Cover For Protecting Coatings Of Automobiles And The Like

Abstract

A cover for protecting coatings of automobiles and the like is a composite sheet having a substantial length and width. The composite sheet comprises a flexible sheet, a plurality of magnets arranged in spaced relation to each other on one surface of the flexible sheet, and a cushion material filling the spaces between the magnets. The magnets and the cushion material are secured to the flexible sheet. The magnets are flexible and made of a flexible plastic material having finely divided magnetized magnetic material dispersed therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to covers for protecting coatings of automobiles and the like, and more particularly to covers for protecting coated surfaces of automobiles during assembly process.

The automobile assembly operation includes a step of drying a coating, but since subsequent steps of incorporating interior fittings and fixing exterior fittings are carried out before the coating has been dried completely, the coating is subject to marring during these steps of operation. In order to protect the coating, accordingly, the coated surface has conventionally been covered with a sheet made of a synthetic resin such as vinyl, which is then secured in position with an adhesive tape. However, use of a synthetic resin sheet with application of such means for securing is not only troublesome but requires much labor since the adhesive which remains after the sheet is taken off has to be removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cover in accordance with this invention has such flexibility in its entirety that it is well suited for application to a coated surface in curved form like a bonnet of automobile. Insofar as the surface provided with a coating is formed of a magnetic body, flexible magnets enable the cover to be readily attracted and fitted in position while insuring easy removal of the cover. The cover has further advantages that when removed, the cover leaves no traces on the coating and that it can be used repeatedly. Further a cushion material serves to protect the coating from impact in the event a jig or the like should drop thereon. Since it is impossible for the present skill in the art to completely prevent transfer of the plasticizer and barium ferrite contained in the flexible magnet, there is a possibility of these materials bleeding to its surface to stain a surface to be protected. With the present invention, however, such trouble is perfectly precluded because the under face of the magnet is covered with the flexible sheet which prevents staining due to bleeding. With reference to the drawings, the present invention will be described below in greater detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present invention with part broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, with part broken away, showing another embodiment of the cover in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, with part broken away, showing another embodiment of cover in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V--V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section showing another embodiment of the cover in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, a cover comprises a first rectangular flexible sheet 1 having a substantial length and width, a plurality of elongated barlike flexible magnets 2 extending across the sheet 1 and bonded to its inner surface with an adhesive in spaced relation to each other, a cushion material 3 disposed between the magnets 2 and bonded to the inner surface of the sheet 1 with an adhesive, and a second flexible sheet 4 spaced apart from the first sheet 1 and having the same area as the first sheet 1, the second sheet 4 being secured to the magnets 2 and the cushion material 3 with an adhesive.

Since the cover is provided with a plurality of spaced apart magnets 2, the cover can be cut off for use at the position of the cushion material 3 between adjacent magnets, depending upon the area of the coated surface to be protected. In the case where the cover is prepared in conformity with the area of the coated surface, a cover provided with the magnets 2 at least at the opposite ends of the sheet 1 may serve the purpose.

Suitable as the flexible sheet are a sheet made of a synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, chlorinated polyethylene, nylon or polyester and a fabric made of cotton or synthetic fibers such as nylon fibers, polyester or polyvinyl alcohol fibers. It is desired that the first sheet be 0.05 to 0.15 mm in thickness and that the second sheet be of a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm.

Preferably, the flexible magnet may comprise a synthetic rubber or a synthetic resin and barium ferrite of 1 to 7.mu. mixed and kneaded therewith in the weight ratio of 1:5 - 10.

Examples of the synthetic rubber are styrene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, Neoprene, isoprene, ethylene-propylene rubber and chlorosulfonated polyethylene. Examples of the synthetic resin are vinyl chloride, polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene and copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. The flexible magnet may preferably by 0.5 to 2 mm, most preferably 1 to 1.5 mm, in thickness and 20 to 200 mm in width, the most preferable width being about 150 mm. It is desired to space apart the flexible magnets from each other by a distance of 50 to 500 mm, most preferably, by about 150 mm.

Employable as the cushion material for filling the spaced between the flexible magnets are a woven or nonwoven fabric made of synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester or polyvinyl alcohol fibers; a rubber sponge such as SBR, NBR or NR; a synthetic resin sponge such as vinyl chloride, polyethylene or copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate; and felt.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the cover in accordance with this invention. This cover is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and 2 in that a plurality of magnets 12 are rectangular and that the magnets 12 are disposed only along the periphery of the sheet 1 in spaced-apart relation to each other. The sheet 1 is of course provided, on its inner surface, with a cushion material 13 at areas other than where the magnets 12 are present.

FIG. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the cover of this invention.

This cover comprises a first rectangular flexible sheet 1 having a substantial length and width, a plurality of rectangular flexible magnets 22 arranged on the inner surface of the sheet 1 in longitudinally and transversely spaced-apart relation, a cushion material 23 disposed along the periphery of the sheet 1 and between the magnets 22, and a second flexible sheet 4 spaced apart from the first sheet 1 and provided over the magnets 22 and the cushion material 23, the second sheet 4 having the same area as the first sheet 1, the first flexible sheet 1 and the second flexible sheet 4 being fixedly stitched together between adjacent magnets 22.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the cover in accordance with this invention. This cover is different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in that a cushion material 33 extends away from the inner surface of the sheet 1 beyond magnets 32 and covers the magnets 32 and that the respective elements are bonded together with an adhesive. A second flexible sheet may of course be placed over and fixedly joined to the exposed surface of the cushion material 33.

Except by adhesion and stitching, the respective elements may be fixedly joined together by fushion depending upon the properties of the materials.

Claims

We claim:

1. A cover for protecting coatings of automobiles and the like comprising a pair of flexible sheets having inner and outer surfaces arranged with their inner surfaces facing each other, a plurality of spaced-apart flexible magnets interposed between the sheets and secured to the inner surfaces thereof, and cushion material interposed between the magnets and secured to the inner surfaces of the sheets.

2. The cover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is fabric.

3. The cover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is sponge.

4. The cover of claim 1 in which the cushion material is felt.

5. The cover of claim 1 in which the sheets are stitched together between adjacent magnets.