thereon. The cover 608 is folded prior to placing in outer package 293, then unfolded prior to use in stages, some of which are an accordion folding, at respective major fold lines to provide the hand-held size. Some of the major fold lines are along respective of the vertical partial length seams 698 of bladder 610.

The cover 608 is shown in FIG. 23 as removed from the package 293, in a first stage of unfolding along a plurality of first major fold lines 728 from the accordion configuration in package 293.

The cover 608 is shown in FIG. 24 in a second stage of unfolding along a plurality of second major fold lines 730 along the vertical partial length seams 698 of bladder 610 are unfolded from the accordion configuration shown in FIG. 22. Cover 608 is then ready for unfolding along a plurality of third major fold lines 732, 734, 736, 738, 740, 742, 744, 746, 748, 750, 752, 754, 756, 758, 760, 762, 764, 766, 768, 770, 772, 774, 776, 778, 780, 782, 784, 786, 788, 790, 792, 794, 796, 798, 800, 802, 804, 806, 808, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, 832, 834, and 836 to the completely unfolded position of FIG. 22 ready for attachment to the motorcycle 482 and inflation.

The motorcycle cover 608 is used to cover motorcycle 482 following removal from wherever stored such as within one of the saddlebags 488 of motorcycle 482 in the completely folded configuration inside the outer package 293 as shown for car cover 292 in FIG. 13. Cover 608 is then removed from outer package 293 and unfolded as described above, and placed in the unfolded position as shown in FIG. 22 and placed in a deployed position on the motorcycle 482. The ends 726 of draw cord 612 are pulled and tied together as described above to retain cover 608 securely about the motorcycle 482. The source of pressurized gas with attached air hose is used as described above to inflate bladder 610 through nipple 410, and stopper 420 is used to retain the gas within bladder 610. When removal of cover 608 is desired, the above process is reversed except that the gas may be quickly removed from bladder 610 by grasping tab 406 and peeling the deflation cover 400 from base 398. Cover 608 is then disposed of by tossing in the trash or recycled.

Therefore, the inflatable protective covers for motor vehicles of the present invention satisfy all of the above-enumerated desired improvements, including: 1) is lightweight and non-bulky so as to be easy to unpack, deploy, and repack for storage by one person; 2) provides protection from hail to prevent damage the motor vehicle without being constructed of thick padding material; 3) has inflatable chambers which require a relatively small volume of air at low pressure to inflate for quick inflation; 4) may be of a universal fit (e.g. small, medium, and large sizes) or custom fit to the particular motor vehicle; 5) has a big deflation valve to let air out quickly; 6) forms a bubble when inflated such that an automobile cannot be used as a junk shelf in a garage; 7) has different types of air valves for inflation using a compressed air line, a portable air compressor, a foot pump, a cannister of compressed gas, or inflation by mouth using the person's own lungs; 8) easily folds to a compact size for storage; 9) comes in both reusable and disposable versions; 10) has a drawstring and a draw clamp for easy securing about the motor vehicle; 11) has an inner layer which rests on the motor vehicle made of a non-marring, felt-like material; 12) the bladder is of a construction similar to conventional air mattresses with baffles; and 13) the bladder has a zip-off cover.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out such invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles, comprising:

a flexible bladder which includes respective upper and lower sheets each made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material of a shape adapted to substantially cover the motor vehicle, said sheets having mating outer peripheries affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam at an outer periphery of said bladder to form at least one inflatable pocket therebetween;

a valve device adapted to allow adding of air to said inflatable pocket to inflate said bladder when the protective cover is in a deployed position covering the motor vehicle and removing of air from said inflatable pocket to deflate said bladder prior to removing the protective cover to a stowed position disposed off the motor vehicle; and

a securing device adapted to removably retain said outer periphery of said bladder about a lower periphery of the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position.

2. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower sheets are each made of a material chosen from the group consisting of sheet vinyl material, laminated nylon rip-stop material, laminated polyester rip-stop material, a top layer of sheet vinyl material with a felt bottom layer, a top layer of sheet vinyl material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, a top layer of laminated nylon rip-stop material with a felt bottom layer, a top layer of laminated nylon rip-stop material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, a top layer of laminated polyester rip-stop material with a felt bottom layer, and a top layer of laminated polyester rip-stop material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, said upper and lower sheets having a configuration at each vehicle exhaust pipe chosen from the group consisting of neither of said upper and lower sheets having a flexible heat resistant panel at each vehicle exhaust pipe and at least one of said upper and lower sheets having said heat-resistant panel at each vehicle exhaust pipe.

3. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the securing device comprise, a draw cord disposed along the outer periphery of the bladder extending substantially completely around the lower periphery of the motor vehicle in the deployed position with respective ends of the draw cord being adapted for drawing said outer periphery inwardly about the motor vehicle and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together said ends of said draw cord.

4. The protective cover according to claim 3, wherein the draw cord is disposed through an elongate peripheral channel of the bladder with a cord outlet opening through which respective ends of said draw cord extend.

5. The protective cover according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral channel is formed by doubling over the outer periphery of the bladder and affixing together at a second peripheral seam.

6. The protective cover according to claim 4, wherein the cord outlet opening is of a type chosen from the group consisting of a space in the second peripheral seam, a pair of spaced-apart holes unreinforced with respective grommets in that of the upper and lower sheets having the peripheral channel, and a pair of spaced-apart holes reinforced with respective grommets in that of said upper and lower sheets having said peripheral channel.

7. The protective cover according to claim 3, wherein the draw cord comprises a braided material of an outer diameter of between about one-sixteenth and three-eighths inch.

8. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheries of the upper and lower sheets are hemmed.

9. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the bladder is adapted to fit motor vehicles of a type chosen from the group consisting of automobiles and motorcycles.

10. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the bladder is adapted to fit about the motor vehicle in a manner chosen from the group consisting of baggily to fit a multiplicity of motor vehicles and custom-fit to the particular motor vehicle.

11. The protective cover according to claim 10, wherein the bladder fits to the motor vehicle in the baggily manner having a single inflatable pocket with the upper and lower sheets each comprising a single panel.

12. The protective cover according to claim 10, wherein the bladder fits to the motor vehicle in the custom-fit manner having a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets with the upper and lower sheets each comprising a plurality of panels affixed together at respective panel seams.

13. The protective cover according to claim 12, wherein the bladder is adapted to fit motor vehicles of a type chosen from the group consisting of automobiles and motorcycles, in said bladder adapted to fit automobiles the upper and lower sheets each including a roof panel, a pair of side panels, a front windshield panel, a rear windshield panel, a front bumper panel, a trunk panel, and a rear bumper panel, and in said bladder adapted to fit motorcycles said upper and lower sheets each including a top handlebars panel, a front handlebars panel, and a rear handlebars panel, a front wheel panel, a rear wheel panel, respective side panels, a front bumper panel, and a rear bumper panel.

14. The protective cover according to claim 13, wherein the upper and lower sheets each further include at least one additional feature chosen from the group consisting of at least one mirror panel, at least one saddlebag panel, and at least one of the rear wheel panel and the side panels being adapted to fit over a saddlebag of the motorcycle.

15. The protective cover according to claim 12, wherein the inflatable pockets are formed by the upper sheet being affixed to the lower sheet at a plurality of partial length seams inside the first peripheral seam of the bladder to form a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets therebetween.

16. The protective cover according to claim 15, wherein the bladder is adapted to fit motor vehicles of a type chosen from the group consisting of automobiles and motorcycles, said bladder adapted to fit automobiles having inflatable pockets including at least one each of a roof pocket, a pair of opposite side pockets, a front windshield pocket, a rear windshield pocket, a front bumper pocket, a trunk pocket, and a rear bumper pocket, and said bladder adapted to fit motorcycles having inflatable pockets including at least one each of a top handlebars pocket, a front handlebars pocket, and a rear handlebars pocket, a front wheel pocket, a rear wheel pocket, respective side pockets, a front bumper pocket, and a rear bumper pocket.

