Systems and methods for automatic deployment of self-inflatable vehicle covering apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12415410-B1
Application number	US-202418757469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2024
Priority date	Nov 4, 2016
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods described in this disclosure provide methods and systems for automatic deployment of a vehicle covering apparatus to protect the vehicle from environmental conditions such as severe weather.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for deploying a motorized cover of a vehicle, wherein the motorized cover includes a plurality of guiding components and at least one protective component, the method comprising:
detecting a pre-determined condition for covering at least a portion of an exterior of the vehicle;
in response to detecting the pre-determined condition, determining that the plurality of guiding components are movable along respective track components; and
in response to determining that the plurality of guiding components are movable along the respective track components, deploying the motorized cover positioned above the exterior of the vehicle and to cover at least the portion of the exterior of the vehicle with the at least one protective component.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, via a sensor, the pre-determined condition, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor, an impact sensor, a wind sensor, or a precipitation sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to determining that the plurality of guiding components are not movable along the respective track components, sending an error message to an external device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an instruction to initiate a deployment process of the motorized cover to protect or to cover the exterior of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a command to inflate the at least one protective component, wherein the at least one protective component is inflated such that the inflated at least one protective component at least partially covers the exterior of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the motorized cover moves in a pre-determined direction until reaching a predetermined location.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of guiding components includes a plurality of cables, a plurality of ropes, or extendable, foldable mechanical arms, and wherein the motorized cover or the at least one protective component is positioned or stored inside a hub component.

8. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform a process for deploying a motorized cover of a vehicle, wherein the motorized cover includes a plurality of guiding components and at least one protective component, the process comprising:
detecting a pre-determined condition for covering at least a portion of an exterior of the vehicle;
in response to detecting the pre-determined condition, determining that the plurality of guiding components are movable along respective track components; and
in response to determining that the plurality of guiding components are movable along the respective track components, deploying the motorized cover positioned above the exterior of the vehicle and to cover at least the portion of the exterior of the vehicle with the at least one protective component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:
detecting, via a sensor, the pre-determined condition, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor, an impact sensor, a wind sensor, or a precipitation sensor.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:
in response to determining that the plurality of guiding components are not movable along the respective track components, sending an error message to an external device.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:
receiving an instruction to initiate a deployment process of the motorized cover to protect or to cover the exterior of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:
receiving a command to inflate the at least one protective component, wherein the at least one protective component is inflated such that the inflated at least one protective component at least partially covers the exterior of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the motorized cover moves in a pre-determined direction until reaching a predetermined location.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of guiding components includes a plurality of cables, a plurality of ropes, or extendable, foldable mechanical arms, and wherein the motorized cover or the at least one protective component is positioned or stored inside a hub component.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for deploying a motorized cover of a vehicle, wherein the motorized cover includes a plurality of guiding components and at least one protective component, the operations comprising:
detecting a pre-determined condition for covering at least a portion of an exterior of the vehicle;
in response to detecting the pre-determined condition, determining that the plurality of guiding components are movable along respective track components; and
in response to determining that the plurality of guiding components are movable along the respective track components, deploying the motorized cover positioned above the exterior of the vehicle and to cover at least the portion of the exterior of the vehicle with the at least one protective component.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
detecting, via a sensor, the pre-determined condition, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a motion sensor, an impact sensor, a wind sensor, or a precipitation sensor.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
in response to determining that the plurality of guiding components are not movable along the respective track components, sending an error message to an external device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving an instruction to initiate a deployment process of the motorized cover to protect or to cover the exterior of the vehicle.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving a command to inflate the at least one protective component, wherein the at least one protective component is inflated such that the inflated at least one protective component at least partially covers the exterior of the vehicle.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 ,
wherein the motorized cover moves in a pre-determined direction until reaching a predetermined location,
wherein the plurality of guiding components includes a plurality of cables, a plurality of ropes, or extendable, foldable mechanical arms, and
wherein the motorized cover or the at least one protective component is positioned or stored inside a hub component.

Assignees

• Usaa

Inventors

• Hansen Gregory David
• Buentello Andre Rene
• Amann Manfred

Classifications

• E04H2015/201

  with inflatable tubular framework, with or without tent cover · CPC title

• E04H15/06

  Tents at least partially supported by vehicles · CPC title

• B60J11/04 Primary

  for covering at least the roof of the vehicle, e.g. for covering the whole vehicle · CPC title