TECHNICAL FIELD

The present relates to protective covers for vehicles and to methods for using such covers.

BACKGROUND

Certain vehicles, for example recreational vehicles, are normally covered with protective covers during storage or when they are being towed by another vehicle. The covers provide protection against the elements of nature, such as the sun, snow and dirt.

Conventionally, covers are designed to snugly fit over the particular vehicle to be covered. Soft, lightweight covers are often used as they can easily be folded up and stored away when not in use. Such conventional covers generally comprise a large upper portion made of nylon or similarly weatherproof material which is sized and fitted to slide over the top of the entire upper body portion of the vehicle. In the example of a snowmobile, the cover generally covers the forward fairings of the external shell and the seat portion. Typically, the wheels or skis and track of the vehicle are left uncovered by this type of cover, however the cover may alternatively cover one or more of these.

While such covers typically fulfill their function adequately when the vehicle is static, they face greater difficulty when the vehicle is being transported while covered. Notably, vehicles covered with these types of covers are often transported on a trailer and thus exposed to the elements. In particular, a cover can be subjected to significant forces as a result of the speed at which it is being transported. As such, the cover can have difficulty staying in place and can risk getting blown off the vehicle.

Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle cover that addresses at least some of these drawbacks.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present technology, there is provided a cover for covering at least partially a vehicle. The vehicle has a straddle seat and a footrest extending along a lateral side of the vehicle. The cover has a cover body and a clip connected to the cover body. The clip is configured to be connected to the footrest of the vehicle. The clip includes: a clip body having an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, the clip body being fastened to the cover body; an upper connector extending from the inner side of the clip body, the upper connector being configured to engage an upper side of the footrest so as to restrict forward movement of the clip relative to the footrest; and a lower connector extending from the inner side of the clip body, the lower connector being configured to engage a lower side of the footrest. The clip is configured such that, when the clip is connected to the footrest, an edge portion of the footrest is located between the upper and lower connectors.

In some embodiments, the upper connector has an interlocking feature for locking onto part of the edge portion of the footrest to restrict forward movement of the clip relative to the footrest.

In some embodiments, the edge portion of the footrest has a plurality of projections projecting upwardly on the upper side of the footrest, and the interlocking feature has a first portion configured to fit between adjacent ones of the projections so as to restrict forward movement of the clip relative to the footrest.

In some embodiments, the plurality of projections is a plurality of first projections forming a first row. The edge portion of the footrest also has a plurality of second projections projecting upwardly on the upper side of the footrest. The second projections are aligned with one another to form a second row adjacent and parallel to the first row. The interlocking feature also has a second portion configured to fit between one of the first projections and one of the second projections adjacent to the one of the first projections.

In some embodiments, the second portion of the interlocking feature is longer than the first portion of the interlocking feature.

In some embodiments, the second portion of the interlocking feature is closer to the clip body than the first portion of the interlocking feature.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the interlocking feature is centered relative to the second portion of the interlocking feature along a direction generally parallel to the inner side of the clip body.

In some embodiments, the first and second portions of the interlocking feature extend at an angle relative to one another along a plane generally perpendicular to the inner side of the clip body.

In some embodiments, the interlocking feature has a generally V-shaped cross-sectional profile. The first portion of the interlocking feature forms a first side of the V-shaped cross-sectional profile, and the second portion of the interlocking feature forms a second side of the V-shaped cross-sectional profile.

In some embodiments, the clip also has at least one rib interconnecting the first and second portions of the interlocking feature.

In some embodiments, a cross-section of the second portion along a direction generally parallel to the inner side of the clip body is generally trapezoidal. A lengthwise dimension of the trapezoidal cross-section of the second portion is greater at a bottom of the cross-section than at a top of the cross-section.

In some embodiments, a cross-section of the first portion of the interlocking feature along a direction generally parallel to the inner side of the clip body is generally trapezoidal. A lengthwise dimension of the trapezoidal cross-section of the first portion is greater at a top of the cross-section than at a bottom of the cross-section.

In some embodiments, the lower connector has a seat portion configured to receive a lower part of the edge portion of the footrest when the clip is connected to the footrest.

In some embodiments, the lower connector has a lip portion including an angled surface extending inwardly and downwardly. The seat portion is closer to the clip body than the lip portion. When the clip is being engaged to the footrest, the angled surface is configured to contact the edge portion of the footrest and cause the lower connector to flex relative to the clip body so as to widen a gap between the upper and lower connectors. The lower connector is configured to flex back in place when the edge portion of the footrest is past the lip portion and is received in the seat portion.

In some embodiments, the angled surface of the lip portion extends vertically higher than the seat portion.

