Hail-Protection Netting for Vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a hail-protection netting for vehicles. A common problem encountered in the automobile sector relates to the manner in which vehicles can be protected effectively and practically against bad weather and possible damaging impacts caused mainly by severe weather conditions such as hail. The invention is intended to address said problem and has been designed primarily such as to provide effective protection against same. In addition, the inventive netting is designed such that it can be quickly and easily mounted, removed and folded. Moreover, once folded, the reduced size of the netting enables same to be conveniently transported. The invention, which has three different embodiments, essentially comprises: a netting ( 1 ) which covers practically all of the vehicle; an intermediary body which is disposed between the netting ( 1 ) and the object to be protected, i.e. an inflatable chamber ( 3 ), suction balls ( 10 - 13 ) or an intermediary device ( 16 ); hooks ( 5 ) and grips ( 6 ) comprising suction pads which are used to fix said hooks to the parts of the vehicle where hooking is not possible; and a zip-fastened door ( 7 ) for the driver. According to the invention, the netting is fixed with the aforementioned hooks and pulled taut in order to form the final protective layer.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A hail guard configured to cover a portion of a vehicle, comprising: 
 a mesh;    a reinforcing strip connected to the mesh;    at least one connector attached to the mesh proximate the reinforcing strip; and    a separating element connected to the reinforcing strip by an attachment assembly.    
   
   
       6 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment assembly comprises at least one of adhesives, snaps, slips, and Velcro.  
   
   
       7 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment assembly is configured to allow for slight relative movement between the separating element and the vehicle.  
   
   
       8 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the separating element comprises an intake valve.  
   
   
       9 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the separating element comprises a central tubular span disposed proximate a central portion of the mesh.  
   
   
       10 . The hail guard of  claim 9 , wherein the separating element further comprises a perimeter tubular span fluidly connected to the central tubular span.  
   
   
       11 . The hail guard of  claim 10 , further comprising a deflation orifice fluidly connected to at least one of the central tubular span and the perimeter tubular span.  
   
   
       12 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one connector comprises a hook configured to assist in anchoring the mesh to the vehicle.  
   
   
       13 . The hail guard of  claim 12 , wherein the hook is configured to engage a suction cup removably connectable to the vehicle.  
   
   
       14 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the separating element comprises a ball and a suction cup.  
   
   
       15 . The hail guard of  claim 14 , wherein the separating element further comprises an air passage and a cap fluidly connected to the air passage.  
   
   
       16 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the separating element comprises a plurality of ball-suction cup assemblies connected by one or more wires.  
   
   
       17 . The hail guard of  claim 5 , wherein the separating element assists in defining a gap between the portion of the vehicle and the mesh.