Covering device

Abstract

A covering device for each of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile. The covering device includes a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness. A securing mechanism is disposed on a first predetermined side of such covering member for releasably securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/972,521 filed Sep. 14, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to automobiles and, more particularly, this invention relates to a protective covering for a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, automobile covers, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to cover automobiles to protect them from dust and debris. Covers have generally been two types, a cover which cover the entire exterior of the vehicle and can only be situated on the vehicle while the vehicle is not in use and those types of covers which protect individual portions of such automobiles. The latter consists generally of ugly, bulky type of coverings such as bumper guards. Such coverings are expensive, usually do not match the paint color on such vehicle, are difficult to attach to a vehicle and generally ruin the sleek smooth lines of the vehicle.

Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Gentile, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,629 discloses a method and apparatus for protecting an area of an exterior of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of forming a template by tracing the area to be protected, positioning the template over material used to form a protective covering and cutting the protective covering to match the traced pattern. Once cut, the protective covering is divided into pieces having dimensions less than 18 inches by 18 inches. The area to be protected is then cleaned, dried, waxed and buffed. The protective cover is positioned over the area to be protected. A force is applied towards the area to be protected causing the protective cover to adhere to the area by static electricity.

Jabalee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,201, discloses a high impact barrier for the exterior components of an automobile body to enable lightweight automobiles to better withstand collisions and provide a protective enclosure of the passenger compartment, accomplished by bonding precut sheets of heavy gauge SUNPRENE™ polyprene onto the outer surfaces of the body panels. Clear sheets of polyprene are also bonded to the interior and exterior windshield and rear glass surfaces, and to the outer surfaces of bumpers and headlight lenses.

Castillo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,989, discloses an improved halter type protective cover which is constructed out of static cling vinyl material to fit over the front part of the hood and front fenders of a car to protect the finish from dirt, bug stains, road grime, tar, flying particles, stones and similar damaging material. It is fastened to the front end by means of the electrostatic properties of the material and without the use of adhesives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a covering device for each of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile. Such covering device includes a covering member. Such covering member is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness. A securing means is disposed on a first predetermined side of such covering member for releasably securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile.

According to another embodiment, a method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile is provided. Such method includes the steps of providing a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness, such covering member further including a securing means for releasably securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, placing such covering member on such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, and securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile via such securing means.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile from at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof is provided. Such method includes the steps of providing a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness, such covering member further including an adhesive type securing means disposed on a first side of such covering member for releasably securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, placing such covering member on such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile such that such adhesive type securing means adhesively secures such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, and removing such covering member from such automobile when such covering member has a predetermined amount of at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof disposed on such covering member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a covering device for selectively covering a predetermined portion of an automobile such that such predetermined portion is protected from weather elements, nicks, dings, dirt, debris, scratches, marring, bird droppings, insects, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a covering device which may be removably adhesively applied to a predetermined portion of the exterior of an automobile such as the hood, bumpers, sides, side mirrors, and the like to protect such portion from various damaging situations.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a covering for predetermined portions of the exterior of an vehicle, such covering being manufacturable in various colors such that such covering will match the paint color of the vehicle upon which such covering is to be applied.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thin covering having an adhesive backing for selective placement on a predetermined portion of an automobile for protecting such automobile from damage.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method of applying a transparent removable cover member to a predetermined portion of the exterior of an automobile.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a covering for a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile, such covering being capable of being cut to size.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention wherein a predetermined side of the covering member is illustrated as having an adhesive securing means disposed thereon.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the covering member has been secured to a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-3.

The present invention provides a covering device, generally designated 10, for each of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile 12.

Such covering device 10 includes a covering member 14. Such covering member 14 is manufactured from a first predetermined material and has a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness. It is presently preferred that such covering member 14 may be cut to at least one of a second predetermined shape, a second predetermined size, and a combination thereof by a user (not shown).

