Retractable flexible car body protector

Claim 1

A vehicle having thereon an accessory for protecting the surface of the side of the body of a vehicle against impact damage while the vehicle is parked, comprising in combination: an elongated protective storage casing mounted below the lower edge of the side of the vehicle body, on a frame member thereof and extending longitudinally of the body and located thereunder with its outer portion substantially flush with the said surface; said casing having a longitudinal opening substantially at said lower edge; a protective sheet normally stored in said casing with a leading edge portion protruding through said opening, whereby the leading edge portion may serve as manual means to extend the sheet upward from the casing to a protective position over the surface of said side of the body; roller means inside the casing mounting the protective sheet to roll up the sheet when the protective sheet is retracted into the casing; spring means to actuate said roller means to roll up the protective sheet; and holding means on said leading edge portion of the sheet to hold the leading edge portion against said body when the sheet is in its upwardly extended protective position.