Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6666617
-
Patent Number
6,666,617
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, May 28, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 23, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Will; Thomas B.
- Addie; Raymond W
Agents
- Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 404 6
- 404 33
- 404 31
- 404 35
- 404 36
- 404 70
- 404 73
- 404 82
- 405 2581
-
International Classifications
-
-
Disclaimer
Terminal disclaimer
Abstract
A method and apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot (10) on a land area (12) is provided. A composite drainage material (20) is provided through which water drains. The composite drainage material (20) comprises a polymeric open mesh core (22) between first and second layers (24 and 26) of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The land area (12) is covered with the material (20) by placing rolls (28) of the material adjacent one another. The rolls (28) are unrolled over the land area (12) so that longitudinal edge portions (30 and 40) of adjacent rolls adjoin one another. A portion (34, 44) of the longitudinal edge portions (30 and 40) are overlapped and secured to each other, and not to the land area (12), to create a gapless and continuous surface (84) of the material (20), with the majority of the land area (12) lying underneath the material. The first layer (24) of each of the rolls (28) contacts the land area (12). The second layer (26) of each of the rolls (28) faces away from the land area (28) and provides the surface (84).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The transportation industry often requires additional parking areas for temporary automotive vehicle storage prior to vehicle transfer and/or distribution. Such parking areas are typically needed adjacent rail yards and automotive production facilities. These additional parking areas are sometimes only needed for a relatively short period of time, such as two or three months, but can also be used for up to five years. Regardless, it is desirable to minimize the time and expenses associated with constructing the additional parking areas.
Traditionally automotive vehicle parking lots are constructed by covering a land area with concrete or asphalt. These traditional construction methods provide a desirable hard surface for automotive vehicles to be driven on, but are time-consuming and expensive. Further, covering the land area with concrete or asphalt can create complications in the project, such as having to construct a retention pond to deal with excess rain water.
Other less permanent methods for constructing automotive vehicle parking lots are also known. These other methods include covering a land area with gravel, wood chips, or shredded rubber from recycled tires. These non-traditional methods reduce the time and expenses associated with constructing the parking areas. However, these methods do not provide the desired parking surface, and can lead to the automotive vehicles being damaged. Such automotive vehicle damage can range from scratches in a vehicle's paint to extensive body damage caused by vehicles sliding into one another when excessive rain washes away the gravel, wood chips, or shredded rubber, and turns at least a portion of the parking area into a mud pit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method of constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. According to the inventive method, a composite drainage material is provided through which water drains. The composite drainage material comprises a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The land area is covered with the composite drainage material by placing rolls of the composite drainage material adjacent one another to form the temporary automotive parking lot. The rolls of the composite drainage material are unrolled over the land area so that longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls adjoin one another. A portion of the longitudinal edge portions of the adjacent rolls are overlapped. The overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls are secured to each other and not to the land area to create a gapless and continuous surface of the composite drainage material with at least the majority of the land area lying underneath the composite drainage material. The first layer of each of the rolls contacts the land area. The second layer of each of the rolls faces away from the land area and provides the gapless and continuous surface on which automotive vehicles are parked. The composite drainage material directs water which contacts the second layer through the first layer, through the core between the layers, and into the land area covered by the composite drainage material.
According to one aspect of the inventive method, the step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls comprises the steps of looping a plurality of tie members through the overlapped portions of the cores along the longitudinal edge portions of each of the adjacent rolls, and tightening the tie members to attach the cores of the adjacent rolls to each other.
According to another aspect of the inventive method, the step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls further comprises the step of securing the second layer of the adjacent rolls to each other to form a longitudinal seam.
