REMOVABLE VEHICLE PANEL GUARD PAD

Abstract

A removable vehicle panel guard pad is configured to protect an exterior panel of a vehicle from external damage. The removable vehicle panel guard pad includes a weather resistant front outer layer. A rear outer layer is adapted to minimise scratching of the exterior panel during placement of the pad on the exterior panel of the vehicle. An inner layer is adapted to absorb the impact of any contact of the exterior panel by an external element, such as a door of another vehicle. The inner layer has a magnetic securing element that is adapted to magnetically secure the pad to the exterior panel of the vehicle. A tether is adapted to secure the pad to an attachment point inside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A removable vehicle panel guard pad to protect an exterior panel of a vehicle from external damage, the removable vehicle panel guard pad comprising: a weather resistant front outer layer; a rear outer layer adapted to minimise scratching of the exterior panel during placement of the removable vehicle panel guard pad on the exterior panel of the vehicle; an inner layer adapted to absorb the impact of any contact of the exterior panel by an external element the inner layer having a magnetic securing element that is adapted to magnetically secure the removable vehicle panel guard pad to the exterior panel of the vehicle; and a tether adapted to secure the removable vehicle panel guard pad to an attachment point inside the vehicle.

2. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 1, wherein the removable vehicle panel guard pad is flexible.

3. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 2, wherein the removable vehicle panel guard pad is divided into a plurality of sub-panels that are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration.

4. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 3, wherein the sub-panels are concertinaed.

5. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 3, further comprising a fastening element for securing the removable vehicle panel guard pad in the collapsed configuration.

6. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 1, wherein the front and rear outer layers are both weather resistant.

7. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 1, wherein the front and rear outer layers are both adapted to minimise scratching the removable vehicle panel guard pad on the exterior panel of the vehicle.

8. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner layer is a composite.

9. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 1, comprising a plurality of magnets, each magnet of the plurality of magnets located about a perimeter of the removable vehicle panel guard pad.

10. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 1, wherein the tether has an engagement element that is configured to engage with the attachment point inside the vehicle and the tether is rotatably connected to the engagement element.

11. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of claim 10, wherein the engagement element is a hook.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the removable vehicle panel guard pad as set forth in the Summary of the Disclosure, a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of a vehicle with a removable vehicle panel guard pad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a removable vehicle panel guard pad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the removable vehicle panel guard pad shown in FIG. 2.

[0065] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a removable vehicle panel guard pad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 5A is a plan view of a removable vehicle panel guard pad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the magnetic securing element shown in FIG. 5A.

[0068] FIG. 6A is a plan view of a removable vehicle panel guard pad according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of the tether and engagement element shown in FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0070] FIGS. 1-3 show a removable vehicle panel guard pad 10 that is attached to an exterior panel of a car 30 to protect it from external damage.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the removable vehicle panel guard pad 10 is formed from a multi-layer structure comprising a front outer layer 12, a rear outer layer 14, and an inner layer 16. The inner layer 16 is fully enclosed by the front and rear outer layers 12, 14.

[0072] The inner layer 16 has a magnetic securing element, in the form of button magnet 18, that is adapted to magnetically secure the pad 10 to the exterior panel of the vehicle.

[0073] The front outer layer 12 is made from polyvinylchloride (PVC). This material is weather resistant. The front outer layer 12 may alternatively be made from aluminium foil.

[0074] The rear outer layer 14 is made from a material comprising polyester or nylon. This material minimises scratching of the exterior panel during placement of the pad 10 on the car 30.

[0075] The inner layer 16 is made from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. This material can absorb the impact of a door of a further vehicle.

[0076] The pad 10 is generally hexagonally shaped with a pair of rounded corners and a pair of inclined sides. The hexagonal shape allows the pad to conform to the side panels of the car 30. Specifically, the pair of inclined sides conform to the wheel arches of the car 30.

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a removable vehicle panel guard pad 10a according to another embodiment of the invention. The panel guard pad 10a functions in the same manner and has the same features as the removable vehicle panel guard pad 10. However, the pad 10a differs from the pad 10 in that it rectangular shaped and has no rounded corners.

[0078] FIG. 5A shows a removable vehicle panel guard pad 10b according to another embodiment of the invention. The panel guard pad 10b functions in the same manner and has the same features as the removable vehicle panel guard pad 10. However, the pad 10b has a plurality of magnetic securing element, in the form of button magnets 18, that are adapted to magnetically secure the pad 10b to the exterior panel of the vehicle. The button magnets 18 are located around a perimeter of the pad 10b. Each button magnet 18 is embedded within the inner layer 16 and is thus concealed within the outer layers 12, 14. This minimises the propensity for the button magnets 18 to scratch the exterior panel during placement of the pad 10b on the vehicle.