It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic. It is presently preferred that such covering member 14 is at least one of transparent and opaque. It is presently most preferred that such covering member 14 is transparent. It is meant that such covering member 14 may be manufactured in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, in addition to being manufactured in a transparent embodiment, for matching to various paints and various portions of various automobiles. Such covering member 14 may also be manufactured with various designs, logos, symbols, words, pictures, and the like.

It is presently preferred that such covering member 14 is formed such that such covering member 14 may be applied to a predetermined curved portion of such automobile 12 such that such covering member 14 is formfitting around such predetermined curved portion. For example, such covering member 14 may be applied to a bumper portion of such automobile, a curved door or side panel, an exterior mirror or the like. It is meant that such covering member 14 be of a shape and size to enable a user to cover and protect any portion of his or her automobile as desired.

A securing means 18 is disposed on a first predetermined side 15 of such covering member 14 for releasably securing such covering member 14 to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile 12.

It is presently preferred that such securing means 18 is an adhesive type securing means 22 operably disposed on a first predetermined side 15 of such covering member 14. It is presently most preferred that such securing means 18 is a transparent adhesive type securing means.

According to another embodiment, a method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile is provided. Such method includes the steps of providing a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness, such covering member further including a securing means for releasably securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, placing such covering member on such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, and securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile via such securing means. It is presently preferred that such method includes the additional step of cleaning such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile prior to placing such covering member thereon.

Additionally, it is meant that such user may remove the covering member as desired, for example, as it becomes dirty, unsanitary, worn out, and a combination thereof. Such user may replace such covering member with a new clean covering member if desired.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile from at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof is provided. Such method includes the steps of providing a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness, such covering member further including an adhesive type securing means disposed on a first side of such covering member for releasably securing such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, placing such covering member on such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile such that such adhesive type securing means adhesively secures such covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile, and removing such covering member from such automobile when such covering member has a predetermined amount of at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof disposed on such covering member.

It is presently preferred that such method further includes repeating such steps as desired by such user. It is meant that such user may remove the covering member as it becomes dirty, unsanitary, worn out, and a combination thereof, and such user may replace such covering member with a new clean covering member. However, the device is not meant to be limited as such and a clean covering member may be placed on such automobile at any time and for any reason as desired by a user.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A covering device for each of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile, said covering device comprising:

a. a covering member, said covering member being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness; and

b. a securing means disposed on a first predetermined side of said covering member for releasably securing said covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile.

2. A covering device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is plastic.

3. A covering device according to claim 1 wherein said securing means is an adhesive type securing means operably disposed on a first predetermined side of said covering member.

4. A covering device according to claim 1 wherein said covering member is at least one of transparent and opaque.

5. A covering device according to claim 4 wherein said covering member is transparent.

6. A covering device according to claim 5 wherein said securing means is a transparent adhesive type securing means.

7. A covering device according to claim 1 wherein said covering member is formed such that said covering member may be applied to a predetermined curved portion of such automobile such that such covering member is formfitting around such predetermined curved portion.

8. A covering device according to claim 1 wherein said covering member may be cut to at least one of a second predetermined shape, a second predetermined size, and a combination thereof by a user.

9. A method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness, said covering member further including a securing means for releasably securing said covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile;

b. placing said covering member on such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile; and

c. securing said covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile via said securing means.

10. A method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile according to claim 9 wherein said method includes the additional step of cleaning such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile prior to placing said covering member thereon.

11. A method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile from at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a covering member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, a first predetermined shape, and a first predetermined thickness, said covering member further including an adhesive type securing means disposed on a first side of said covering member for releasably securing said covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile;

b. placing said covering member on such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile such that said adhesive type securing means adhesively secures said covering member to such predetermined exterior portion of such automobile; and

c. removing said covering member from such automobile when said covering member has a predetermined amount of at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof disposed on said covering member.

12. A method of covering and protecting a predetermined exterior portion of an automobile from at least one of insects, dirt, bird droppings, dust, debris, and a combination thereof according to claim 11 wherein said method further includes repeating said steps of claim 11 as desired by such user.