The present invention further provides an apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. The apparatus comprises a composite drainage material through which water drains. The composite drainage material comprises a polymeric open mesh core disposed between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The composite drainage material is adapted to cover the land area so that the land area lies underneath the composite drainage material. The first layer contacts the land area. The second layer faces away from the land area and has a surface on which automotive vehicles are parked. The composite drainage material directs water which contacts the second layer through the first and second layers, through the core between the layers, and into the land area covered by the composite drainage material. The composite drainage material is formed in rolls. Each of the rolls has longitudinal edge portions and is unrolled adjacent one another to cover the land area to form the temporary automotive parking lot. At least a portion of the adjacent longitudinal edge portions of the rolls overlaps each other. The longitudinal edge portions are secured to each other and not to the land area at the overlapping portions to form a continuous and gapless surface made of the composite drainage material.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions comprise portions of the core in each of the adjacent rolls. The overlapped portions of the cores are secured together by a plurality of tie members that are looped through the overlapped portions and tightened.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the second layer of each of the adjacent rolls is secured to each other to form a longitudinal seam.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view of a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic perspective view of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot of
FIG. 1
during its construction;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot shown in
FIG. 2
during construction;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view taken along line
4
—
4
in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 4
illustrating a step in the construction of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot;
FIG. 6
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 5
illustrating another step in the construction of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot;
FIG. 7
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 5
illustrating a step for constructing a temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with a second method;
FIG. 8
is a sectional view illustrating another step for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with the second method of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 5
illustrating a step for constructing a temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with a third method;
FIG. 10
is a sectional view illustrating another step for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with the third method of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 11
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 5
illustrating a step for constructing a temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with an fourth method;
FIG. 12
is a sectional view illustrating another step for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with the fourth method of
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 13
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 12
illustrating an alternate step for constructing the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot in accordance with the fourth method; and
FIG. 14
is a sectional view taken along line
14
—
14
in
FIG. 2
illustrating another aspect of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. As representative of the present invention,
FIG. 1
illustrates a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot
10
.
The parking lot
10
is situated on a land area
12
adjacent railroad tracks
14
. The land area
12
has been cleared of any trees and large shrubbery. Thus, the land area
12
comprises soil
16
and has an upper surface
18
(
FIG. 2
) which may be covered by grass or other vegetation (not shown). Preferably, the land area
12
is relatively flat.
A composite material
20
through which water can drain is used to construct the temporary parking lot
10
on the land area
12
. The composite drainage material
20
comprises a polymeric open mesh core
22
(
FIG. 3
) between first and second layers
24
and
26
(
FIG. 4
) of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The core
22
is 2-8 mm thick and is extruded from polyethylene resin.
The geo-textile fabric used for the first and second layers
24
and
26
is a continuous layer of a polypropylene material with an additive to help protect the fabric from the effects of ultra-violet light. The first and second layers
24
and
26
are water permeable, but are sufficiently dense to prevent solid matter, such as soil, from penetrating through the layers. Each of the first and second layers
24
and
26
is 2-8 mm thick.
The polyethylene core
22
is placed between the first and second layers
24
and
26
and the composite drainage material
20
is laminated using a heating process. The heating process fuses both the first and second layers
24
and
26
of the fabric to the core
22
to create the composite drainage material
20
. While central portions
25
and
27
(constituting the vast majority) of the first and second layers
24
and
26
, respectively, are fused to the core
22
, along the outer periphery of the composite drainage material
20
, the first and second layers are not fused to the core, as is described further below.
The composite drainage material
20
is formed in rolls
28
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, for ease of shipping and installation. The composite drainage material
20
may be 7 to 12 feet wide, and up to 250 feet long when unrolled. Each roll
28
of the composite drainage material
20
includes oppositely disposed first and second longitudinal edges
30
and
40
(FIG.
4
).
The first longitudinal edge
30
is formed by an edge portion
32
of the first layer
24
, an edge portion
33
of the core
22
, and an edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
. As may be seen in
FIG. 4
, the edge portions
32
-
34
are flush with one another and are not fused together. The unfused first longitudinal edge
30
extends inward for a length L
1
of 6 to 10 inches to the fused central portion
27
of each roll
28
.
The second longitudinal edge
40
is formed by an edge portion
42
of the first layer
24
, an edge portion
43
of the core
22
, and an edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
. As may be seen in
FIG. 4
, the edge portions
42
-
44
are flush with one another. The unfused second longitudinal edge
40
extends inward for a length L
2
of 6 to 10 inches to the fused central portions
25
and
27
of each roll
28
.