[0079] The pad 10b is divided into a plurality of sub-panels 20a-20f that are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other, via fold lines 21, to concertina between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration.

[0080] A polyester edge trim 22 is stitched around the pad 10b to secure the outer layers 12, 14 together. Optionally, the polyester edge trim 22 may also secure the outer layers 12, 14 to the inner layer 16.

[0081] FIG. 5B shows an enlarged view of the button magnet 18 which is a disk shaped ferromagnet.

[0082] FIG. 6A shows a removable vehicle panel guard pad 10c according to another embodiment of the invention. The panel guard pad 10c functions in the same manner and has the same features as the removable vehicle panel guard pad 10b with the exception of the following additional features.

[0083] The pad 10c also comprises a tether, in the form of an inelastic belt 24, with an engagement element, in the form of a hook 26, that is configured to engage with a belt buckle inside the car 30. The hook 26 is made from a metal alloy.

[0084] The inelastic belt 24 comprises a fastening element, in the form of first and second hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) portions 23a, 23b, for securing the pad 10c in the collapsed configuration. The first hook or loop portion 23a, located on a rear surface of the inelastic belt 24, that has hook/loop fasteners that interact with corresponding hook/loop fasteners on the second hook or loop portion 23b to secure the pad 10c in the collapsed configuration. The second hook or loop portion 23b is located on a front surface of the inelastic belt 24 and is offset from an end of the belt 24 that is secured to the pad by approximately 175 mm.

[0085] The end of the inelastic belt 24 is secured to the pad 10c via stitching.

[0086] However, it may be appreciated that the inelastic belt 24 may be secured to the pad 10c via any other means known in the art. For example, the pad 10c may have a slot through which an end of the belt 24 is threaded through, looped around the pad 10c and secured to itself using any means known in the art, for example fasteners, adhesives or ultrasonic welding.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 6B, an end of the belt 24 has a buckle 25 with a rotatable joint, i.e. swivel joint 27, that connects to the hook 26. The swivel joint 27 allows the belt 24 to be oriented such that it can be fed through a gap between the window and the window frame or a gap between the door and the door frame irrespective of the orientation of the hook 26.

[0088] The hook 26 defines an opening and comprises a latch 28 which in a closed position restricts access to the opening. The latch 28 can be moved to an open position in which access to the opening is relatively unrestricted. The latch 28 is resiliently biased towards the closed position. The latch 28 may be resiliently biased by way of a spring. Alternatively, the latch 28 may be made from an elastically material such that it is biased towards an undeformed shape.

[0089] Whilst in the embodiments described in FIGS. 5A and 6A the pads 10b, 10c have six sub-panels, it can be appreciated that the pad may have any number of panels to suit vehicles of different lengths.

[0090] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

EXEMPLARY ASPECTS

[0091] In view of the described products, systems, and methods and variations thereof, herein below are described certain more particularly described aspects of the invention. These particularly recited aspects should not however be interpreted to have any limiting effect on any different claims containing different or more general teachings described herein, or that the “particular” aspects are somehow limited in some way other than the inherent meanings of the language literally used therein.

[0092] Aspect 1. A removable vehicle panel guard pad to protect an exterior panel of a vehicle from external damage, the pad comprising:

[0093] a weather resistant front outer layer;

[0094] a rear outer layer adapted to minimise scratching of the exterior panel during placement of the pad on the exterior panel of the vehicle;

[0095] an inner layer adapted to absorb the impact of any contact of the exterior panel by an external element, such as a door of another vehicle, the inner layer having a magnetic securing element that is adapted to magnetically secure the pad to the exterior panel of the vehicle; and

[0096] a tether adapted to secure the pad to an attachment point inside the vehicle.

[0097] Aspect 2. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of aspect 1, wherein the pad is flexible.

[0098] Aspect 3. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of aspect 2, wherein the pad is divided into a plurality of sub-panels that are connected to each other and foldable relative to each other between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration.

[0099] Aspect 4. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of aspect 3, wherein the sub-panels are concertinaed.

[0100] Aspect 5. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of aspect 3 or aspect 4, further comprising a fastening element for securing the pad in the collapsed configuration.

[0101] Aspect 6. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the front and rear outer layers are both weather resistant.

[0102] Aspect 7. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the front and rear outer layers are both adapted to minimise scratching the pad on the exterior panel of the vehicle.

[0103] Aspect 8. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the at least one inner layer is a composite.

[0104] Aspect 9. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of any one of the preceding aspects, comprising a plurality of magnets, each magnet located about a perimeter of the pad.

[0105] Aspect 10. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the tether has an engagement element that is configured to engage with the attachment point inside the vehicle and the tether is rotatably connected to the engagement element.

[0106] Aspect 11. The removable vehicle panel guard pad of aspect 10, wherein the engagement element is a hook.

[0107] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.