In some embodiments, at least the lower connector of the clip is made of a polymeric material.

In some embodiments, the clip body, the upper connector and the lower connector form a single integral component.

In some embodiments, the clip body is sewn to the cover body.

In some embodiments, the clip body has a central portion and a peripheral portion at least partially surrounding the central portion. The peripheral portion is thinner than the central portion. At least part of the peripheral portion of the clip body is sewn to the cover body.

In some embodiments, the cover also has an adjustable strap connected between the clip and the cover body. The adjustable strap is configured to adjust a tension in the cover body by selectively adjusting a length of the adjustable strap.

In some embodiments, the clip is disposed at an edge of the cover body.

In some embodiments, the cover is configured to cover at least partially a snowmobile.

In some embodiments, the cover body is made of a soft flexible material.

In some embodiments, the cover body is made of a fabric.

In some embodiments, the cover body is made of water repellent polyester.

In some embodiments, the clip is a first clip, the footrest is a first footrest and the lateral side of the vehicle is a first lateral side of the vehicle. The vehicle has a second footrest extending along a second lateral side of the vehicle. The cover also has a second clip connected to the cover body and configured to be connected to the second footrest of the vehicle. The second clip includes: a clip body having an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, the clip body of the second clip being fastened to the cover body; an upper connector extending from the inner side of the clip body of the second clip, the upper connector of the second clip being configured to engage an upper side of the second footrest so as to restrict forward movement of the second clip relative to the second footrest; and a lower connector extending from the inner side of the clip body of the second clip, the lower connector of the second clip being configured to engage a lower side of the second footrest. The second clip is configured such that, when the second clip is connected to the second footrest, an edge portion of the second footrest is located between the upper and lower connectors of the second clip.

According to another aspect of the present technology, there is provided a method for providing a cover on a vehicle. The vehicle has a straddle seat and a footrest extending along a lateral side of the vehicle. The cover has a cover body and a clip connected to the cover body. The method includes: covering a portion of the vehicle with the cover body; engaging an upper connector of the clip with an upper side of an edge portion of the footrest of the vehicle to restrict forward longitudinal movement of the clip relative to the footrest; and engaging a lower connector of the clip with a lower side of the edge portion of the footrest of the vehicle such that the edge portion of the footrest is located between the upper and lower connectors of the clip.

In some embodiments, engaging the upper connector of the clip with the upper side of the edge portion of the footrest includes interlocking the upper connector with a plurality of projections projecting upwardly on the upper side of the edge portion of the footrest to restrict forward longitudinal movement of the clip relative to the footrest.

In some embodiments, the method also includes tightening a strap connected between the clip and the cover body in order to increase tension in the cover body.

In some embodiments, the clip is a first clip. The cover has a second clip connected to the cover body. The footrest is a first footrest and the lateral side of the vehicle is a first lateral side of the vehicle. The vehicle has a second footrest extending along a second lateral side of the vehicle. The method also includes: engaging an upper connector of the second clip with an upper side of an edge portion of the second footrest of the vehicle to restrict forward longitudinal movement of the second clip relative to the second footrest; and engaging a lower connector of the second clip with a lower side of the edge portion of the second footrest of the vehicle such that the edge portion of the second footrest is located between the upper and lower connectors of the second clip.

In some embodiments, the vehicle is a snowmobile. Covering the portion of the snowmobile with the cover body includes covering a seat, a handlebar, a hood and part of the footrest of the snowmobile.

According to another aspect of the present technology, there is provided a cover for covering at least partially a vehicle. The vehicle has a seat and a footrest extending along a lateral side of the vehicle. The footrest has at least one projection. The cover includes: a cover body configured to cover a portion of the vehicle; a clip connected to the cover body and configured to be connected to the footrest of the vehicle; and an adjustable strap having a first end and a second end. The clip includes: a clip body having an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, the clip body being fastened to the cover body; and a connector extending from the inner side of the clip body, the connector being configured to engage the at least one projection of the footrest so as to restrict forward movement of the clip relative to the footrest. The first end of the adjustable strap is connected to one of the clip and the cover body. The second end of the adjustable strap is connected to the cover body. Tightening the adjustable strap pulls the first end towards the second end to cause the connector to engage with the at least one projection and increase longitudinal tension in the cover body.

For purposes of this application, terms related to spatial orientation when referring to the vehicle orientation such as forwardly, rearwardly, left, and right are as they would normally be understood by a driver of the vehicle sitting thereon in a normal riding position.

Embodiments of the present each have at least one of the above-mentioned aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them.

Additional and/or alternative features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the present will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

