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An automobile window protector comprises a substantially planar, generally rectangular sheet of flexible material held in an open configuration by an elongate curved strip of spring-like material attached to the sheet. Suitable shapes for the elongate strip include an arcuate shape, an arcuate shape

An automobile window protector comprises a substantially planar, generally rectangular sheet of flexible material held in an open configuration by an elongate curved strip of spring-like material attached to the sheet. Suitable shapes for the elongate strip include an arcuate shape, an arcuate shape with a flattened midportion, a U-shape, a C-shape, and a generally rectangular or oval closed loop. The window protector can be reduced to a compact configuration by twisting and folding it upon itself. A loop of elastic material attached to a midpoint of one of the longer sides of the sheet serves to hold the protector in its compact configuration when the loop is slipped over the folded protector. At or near each corner of the protector is a strip having a connector at its distal end to facilitate attachment of the shield to an automobile. In an alternative embodiment, the ends of the strip of spring-like material have mating connectors attached to them, to secure the protector in its folded, compact configuration. At least one of the major surfaces of the window protector is adapted to reflect light and heat radiation from the sun to prevent it from entering the interior of an automobile. When attached to an outside window, the protector prevents buildup of ice, snow, or dew on the window surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A compactly foldable automobile window protector for a window of an automobile comprising: a substantially planar quadrilateral sheet of at least one layer of a flexible first material, said sheet having front and back surfaces and having first and second opposed short sides and first and seco

1. A compactly foldable automobile window protector for a window of an automobile comprising: a substantially planar quadrilateral sheet of at least one layer of a flexible first material, said sheet having front and back surfaces and having first and second opposed short sides and first and second opposed long sides; an elongate curved strip of a spring-like, elastically deformable second material attached to said sheet, extending from near said first short side to near said second short side, and having a middle portion near a midpoint of said second long side, said curved strip and sheet being capable of being folded into a compact configuration; retaining means attached to said sheet near a midpoint of said second long side, for retaining said protector in said compact configuration; and a plurality of attachment means joined to said sheet for attaching said sheet to said automobile adjacent to said window. 2. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said front surface of said sheet comprises a material suitable for reflecting light and heat radiation from the sun. 3. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said curved strip of spring-like material has an arcuate shape. 4. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said curved strip of spring-like material has a generally arcuate shape with a flattened midportion of said strip. 5. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said curved strip of spring-like material has a generally U-shaped configuration, with first and second straight side segments of said strip extending along said first and second short sides of said sheet. 6. The automobile window protector of claim 5 wherein said curved strip further comprises first and second straight end segments at first and second ends of said strip, said straight end segments being collinear, directed toward each other, and perpendicular to said first and second straight side segments of said strip. 7. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said curved strip of spring-like material comprises a generally rectangular closed loop with rounded corners. 8. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said curved strip of spring-like material comprises a generally oval closed loop. 9. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said sheet further comprises a generally rectangular panel of said first material between said middle portion of said curved strip and said second long side of said sheet. 10. The automobile window protector of claim 1 further comprising means for foreshortening said first long of said sheet, wherein said means for foreshortening is attached to said sheet. 11. The automobile window protector of claim 1 further comprising magnetic means for attaching said sheet magnetically to said automobile, disposed near said first long side of said sheet and attached to said sheet. 12. The automobile window protector of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises: first and second straps of an elastic material connected to said sheet near first and second corners thereof at opposite ends of said first long side of said sheet; first and second substantially identical connector means attached to distal ends of said first and second straps, for connecting said first and second straps to said automobile; third and fourth straps connected to said first and second short sides of said sheet, respectively, near third and fourth corners of said sheet at opposite ends of said second long side; and third and fourth substantially identical connector means attached to distal ends of said third and fourth straps, respectively, for connecting said third and fourth straps to said automobile. 13. The automobile window protector of claim 12 wherein said first and second connector means comprise spring-loaded "C"-clips. 14. The automobile window protector of claim 12 wherein said third and fourth connector means each comprise a suction cup. 15. The automobile window protector of claim 12 wherein said third and fourth straps each comprise: a length of webbing strip including a plurality of folded-over, overlapping, and partly sewn-together portions leaving a plurality of tab-like end loops where said overlapping portions are partly sewn-together; and a length of elastic material joined to said webbing strip at said distal end thereof; wherein said tab-like portions are outside said window protector when said window protector is attached to the exterior of said automobile window; whereby said tab-like portions, when blown away from said webbing strip by the wind, increases the tension on said webbing strip exerted by said length of elastic material which tends to hold said window protector more securely against said automobile. 16. The automobile window protector of claim 1 further comprising first and second mating connector fittings attached to said first and second ends of said strip of spring-like material, whereby said first and second ends can be joined together when said window protector is folded into a compact configuration. 17. The automobile window protector of claim 16 wherein said first and second ends of said elongate strip each have a plurality of alternating sinuous bends therein, and each said mating connector fitting comprises: a top piece having a spring clip portion on one side thereof and having first and second holes through first and second end portions thereof; a bottom piece with a hollow recess therein, said recess having a substantially flat bottom with a plurality of posts projecting therefrom around which said bends of one of said ends of said elongate strip are disposed, and having first and second holes through first and second ends thereof and a slot through said first end to accommodate passage of a straight portion of said elongate strip; and first and second means for joining said top and bottom pieces by insertion of said means through said first and second holes of said top piece and said first and second holes through said bottom piece. 18. The window protector of claim 17 wherein each said means for joining said top and bottom pieces comprises a rivet. 19. The window protector of claim 17 wherein each said means for joining said top and bottom pieces comprises a rubber plug. 20. The window protector of claim 16 wherein said first and second mating connector fittings comprise: a male connector fitting having a body portion and a projecting end portion; and a female connector fitting having a receptacle in one end thereof with a cross sectional shape matching a cross sectional shape of said end portion of said male fitting; wherein said end portion of said male connector fitting can be frictionally engaged by said receptacle in said female connector fitting. 21. The automobile window protector of claim 20 wherein said cross sectional shape is generally rectangular. 22. The automobile window protector of claim 20 wherein said cross sectional shape is generally circular. 23. The automobile window protector of claim 16 wherein said first and second mating connector fittings comprise: a male connector fitting having a body part with two substantially parallel members projecting from one end thereof, each said member having a lateral bump facing outwardly from said male connector fitting; and a female connector fitting having a receptacle in one end thereof having a shape to accommodate insertion of said two parallel members, and further having side holes therein, each said hole having a shape substantially congruent to a shape of said lateral bump; wherein each said lateral bump is engaged in one of said side holes upon insertion of said parallel members into said receptacle. 24. The automobile window protector of claim 16 wherein said first and second mating connector fittings comprise: a male connector fitting having a body part with two substantially parallel members projecting from one end thereof, each said member having a lateral bump facing outwardly from said male connector fitting; a female connector fitting having a receptacle in one end thereof having a shape to accommodate insertion of said two parallel members, and further having detents in inner sides of said receptacle, each said detent having a shape substantially congruent to a shape of said lateral bump; wherein each said lateral bump is engaged in one of said detents upon insertion of said parallel members into said receptacle.