17. The protective cover according to claim 16, wherein the bladder further includes at least one additional inflatable pocket chosen from the group consisting of a mirror pocket and a saddlebag pocket.

18. The protective cover according to claim 15, wherein the partial length seams are disposed in groups of parallel seams.

19. The protective cover according to claim 18, wherein when the bladder is in the deployed position covering the motor vehicle, said partial length seams of each group are substantially disposed in an orientation chosen from the group consisting of horizontally disposed and vertically disposed.

20. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the valve device comprises an inflation member affixed to the bladder having an inflating position extending generally outwardly therefrom, said inflation member having an air hole extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket, and a stopper device adapted to allow selective sealing and unsealing of said air hole.

21. The protective cover according to claim 20, wherein the inflation member comprises a resilient nipple made of rubber-like material which includes a base affixed to the bladder at an inflation hole therethrough and a tip distal from said bladder with an integral stopper retained thereto by an integral strap, said stopper being adapted to closely removably fit within the air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within said bladder by inserting said stopper into said air hole, said nipple having a stowed position flush with said bladder extending inwardly through said inflation hole into said inflatable pocket.

22. The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising a quick deflation device affixed to the bladder in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within said inflatable pocket.

23. The protective cover according to claim 22, wherein the quick deflation device comprises a tubular base having a longitudinal hole therethrough, said base being affixed to the bladder with said longitudinal hole in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket through a deflation hole through said bladder, and a mating cap removably affixable to said base adapted to provide an air-tight seal therewith.

24. The protective cover according to claim 23, wherein the cap threadably attaches to the base.

25. The protective cover according to claim 23, wherein the base comprises a flanged base having a flat annular flange and an upstanding tubular neck, said flange being affixed to the bladder within the inflatable pocket with said neck extending through the deflation hole.

26. The protective cover according to claim 23, wherein the valve device comprises an inflation member affixed to the cap and having an inflating position extending generally outwardly therefrom, said inflation member having an air hole extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket, and a stopper device adapted to allow selective sealing and unsealing of said air hole.

27. The protective cover according to claim 26, wherein the cap comprises a circular end wall having a nipple hole therethrough and a dependent annular peripheral wall, the inflation member comprises a resilient nipple made of rubber-like material which includes a base adapted to be closely received within said nipple hole of said cap with an annular groove adapted for anchoring thereto, and a tip distal from said cap with an integral stopper retained thereto by an integral strap, said stopper being adapted to closely removably fit within the air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within said bladder by inserting said stopper into said air hole, said nipple having a stowed position flush with said bladder extending inwardly through said inflation hole into said inflatable pocket.

28. The protective cover according to claim 23, wherein the cap includes a resilient annular gasket affixed to the end wall which is adapted to engage an annular end surface of the base to provide the air-tight seal therewith.

29. The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising a draw lock which includes a tubular housing having a longitudinal hole therethrough adapted to closely receive the ends of the draw cord therethrough in side-by-side manner, a cam-lock lever pivotally connected to said housing disposed within a transverse hole which extends into said housing to said longitudinal hole, said lever having a camming surface adapted to frictionally engage said ends of said draw cord within said housing to permit movement of said draw lock towards the bladder but not away therefrom so as to tighten car cover about the motor vehicle, said lever being releasable by gripping in-hand and pivoting outwardly to remove said camming surface from contact with said ends of said draw cord.

30. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the upper sheet is of a rounded rectangular shape and the lower sheet is of mating rounded rectangular shape to said upper sheet.

31. The protective cover according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible bladder cover comprising respective upper and lower covers including respective upper and lower sheets each made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof material shaped to have mating outer peripheries which when affixed together form an outer periphery of said bladder cover and form a bladder pocket therebetween adapted to closely receive the bladder therein in both the inflated and deflated conditions;

at least one closure device is adapted to retain together said outer peripheries of said upper and lower sheets together disposed about said bladder; and

wherein the securing device is attached to the bladder cover to removably retain said bladder cover and said outer periphery of said bladder about the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position disposed about the motor vehicle.

