U.S. patent application number 11/582368 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-19 for gated parking corral.
Invention is credited to John R. Lewis.
Application Number | 20070085067 11/582368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37947329 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070085067 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis; John R. |
April 19, 2007 |
Gated parking corral
Abstract
The gated parking corral is a protected parking area designed to
be set up in parking lots or fields to protect a vehicle from
damage. The gated corral has a fence with vertical posts and
horizontal beams attached between the vertical posts to form an
enclosure. At the end of the enclosure, a gate arm is pivotally
connected to one of the vertical posts. A padded rail is connected
between the vertical posts and protects vehicles from dings when
the doors are opened. Sensors are affixed along the horizontal
beams that determine the presence of a vehicle within the
enclosure. Once the sensors detect a vehicle within the enclosure,
the gate arm is closed. Upon payment of a certain amount of monies
into a coin box connected to the gate arm, the gate arm will
operate in an upward direction to allow the vehicle to exit the
corral.
Inventors: |
Lewis; John R.; (South
Hawley, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD
PO BOX 15035
CRYSTAL CITY STATION
ARLINGTON
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
37947329 |
Appl. No.: |
11/582368 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60727492 |
Oct 18, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
256/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 13/065
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
256/073 |
International
Class: |
E04H 17/16 20060101
E04H017/16 |
Claims
1. A gated parking corral, comprising: a fence having a plurality
of vertical posts and a plurality of horizontal beams coupled
between the vertical posts, the vertical posts and horizontal beams
defining a vehicle-receiving enclosure; a gate arm pivotally
connected to at least one of the vertical posts, the gate arm being
pivotal in an upward and a downward direction; a plurality of
sensors disposed along the fence, the sensors being designed to
detect the presence of a vehicle in the enclosure; and means for
operating the gate arm, said means for operating the gate arm being
electrically connected to the sensors; wherein upon detection of
the presence of a vehicle in the enclosure by the sensors, the gate
arm is pivoted in the downward direction, confining the vehicle
within the enclosure.
2. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising padding material affixed along the fence.
3. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising a base, said vertical posts being attached to the
base.
4. The gated parking corral according to claim 3, wherein the base
comprises a plurality of flat 3-inch plates attachable to a support
surface.
5. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein the
vehicle-receiving enclosure is approximately twenty feet long.
6. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein the
enclosure is approximately thirteen feet wide.
7. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein the gate
arm is approximately nine feet long.
8. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein the
fences are configured for angled parking.
9. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein the
fences are configured for straight-in parking.
10. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein said
fences define multiple vehicle-receiving enclosures configured
end-to-end.
11. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein said
fences define multiple vehicle-receiving enclosures configured
side-by-side.
12. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, wherein the
sensors are affixed along the horizontal beams.
13. The gated parking corral according to claim 12, wherein side
sensors are affixed along side horizontal beams and rear sensors
are affixed along a horizontal beam in a normal relationship to the
side horizontal beams.
14. The gated parking corral according to claim 13, wherein the
side and rear sensors are connected in series.
15. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising: a loop sensor disposed within the ground under the
enclosure; the loop sensor being electrically connected to the
fence sensors, the loop sensor having the capability to detect
whether a vehicle is present.
16. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising: a padded rail attached between the vertical posts and
disposed in parallel relationship to the horizontal beams connected
between the vertical posts.
17. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising: a parking status indicator light having the capability
to indicate go, caution and stop in sequence as a vehicle
approaches the vehicle-receiving enclosure, is partially inside the
enclosure, and is completely inside the enclosure,
respectively.
18. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising: an electrical power source connected to the sensors and
the means for operating the gate arm; and a solar panel connected
to the power source for charging the electrical power source.
19. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising a timer programmable to delay closure of the gate arm
for a predetermined time period after a vehicle has entered the
vehicle-receiving enclosure.
20. The gated parking corral according to claim 1, further
comprising a payment box attached to said fence, the payment box
having means for receiving payment in multiple forms, the payment
box being configured to only accept payment when the gate arm is in
a closed position, the payment box having means for signaling the
gate arm to open once a required payment amount is received by the
payment box.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/727,492, filed Oct. 18, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to parking space systems, and
particularly to a gated parking corral for motor vehicles.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Parking lots, outdoor arenas or other spaces are used for
keeping vehicles in an ordered placement. Generally, however, these
lots do not provide much protection for the users who want to avoid
dings, scratches, dents or other destruction to their automobiles.