To construct the temporary parking lot
10
, several rolls
28
of the composite drainage material
20
are placed on the land area
12
adjacent one another. The rolls
28
of the composite drainage material
20
are then unrolled, as illustrated in
FIG. 2
, so that the first longitudinal edge
30
of one roll of the composite drainage material adjoins and overlaps, as described further below, the second longitudinal edge
40
of an adjacent roll of the composite drainage material. The first fabric layer
24
of each roll
28
of the composite drainage material
20
contacts the upper surface
18
of the land area
12
. The second fabric layer
26
of each roll
28
faces upward, away from the land area
12
, and provides a surface
80
on which automotive vehicles
82
(
FIG. 1
) may be parked.
As best seen in
FIG. 4
, the adjoining first and second longitudinal edges
30
and
40
of adjacent rolls
28
are unrolled so that the second longitudinal edge overlaps the first longitudinal edge. Next, the first and second layers
24
and
26
of the second longitudinal edge
40
are pulled back, as shown in
FIG. 5
, exposing the core
22
. More specifically, the edge portion
42
of the first layer
24
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is folded back underneath itself over the land area
12
, and the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
of the second longitudinal edge is pulled back to expose the edge portion
43
of the core
22
. The edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
of the first longitudinal edge
30
is also pulled back as shown in FIG.
5
.
The edge portion
43
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is then inserted between the edge portion
33
of the core
22
and the edge portion
32
of the first layer
24
of the first longitudinal edge
30
. As may be seen in
FIG. 5
, there is approximately 4 to 8 inches of overlap between the edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
.
Next, the edge portion
43
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is secured to the edge portion
33
of the core
22
. The edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
are secured together by looping a plurality of tie members
50
, only one of which is shown in
FIG. 5
, through the edge portions
33
and
43
and tightening. The tie members
50
may be of any known construction and made of either a plastic or a metal. The tie members
50
are then tightened to draw the edge portions
33
and
34
together and thereby secure the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
to each other.
The next step is to secure the second layer
26
of the two adjoining rolls
28
to each other and form a seam
52
that extends along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
along the second longitudinal edge
40
is laid down over the edge portion
33
of the core
22
of the first longitudinal edge
30
. The edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
along the first longitudinal edge
30
is then unfolded and laid down on top of the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
in an overlapping fashion.
Next, the edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
are sewn together with stitches
54
at or near the terminal end of the edge portion
44
. The stitches
54
, which are shown schematically in
FIG. 6
, weave through the edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
and extend along the entire longitudinal edge portions
30
and
40
. The stitches
54
may be made of nylon or other suitable material and can have any known stitching pattern. Sewing of the stitches
54
is preferably done by machine.
The two second layers
26
are then heat-fused together to form the longitudinally extending seam
52
. The edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
are fused together near the terminal end of the edge portion
34
using a heat gun
56
, a portion of which is shown schematically in FIG.
6
. The seam
52
formed by the two second layers
26
extends along the entire longitudinal edge portions
30
and
40
.
A second method for joining the first and second longitudinal edges
30
and
40
of the adjacent rolls
28
is illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8
. In
FIG. 7
, it can be seen that the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is pulled back to expose the edge portion
43
of the core
22
. Similarly, the edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
of the first longitudinal edge
30
is also pulled back to expose the edge portion
33
of the core
22
.
The edge portion
43
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is then inserted between the edge portion
33
of the core
22
and the edge portion
32
of the first layer
24
of the first longitudinal edge
30
. As in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6
, there is approximately 4 to 8 inches of overlap between the edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, the edge portion
42
of the first layer
24
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is slid under the edge portion
32
of the first layer
24
of the first longitudinal edge
30
.
Next, the edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
are secured together by tie members
50
, as described previously with regard to
FIG. 5
, through the edge portions
33
and
43
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, there may be more than one row of the tie members
50
extending along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
of the rolls
28
.
The next step is to secure the second layer
26
of the two adjoining rolls
28
to each other and form a seam
58
that extends along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
. As shown in
FIG. 8
, the edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
along the first longitudinal edge
30
is laid down over the edge portion
33
of the core
22
of the first longitudinal edge
30
. The edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
along the second longitudinal edge
40
is then unfolded and laid down on top of the edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
in an overlapping fashion.
The edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
are sewn together with stitches
54
at or near the terminal end of the edge portion
34
. The stitches
54
, which are shown schematically in
FIG. 8
, weave through the edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
and extend along the entire longitudinal edge portions
30
and
40
. The stitches
54
may be made of nylon or other suitable material and can have any known stitching pattern. Sewing of the stitches
54
is preferably done by machine.
The two second layers
26
are then heat-fused together to form the longitudinally extending seam
58
. The edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
are fused together near the terminal end of the edge portion
44
using the heat gun
56
, shown schematically in FIG.
8
. The seam
58
formed by the two second layers
26
extends along the entire longitudinal edge portions
30
and
40
.
A third method for joining the first and second longitudinal edges
30
and
40
of the adjacent rolls
28
is illustrated in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. In
FIG. 9
, it can be seen that the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
of the second longitudinal edge
40
and the edge portion
42
of the first layer
24
of the second longitudinal edge are pulled back to expose the edge portion
43
of the core
22
. The edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
of the first longitudinal edge
30
is also pulled back to expose the edge portion
33
of the core
22
.
The edge portion
43
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is then placed on top of the edge portion
33
of the core
22
and the edge portion
32
of the first layer
24
of the first longitudinal edge
30
. As in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6
, there is approximately 4 to 8 inches of overlap between the edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
. The edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
are then secured together by tie members
50
, as described previously with regard to
FIG. 5
, through the edge portions
33
and
43
. It should be understood that there may be more than one row of the tie members
50
extending along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
of the rolls
28
.
The next step is to secure the second layer
26
of the two adjoining rolls
28
to each other and form a seam
60
that extends along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
. As shown in
FIG. 10
, the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
along the second longitudinal edge
40
is laid down over the edge portion
33
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge. The edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
along the first longitudinal edge
30
is then laid down on top of the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
in an overlapping fashion.
The edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
are sewn together with stitches
54
at or near the terminal end of the edge portion
44
. The stitches
54
, which are shown schematically in
FIG. 10
, weave through the edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
and extend along the entire longitudinal edge portions
30
and
40
. The stitches
54
may be made of nylon or other suitable material and can have any known stitching pattern. Sewing of the stitches
54
is preferably done by machine.
The two second layers
26
are then heat-fused together to form the longitudinally extending seam
60
. The edge portions
34
and
44
of the two second layers
26
are fused together near the terminal end of the edge portion
34
using the heat gun
56
, shown schematically in FIG.
8
. The seam
60
formed by the two second layers
26
extends along the entire longitudinal edge portions
30
and
40
.
Additional methods for securing the second layers
26
together along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
and forming a seam are illustrated in
FIGS. 11-13
. In
FIG. 11
, the edge portion
44
of the second layer
26
of the second longitudinal edge
40
and the edge portion
42
of the first layer
24
of the second longitudinal edge are pulled back to expose the edge portion
43
of the core
22
. The edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
of the first longitudinal edge
30
is also pulled back to expose the edge portion
33
of the core
22
.
The edge portion
43
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is then inserted between the edge portion
33
of the core
22
and the edge portion
34
of the second layer
26
of the first longitudinal edge
30
. The edge portion
43
of the core
22
overlaps the edge portion
33
of the core
22
over a distance of 4 to 8 inches.
Next, the edge portion
43
of the core
22
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is secured to the edge portion
33
of the core
22
. The edge portions
33
and
43
of the cores
22
are secured together by looping a plurality of tie members
50
, only one of which is shown in
FIG. 11
, through the edge portions
33
and
34
and tightening. The tie members
50
are then tightened to draw the edge portions
33
and
34
together and thereby secure the longitudinal edge
30
and
40
to each other.