32. The protective cover according to claim 31, wherein the closure device comprises a zipper having an elongate first half track thereof affixed at a zipper seam along substantially an entire length of the outer periphery of the upper sheet, a mating second half track affixed at a zipper seam along substantially an entire length of the outer periphery of the lower sheet, and a movable zipping member to removably retain the bladder within the bladder pocket of the bladder cover.

33. The protective cover according to claim 31, wherein the securing device comprises a draw cord disposed along the outer periphery of the bladder extending substantially completely around the motor vehicle in the deployed position with respective ends of the draw cord being adapted for drawing said outer periphery of said bladder inwardly about the motor vehicle and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together said ends of said draw cord.

34. The protective cover according to claim 33, wherein the draw cord is disposed through an elongate peripheral channel of the bladder cover formed in one of the upper and lower sheets thereof with a cord outlet opening through which the ends of said draw cord respectively extend.

35. The protective cover according to claim 34, wherein the peripheral channel is formed by doubling over the outer periphery of the one of the upper and lower sheets of the upper and lower covers and affixing together at a second peripheral seam.

36. The protective cover according to claim 34, wherein the cord outlet opening is of a type chosen from the group consisting of a space in the second peripheral seam, a pair of spaced-apart holes unreinforced with respective grommets in that of the upper and lower sheets having the peripheral channel, and a pair of spaced-apart holes reinforced with respective grommets in that of said upper and lower sheets having said peripheral channel.

37. The protective cover according to claim 31, wherein the waterproof material from which the upper and lower sheets are made is breathable.

38. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the material from which the upper and lower sheets are made is thin and readily foldable so as to allow the protective cover to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal.

39. The protective cover according to claim 38, wherein the material comprises a plastic film.

40. The protective cover according to claim 39, wherein the material comprises a metal coated film.

41. The protective cover according to claim 39, wherein said plastic material is of a thickness ranging from about 1 mils to about 6 mils.

42. The protective cover according to claim 38, wherein the bladder has substantially straight edges to facilitate folding and packaged thereof into the compact hand-held size.

43. The protective cover according to claim 38, wherein the bladder is of a fit, inflatable pocket number, and construction chosen from the group consisting of fits to the motor vehicle in the baggily manner having a single inflatable pocket with the upper and lower sheets each comprising a single inflatable pocket and fits to the motor vehicle in the custom-fit manner having a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets with said upper and lower sheets each comprising a plurality of panels affixed together at respective panel seams.

44. The protective cover according to claim 38, wherein the valve device comprises an inflation member affixed to the bladder having an inflating position extending generally outwardly therefrom, said inflation member having an air hole extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket, and a stopper device adapted to allow selective sealing and unsealing of said air hole.

45. The protective cover according to claim 44, wherein the inflation member comprises a resilient nipple made of rubber-like material which includes a base affixed to the bladder at an inflation hole therethrough and a tip distal from said bladder with an integral stopper retained thereto by an integral strap, said stopper being adapted to closely removably fit within the air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within said bladder by inserting said stopper into said air hole, said nipple having a stowed position flush with said bladder extending inwardly through said inflation hole into said inflatable pocket.

46. The protective cover according to claim 38, further comprising a quick deflation device affixed to the bladder in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within said inflatable pocket.

47. The protective cover according to claim 46, wherein the quick deflation device comprises a thin, flat annular base having a flat exterior surface and a center hole, said base being affixed to the bladder with said exterior surface outwardly disposed and said center hole in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket through a deflation hole through said bladder, and a mating thin, flat deflation cover removably affixed to said exterior surface of said base adapted to provide an air-tight seal therewith to permit inflation of said bladder while being removable therefrom to permit quick deflation of said bladder.

48. The protective cover according to claim 47, wherein the deflation cover is affixed to the base using an adhesive layer.

49. The protective cover according to claim 48, wherein the base is circular and the deflation cover comprises a circular disk and an integral gripping tab.

50. The protective cover according to claim 38, further comprising an outer package made of plastic film which contains the protective cover prior to use.