Japanese Patent Nos. 52-54,247, published May 1977; 2-68,700,
published March 1990; 7-272,034, published October 1995;
2001-227,187, published August 2001; and 2004-30,084, published
January 2004, appear to disclose automated parking lot management
and/or parking space management involving stacking vehicles
vertically.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a gated parking corral that
allows owners to maintain their vehicles within semi-confined
spaces to avoid dents or scratches to their automobiles.
Additionally, there is a need for a gated parking corral that will
automatically detect the presence of a vehicle within the enclosure
of the corral and automatically fence the vehicle within the
enclosure.
[0007] None of the aforementioned patents appear to disclose or
suggest either singly or in combination all of the features of the
present invention. Thus, a gated parking corral solving the
aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The gated parking corral is a protected parking area
designed to be set up in parking lots, fields or any type of area
that would have need for a secure place in which to protect a
vehicle. The gated parking corral may include one or more fenced-in
areas that hold an automobile within an enclosure.
[0009] The gated corral has a fence with vertical posts and
horizontal beams attached between the vertical posts to form an
enclosure. At the end of the enclosure, a gate arm is pivotally
connected to one of the vertical posts and serves to prevent
vehicles that have entered the corral from leaving before paying. A
padded rail is connected between the vertical posts and protects
vehicles from dings when the doors are opened.
[0010] Sensors are affixed along the horizontal beams, along the
vertical posts or along the padded rail. Side sensors are affixed
along horizontal beams that are in parallel relationship to each
other across the enclosure, and rear sensors are affixed along
horizontal beams that are normal to the side beams in parallel
relationship. A loop sensor is installed within the ground under
the enclosure in which the vehicle is to be kept. An indicating
light is electrically connected to the side and rear sensors.
[0011] A vehicle may enter the enclosure defined by the fence and
as the vehicle comes within close proximity to the side sensors or
the loop sensor senses the vehicle, the indicating light turns from
"green" to "yellow" to indicate that a vehicle is entering. As the
vehicle further enters the enclosure and comes within proximity to
the rear sensor, the rear sensor reads that the vehicle is
approaching, and the light changes to "red".
[0012] After the vehicle is fully parked within the corral, the
sensors have detected the presence of the vehicle, and the light
changes to red, a timer electrically connected to the sensors is
activated. The timer is preset for a specified amount of time to
allow the driver to exit the vehicle and continue out of the corral
area. Once the specified time has been reached following the
activation of the sensors, the timer will signal to a gate drive
situated within one of the vertical posts that the gate arm is to
be lowered. The gate drive controls operation of the gate arm. An
audible alarm may additionally be connected to the timer, so that
when the specified time has elapsed, the alarm sounds notice to the
vehicle owner that the gate arm will be closing.
[0013] The vertical posts to which the gate arms are attached can
have a coin box affixed to the posts that accepts coins, bills,
prepaid payment cards, or other form of payment. Once the vehicle
owner wants to leave the corral, the owner puts the requisite
amount of money into a slot in the coin box. Following receipt of
the correct amount of money into the coin box, the gate drive is
activated, which causes the gate arm to pivot in an upward
direction to allow the vehicle to leave the enclosure.
[0014] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a gated
parking corral according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the gated parking
corral according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the gated parking corral
according to the present invention.
[0018] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The present invention is a gated parking corral that allows
a vehicle to pay for parking in a protected parking area. The gated
parking corral, designated generally as 10 in the drawings, may
include one or more fenced-in areas in which to keep an automobile.
Walkway areas proximate to the corral 10 may be identified by a
paint strip or other marking thereon. Additionally, parking
boundaries may be identified by a paint strip or other marking
around the periphery of the corral 10. Moreover, a paint strip or
other marking may be applied within the corral 10 to assist a
driver in properly aligning the vehicle with the corral 10 to avoid
parking too close to any of the sides defined by fence 12.
[0020] Turning now to FIG. 1, the gated parking corral 10 is shown
having a double enclosure. The gated parking corral 10 includes at
least one said fence 12 designed to maintain a vehicle V within the
fence 12. More than one fence 12 may be attached, allowing for
multiple vehicles to be protected by the fence 12, but defining
individual gated enclosures for each vehicle V. Each fence 12
defines a vehicle-receiving enclosure 14 in which the vehicles may
park. The vehicle-receiving enclosure 14 is preferably
approximately twenty feet long. The fences 12 can be configured to
create a vehicle-receiving enclosure 14 that allows for angled or
straight-in parking. Additionally, a variety of configurations are
contemplated by the present invention in order to provide end-to
end vehicle-receiving enclosures 14 as well as side-by-side
vehicle-receiving enclosures 14. Each fence 12 includes a plurality
of vertical posts 16 and horizontal beams 18 attached to each
other. A gate arm 20 is pivotally connected to one of the vertical
posts 16. A plurality of sensors 22 are affixed along the
horizontal beams 18 and are designed to detect the presence of a
vehicle V entering the enclosure 14.