The next step is to secure the second layer
26
of the two adjoining rolls
28
to each other and form a seam
62
that extends along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
. This may be done in a couple of different manners. One process for securing the two second layers
26
together is illustrated in
FIGS. 11 and 12
. As shown in
FIG. 11
, an end section
46
of the edge portion
44
of the second longitudinal edge
40
is trimmed off using a sharp blade or utility knife
64
. The end section
46
is trimmed off at a location such that, when the edge portion
34
of the first longitudinal edge
30
is unfolded and laid down next to the now-cut edge portion
44
, a butt joint
66
(
FIG. 12
) is created between the second layer
26
of the first longitudinal edge and the second layer
26
of the second longitudinal edge
40
. The two second layers
26
are then heat-fused together along the butt joint
66
of the adjoining edge portions
34
and
44
to form the longitudinally extending seam
62
.
An alternate method for securing the second layers
26
together along the longitudinal edges
30
and
40
and forming a seam is illustrated in FIG.
13
. In
FIG. 13
, the edge portion
34
of the first longitudinal edge
30
and the edge portion
44
of the second longitudinal edge
40
are brought together in an abutting fashion. The edge portions
34
and
44
are then sewn together using stitches
68
, such as the stitches previously described, to form a longitudinally. extending seam
70
. Depending on their size, excess sections
72
of the edge portions
34
and
44
that extend beyond the stitching may either be trimmed off or left attached to the edge portions.
With the adjoining longitudinal edges
30
and
40
of adjacent rolls
20
secured together using either of the aforementioned methods, a continuous and gapless surface
84
of the composite drainage material
20
is created on which the automotive vehicles
80
can be parked.
FIG. 14
is a sectional view through a portion of FIG.
2
and illustrates another step in the process for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot
10
. This step comprises anchoring peripheral sections
90
of a portion of the rolls
28
that define the outer periphery of the temporary automotive parking lot
10
to the land area
12
. The peripheral sections
90
are anchored by being buried in the land area
12
. First, trenches
92
, only one of which is shown in
FIG. 14
, are dug in the soil
16
underneath the peripheral sections
90
. The trenches
92
are one to four feet wide and one to three feet deep. Next, the peripheral sections
90
are placed into the trenches
92
, forming a lining inside each trench. Finally, the trenches
92
are filled with the soil
16
previously removed, covering over the peripheral sections
90
and thereby anchoring the peripheral sections to the land area
12
.
Finally, to complete the temporary automotive parking lot
10
, lines
100
(
FIG. 1
) are painted on the surface
80
on the second fabric layer
24
of the rolls
28
of the composite drainage material
20
to indicate a plurality of parking places for the automotive vehicles
82
.
As shown by the arrows in
FIGS. 6
,
8
,
10
, and
12
the composite drainage material
20
directs water, such as rain, which contacts the surface
80
through the composite drainage material and into the soil
16
of the land area
12
. The water flows through the second fabric layer
26
, through the core
22
, and through the first fabric layer
24
. The combination of the core
22
and the fabric layers
24
and
26
function to disperse the water across a large section of the land area
12
so that normal ground water flow for the land area is maintained. This dispersion of the water obviates the need for a retention pond.
The core
22
in the composite drainage material
20
provides a sufficiently hard surface for the automotive vehicles
82
to be driven on. Further, the heat fusion of the fabric layers
24
and
26
to the core
22
allows the composite drainage material
20
to withstand vehicle traffic, including turning of vehicle wheels, without the fabric layers becoming detached from the core. The geo-textile fabric of the first and second layers
24
and
26
stabilizes the soil
14
and traps the soil underneath the composite drainage material
20
to prevent large amounts of dirt and/or mud from penetrating to the upper surface
80
of the composite drainage material. Further, the continuous and gapless surface
84
formed by the overlapping junction between the adjacent rolls
28
of the composite drainage material
20
also prevents dirt and/or mud from penetrating to the surface
80
between adjacent rolls. The composite drainage material
20
is reusable and has a useful life of up to five years. Finally, the composite drainage material
20
is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.
