Vehicle Covering Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for raising and lowering a vehicle cover is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible member having a first end and a second end, the flexible member configured to flex so that, with the first end positioned adjacent to a vehicle and the second and positioned generally higher than the vehicle, the second end raises the vehicle cover up from the vehicle and lowers the vehicle cover down towards the vehicle. The second end of the flexible member is configured to retain the vehicle cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for raising and lowering a vehicle cover, comprising:
 a flexible member having a first end and a second end, the flexible member configured to flex so that, with the first end positioned adjacent to a vehicle and the second and positioned generally higher than the vehicle, the second end raises the vehicle cover up from the vehicle and lowers the vehicle cover down towards the vehicle; and   the second end of the flexible member configured to retain the vehicle cover.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the first end of the flexible member having an anchor mechanism configured to retain the first end of the flexible member adjacent to the vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member curves more as the second end lowers the vehicle cover down towards the vehicle, and curves less as the second end raises the vehicle cover up from the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tensioning member configured to apply a pulling force on the second end of the flexible member to raise the vehicle cover up from the vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base; and   a housing, attached to the base, the housing having an open front, wherein the first end of the flexible member is retained inside the housing and the second end of the flexible member moves into and out of the open front of the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cord, attached to the second end of the flexible member; and   a housing, configured so that pulling on the cord results in the second end of the flexible member moving into the housing and releasing the cord permits the second end of the flexible member to move out of the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member comprises one from a set consisting of: spring steel, a flat spring, a leaf spring, a plastic material, a fiberglass material, and a composite material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member includes one from a set consisting of: a constant width from the first end to the second end, a straight taper from the first end to the second end, a concave taper from the first end to the second end, a convex taper from the first end to the second end, an oval cross-section, and an elliptical cross section. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tensioning member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the tensioning member attached to the second end of the flexible member; and   a raising mechanism configured to apply tension to the second end of the tensioning member so as to raise the vehicle cover up from the vehicle, the raising mechanism including one from a set consisting of: a crank, a pull handle, a spring, a lever, and a counterweight.