U.S. patent application number 11/458024 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for protection structure.
Invention is credited to Robin R. Rivera-Pomales.
Application Number | 20070068565 11/458024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37892398 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070068565 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rivera-Pomales; Robin R. |
March 29, 2007 |
Protection Structure
Abstract
A support structure that is fixed preferably to the ground and
that extends above a parking space for a vehicle, boat, airplane or
other vehicle. A support region is provided near the front corner
of the present invention that serves to support a structure above a
parking space, and then canvas, or another conventional material,
is attached to prevent water and other elements from falling upon
the parking space.
Inventors: |
Rivera-Pomales; Robin R.;
(Carolina, PR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG & LIEBERMAN, LLC
2141 WISCONSIN AVE, N.W.
SUITE C-2
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Family ID: |
37892398 |
Appl. No.: |
11/458024 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60595573 |
Jul 16, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/88.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 6/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/088.05 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/06 20060101
E04H015/06 |
Claims
1. A protection structure comprising: a top rectangular covering
member; and a series of members supporting said top rectangular
covering member, wherein said series of members supporting said top
rectangular covering member contact the ground with a small
footprint and only support two corners of said top rectangular
covering member.
2. The protection structure of claim 1, wherein said series of
members supporting said top rectangular covering member are mounted
to the ground.
3. The protection structure of claim 1, wherein said top
rectangular covering member is constructed of a canopy-type
material such as canvas.
4. The protection structure of claim 1, wherein said series of
supporting members is comprised of a series of horizontal and
vertical supports.
5. The protection structure of claim 1, wherein said protection
structure is secured to said ground with anchor bolts.
6. The protection structure of claim 1, wherein said protection
structure is modular and capable of combination with other
protection structures in order to form a larger structure.
7. The protection structure of claim 1, wherein said structure has
said minimal footprint so as to allow entry into said structure
from nearly all directions.
8. The protection structure of claim 4, wherein said horizontal and
vertical supports are curved so as not to intrude upon the usable
space underneath said support structure.
9. A protection structure comprising: A protective solid top
member; A series of arching members supporting said protective
solid top member, wherein said arching members arch underneath said
protective solid top member; and A mounting system securing said
series of members supporting said protective solid top member to
the ground.
10. The protection structure of claim 9, wherein said protective
solid top member is constructed of a canopy-type material such as
canvas.
11. The protection structure of claim 9, wherein said series of
arching members is comprised of a series of horizontal and vertical
supports anchored to said ground and attached to said protective
solid top member.
12. The protection structure of claim 9, wherein said mounting
system is secured to said ground with anchor bolts.
13. The protection structure of claim 9, wherein said protection
structure is modular and capable of combination with other
protection structures in order to form a larger structure.
14. The protection structure of claim 9, wherein said protection
structure has a minimal footprint by which it is mounted to the
ground.
15. The protection structure of claim 11, wherein said horizontal
and vertical supports are curved so as not to intrude upon the
usable space underneath said support structure.
16. The protection structure of claim 14, wherein said protection
structure has said minimal footprint so as to allow entry into said
structure from nearly all directions.
17. A protection structure, comprising: A roof member; Three
support sections, each of said three support sections aligned along
one edge of said roof member and having two feet; and Three support
arches extending underneath said roof member perpendicularly from
one edge of said roof member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention has to do with structures that are
erected for protection of automobiles, airplanes and the like. More
specifically, the present invention is a protection structure that
provides a minimal footprint and minimal interference with
activities, while at the same time, offering proper protection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Although garages are more and more common in today's
society, the need arises for parking structures that do not have
the characteristics of a garage. In the past, carports and other
structures have been erected to protect automobiles, airplanes,
boats, et cetera, from being directly rained on and/or snowed on.
However, carports still make a big footprint on a piece of
property. For example, a carport that is erected to provide one
parking space for an automobile typically has support posts that
are positioned at its corners and along its sides. While the
carport offers an open-air feeling compared to a garage, the
support posts that are at the carport's corners and along its sides
still interfere with getting in and out of an automobile that is
parked underneath a carport.
[0003] Thus, there is a problem that exists with garages, as well
as carports, when one parks a vehicle underneath. The problem
essentially is that the support structure for the garage or carport
often times interferes with access to the vehicle. Doors, for
example, will hit the side of the garage, or open doors will hit
support posts for the carport. This is obviously undesirable, not
only because the carport or garage can be damaged, but also because
the vehicle parked underneath the carport or garage can be
damaged.
[0004] There is a need for a structure that can protect an
automobile, or other vehicle, while allowing for easy movement in
and outside of the vehicle, unobstructed access to the vehicle,
while at the same time, having a minimal imprint in terms of
physical space on the ground. Furthermore, while garages, carports
and other similar devices certainly function well in terms of
protecting vehicles from the environment, they are not terribly
flexible because of the structural supports that are necessary to
maintain them above the vehicles. For example, even a two, three or
four-car garage can only receive vehicles parked in one pattern;
meaning that each of the vehicles would need to take a customary
parking space in the large garage. The walls of the garage become
boundaries that are impenetrable, and thus, there are very definite
entrances and exits to the garage.