51. The protective cover according to claim 50, wherein the outer package is sealed about the protective cover in an air-tight manner, and packaging thereof is done by vacuum packaging to remove air from within said outer package to minimize its size.

52. The protective cover according to claim 50, wherein the outer package includes a release band which extends therearound adapted for gripping and opening said package.

53. The protective cover according to claim 38, wherein the bladder is folded in stages at least one of which is an accordion folding at respective major fold lines to provide the hand-held size.

54. The protective cover according to claim 53, wherein at least some of the major fold lines are along respective seams of the bladder.

55. An inflatable protective cover for motor vehicles, comprising:

a flexible bladder which includes respective upper and lower sheets each made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof, air-tight material of a shape adapted to substantially cover the motor vehicle, said sheets having mating outer peripheries affixed together in an air-tight manner at a first peripheral seam at an outer periphery of said bladder to form at least one inflatable pocket therebetween;

a valve device adapted to allow adding of air to said inflatable pocket to inflate said bladder when the protective cover is in a deployed position covering the motor vehicle and removing of air from said inflatable pocket to deflate said bladder prior to removing the protective cover to a stowed position disposed off the motor vehicle;

a securing device adapted to removably retain said outer periphery of said bladder about a lower periphery of the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position; and

wherein said upper and lower sheets are each made of a material chosen from the group consisting of sheet vinyl material, laminated nylon rip-stop material, laminated polyester rip-stop material, a top layer of sheet vinyl material with a felt bottom layer, a top layer of sheet vinyl material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, a top layer of laminated nylon rip-stop material with with a felt bottom layer, and a top layer of laminated polyester rip-stop material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, a felt bottom layer, a top layer of laminated nylon rip-stop material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, a top layer of laminated polyester rip-stop material with a felt bottom layer, and a top layer of laminated polyester rip-stop material with a fluffed polyester bottom layer, wherein said upper and lower sheets having a configuration at each vehicle exhaust pipe chosen from the group consisting of neither of said upper and lower sheets having a flexible heat resistant panel at each vehicle exhaust pipe and at least one of said upper and lower sheets having said heat-resistant panel at each vehicle exhaust pipe, wherein said securing device comprises a draw cord disposed along said outer periphery of said bladder extending substantially completely around the motor vehicle in the deployed position with respective ends of said draw cord being adapted for drawing said outer periphery inwardly about the motor vehicle and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together said ends of said draw cord, wherein said draw cord is disposed through an elongate peripheral channel of said bladder with a cord outlet opening through which respective ends of said draw cord extend, wherein said peripheral channel is formed by doubling over said outer periphery of said bladder and affixing together at a second peripheral seam, wherein said cord outlet opening is of a type chosen from the group consisting of a space in said second peripheral seam, a pair of spaced-apart holes without grommets in at least one of said upper and lower sheets, and a pair of spaced-apart holes reinforced with respective grommets in said bladder through which said ends of said draw cord extend, wherein said bladder is adapted to fit motor vehicles of a type chosen from the group consisting of automobiles and motorcycles, wherein said bladder is adapted to fit about the motor vehicle in a manner chosen from the group consisting of baggily to fit a multiplicity of motor vehicles and custom-fit to the particular motor vehicle, and wherein said valve device comprises an inflation member affixed to said bladder having an inflating position extending generally outwardly therefrom, said inflation member having an air hole extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with said inflatable pocket, and a stopper device adapted to allow selective sealing and unsealing of said air hole.

56. The protective cover according to claim 55, further comprising:

a quick deflation device affixed to the bladder in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within the inflatable pocket; and

