Vehicle protection system and method of making same

Abstract

The present invention broadly comprises a protection system for a vehicle on a surface comprising a frame having a plurality of struts projecting from the vehicle, wherein the frame extends along the surface and terminates at a periphery spaced from the vehicle, a brace disposed over the vehicle, and, a flexible material coupling the brace to the periphery of the frame. The present invention also comprises a method of protecting a vehicle from weather comprising positioning an anchor beneath a tire of the vehicle, disposing a frame having a plurality of struts around the vehicle, coupling at least two of the plurality of struts to the anchor, suspending a brace on a roof of the vehicle, encapsulating the vehicle with a flexible material having a perimeter edge, and releasably securing the perimeter edge of the flexible material to the frame.

1 . A protection system for a vehicle on a surface comprising:
 a frame having a plurality of struts projecting from the vehicle, wherein the frame extends along the surface and terminates at a periphery spaced from the vehicle;   a brace disposed on the vehicle; and,   a flexible material coupling the brace to the periphery of the frame.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 1  further comprising an anchor disposed under a wheel of the vehicle, the anchor having a first strut channel and a second strut channel, the first and second strut channels each configured to receive a first end of one of the plurality of struts, wherein at least two of the plurality of struts extend perpendicularly from the anchor. 
   
   
       3 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 1  further comprising at least four anchors, each anchor being disposed under a wheel of the vehicle and including a first strut channel and a second strut channel, the first and second strut channels each configured to receive a first end of one of the plurality of struts, wherein at least two of the plurality of struts extend perpendicularly from each anchor. 
   
   
       4 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 3 , wherein the frame further comprises at least four perimeter rods coupled to a second end of each of the plurality of struts, and wherein the flexible material is releasably secured to the at least four perimeter rods. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible material is air permeable and wherein releaseably securing the flexible material to the at least four perimeter rods permits the flexible material to inflate in response to impinging air. 
   
   
       6 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the brace further comprises a platform disposed to hold the flexible material distal to the vehicle and a suspension system coupling the platform to the vehicle. 
   
   
       7 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 6 , wherein the platform is frusto-pyramidal shaped. 
   
   
       8 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 7 , wherein the frusto-pyramidal shaped platform has a height in the range of two to eight inches. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 6 , wherein the platform includes two extension poles. 
   
   
       10 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 6 , wherein the brace further comprises a pad disposed between the brace and the vehicle. 
   
   
       11 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 6 , wherein the suspension system comprises a plurality of elasticized ropes connected to a portion of the platform. 
   
   
       12 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of elasticized ropes are releasably secured to the vehicle. 
   
   
       13 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 6 , wherein the suspension system comprises a plurality of suction cups connected to a portion of the platform. 
   
   
       14 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible material is air permeable and releasably secured to the at least four perimeter rods permitting the flexible material to inflate in response to impinging air and wherein the impinging air tilts the brace in a direction of the impinging air and increases a magnitude of an internal pressure of the encapsulated area. 
   
   
       15 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 14 , wherein the increase in the magnitude of an internal pressure of the encapsulated area increases a corresponding volume of the encapsulated area. 
   
   
       16 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 15 , further comprising an anchor having a first strut channel and a second strut channel, the first strut channel and the second strut channel each including a releasable clamping mechanism and configured to receive a first end of one of the plurality of struts, wherein each releasable clamping mechanism adjustably secures the first end of one of the plurality of struts. 
   
   
       17 . An encapsulation system comprising:
 a plurality of anchors, each of the anchors having at least two channels and at least two struts projecting from the anchors, wherein the at least two struts extend along a surface and terminate at a spaced location; and,   a brace disposed above the plurality of anchors, wherein the brace is coupled to the spaced location of the struts by a flexible material.   
   
   
       18 . The encapsulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the struts project substantially horizontally from each of the channels of each anchor, and wherein the struts are connected to perimeter rods, the struts and perimeter rods forming a frame and the flexible material and the frame forming an encapsulated area. 
   
   
       19 . The encapsulation system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of anchors is disposed under a wheel of a vehicle and wherein the frame is substantially parallel and proximal to the surface. 
   
   
       20 . The encapsulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the brace further comprises a platform configured to support the flexible material distal to a surface and a suspension system coupling the platform to the surface. 
   
   
       21 . The encapsulation system of  claim 20 , wherein the platform is frusto-pyramidal shaped. 
   
   
       22 . The encapsulation system of  claim 20 , wherein the suspension system comprises a plurality of elasticized ropes connected to a portion of the platform and a vehicle. 
   
   
       23 . The encapsulation system of  claim 20 , wherein the suspension system comprises a plurality of suction cups connected to a portion of the platform and the vehicle. 
   
   
       24 . The encapsulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the surface is a ground surface. 
   
   
       25 . The encapsulation system of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible material is air permeable and releasably secured to the perimeter rods permitting the flexible material to inflate in response to impinging air. 
   
   
       26 . The encapsulation system of  claim 25 , wherein the impinging air tilts the brace in a direction of the impinging air and increases a magnitude of an internal pressure of the encapsulated area. 
   
   
       27 . The vehicle protection system of  claim 26 , wherein the increase in the magnitude of an internal pressure of the encapsulated area increases a corresponding volume of the encapsulated area. 
   
   
       28 . A method of protecting a vehicle from weather comprising:
 positioning an anchor beneath a tire of the vehicle;   disposing a frame having a plurality of struts around the vehicle;   coupling at least two of the plurality of struts to the anchor;   disposing a brace on a roof of the vehicle;   encapsulating the vehicle with a flexible material having a perimeter edge; and   releasably securing the perimeter edge of the flexible material to the frame.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of coupling at least two of the plurality of struts to the anchor includes connecting a first end of the plurality of struts to channels in the anchor. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the step of suspending the brace on the roof of the vehicle includes releasably securing a plurality of elasticized ropes to the vehicle.