[0005] Similarly, with a carport, although a carport usually does
not have many walls, but merely support posts, the support posts
and the danger of a vehicle hitting them when moving in and out of
the carport, forces parking under a carport to be very regular in a
predetermined spot. Even with a large carport that can handle two
or three or four vehicles, each of the vehicles must park in their
designated space, or if not, there is danger that they might
collide with the support structures of the carport.
[0006] There is a need for a device that can serve as protected
parking or storage for multiple vehicles, just as would a four or
five or six-car garage, or just as would a four or five or six-car
carport, but that has greater flexibility than a conventional
garage or a conventional carport. Restated, there is a need for a
device that provides protected parking while allowing for variable
parking arrangements there under.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is a support structure that is fixed
preferably to the ground and that extends above a parking space for
a vehicle, boat, airplane or other vehicle. A support region is
provided near the front corner of the present invention that serves
to support a structure above a parking space, and then canvas, or
another conventional material, is attached to prevent water and
other elements from falling upon the parking space. Most notable in
the present invention is that there are not a series of posts
around the parking space, but merely a small area is provided for
footprinting the ground. Thus, various parking arrangements and
free access to any vehicles parked under the present invention is
simple. The present invention can be attached in a series, so that
more than one parking space can be provided. When attached in a
series, the present invention preferably has a modified support
structure, but also has a small footprint on the ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an environmental view of multiples of the present
invention attached in a series to one another.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT
[0011] With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention has vertical
support (10) that is connected to horizontal support (20). Vertical
support (10) serves to define one corner of the present invention,
while horizontal support (20) serves to define the roof line of the
present invention. First cross-support (30) is adjacent to
horizontal support (20) and then first cross-support (30) angles
down from its parallel disposition with horizontal support (20) to
attach to vertical support (10) at the approximate midpoint along
the height of vertical support (10). First cross-support (30)
serves the purpose of transferring the load of horizontal support
(20), and anything placed upon horizontal support (20) to vertical
support (10), so that horizontal support (20) does not break off
from its connection at vertical support (10).
[0012] Second cross-support (40) is attached to first cross-support
(30) and angles down to the ground to provide additional support
for first cross-support (30) and additional support for horizontal
support (20). Third cross-support (50) extends from the midpoint of
vertical support (10) and curves down to meet the ground. One end
of third cross-support (50) is attached to vertical support (10)
near the point where first cross-support (30) meets vertical
support (10). The other end of third cross-support (50) meets the
ground near the point where second cross-support (40) meets the
ground. The purpose of third cross-support (50) is to provide
additional stability for vertical support (10).
[0013] First plate (60) is positioned between third cross-support
(50) and second cross-support (40). Third cross-support (50) allows
the weight load of the present invention to be more evenly
distributed and contributes to the present invention's structural
integrity. Second plate (70) is positioned between first
cross-support (30) and second cross-support (40). Second plate (70)
serves to further share the load of the present invention between
first cross-support (30) and second cross-support (40).
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, it should be noted that vertical support
(10), horizontal support (20), first cross-support (30), second
cross-support (40) and third cross-support (50) are preferably made
of conventional structural pipe, and that first plate (60) and
second plate (70) are conventional steel plates.
[0015] The supports of the present invention, as aforementioned,
are conventionally attached to one another. A piece of canvas, or
any canopy-type material, can be placed atop horizontal support
(20), so that the present invention protects the space beneath
horizontal support (20) from rain, snow, sleet and other debris
that the user would want to prevent from touching the vehicle
stored under horizontal support (20). Of note is the fact that
second cross-support (40) is able to provide structural support for
first cross-support (30) and horizontal support (20), but that
second cross-support (40) does not interfere with a conventional
door being opened from a conventional vehicle that would be parked
underneath the present invention.
[0016] Second cross-support (40), rather than being completely
vertical from its attachment point to first cross-support (30),
actually curves, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, an
alterative embodiment of the present invention, has all of the
supports shown in FIG. 1, plus an additional support, fourth
cross-support (80) that connects first cross-support (30) to the
joint of vertical support (10) and horizontal support (20).
[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the present
invention allows multiple parking spaces to be provided. While the
supports in FIG. 3 are the same as the supports aforementioned in
FIG. 1, roof support (90) is shown connecting front support (100)
to back support (110). Canopy (120) is also shown in dotted lines,
disposed over roof support (90). It should be noted that there are
multiple roof supports (90) shown in FIG. 3 to provide structural
support.
[0018] It should be further noted that the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 1, is reproduced three times in FIG. 3, to serve as a
vertical support structure for the rest of the present invention,
as shown in FIG. 3.
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