[0021] Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a detailed perspective view of
one of the fence sections 12 of the gated parking corral 10 and a
block diagram of the electronics of the parking corral 10 are
shown, respectively. The fence 12 has a plurality of vertical posts
16 and a plurality of horizontal beams 18 that make up the
structure of the fence 12. The vertical posts 16 are mounted to a
ground surface and extend upward from the ground surface. The
horizontal beams 18 are coupled between the vertical posts 16. At
least two horizontal beams 18a are attached between at least two
vertical posts 16 in parallel relationship. One horizontal beam 18b
is attached between two vertical posts 16 in normal relationship to
horizontal beams 18a. The vertical 16 and horizontal 18 posts
generally form a rectangular fence 12 defining an enclosure 14.
Horizontal beams are omitted between two vertical posts in order to
allow space for the vehicle V to enter the enclosure 14. A gate arm
20 is affixed to one of the vertical posts 16 and may pivot in an
upward or downward direction. The vertical posts 16 and horizontal
beams 18 may be affixed to one another with hinges, pins, inserted
fittings or any other means for uniting the vertical 16 and
horizontal 18 posts together. A base of the corral may be comprised
of a plurality of flat, preferably 3-inch plates 19 that can be
attached to the ground or pavement via fasteners, such as lag bolts
17. The plates 19 provide a stable foundation upon which the
vertical posts 16 are attached.
[0022] A plurality of fence sensors 22 is disposed along the fence
12. Side sensors 22a are attached to the side beams 18a that are in
parallel relationship to each other across the enclosure 14. A rear
sensor 22b is affixed to the horizontal beam 18b that is normal to
the side beams 18a. The side 22a and rear 22b sensors are connected
in series. A loop sensor 24 is installed within the ground under
the enclosure 14 in which each vehicle V is to be kept and is
electrically connected to the fence sensors 22. The loop sensor 24
detects the presence of a conductive material, such as aluminum or
steel, which allows for a determination as to whether or not a
vehicle V is present. The fence sensors 22 may be sonar, laser,
magnetic, light, reflective, pressure-sensitive, pneumatic, LED,
infrared, or any other type of sensor or detection device capable
of detecting the presence of a vehicle V within the enclosure
14.
[0023] A padded rail 26 is attached between the vertical posts 16
and disposed in parallel relationship to the horizontal beams 18
connected between the vertical posts 16. The padded rail 26 may be
made from plastic, rubber, concrete or any other type of material
that will act as a bumper or barrier for the vehicle V. A speed
bump or similar barrier (not shown) may be attached to the parking
space within the area defined by the enclosure 14 to provide a
barrier for the front tires of the vehicle V to rest against in
order to keep the vehicle V from continuing forward.
[0024] A light 30 is electrically connected to the sensors 22 and
24. The light 30 may be any type of indicator, but is preferably a
three-color stoplight that is able to indicate go, caution and
stop. When the vehicle V enters one of the enclosures 14 of the
gated corral 10, the side fence sensors 22a are activated as the
vehicle V enters and comes within close proximity to the side
sensors 22a. As one of the side sensors 22a or the loop sensor 24
is activated, the light 30 changes from the initial "go" indication
(generally the color green) to the "caution" indication (generally
the color yellow). As the vehicle V moves farther into the
enclosure 14, approaching the rear horizontal beam 18b, the rear
sensor 22b reads that the vehicle V is approaching. When all of the
sensors 22a, 22b and 24 have detected the presence of an automobile
within the enclosure 14, the indicating light 30 indicates "stop"
(generally by turning red). The light 30 notifies the vehicle
driver that the automobile is correctly situated within the corral
10.
[0025] A battery 40 or other power source is connected to the
sensors 22 and 24 and the light indicator 30 in order to provide
electrical current to operate the sensors 22 and 24 and the light
30. A charger (not shown) may be included to charge the battery 40
from an external power source. A solar panel 50 may optionally be
connected to the battery 40 to supply power, i.e., charging current
to the battery 40.
