GB2450318A

GB2450318A - Vehicle cover having transparent portions to view licence plate or tax disc

Info

Publication number: GB2450318A
Application number: GB0711724A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Berenyi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-18
Filing date: 2007-06-18
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: GB0711724D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle cover having a plurality of pockets 1 therein which may be used for the storage of documents containing information about said vehicle. The cover may be made from a weather and fire proof material and may be provide with a plurality of opaque panels 6 thus allowing a person to view said vehicle's license plate, tax or registration disc. A series of clips 5 may be provided to allow said cover to be attached to the wheelarch area of said vehicle bodywork thereby allowing access to the vehicle's wheels and tyres. A plurality of reflective strips 4 and flashing lights 3 may be provided to aid visibility. A roof mounted solar panel may be provided to charge said lights. In an alternate embodiment for a commercial vehicle a rear curtain 11 fig 9 may be provided for access to vehicle rear doors.

Description

1 2450318 A vehicle cover for use when parked on public highways and/or

in public places.

This invention relates to a vehicle cover to be used when parked on public highways and in public places.

Vehicle covers conceal legally significant information and details of a vehicle. These include the tax disc, state of the tires, vehicle registration plate as well as parking permits and disabled badges etc. they are also unsuitable for use at night and in low light conditions as they have no reflective parts or warning lights. Another drawback relates to the materials they are made from. Where the cover comes into contact with the exhaust there may be a fire risk. This is an important point if it is to be used in public places or on public highways. Another drawback is the lack of pockets for distribution of media such as brochures and leaflets.

To overcome these drawbacks the present invention proposes a vehicle cover that has cut-outs or panels of material in the cover, of sufficient opacity to reveal the vehicles legally significant information.

Clips that are attached to the vehicle cover are affixed to the wheel arches to hold the cover in place allowing tyres to be clearly seen and inspected by police and other enforcing authorities. Reflective strip, reflectors and solar and battery powered flashing warning lights ensure the vehicle is clearly visible both in low light and at night. A strip of fire retardant/proof material is used where the vehicle cover is in close proximity to the exhaust pipes. Pockets incorporated into the vehicle cover provide both whether proof storage for media such as leaflets and brochures and mounting for media holders of various sizes and kinds.

Materials used are where necessary fire and heat, retardant and resistant to meet the health and safety requirements for use in public places and on the public highways. This is essential as when a vehicle is parked after use parts of the vehicle may be extremely hot.

All legally significant information and features relating to the vehicle are clearly visible for enforcing authorities to inspect.

Reflective strips, reflectors and flashing warning lights of various colours, ensure that the vehicle cover and vehicle are clearly visible on public highways both in low light conditions and at night, from all directions.

Solar panels incorporating a light sensor on the vehicle cover linked to rechargeable batteries and non rechargeable batteries provide a reliable 24 hour power source to the vehicle covers lighting.

Clips secure the cover to the vehicles wheel arches allowing inspection of the vehicles tyres and associated features by enforcing authorities.

Pockets incorporated into the vehicle cover provide both weather proof storage for media such as leaflets and brochures and mounting for media holders of various sizes and kinds. The pockets can be fitted with optional covers to protect their contents from rain etc. The media holders and/or pockets will also be u5ed to hold a passive infrared device that plays a message when a pedestrian passes. This will support the media in the pockets and/or holders as well as any printed media on the cover itself.

The vehicle cover will be security marked to make it difficult to use if stolen.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 show a side on view of a vehicle with the vehicle cover on.

Figures 3 and 4 show the front and back of a vehicle with the vehicle cover on.

Figure 5 shows the vehicle cover from above.

Figure 6 shows how clips fix the vehicle cover to the wheel arch of a vehicle to ensure that tyres and associated items are in full view, to enable inspection by enforcement authorities.

Figure 7 shows one of the clips from the side, revealing how its hook design allows it to fix onto the wheel arch.

Figure 8 shows the same hook from the front.

Figure 9 shows how a curtain design 11 can enable a vehicle cover to be slid down the bodywork of a commercial vehicle to then be fixed in place 12 by Velcro or other suitable method that also incorporates the hooks in the wheel arches.

Figure 10 shows that an extra flashing light 3 can be added to the side of the vehicle cover where it is applied to longer or commercial vehicles to further enhance visibility on both driver and passenger sides of the vehicle.

Figures 1 and 2 show a side on view of a vehicle with the vehicle cover on.

