Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to protective coveringand, more particularly, to protective covering for helicopters.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Securing and safeguarding helicopters stands as an integral aspect of their operational readiness and longevity. The exposed components of helicopters, such as rotor blades and the helicopter body, are susceptible to damage from environmental factors, debris, and adverse weather conditions during storage, transportation, servicing, and maintenance. Existing protective measures are often insufficient to prevent costly damage. The development and production of helicopter covers involves a delicate fusion of scientific innovation and the artistry of engineering, constituting an arena of perpetual advancement and that is why, it has been a field of constant innovation. Helicopter covers play a crucial role in preserving the aerial assets therefore they must be not only portable but also highly functional, user-friendly, and adaptable to the diverse needs of different rotorcraft.
[0003] Whenever the user has to choose ahelicopter cover, the user is left over with only a few conventional options. These conventional helicopter coversmay be effective in meeting various requirements but may not be able to address some of the specific problems. For example, there may be ahelicopter cover that may necessitate complete removal or unveiling of the cover for the retrieval or placement of even the smallest components. As a result, such helicopter coversmay consume a lot of time in complete removal/unveiling and further covering. Furthermore, the conventional helicopter covers may not cover some of the essential parts of the helicopter. As a result, such helicopter covers may lead towear and tear of the essential parts. Furthermore, the conventional helicopter covers may be less aerodynamically efficient. As a result, such helicopter covers may lead to increased transportation costs and logistical challenges. Therefore, developing ahelicopter cover to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks is still challenging.
[0004] Accordingly, there exists a need for such ahelicopter cover that may not necessitate complete removal or unveiling of the cover for the retrieval or placement of even the smallest components and may allow quick accessibility. Further, there may be a need for such ahelicopter coverwhich can cover each and every essential part of the helicopter as and when needed. Further, there may be a need for such a helicopter cover which may be efficient.
[0005] The evolution of helicopter covers is poised to address the need for easy access and quick deployment, redefining the landscape of helicopter protection and ensuring that these crucial assets are efficiently shielded while remaining swiftly accessible when needed.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a protective cover (100) for helicopters, to include all advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent in the prior art.
[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a protective covering for helicopterswhich may not necessitate complete removal or unveiling of the cover for the retrieval or placement of even the smallest components and may allow quick accessibility.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide ahelicopter cover which can cover each and every essential part of the helicopter.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide ahelicopter cover which may be aerodynamically efficient.
[0010] In light of the above objects, protective cover for helicoptersmay be provided. In one embodiment,protective cover for a helicopter may be provided. The protective cover may include a rotor hub cover, a plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover, a three-part body cover coupled to each other, a tail boom cover and a tail rotor cover. The rotor hub cover may include a center hub cover, a plurality of strapsextending horizontally and a plurality of collapsible drapes. Further, the rotor hub covermay cover the rotor hub of the helicopter, may accommodate narrow end of rotor blades, may cover components beneath the rotor hub. Further, the plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover may cover the rotor blades, the three-part body cover may cover front, middle and back portion of the helicopter, the tail boom cover may cover the tail boom of a helicopter and the tail rotor cover may cover the tail rotor of a helicopter.
[0011] In one embodiment, the rotor hub cover (102), the three-part body cover (112) and the tail boom cover (114) of the protective cover (100) may be inflatable and may include aninflatable bladder layer sandwiched between rigid outerbottom and upper layers.
[0012] In one embodiment, the protective cover (100) may include a roller coupled to the helicopter. The roller (122) may accommodate the three-part body cover (112) in collapsible state and unfurls the three-part body cover (112) to achieve the extended state.
[0013] In one embodiment, the center hub cover of the rotor hub cover may encompass the rotor hub from the top and the plurality of straps of the rotor hub cover may accommodate narrow end of the rotor blades.
[0014] In one embodiment, each of the collapsible drapes of the plurality of collapsible drapes may be placed between the two straps of the plurality of straps of the rotor hub cover.
[0015] In one embodiment, the plurality of collapsible drapes of the rotor hub cover may be adapted to unfurl vertically downward to cover gearbox, engine and other components present beneath the main rotor.
[0016] In one embodiment, each of the collapsible rotor blade coverof the plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover may extend along the length of the rotor blade from a free end of the rotor blades and connects to the each of the complementary straps of the plurality of straps of the rotor hub cover.
[0017] In one embodiment, each of the rotor blades may be coupled to each of the complementary straps via a buckle lock.
[0018] In one embodiment, the three-part body cover may be coupled to each other using one of the velcro straps, magnetic fasteners, buckles and clips, zippers, cable ties, elastic bands and bungee cords, straps and latches, hook and loop fasteners, snap buttons, or a combination thereof.