wherein said bladder fits to the motor vehicle in the baggily manner having a single inflatable pocket with the upper and lower sheets each comprising a single panel, wherein said quick deflation device comprises a tubular base having a longitudinal hole therethrough, said base being affixed to said bladder with said longitudinal hole in fluid communication with said inflatable pocket through a deflation hole through said bladder, and a mating cap removably affixable to said base by threadably attaching thereto adapted to provide an air-tight seal therewith, wherein said base comprises a flanged base having a flat annular flange and an upstanding tubular neck, said flange being affixed to said bladder within the inflatable pocket with said neck extending through said deflation hole, wherein said cap comprises a circular end wall having a nipple hole therethrough and a dependent annular peripheral wall, wherein the inflation member comprises a resilient nipple made of rubber-like material which includes a base adapted to be closely received within said nipple hole of said cap with an annular groove adapted for anchoring thereto, and a tip distal from said cap with an integral stopper retained thereto by an integral strap, said stopper being adapted to closely removably fit within the air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within said bladder by inserting said stopper into said air hole, said nipple having a stowed position flush with said bladder extending inwardly through said inflation hole into said inflatable pocket, and wherein the upper sheet is of a rounded rectangular shape and the lower sheet is of mating rounded rectangular shape to said upper sheet.

57. The protective cover according to claim 55, wherein the bladder fits to the motor vehicle in the custom-fit manner having a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets with the upper and lower sheets each comprising a plurality of panels affixed together at respective panel seams, said bladder being adapted to fit motor vehicles of a type chosen from the group consisting of automobiles and motorcycles, in said bladder adapted to fit automobiles said upper and lower sheets each including a roof panel, a pair of side panels, a front windshield panel, a rear windshield panel, a front bumper panel, a trunk panel, and a rear bumper panel and having inflatable pockets including at least one each of a roof pocket, a pair of opposite side pockets, a front windshield pocket, a rear windshield pocket, a front bumper pocket, a trunk pocket, and a rear bumper pocket, and in said bladder adapted to fit motorcycles said upper and lower sheets each including a top handlebars panel, a front handlebars panel, and a rear handlebars panel, a front wheel panel, a rear wheel panel, respective side panels, a front bumper panel, and a rear bumper panel and having inflatable pockets including at least one each of a top handlebars pocket, a front handlebars pocket, and a rear handlebars pocket, a front wheel pocket, a rear wheel pocket, respective side pockets, a front bumper pocket, and a rear bumper pocket, and wherein said inflatable pockets of each are formed by respective of said upper sheets being affixed to respective of said lower sheets at a plurality of partial length seams inside the first peripheral seam of said bladder to form a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets there-between.

58. The protective cover according to claim 57, further comprising:

a quick deflation device affixed to the bladder in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within said inflatable pocket; and

wherein the partial length seams are disposed in groups of parallel seams such that when said bladder is in the deployed position covering the motor vehicle, said partial length seams of each group are substantially disposed in an orientation chosen from the group consisting of horizontally disposed and vertically disposed, wherein the inflation member comprises a resilient nipple made of rubber-like material which includes a base affixed to said bladder at an inflation hole therethrough and a tip distal from said bladder with an integral stopper retained thereto by an integral strap, said stopper being adapted to closely removably fit within said air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within said bladder by inserting said stopper into said air hole, said nipple having a stowed position flush with said bladder extending inwardly through said inflation hole into said inflatable pocket, wherein the quick deflation device comprises a tubular base having a longitudinal hole therethrough, said base being affixed to said bladder with said longitudinal hole in fluid communication with said inflatable pocket through a deflation hole through said bladder, and a mating cap removably affixable to said base by threadably attaching thereto adapted to provide an air-tight seal therewith, and wherein said base comprises a flanged base having a flat annular flange and an upstanding tubular neck, said flange being affixed to said bladder within said inflatable pocket with said neck extending through said deflation hole.

59. The protective cover according to claim 55, wherein the material from which the upper and lower sheets are made is a thin and readily foldable plastic film of a thickness ranging from about 1 mils to about 6 mils so as to allow the protective cover to be compactly folded to a hand-held size for single use by unfolding and subsequent disposal, said bladder having substantially

straight edges to facilitate folding and packaged thereof into the compact hand-held size and being of a fit, inflatable pocket number, and construction chosen from the group consisting of fits to the motor vehicle in the baggily manner having a single inflatable pocket with said upper and lower sheets each comprising a single inflatable pocket and fits to the motor vehicle in the custom-fit manner having a plurality of interconnected inflatable pockets with said upper and lower sheets each comprising a plurality of panels affixed together at respective panel seams, and wherein the valve device comprises an inflation member affixed to said bladder having an inflating position extending generally outwardly therefrom, said inflation member having an air hole extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with said inflatable pocket, and a stopper device adapted to allow selective sealing and unsealing of said air hole.

