Self-Coiling Dent Guard

Abstract

A self-coiling dent guard for protecting vehicles and other objects from damage caused by unwanted collisions is disclosed. The guard is comprised of a main body adapted to absorb the impact of colliding objects. A bistable spring strip is integrated within the main body of the guard, thus giving the guard its self-coiling properties. When not in use, a user may cause the guard to coil so as to be easily stored. A magnetic strip is attached to the length of the main body such that the guard may be removably attached to a vehicle or other object. A layer of felt covering the bottom of the guard protects the vehicle from being scratched when the guard is applied or removed.

1 . A self-coiling removable guard comprising:
 a flexible main body strip;   a bistable spring strip embedded within the main body strip; and   a flexible magnetic strip attached to said main body strip.   
     
     
         2 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 1  wherein said flexible magnetic strip is composed of a composite of magnetic materials imbedded in a flexible polymer material. 
     
     
         3 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 1  wherein said bistable spring strip has a first stable linear state and a second stable coiled state, wherein said spring strip may be induced to transition from said first stable linear state to said second stable coiled state upon a force being applied by a user to said spring strip so as to bend said spring strip. 
     
     
         4 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 3  wherein said bistable spring strip, when induced by a user to transition from said first stable linear state to said second stable coiled state, produces a coiling force applied to said main body strip, causing said main body strip to coil. 
     
     
         5 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 3  wherein said bistable spring strip, when in its first stable linear state, supports said main body strip in a substantially straight position for attaching to another object. 
     
     
         6 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 1 , further comprising a transparent sleeve attached to a top side of said main body strip, said sleeve being adapted to receive printed materials. 
     
     
         7 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 1  wherein said main body strip is composed of high-density polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         8 . The self-coiling removable guard of  claim 1  further comprising a soft bottom layer that is attached to a bottom side of said guard.