The vehicle cover has Pockets 1 incorporated into the vehicle cover to provide both weather proof storage for media such as leaflets and brochures and mounting for media holders of various sizes and kinds.

The pockets can be fitted with optional covers to protect their contents from the rain.

Materials used are fire and heat, retardant and resistant to meet the health and safety requirements for use in public places and on the public highways. This is essential as when a vehicle is parked and the vehicle cover is used immediately after use, parts of the vehicle may be extremely hot. One area where there is a specific risk and where there is extra material for safety 2 is where the cover comes into contact or close proximity to the exhaust pipes.

In order to ensure that the vehicle is highly visible at night and in low light day time conditions, flashing warning lights 3 are used to enable the vehicle to be seen more clearly from any direction. This lighting is amber, however other colours could be considered and there is also an option of LED lighting. Solar panels incorporating a light sensor on the vehicle cover linked to rechargeable batteries and non rechargeable batteries provide a reliable 24 hour power source to the vehicle covers lighting.

Reflective strip 4 on the vehicle cover, allow it to be seen from any direction. Strip around the vehicles wheel arches allows its contours to be revealed and ensure its clear visibility in low light and night time conditions.

Clips attached to the vehicle cover 5 fix it in place via the wheel arches. This is to ensure that tyres and associated items are in full view, to enable inspection by enforcement authorities.

Figures 3 and 4 show the front and back of a vehicle with the vehicle cover on.

The front and rear of the vehicle cover have cut-outs or panels of material in the cover 6, of sufficient opacity to reveal the vehicles legally significant information such as the tax disc, vehicle registration plate, parking permits and disabled badge etc, whilst maximizing printable cover space where advertising was to be used. This is a fundamental aspect of the invention.

In figure 3 extra materials for fire safety 2 is used where the cover comes into contact or close proximity with the exhaust pipes.

Reflective material and/or reflectors 4 and flashing lights 3 are incorporated into the front and rear of the vehicle cover to aid safety on public highways.

Figure 5 shows the view of the vehicle cover from above.

This reveals where flashing warning lights 3 are located.

It also shows where the clear panels 6 are located.

A suggested location for the solar panel/s 7 is on the roof where it will get maximum sun light.

Figure 6 shows how clips 5 fix the vehicle cover to the wheel arch of a vehicle to ensure that tyres and associated items are in full view, to enable inspection by enforcement authorities.

Figure 8 shows the same hook from the front.

The vehicle cover has Pockets 1 incorporated into the vehicle cover to provide both storage for media such as leaflets and brochures and mounting for media holders of various sizes and kinds. The pockets can be fitted with optional covers to protect their contents from the rain.

Reflective strip 4 on the vehicle cover, allow it to be seen from any direction. Strip around the vehicles wheel arches allows its contours to be revealed and ensure its clear visibility in low light and night time conditions. b

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicle cover that is safe and legal for use when parked on

the public highways and in public places.
2. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that has cut-outs or panels of material in the cover, of sufficient opacity to reveal the vehicles legally significant information such as tax disc, vehicle registration plate, parking permits and disabled badge etc.
3. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that has Clips that are affixed to the wheel arches to hold the cover in place, allowing tyres to be clearly seen and inspected by police and other enforcing authorities.
4. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that has Reflective strip, reflectors and solar and battery powered flashing warning lights to ensure the vehicle is clearly visible both in low light and at night on the public highways 24 hours a day.
5. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that has a strip of fire retardant/proof material where the vehicle cover is in close proximity to the exhaust pipes.
6. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that has Pockets incorporated into the vehicle cover at any location to provide both storage for media such as leaflets and brochures, mounting for media holders of various sizes and kinds and covers to ensure that media remains dry.
7. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 where Materials used are fire and heat, retardant and resistant where necessary to meet the health and safety requirements for use in public places and on the public highways. This is essential as when a vehicle is parked after use, parts of the vehicle may be extremely hot.
8. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that will be security marked to prevent theft.
9. A vehicle cover according to claim lwhere The media holders and/or pockets will also be used to hold passive infrared devices that play a message when a pedestrian passes. This will support the media in the pockets and/or holders as well as any printed media on the cover itself.
10. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that can optionally have a curtain profile at the rear to enable it to be easily slid onto and of a large commercial vehicle.

S
11. A vehicle cover according to claim 1 that has an additional flashing light on the central side panel to aid visibility.