60. The protective cover according to claim 59, further comprising:

an outer package made of plastic film which contains the protective cover prior to use;

a quick deflation device affixed to the bladder in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket adapted to selectively retain and allow quick removal of air from within the inflatable pocket, said quick deflation device comprising a thin, flat annular base which is circular having a flat exterior surface and a center hole, said base being affixed to said bladder with said exterior surface outwardly disposed and said center hole in fluid communication with the inflatable pocket through a deflation hole through said bladder, and a mating thin, flat deflation cover comprised of a circular disk and an integral gripping tab removably affixed to said exterior surface of said base using an adhesive layer adapted to provide an air-tight seal therewith to permit inflation of said bladder while being removable therefrom to permit quick deflation of said bladder; and

wherein the inflation member comprises a resilient nipple made of rubber-like material which includes a base affixed to said bladder at an inflation hole therethrough and a tip distal from said bladder with an integral stopper retained thereto by an integral strap, said stopper being adapted to closely removably fit within the air hole to permit inflation and retention of air within said bladder by inserting said stopper into said air hole, said nipple having a stowed position flush with said bladder extending inwardly through said inflation hole into said inflatable pocket,

61. The protective cover according to claim 60, wherein the material comprises a metal coated film, wherein the outer package is sealed about the protective cover in an air-tight manner and packaging thereof is done by vacuum packaging to remove air from within said outer package to minimize its size, and wherein said outer package includes a release band which extends therearound adapted for gripping and opening said package.

62. The protective cover according to claim 60, wherein the bladder is folded in stages at least one of which is an accordion folding at respective major fold lines to provide the hand-held size, and wherein at least some of said major fold lines are along respective seams of said bladder.

63. The protective cover according to claim 55, further comprising:

a flexible bladder cover comprising respective upper and lower covers including respective upper and lower sheets each made of a lightweight, pliable, waterproof material shaped to have mating outer peripheries which when affixed together form an outer periphery of said bladder cover and form a bladder pocket therebetween adapted to closely receive the bladder therein in both the inflated and deflated conditions;

at least one closure device is adapted to retain together said outer peripheries of said upper and lower sheets together disposed about said bladder; and

wherein the securing device is attached to the bladder cover to removably retain said bladder cover and said outer periphery of said bladder about the motor vehicle when the protective cover is in the deployed position disposed about the motor vehicle.

64. The protective cover according to claim 63, wherein the closure device conmprises a zipper having an elongate first half track thereof affixed at a zipper seam along substantially an entire length of the outer periphery of the upper sheet, a mating second half track affixed at a zipper seam along substantially an entire length of the outer periphery of the lower sheet, and a movable zipping member to removably retain the bladder within the bladder pocket of the bladder cover, wherein the securing device comprises a draw cord disposed along the outer periphery of said bladder extending substantially completely around the motor vehicle in the deployed position with respective ends of the draw cord being adapted for drawing said outer periphery of said bladder inwardly about the motor vehicle and releasibly securing thereabout by affixing together said ends of said draw cord, wherein said draw cord is disposed through an elongate peripheral channel of said bladder cover formed in one of said upper and lower sheets thereof with a cord outlet opening through which said ends of said draw cord respectively extend, wherein said peripheral channel is formed by doubling over said outer periphery of said one of said upper and lower sheets of the upper and lower covers and affixing together at a second peripheral seam, and wherein said cord outlet opening is of a type chosen from the group consisting of a space in said second peripheral seam, a pair of spaced-apart holes unreinforced with respective grommets in that of said upper and lower sheets having the peripheral channel, and a pair of spaced-apart holes reinforced with respective grommets in that of said upper and lower sheets having said peripheral channel.

65. The protective cover according to claim 64, wherein the waterproof material from which the upper and lower sheets are made is breathable.