Emergency vehicle shelter

Abstract

An emergency vehicle shelter including an inflatable bladder configured for nested engagement with a vehicle for covering the vehicle's upper and outer surfaces. The bladder may be inflated by a remotely activated inflation unit. Provision is made in the bladder member to allow a vehicle operator to reenter the vehicle for shelter from inclement weather.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . An emergency vehicle cover comprising:
 an integrated compartment configured to receive and hold an inflation device;   multiple pockets in fluid communication with one another and with the integrated compartment, the pockets configured for nested engagement against a body of a vehicle, the integrated compartment configured to provide fluid communication between the inflation device and the pockets; and   an entry port configured to provide an operator with access to the vehicle through the cover, the entry port re-sealable via a fastener.   
   
   
       11 . The emergency vehicle cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cover further comprises:
 one or more magnets configured to hold the cover against the body of the vehicle.   
   
   
       12 . The emergency vehicle cover of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a band member attached to a perimeter of the cover, the band member configured to secure the cover to the vehicle.   
   
   
       13 . The emergency vehicle cover of  claim 12 , wherein the band member comprises one of: (i) an elastic band and (ii) a cable member and a locking mechanism. 
   
   
       14 . The emergency vehicle cover of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastening strip. 
   
   
       15 . The emergency vehicle cover of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more substantially transparent regions.   
   
   
       16 . The emergency vehicle cover of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more substantially transparent regions comprise multiple transparent regions located proximate to multiple windows of the vehicle. 
   
   
       17 . A method comprising:
 inserting an inflation device into a vehicle cover, the vehicle cover comprising an integrated compartment receiving the inflation device and multiple pockets in fluid communication with one another and with the integrated compartment, the integrated compartment providing fluid communication between the inflation device and the pockets;   placing the cover on a vehicle such that the pockets of the cover are nested against a body of the vehicle;   inflating the cover using the inflation device;   opening an entry port in the cover, the entry port providing an operator with access to the vehicle through the cover; and   resealing the entry port using a fastener.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein placing the cover on the vehicle comprises:
 using one or more magnets to hold the cover against the body of the vehicle.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein placing the cover on the vehicle comprises:
 securing the cover to the vehicle using a band member attached to a perimeter of the cover.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inflating the cover using the inflation device comprises activating the inflation device using a remote control unit. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inflating the cover using the inflation device comprises fully inflating the cover using the inflation device in one minute or less.