Abstract: A vent for allowing air to move between the interior and exterior of a shrink film envelope enclosing a vehicle, such as a boat, aircraft, etc., or some other object comprises a generally flat vent plate. The vent plate has oppositely facing interior and exterior surfaces and includes both a central portion and a peripheral portion. An array of holes extends through the central portion of the plate to establish fluid communication between the interior and exterior surfaces. Deflectors are positioned on the exterior plate surface for shielding the holes to inhibit entry through the holes of liquids while allowing generally unrestricted air circulation between the envelope interior and exterior. In one embodiment, the deflectors comprise an array of cowls with an individual cowl for shielding each hole of the array.

Abstract: A method of shrink film packaging an assembled aircraft or portion thereof for transport, storage or the like comprises the steps of covering exposed jagged or sharp edges and discontinuities, exposed irregularly shaped areas, and exposed heat-sensitive components of the aircraft with a foam material. The aircraft is then wrapped with a plurality of separate sections of heat-shrinkable polymer film with adjoining sections partially overlapping to provide a generally continuous covering. Heat is then applied to the heat-shrinkable film sections to shrink the film to tightly conform to the aircraft, to fuse together overlapping film sections and to fuse portions of the film to adjoining foam material. Elongated strips of heat-shrinkable material are then applied along seams formed by the fusing together of the overlapping film sections. Finally, heat is applied to the elongated strips to shrink and fuse the strips to the film sections on both sides of the seams to seal and reinforce the seams.

Abstract: Boats are weatherized for temporary storage, as over winter, by enclosing the deck and superstructure with a heat shrunk unitary plastic film. Tie lines terminating in loops are hung from the rub rail or other deck level attachment and extend a portion of the distance between the deck and water line. Bridge straps are run from bow to stern and the boat is draped with a single plastic film of sufficient size to extend below the tie line loops, a tie-down strap is passed through the loops to tightly secure the film about the boat hull and the entire plastic film is subjected to heat sufficient to shrink the film and produce a tight and taut membraneous cover.