U.S. patent application number 12/810353 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for roof-top parking system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to HIGH PARKING LTD.. Invention is credited to Shimon Stierler.
Application Number | 20100284771 12/810353 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39791716 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100284771 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stierler; Shimon |
November 11, 2010 |
ROOF-TOP PARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
A roof-top parking system and method for automatically parking
and retrieving a vehicle on a roof. The system includes a
communication system adapted to receive a parking request or a
retrieval request, and a vehicle positioning device which positions
a vehicle a queuing space on the ground adjacent a building and a
parking space assigned to the vehicle on the roof of the
building.
Inventors: |
Stierler; Shimon; (Ramat
Hasharon, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
HIGH PARKING LTD.
Tel Aviv
IL
|
Family ID: |
39791716 |
Appl. No.: |
12/810353 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 26, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IL2007/001608 |
371 Date: |
June 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/234 ;
414/800 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 6/182 20130101;
E04H 6/422 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/234 ;
414/800 |
International
Class: |
E04H 6/12 20060101
E04H006/12 |
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A roof-top parking system for automatically parking and
retrieving a vehicle on a roof of a building comprising: a
communication system adapted to receive a parking request
indicating that a vehicle is to be parked and a retrieval request
indicating that the vehicle is to be retrieved; a vehicle
positioning device adapted to raise and park the vehicle from a
queuing space to a parking space located on a roof in response to
said parking request, and to retrieve and lower the vehicle from
said parking space to said queuing space in response to said
retrieval request, the vehicle positioning device having a first
structural portion located outside a perimeter of the roof and
extending from a ground level to an elevated rooftop level, and a
second structural portion extending from said first structural
portion above the roof, the vehicle positioning device further
including: a plurality of parking racks, each parking rack
associated with a parking space defined on the roof; a vehicle
positioning beam having a transfer device to laterally move each of
said plurality of parking racks between said parking space and an
intermediate location outside a perimeter of the roof above the
elevated rooftop level; a carriage suspended from said vehicle
positioning beam and releasebly attachable to each of the plurality
of parking rack, the carriage including at least one cable to
vertically move each of the parking racks between said parking
space and said queuing space; and a system of support beams
supporting said vehicle positioning beam, said transfer device and
said carriage, the system of support beams being independent from
the building.
20. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein said first
structure of the vehicle positioning device outside the perimeter
of the roof forms a pier adjacent the building in which the parking
rack is raised and lowered.
21. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the system of
support beams are self-supporting and not in contact with the
building.
22. The parking system according to claim 19 further comprising at
least one support beam in contact with the building to provide
support for the system of support beams.
23. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the plurality
of parking spaces are pre-determined, and each parking rack
corresponds to a unique, pre-determined parking space.
24. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the vehicle
positioning beam is operable to move the parking rack in three
linear directions for positioning the parking rack in an open
parking space on the roof.
25. The parking system according to claim 19, further comprising a
shelter at the ground level adjacent the first structure to provide
a protected area for a driver to park or retrieve the vehicle.
26. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the
communication system comprises a control panel.
27. The parking system according to claim 26, wherein the control
panel is disposed adjacent the first structure at the ground
level.
28. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the
communication system is adapted to receive a wireless command
signal.
29. The parking system according to claim 28, further comprising a
remote control device for sending the wireless command signal.
30. The parking system according to claim 28, wherein the
communication system is adapted to receive the wireless command
signal from a communication device selected from the group
consisting of a cellular phone and a personal digital
assistant.
31. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the
communication system is adapted to generate an automatic retrieval
request at a predetermined time, wherein the vehicle positioning
device retrieves and lowers a parking rack from the parking space
to the queuing space in response to the automatic retrieval
request.
32. The parking system according to claim 19, wherein the carriage
further comprises an impact-mitigating touch down system.
33. A method of parking a car on a roof of a building comprising:
executing a parking order, whereby a parking rack, which is
dedicated to a vehicle and corresponds to a parking space located
at a rooftop level, is retrieved from said parking space and is
transported to a queuing space located at a ground level; driving
the vehicle onto said parking rack; exiting the vehicle; activating
a parking command requesting that the vehicle be parked, whereby
the loaded parking rack is raised to the rooftop level and
positioned to the corresponding parking space; and executing a
retrieval order and activating a retrieval command requesting that
the vehicle be retrieved, whereby the loaded parking rack is
retrieved from said parking space and transported to the queuing
space.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the
steps of executing the parking order and executing the retrieval
order is initiated remotely.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the parking of vehicles, in
particular automatic parking thereof on the roofs of buildings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In many locations there is a dearth of available parking
spaces. This is particularly true in crowed cities due to the large
number of automobiles owned by those who live and come to work
there.
[0003] Due to this issue, new buildings often include underground
parking or are raised (on "stilts") to provide parking under the
first floor of the building. On the other hand, some new buildings
do not provide for parking, which further exacerbates the
afore-mentioned parking issue. Also, there are many existing
buildings that do not have a parking lot or underground parking; or
simply have insufficient parking space.
[0004] To help provide a solution to the parking space issue in
crowded locations, JP 6212822 and JP 1268973 both disclose roof
parking devices.
[0005] The roof parking device of JP 66212822 comprises an elevator
device constructed along an external wall of an existing building
and trucks disposed on the roof for positioning cars. A car loaded
via a pallet is lifted to a roof level corresponding to a specific
parking space by a carriage. The truck for positioning the cars is
moved to the carriage side and stopped and a driving rail on the
carriage is slid to the truck side through a sliding mechanism and
transferred onto a roller rail on the truck side together with the
pallet. The truck, on which the car is loaded, is moved
horizontally at a specific position, brought to the same level as a
roller rail on the parking space side, and housed together with the
pallet.
[0006] JP 1268973 discloses a roof parking device that provides car
storage racks on the roof of a building and the carrying of
entering and exiting cars to and from optional storage spaces via a
lifting device and a transferring device. Storage racks forming a
plurality of multi-stage car storage spaces are installed on the
building's roof. The transferring device is incorporated into the
storage racks and is capable of carrying entering and exiting cars.
The lifting device, which performs vertical transfer of the cars,
is provided between a home position at the ground level and a
transfer position for the transferring device. A turning device
rotates the cars to the appropriate direction at the transfer
position.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
parking system designed for positioning cars on a roof without the
need for a parking garage thereon.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention that the
parking system requires a minimal or essentially no support by the
building whose roof is being parked thereon. In other words, the
parking system exerts either a relatively minimal force on the roof
of a building or no force at all--except for a parking rack
associated with each parked car. Thus, virtually any building,
including an existing building, is sturdy enough to allow cars to
be parked on its roof without structural issue.
[0009] It is an additional object of the present invention that the
parking system is adapted so that cars can be positioned in their
spaces on the roof regardless the typical obstacles found on roofs,
such as solar panels, storage huts and the like.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention that the
parking system is adapted to provide automatic parking of vehicles
on a roof and with minimal space required on the roof and between
vehicles parked thereon.
[0011] The present invention relates to a parking system for
parking vehicles on the roof of a new or existing building as
defined in the claims.
[0012] According to particular embodiments, the parking system is
adapted for automatic operation whereby a driver can have his car
parked in a pre-determined dedicated space by driving his car into
a pier, located outside the perimeter of the roof (typically
adjacent or adjoined to the roof and building) where a rack,
dedicated for use with his car only, is used to help lift and
position the car, and he can automatically retrieve his car via a
communication system including, but not limited to, a command from
a control panel or a remote control mechanism, which could be like
a TV remote control or garage door remote control or even built in
or programmed into other hand-held devices such as cell phones,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like. In this regard,
the driver may also have the option to order his car to be ready at
a certain hour.
[0013] The pier typically adjoins the exterior of the building,
particularly in existing buildings, whereas in new buildings there
is more flexibility in the arrangement.
[0014] It is a particular feature of the parking system that the
positioning structure thereof is essentially or completely
independent of the roof and/or building. By this it is meant that
the positioning structure does not structurally exert a significant
weight on the roof and/or building; and, according to particular
embodiments, does not exert any weight on the roof and/or building
with the exception of the parking rack associated with each car. In
such a design, the positioning structure, including the pier, is
designed to support the portion of the structure that overhangs the
building above the roof, as well as support each car during
transfer to and from its parking space--in particular while above
the roof.
ADVANTAGES
[0015] 1. Additional parking spaces are provided without any
additional footprint.
[0016] 2. One can park right at one's workplace or apartment
building/residence.
[0017] 3. Low cost relative to providing underground parking lots
or parking in an organized parking lot.
[0018] 4. Simple operation and maintenance.
[0019] 5. Time saving: parking/retrieving one's car is quick and
does not require the driver to park the car.
[0020] 6. Space saving: (a) cars can be parked close to each other
as drivers do not need space to exit/enter their cars; and (b) cars
can be parked in a large portion of the roof, including the row
opposite the pier.
[0021] 7. Safer and better: as drivers do not park and retrieve
their cars, there will not be traffic accidents during that time;
and, parked cars will not be hit, dented, scratched by doors being
opened, parked or retrieved.
[0022] 8. Environmentally friendly: relieves traffic congestion as
cars need not be driven in search of parking spaces.
[0023] 9. Theft of one's car is less likely during the time it is
parked on the roof.
[0024] 10. As the parking system's structure is only marginally
supported by the roof/building, or not supported by it at all--with
the exception of the parking rack of each car--the roof/building
need only support the weight of the parking racks and cars parked
thereon. Thus, virtually all existing buildings can use the parking
system without need for strengthening of the roof/building.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of
the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary
embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in
which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of an embodiment of
a roof-top parking system in accordance with the present invention
showing a car about to be parked (or shortly after retrieval was
initiated);
[0027] FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the parking system
of FIG. 1 showing a car entering the parking system
[0028] FIGS. 3A-3C are side sectional views of a portion of the
parking system showing a car in various stages of being
retrieved;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
parking system of the present invention wherein it comprises
support beams resting on the roof;
[0030] FIGS. 5A-5C are side views of vehicle positioning device of
the present parking system; and
[0031] FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views of vehicle positioning device
of the present parking system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a parking
system of the present invention for parking vehicles on a roof 10
of a new or existing building 12. FIG. 1 shows an early stage of
parking a car 14 in a (typically, its) parking space 16 (i.e. where
the car is just entering the parking system); and FIG. 2 shows a
late stage of parking the car 14 (where the car is nearly above its
parking space at which time it will be lowered).
[0033] The parking system comprises a vehicle positioning device 18
comprising a system of support beams 20 and a system of car
positioning beams 22, and a carriage 24, which is carried by one of
the vehicle positioning beams. The support beams 20 typically
include generally vertical beams 26 and generally horizontal beams
28--both of which typically include diagonally oriented structural
members or diagonal beams 30. The support beams 20 and vehicle
positioning beams 22 include beams that are located above the roof
10 and beams located outside the perimeter of the roof, which form
a pier 32.
[0034] The carriage 24 is adapted for attaching to each of a
plurality of platforms or racks 34 upon which each car 14 rests
when it is within the parking system; i.e. when it is parked on the
roof 10 and when it is being transferred (moved when on or near the
roof, raised or lowered) for retrieving or parking thereof.
[0035] For raising the car 14 to the roof 10 when it is to be
parked and lowering thereof when it is to be retrieved, as
mentioned, certain of the support beams 20 are disposed at a
position outside the perimeter of the roof 10 and form the pier 32,
which may include walls for safety and aesthetic reasons. As noted,
the pier 32 is located outside the perimeter of the roof 10,
commonly adjoining or at least adjacent the building 12 and roof.
However, particularly in existing buildings where there may exist
space constraints or the desire not to block an existing window and
the like, the pier 32 may be spaced apart from the building 12.
[0036] The lifting and lowering of the car 14 and rack 34 is
accomplished by cables 35 (seen in FIG. 3C), which are coiled and
uncoiled to perform such raising and lowering. The vehicle
positioning beam 26 is not visible in FIG. 1 as it is within (at
the top of) the pier 32 waiting to raise the car 14.
[0037] Balancing of the rack 34 and car 14 thereon can be performed
automatically by the cables 35 using known systems as known in the
field of cargo and shipping containers. The technology and
mechanics involved in the transporting and positioning of cargo and
shipping containers is also applicable to the present parking
system for stabilizing and securing the carriage 24, and for
example may include a male/female cone-like arrangement (not shown)
wherein when the cables 35 completely raise the car 14, carriage 24
and rack 34 from the roof 10, they are secured so that they do not
sway.
[0038] In the present embodiment the positioning beam 22 is longer
than the length of the cars 14 (simply due to the fact that three
rows available for parking and not merely one row) and, for this
reason the pier 32 has an upper portion 36 that is wide enough to
accommodate the positioning beam 26 which enters the pier prior to
raising and lowering of the car.
[0039] The parking system may further include a shelter or shed 38
in which a driver 40 may wait for his car 14 to be retrieved and
into which he may enter upon exiting his car when he leaves his car
to be parked. The parking system may include a control panel 42
(seen in FIGS. 3A-3C), having features such as a display and/or
keyboard (not visible) to enter information, to facilitate ordering
the driver's car 14, and it may be housed in the shed 38.
Alternatively, the parking system can be designed to accommodate
remote commands, via a variety of devices such as used in automatic
garage door openers; a command via a cell phone or PDA; and so
on.
[0040] FIGS. 3A-3C emphasize the preferable design of the parking
system wherein that the pier 32 is tall enough with relation to the
roof 10 so that the positioning beams 20 are raised to a height
whereby cars 14 moving in and out of the pier are raised higher
than the tallest expected/allowed vehicle. As such, cars 14 can be
parked opposite the pier 32, i.e. in a central row 44 in this case
(FIG. 1), which is the row between the rows of parked cars seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, it should be understood that the parking
system could be designed with a pier height and related design
modifications, such that a car could be parked in virtually any
open area suitable for resting a car--including on the far side of
or adjacent to objects typically found on roofs, represented by an
elevator housing 46, although including solar panels or any other
such objects.
[0041] In FIG. 3A the car 14 has been retrieved from its space 16
and is on its way to the pier 32; in FIG. 3B the car 14 has arrived
at the top of the pier 32 and is about to be lowered to the ground;
and in FIG. 3C the car 14 has arrived at the ground where the
driver 40 is waiting.
[0042] In the above-described embodiments, the parking system does
not touch the roof 10 and does not exert a force on the roof, with
the exception of the parking racks 34, which are of relatively
insignificant weight. Thus, the weight of any parked cars 14 is the
most significant additional force on the roof 10. As the parking
system is only marginally supported by the roof/building (i.e. only
the parking racks 34 rest thereon), virtually all existing
buildings can use the parking system without need for
strengthening.
[0043] FIGS. 3A-3C also illustrate a communication system 52 of the
parking system to allow the driver 40 to signal that the vehicle is
to be retrieved, or parked. The communication system 52 is
illustrated as located in the shelter 38. Alternatively, or in
addition, the parking system can be adapted to allow remote
communication via signals from a device or program in a cell phone
(not shown) or the like.
[0044] According to a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4,
the positioning structure 20 further comprises a pair of beams 20a
that rest on the roof 10 and provide additional support to the
system. The parking system may be designed so that there is only a
marginal force exerted on the roof 10 as a result of those beams
20a supporting a portion thereof. The remainder of the parking
system is supported as understood from the above description;
typically by means of cantilever-type support or as practiced by
many modern building cranes. Again, as the parking system is only
marginally supported by the roof/building, virtually all existing
buildings can use the parking system without need for
strengthening.
[0045] To clarify how the cars 14 are positioned, reference is made
to FIGS. 5A-5C. First it is noticed that the positioning beams 22
have associated therewith an arrangement, illustrated by a pair of
spools or wheels 48, whereby they can slide/roll on the support
beams 20 that are extending over the roof 10. This arrangement
allows the car 14 to be moved in and out of the pier 34.
[0046] Further, to allow cars 14 to be parked in rows other than
the central row 44 (in this case to a row adjacent to the edge of
the roof 10), the parking system's beams 22 may comprise an
auxiliary pair of positioning beams 22a. The auxiliary positioning
beams 22a have associated therewith an arrangement, illustrated by
two pairs of spools or wheels 50, whereby they can slide/roll with
respect to positioning beams 22, in particular the horizontal beams
28, with a cantilever/telescoping effect. Wheels 51 at the non-free
end of positioning beams 22a allow for the cantilevering, generally
exerting an upward force on positioning beams 22 to balance the
weight on the free end positioning beams 22a (namely the car 14,
the carriage 24, the rack 34 and the extending portion of those
beams 22a). It should be understood that depending upon the size,
geometry and the like of the roof 10, there may not be a need for
more than one pair of positioning beams; or there may be a
preference for more than one pair of such beams 22a.
[0047] It should be understood from the aforementioned, that beams
22a can extend and retract whereby the upper portion 36 need not be
significantly wider than the car 14. In other words, the pier 32
can be narrow throughout its height and one or more set of
auxiliary beams 22a can be used to extend the car 14 to a remote
parking space 16.
[0048] As should be understood from the above described
embodiments, the parking system's vehicle positioning device 18 is
adapted so that the car 14 can be moved in X, Y and Z directions.
Furthermore, the positioning beams 22 can be dimensioned of have
additional beams whereby, via the XYZ movement, the parking system
can be adapted to park the car 14 in virtually any open position on
the roof 10. Raising and lowering of the car 14 in the pier 34 can
be considered Z-direction movement; moving of the car in and out of
the pier 34, can be considered X-direction movement; and moving of
the car to rows in a direction away from the central row 44
(opposite the pier 34) can be considered Y-direction movement.
[0049] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of the parking
system of the present invention, which is similar to those
described above, however, the positioning device 18 comprises a
turning mechanism 54 for turning the carriage 24 whereby, for
example, the cars 14 (parked in the positions as illustrated in
FIG. 1) are turned 90 degrees during the time between when they are
raised from their parking space 16 and when they enter the pier 32
(and vice versa). This allows the pier 32 to be oriented in a
position 90 degrees to that shown in the figures thereby providing
flexibility to the design which may be critical in consideration to
space available for the pier.
OPERATION
[0050] Parking a vehicle: the driver 40 driving his car 14
approaches the building 12 (or upon arriving at the building) and
activates the parking system (remotely or via the control panel 42)
typically involving inputting a code (e.g. his own private code)
and indicating whether he is parking or retrieving. According to
particular embodiments, the system may include an option to verify
whether a car 14 is parked on its rack 30 and thus know whether a
command is for parking or whether it is for retrieving). At this
stage, the vehicle positioning device 18 is automatically activated
(affixed to the top of the pier 32) which identifies the parking
space 16 designated to his car 14 (placed in a permanent site on
the roof 10) and conveys the parking rack 30 to the bottom of the
pier.
[0051] The driver 40 drives his car 14 onto its rack 30, turns off
the car, leaves the car in the pier 32, exits the pier, and then
activates the parking action (e.g. swipes a magnetic card, inputs a
code via a press pad, provides a signal via a remote control type
device such as a cell phone, PDA, etc). For safety, activation of
the parking is preferably only possible from outside the pier 32.
The activation actuates the vehicle positioning device 18, which
conveys the rack 30 with the car 14 thereon up the pier 32 and into
its predetermined space 16 on the roof 10. Placement of the rack 30
and car 14 into its designated space on the roof 10 may be
facilitated by mutual identification of a sensor of the vehicle
positioning device 18 with the parking space 16.
[0052] Upon activation of the parking mode, the positioning beam 26
moves the carriage 24 to the rack 30 of that car 14 and attaches
thereto. The rack 30 is then conveyed along the positioning
structure 20 to the pier 32 at which point the rack is lowered by
uncoiling the cables 35. When and only when, the rack 30 reaches
the floor of the pier 32, the driver 40 may drive his car 14
thereon. When the driver 40 exits his car 14 and the pier 32 and
activates a park command, the car is raised by coiling the cables
35 until it reaches the upper portion 36 of the pier 32 at which
time the car and rack 30 are translated out of the pier above the
roof 10 and into its parking space 16. The last steps of parking
require moving the car 14 and rack 30 perpendicular to the
aforementioned translated direction and then lowering the rack,
with the car thereon, onto the roof 10, by uncoiling the cables
35.
[0053] Retrieving the car 14 from its parking space occurs
essentially in a manner reverse to that of parking it and may be
actuated by means of a code in the remote control device, as
mentioned above. The remote control device may have two modes or
activation options:
[0054] a. A simple requisition requested at the time when the
driver is at the building 12 (i.e. at the pier 32). The request may
be made as mentioned above (e.g. by pressing a code, etc); and
[0055] b. A timer-type requisition for requesting the driver's car
14 at a future time. Again, the request may be made as mentioned
above (e.g. by pressing a code, etc), however the request is
typically made from a remote location, though not necessarily, and
obviously requires that the preferred time of retrieval is input
and preferably the parking system provides a verification that the
retrieval time is appropriate (i.e. there is no previous order in
the time slot requested) or provides an indication of the nearest
time slot available to that requested.
[0056] There can be various provisions for dealing with situations
where a driver 40 remotely orders his car 14 and yet cannot arrive
on time and another driver meanwhile initiates a retrieval attempt.
For example, the car 14 ordered can be returned to its space 16
allowing the other car to be retrieved after which the ordered car
is retrieved again--or it may signal the driver 40 who made the
order who may then update the time at which he wishes to have his
car ready.
[0057] It should be understood that there are various parking
systems and methods that can be devised according to the present
invention and that the above described embodiments are merely
explanatory.
[0058] For example, in accordance with certain embodiments, each
car 14 has its own pre-determined parking space 16 on the roof 10
of the building 12 and parking rack 30, which is associated with
each space. In accordance with other embodiments, the driver 40 may
park his car 14 in any available space 16 although typically a code
is required. The system may be designed so that a fee is required
to park; and may be adapted to collect those fees (e.g.
automatically via a credit card).
[0059] According to another example, the carriage 24 may comprise
an impact-mitigating touch down system, illustrated by springs 56
(FIGS. 5A-5C and 6A & 6B); however it could comprise various
other devices such as one or more neoprene cushions or air pillows
and the like.
[0060] Thus, the present parking system and method can be embodied
in a variety of aspects falling within the scope of the present
invention, mutatis mutandis.
COMPONENT LIST AND REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0061] roof 10 [0062] building 12 [0063] car 14 [0064] parking
space 16 [0065] vehicle positioning device 18 [0066] system of
support beams 20 [0067] roof-top support beams 20a [0068] system of
car positioning beams 22 [0069] first pair of positioning beams 22a
[0070] second pair of positioning beams 22b [0071] carriage 24
[0072] vertically oriented beams 26 [0073] horizontally oriented
beams 28 [0074] diagonal beams 30 [0075] pier 32 [0076] racks 34
[0077] cables 35 [0078] upper portion 36 [0079] shelter or shed 38
[0080] driver 40 [0081] control panel 42 [0082] central row 44
[0083] elevator housing 46 [0084] wheels 48 [0085] wheels 50 [0086]
communication system 52 [0087] turning mechanism 54 [0088] springs
56
* * * * *