Protective system against hailstone damage

Abstract

A protective system to shield a vehicle from hailstones. The protective system includes: a protective sheet (1), a reel (2) on which is wound the protective sheet (1), a deployment element (3) configured to deploy the protective sheet (1) from the reel (2) to over the vehicle, wherein an end (12) of the deployment element (3) is fixed to a pivot point such that the deployment element swings from a retracted position and a deployed position, and a support structure (4) configured to support the protective sheet (1) above the aircraft, wherein the support structure (4) is between the fixed end (11) of the deployment element (3) and the reel (2).

The invention is: 
     
         1 . A protective system configured to shield a vehicle from hailstones, the protective system comprising:
 a protective sheet,   a reel on which is wound the protective sheet, wherein the reel is configured to rotate to deploy and retract the protective sheet,   a deployment element configured to deploy the protective sheet from the reel, wherein the deployment element includes a first section configured to be joined to the protective sheet and an end section, distal from the first section, wherein the end section is configured to be pivotably attached to a fixed point and wherein the deployment element swings about the fixed point from first position at which the first section is proximate the reel and the protective sheet is retracted on the reel, and a second position at which the protective sheet is deployed from the reel by the deployment element and the first section is adjacent the vehicle, and   a support structure having a deployed position at which the support structure supports the protective sheet above the vehicle, wherein the support structure is between the fixed end of the deployment element and the reel.   
     
     
         2 . The protective system, according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is movable between the deployed position and a stored position. 
     
     
         3 . The protective system according to  claim 2 , wherein the support structure includes at least one telescoping leg. 
     
     
         4 . The protective system according to  claim 2 , wherein the support structure pivots between the deployed and stored positions. 
     
     
         5 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployment element has an inverted U shape, the first section is at middle of the U shape and the end section is at an end of the U shape. 
     
     
         6 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure has an inverted U shape. 
     
     
         7 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the reel is on another vehicle separate from the aircraft, the fixed end of the deployment element and pivot point are on the another vehicle, and the support structure is attached to the another vehicle such that the fixed point is between the support structure and the reel. 
     
     
         8 . The protective system according to  claim 1 , wherein the reel is configured to buried in a ground surface adapted to park the vehicle, the fixed point for the deployment element is at the ground surface between the reel and a parking location for the vehicle on the ground surface, and an end of the support structure is attached to the ground surface between the fixed point and the reel. 
     
     
         9 . The protective system, according to  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to control deployments of the support structure, the deployment element and of the protective sheet from the reel. 
     
     
         10 . A protective system for protecting an aircraft from hailstones, the protective system comprising:
 a protective sheet configured to be deployed over at least a portion of the aircraft;   a reel on which is wound the protective sheet, wherein the reel rotates to deploy and retract the protective sheet;   a deployment element including a first section attached to an end section of the protective sheet, an end pivotably attached to a fixed pivot point on a surface and a leg extending between the first section and the end, wherein the end swings about the fixed pivot point to move the first section from a retracted position which is proximate the reel and a deployed position which is proximate the aircraft; and   a support structure configured to elevate a portion of the protective sheet above the aircraft while an elevated portion of the support structure is positioned horizontally between the reel and the fixed pivot point of the deployment element.   
     
     
         11 . The protective system of  claim 10  wherein the reel is mounted on or within an apron for parking the aircraft, the fixed pivot point is fixed to the apron and an end of the support structure is attached to the apron. 
     
     
         12 . The protective system of  claim 10  wherein the reel, the deployment element and the support structure are mounted to a vehicle which is configured to be positioned next to the aircraft. 
     
     
         13 . The protective system of  claim 10  wherein the elevated portion of the support structure is moveable from a deployed position above the aircraft and a retracted position adjacent the reel. 
     
     
         14 . The protective system of  claim 13  wherein the support structure, while in the deployed position, is oriented vertically.