[0026] After the vehicle V is fully parked within the corral 10 and
the sensors 22 and 24 have detected the presence of the vehicle, a
timer 60 is activated. The timer 60 electrically communicates with
the sensors 22 and 24 in order to determine that all of the sensors
22 and 24 have detected the automobile. The timer 60 may be preset
for a specified amount of time to allow the driver to exit the
vehicle V and continue out of the corral area 10. Once the
specified time has been reached following the activation of the
sensors 22 and 24, the timer 60 will signal to a gate drive 70
situated within one of the vertical posts 16 that the gate arm 20
is to be lowered. The gate drive 70 controls operation of the gate
arm 20. An audible alarm may also be connected to the timer 60, so
that when the specified time has elapsed, the alarm sounds notice
to the vehicle owner that the gate arm 20 will be closing. If the
driver chooses to exit the gated corral I 0 before the specified
time period has elapsed, the sensors 22 and 24 will be deactivated
and the gate arm 20 will remain in an upward position. The gate arm
20 may be constructed from any of a number of materials, including
fiberglass, plastic, wood, aluminum, etc.
[0027] The gate drive 70 may be a chain drive, gear drive, screw
drive or hydraulic cylinder, and may be operated using AC or DC
voltage. The gate drive 70 may be solid state or mechanical limit
switches, relays or contacts. A full service controller having the
capability of being in operable communication with, to control and
accept inputs from, a remote entry device, such as a telephone. The
controller is also in operable communication with, controls, and
accept inputs from loop detectors, sensors, card readers, push
buttons, alternative remote control devices, bar code scanners,
money acceptors, gate drives, and the like. Control functions of
the controller may be located in or distributed among any of the
sensors 22a, 22b, 24, timer 60, indicator 30, gate drive 70, and
the like.
[0028] The position of the gate arm 20 is adjustable, or may be
pre-positioned, and is limited by magnetic or proximity sensors,
and may also be designed with a pressure-sensitive switch. If the
vehicle V is not fully in the corral, or if there is any
obstruction in the path of the gate arm 20, the magnetic or
proximity sensors, or pressure-sensitive switch can detect the
obstruction to keep or return the gate arm 20 to the open position.
The gate arm 20 is preferably approximately nine feet long, while
the corral 10 is preferably approximately thirteen feet wide,
thereby allowing approximately four feet for a person or persons to
exit or enter the corral 10 with shopping carts, strollers and the
like, even when the gate arm 20 is in a closed position. The gate
arm 20 may be attached with a breakaway device. Optionally, the
gate arm 20 can be color-striped and/or outfitted with a flashing
light (not shown) at the end of the gate arm 20 that is activated
when the gate arm 20 is in the up or open position to alert
customers of availability of the corral 10. Preferably, the gate
arm 20 is covered with a non-scratch type surface or paint.
[0029] The side 22a, rear 22b and loop sensors 24, indicating light
30, power supply 40, timer 60 and gate drive 70 are electrically
connected to the each other and may be connected to the solar panel
50. The wiring to electrically connect the gated vehicle corral 10
may be built into a conduit in the padded rail 26, built along the
ground or built into the horizontal beams 18. Preferably, the
wiring is comprised of at least one wiring harness having
connectors that can be removably attached to facilitate
construction and dismantling of the corral 10.
[0030] The vertical posts 16 to which the gate arms 20 are attached
have a coin box 72 affixed to the posts 16. The coin box 72 accepts
coins, bills, prepaid parking cards, or other form of payment. When
the vehicle owner wants to leave the corral 10, the owner puts the
requisite amount of money into a slot 74 in the coin box 72. The
coin box 72 is configured to only accept money when the gate arm 20
is in the down or closed position. Following the receipt of the
correct amount of money in the coin box 72, the gate drive 70 is
activated, which causes the gate arm 20 to pivot in an upward
direction. The coin box 72 may accept cash, credit cards, bar codes
connected to monetary units, debit cards, tokens, tickets or any
other form of monetary means.
[0031] A key access hole 74 may be built into the vertical posts 16
to which the gate arms 20 are attached. The key access hole 74 will
allow an employee to override the gate drive 70 to manually
manipulate the gate arm 20 in an upward or downward direction.
[0032] The gate arm 20 of the gated vehicle corral 10 may be
activated by remote control, and, optionally, solely by remote
control. A battery backup may be built into either the vertical 16
or the horizontal 18 posts. In the event of AC mains power failure,
the backup battery power has the capability to provide power to put
the gate arm 20 in an open position. Preferably, the corral 10 can
be located close to building entrances for security reasons,
inclement weather, and to assist the physically impaired.
[0033] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *