US3434318A - Door and trunk lock cover - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1969 G, J, THIRY 3,434,318

DOOR AND TRUNK LOCK COVER Filed NOV. 21. 1966 FIG. 7 42!l 24 z8 3 INVENTOR GERALD d TH/RY A7,' TORNEYS United States Patent O v 3,434,318 Gerald J. Thiry, Box 104, Hayward, Wis. 54843 Filed Nov. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 595,908 Int. Cl. Eb 17/18, 17/14; EOSc 19/16 US. Cl. 70--455 i 4 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE vA removable cover for exterior locks and handles of an automobile including a body member having a cavity formed therein with a plurality of magnets embedded in the periphery of the body.

against the entrance of water into the lock when the automobile is washed.

In the northern climes during the winter season when the temperature drops -below freezing the washing of an automobile frequently causes Water to enter the door and trunk locks thereof. If the automobile is allowed to remain outside in the cold, the Water in the locks freezes, thereby preventing opening of the lock. Thawing the lock may take considerbale time, and the facilities for thawing the lock may not be readily available. If the facilities are not available, a serious emergency may be created, for example, where a spare tire cannot be removed from a trunk due to a frozen lock when the automobile is considerable distance from help, and the outside temperature is below freezing. To prevent such an occurrence, water must not be allowed to enter the lock when the car is washed.

It is an object of the invention to provide cover for the lock of an automobile door or trunk rwhich easily attaches to the car and seals otr' the lock.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else Will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by Way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the lock cover in position upon the lock of a trunk, only a portion of the trunk cover being shown.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the cover shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention for covering the door lock of an automobile whether incorporated in the door handle or mounted in the door closely adjacent the door handle.

FIGURE 5 is a frontv elevational view of the cover illustrated in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the cover shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the lock cover A includes the annular body 10 which is preferably formed of a resilient material such as rubber or the like which is 3,434,318 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 conformable to the form and surface of an automobile trunk lid, such as 13. Mounted within the annular body 10, by means of molding, are the plurality of magnets 14, which are spaced from the inner surface 16 of the body 10 whereby the resilient surface of the body is in contact with the trunk or door surface for adequate conformance and sealing engagement therewith. The annular body 10 may be provided with a slot or slots which receive the magnets.

Secured to the annular body 10 and extending over the opening 12 thereof is the pliable, waterproof top portion 18. The annular body 10` and the top 18 form a member having a cavity 19 into which a lock extends when the device is in position on a door as described below. The device A is used by placing the same over a lock, such as L, and upon the trunk with the lock extending into the opening 12. The inner surface 16 of the body 1I) is held in intimate contact with the surface of the lid 13 by means of the magnets 14, thereby sealing off the lock L and preventing water from entering the keyhole 201 of the lock L when the automobile is washed.

A further embodiment of the invention is found in FIGURES 4-7 as cover B, which includes the peripheral fbody 24 formed of the elongated side pieces 26 and 28 joined at the ends by the end pieces 30 and 3.2. The formation of the pieces 26, 28, 30, and 32 forms the opening 34, which has dimensions suflicient to encompass an automobile door H handle and lock LL adjacent thereto, FIGURES 4-6. The peripheral body 24 is preferably formed of a resilient material such as rubber or the like, which is conformable to the form and surface of the side of an automobile door D. Mounted within the end pieces 30 and 32 forming part of the body 24 by means of molding are the plurality of spaced magnets 36, and mounted within the side pieces 26 and 28 by means of molding are the elongated magnets 38 and 40, respectively. The magnets 36 and the magnets 38 and 40 are all spaced from the inner surface 42 of the end and side pieces whereby the resilient surface of the body 24 is in contact with the door surface for adequate conformance and sealing engagement therewith. The peripheral body 24 may be provided with slots which receive the magnets 36, 38, and 40.

Secured to the end and side pieces making up the peripheral body 24 is the pliable waterproof top portion 42. The dimensions of the peripheral body 24 and the top 42v are sufiicient to encompass the handle H and the lock LL. The device B is used by placing the same over the handle H and the lock LL with the peripheral body 24 upon the door D. The magnets 36, 38, and `40 maintain a tight sealing engagement of the body 24 with the door D whereby water played upon the door cannot enter the lock LL or a lock which is incorporated in a handle such as H. The cover B and the cover A, as well, are easily removed by pulling on the same sufficiently to overcome the action 0f the magnets. With a plurality of spaced magnets 36 in the end pieces 30 and 32, the end pieces will conform to an irregular design in an automobile door.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A cover for exterior locks and handles of an automobile comprising:

(a) a substantially at body member,

(b) said body member having a cavity formed therethrough from one side to an opposite side of said body member, a cover member secured to said one 3 side of said body member and extending over said cavity to completely cover said cavity, and

(c) a plurality of magnets embedded in said body for attaching said body to the body of an automobile to cover a portion thereof, said magnets being spaced about said cavity.

2. The cover of claim 1 in which said body member is formed of a resilient material, and said cover member is formed of a pliable, waterproof material.

3. A cover for exterior locks and handles of an automobile comprising:

(a) a substantially dat body member,

(b) said body member having a cavity -formed therethrough from one side to an opposite side of said body member, a cover member secured to said one side of said body member and extending over said cavity to completely cover said cavity.

(c) `a plurality of magnets embedded in said body member adjacent the periphery thereof for attaching said body to the body of an automobile to cover a lock of an automobile, said magnets being spaced about said cavity.

4 4. The cover of claim 3 in which said body member is formed of a resilient material, and said cover member is formed of a pliable, Waterproof material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,523,940 9/ 1950 Bronson 292-33 2,585,331 2/1952 King 70-455 2,639,751 5/ 1953 Flaherty 150-52 2,807,841 10/1957 Janos 292-2515 X 2,855,578 10/1958 Hirsch 339-12 X 2,904,985 9/ 1959 Murphy 70-455 X 3,043,289 7/ 1962 FOX 292-2515 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 70-424; 292-2515

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