[0019] This, together with the other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, is pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forms a part of the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates adiagram showing perspectiveview of a helicopter covered in a protective cover, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 2(a) to 2(l) illustrates a diagram showing several views of arotor hub cover of a protective cover for a helicopter, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 3(a) to 3(i) illustrates a diagram showing a collapsible rotor blade cover (110) of a protective cover for a helicopter, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 4(a) to 4(l) illustrates a three-part body cover of a protective cover for a helicopter, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 5(a) to 5(e)illustrates a tail boom cover of a protective cover for a helicopter, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0026] FIG. 6(a)to 6(d) illustrate a illustrates a tail rotor cover of a protective cover for a helicopter, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0028] The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in implementation. The present disclosure provides a protective cover (100) for helicopters may be provided. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the protective cover (100) for helicopters that may be provided. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
[0029] The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
[0030] The terms “having”, “comprising”, “including”, and variations thereof signify the presence of a component.
[0031] A protective cover (100) for helicopters may be provided, particularly, a protective cover (100) for a helicopter will now be explained in conjunction with FIGS. 1-6 as below, in accordance with various exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings as shown herein are only for better understanding of the disclosure and may not be in any way considered to be limiting only to the diagrams as disclosed herein. There may be various other arrangements that may be covered by the claims of the present disclosure.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a helicopter covered in a protective cover (100), is illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows a proposed design of the protective cover (100) covering each and every part of the helicopter. The protective cover (100) may cover a rotor hub, rotor blades, front, middle and back portion of the helicopter, a tail boom and a tail rotor of the helicopter. As shown in FIG. 1, the protective cover (100) may include a rotor hub cover (102), a plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover (110), a three-part body cover (112), a tail boom cover (114) and a tail rotor cover (116).In one embodiment, the different parts of the protective cover (100) mentioned above may be coupled to one or the other to provide robusticity and stability.
[0033] Now, referring to FIG. 2(a) to 2(l), a several view of a rotor hub cover (102) of the protective cover (100) for the helicopter is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2(a) to 2(l) will now be described hereinin conjunction with FIG. 1, as for the sake of brevity, the above discussed matters are not repeated in great detail herein. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the rotor hub cover (102) may include a center hub cover (104), a plurality of straps (106) extending horizontally and a plurality of collapsible drapes (108). In one embodiment, the plurality of straps (106) may be five in number as per the requirement of the helicopter having five rotor blades. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the plurality of straps (106) may be more or less than five in number. The center hub cover (104) of the rotor hub cover (102) may be protruding upward creating a cavity (150). The cavity (150) of the center hub cover (104) may encompass the rotor hub from the top.
[0034] In one embodiment, the center hub cover (104) may be coupled with the plurality of straps (106). The plurality of straps (106) of the rotor hub cover (102) may accommodate narrow end (118) of the rotor blades. In one embodiment, each of the rotor blades may be coupled to each of the complementary straps (106) via a buckle lock. Further, each of the collapsible drapes (108) of the plurality of collapsible drapes (108) may be placed between the two straps (106) of the plurality of straps (106) of the rotor hub cover (102), as shown in FIG, 2(l). The plurality of collapsible drapes (108) of the rotor hub cover (102) may unfurl vertically downward to cover gearbox, engine and other components present beneath the main rotor.In one embodiment, the plurality of collapsible drapes (108) may be five in number as per the requirement. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the plurality of collapsible drapes (108) may be more or less than five in number.
[0035] Now referring to FIG. 3(a) to 3(i), a collapsible rotor blade cover (110) of the protective cover (100) for the helicopter is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3(a) to 3(i)will now be described herein in conjunction with FIG. 1and FIG. 3(a) to 3(i), as for the sake of brevity, the above discussed matters are not repeated in great detail herein. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the collapsible rotor blade cover (110) may include a spring, a fabric and a handle.The spring may be compressed, and the fabric may be folded when the rotor blade cover (110) is in the collapsible form, as shown in front view of the collapsible rotor blade cover (110) in FIG 3(a). When the collapsible rotor blade cover (110) in is non-collapsible form, the spring and the fabric may be extended. The collapsible rotor blade cover (110) may be inserted from one end of the rotor blade. Further, the collapsible rotor blade cover (110) may extend along the length of the rotor blade from a free end (120) of the rotor blades and may connect to the each of the complementary straps (106) of the plurality of straps (106) of the rotor hub cover (102).
[0036] Now referring to FIG. 4(a) to 4(l), a three-part body cover (112) of the protective cover (100) for the helicopter is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4(a) to 4(l) will now be described herein in conjunction with FIG. 1 to 3(a) to 3(i), as for the sake of brevity, the above discussed matters are not repeated in great detail herein. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the three-part body cover (112) coupled with each other may cover the front, middle and the back portion of the helicopter. In one embodiment, the protective cover (100) may include a roller (122) coupled to the helicopter. The roller (122) may accommodate the three-part body cover (112) in collapsible state as shown in FIG. 4 (j) and unfurls the three-part body cover (112) to achieve extended state as shown in FIG. 4 (k) and 4 (l). Once the helicopter is needed to be covered, the three-part body cover (112) may be unfurled from the roller (122) and further extended along the front, middle and the back portion of the helicopter.
[0037] The three-part body cover (112) may be coupled to each other using one of the velcro straps, magnetic fasteners, buckles and clips, zippers, cable ties, elastic bands and bungee cords, straps and latches, hook and loop fasteners, snap buttons, or a combination thereof.
[0038] In one embodiment, therotor hub cover (102), the three-part body cover (112) and the tail boom cover (114) of the protective cover (100) may be inflatable and comprises a bottomlayer and an upper layer. Air can be inflated between the bottom layer and the upper layer inside a bladder layer sandwiched between these layers. The bottom and upper layer may be stiff and rigid to provide a robust structureto the protective cover (100) and to hold the helicopter parts that may need to be accommodated in the respective part of the protective cover (100),for example, the rotor hub cover (102) accommodating the narrow end (118) ofrotor blades. The air-filled bladder layer may provide a cushioning effect to prevent any hard debris impacting the helicopter body and causing damage.
[0039] Now referring to FIG. 5(a) to 5(e), a tail boom cover (114) of the protective cover (100) for the helicopter is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5(a) to 5(e) will now be described herein in conjunction with FIG. 1 to 4(a) to 4(i), as for the sake of brevity, the above discussed matters are not repeated in great detail herein.As shown in FIG. 5(a) to 5(d), a tail boom cover (114) may be draped over the tail boom of the helicopter covering the back portion of the helicopter. The shape of the tail boom cover may be similar to a saddle. Several threads may be hanging down the edge of the tail boom cover which may be tied around the base of the helicopter to hold the cover in place. In one embodiment, the tail boom cover may also be inflatable similar to the three-part body cover discussed above in para [0036]. The threads of the tail boom cover (112) may be attached to each other using one of the velcro straps, magnetic Fasteners, buckles and clips, zippers, cable ties, elastic bands and bungee cords, straps and latches, hook and loop fasteners, snap buttons, or a combination thereof.
[0040] Now referring to FIG. 6(a) to 6(d), a tail rotor cover (116) of the protective cover (100) for the helicopter is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6(a) to 6(d) will now be described herein in conjunction with FIG. 1 to FIG. 5(e), as for the sake of brevity, the above discussed matters and steps are not repeated in great detail herein. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the tail rotor cover (116) may be circular in shape and may have a cut (160) extending from the periphery to the center, as shown in FIG. 6(c) providing the side view of the tail rotor cover (116). The cut (160) may accommodate the tail boom of the helicopter and may allow smooth covering and uncovering of the tail rotor cover (116).
[0041] The present disclosure is advantageous in providinga protective covering for helicopters which may not necessitate complete removal or unveiling of the cover for the retrieval or placement of even the smallest components and may allow quick accessibility. Further, the present disclosure is advantageous in providing a helicopter cover which can cover each and every essential part of the helicopter.Furthermore, the present disclosure is advantageous in providing helicopter cover which may be efficient.
[0042] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. , Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A protective cover (100) for a helicopter, the protective cover (100) comprises:
a rotor hub cover (102) having a center hub cover (104), a plurality of straps (106) extending horizontally and a plurality of collapsible drapes (108);
a plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover (110);
a three-part body cover (112) coupled to each other.
a tail boom cover (114); and
a tail rotor cover (116),
wherein the rotor hub cover (102) covers a rotor hub of the helicopter, accommodate narrow end (118) of rotor blades, covers components beneath the rotor hub, the plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover (110) covers the rotor blades, the three-part body cover (112) covers the front, middle and back portion of the helicopter body, the tail boom cover (114) covers the tail boom of the helicopter and the tail rotor cover (116) covers the tail rotor of the helicopter.
2. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein center hub cover (104) of the rotor hub cover (102) encompasses the rotor hub from the top and the plurality of straps (106) of the rotor hub cover (102) accommodates narrow end (118) of the rotor blades.
3. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each collapsible drapes (108) of the plurality of collapsible drapes (108) are placed between the two straps (106) of the plurality of straps (106) of the rotor hub cover (102).
4. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of collapsible drapes (108) of the rotor hub cover (102) is adapted to unfurl vertically downward to cover gearbox, engine and other components present beneath the main rotor.
5. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each collapsible rotor blade cover (110) of the plurality of collapsible rotor blade cover (110) extends along the length of the rotor blade from a free end (120) of the rotor blades and connects to the each of the complementary straps (106) of the plurality of straps (106) of the rotor hub cover (102).
6. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the rotor blades is coupled to each of the complementary straps (106) via a buckle lock.
7. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor hub cover (102), the three-part body cover (112) and the tail boom cover (114) are inflatable, comprises bladder layer, a bottom layer and an upper layer.
8. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective cover (100) comprises of a roller, coupled to the helicopter, accommodate the three-part body cover (112) in collapsible state and unfurls the three-part body cover (112) to achieve extended state.
9. The protective cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three-part body cover (112) coupled to each other using one of the velcro straps, magnetic Fasteners, buckles and clips, zippers, cable ties, elastic bands and bungee cords, straps and latches, hook and loop fasteners, snap buttons or a combination thereof.