From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. For example, anchor trenches could placed in other, non-peripheral portions of the temporary automotive parking lot
10
. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A method of constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area, said method comprising the steps of:providing a composite drainage material through which water drains, the composite drainage material comprising a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric; covering the land area with the composite drainage material by placing rolls of the composite drainage material adjacent one another to form the temporary automotive parking lot; unrolling the rolls of the composite drainage material over the land area so that longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls adjoin one another; overlapping a portion of the longitudinal edge portions of the adjacent rolls; and securing the overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls to each other and not to the land area to create a gapless and continuous surface of the composite drainage material with at least the majority of the land area lying underneath the composite drainage material, the first layer of each of the rolls contacting the land area, the second layer of each of the rolls facing away from the land area and providing the gapless and continuous surface on which automotive vehicles are parked; the composite drainage material directing water which contacts the second layer through the first layer, through the core between the layers, and into the land area covered by the composite drainage material.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of overlapping a portion of the longitudinal edge portions comprises overlapping a portion of the core along the longitudinal edge portions of each of the adjacent rolls.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls comprises the steps of:looping a plurality of tie members through the overlapped portions of the cores along the longitudinal edge portions of each of the adjacent rolls; and tightening the tie members to attach the cores of the adjacent rolls to each other.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls further comprises the step of securing the second layer of the adjacent rolls to each other to form a longitudinal seam.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other comprises the step of heat-fusing the second layers together.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other further comprises sewing the second layers together.
- 7. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other comprises the steps of:trimming off an end section of the second layers of one of the adjacent rolls along its longitudinal edge portion so that, when the second layer of the other of the adjacent rolls is laid next to the second layer that has been trimmed, a butt joint between the second layers is created; and heat-fusing the second layers together along the butt joint.
- 8. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other comprises a sewing process.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heat-fusing a central section of each of said first and second layers to the core prior to said step of covering the land area, said step of heat-fusing the second layer to the core being sufficiently strong to withstand automotive vehicle traffic directly on the second layer including turning of automotive vehicle wheels on the second layer without the second layer becoming detached from the core, said step of heat-fusing a central section leaving the longitudinal edge portions of the first and second layers unfused to the core.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of overlapping a portion of the longitudinal edge portions of the adjacent rolls includes inserting a portion of the unfused longitudinal edge portion of one of the adjacent rolls into the unfused longitudinal edge portion of another of the adjacent rolls.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of inserting at least a portion of the unfused longitudinal edge portion comprises inserting a portion of the core of one adjacent roll between the core and one of the first and second layers of the other adjacent roll so that the cores of the adjacent rolls overlap each other.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls comprises the steps of:looping a plurality of tie members through the overlapped portions of the cores along the longitudinal edge portions of each of the adjacent rolls; and tightening the tie members to attach the cores of the adjacent rolls to each other.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls further comprises the step of securing the second layer of the adjacent rolls to each other to form a longitudinal seam.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other comprises the step of heat-fusing the second layers together.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other further comprises sewing the second layers together.
- 16. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other comprises the steps of:trimming off an end section of the second layers of one of the adjacent rolls along its longitudinal edge portion so that, when the second layer of the other of the adjacent rolls is laid next to the second layer that has been trimmed, a butt joint between the second layers is created; and heat-fusing the second layers together along the butt joint.
- 17. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of securing the second layers to each other comprises a sewing process.
- 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of painting lines on the gapless and continuous surface formed by the second layers of said composite drainage material to indicate a plurality of parking places for automotive vehicles.
- 19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of anchoring peripheral sections of a portion of the rolls of the composite drainage material that define the outer periphery of the temporary automotive parking lot to the land area.
- 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of anchoring peripheral sections to the land area comprises the steps of:digging trenches in the land area underneath the peripheral sections; placing the peripheral sections into the trenches so that the peripheral sections form a lining inside the trenches; and filling the trenches lined by the peripheral sections with material previously removed during said step of digging to thereby anchor the peripheral sections to the land area.
- 21. Apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area, said apparatus comprising:a composite drainage material through which water drains, said composite drainage material comprising a polymeric open mesh core disposed between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric; said composite drainage material being adapted to cover the land area so that the land area lies underneath said composite drainage material, said first layer contacting the land area, said second layer facing away from the land area and having a surface on which automotive vehicles are parked; said composite drainage material directing water which contacts said second layer through said first and second layers, through said core between said layers, and into the land area covered by said composite drainage material; said composite drainage material being formed in rolls, each of said rolls having longitudinal edge portions and being unrolled adjacent one another to cover the land area to form the temporary automotive parking lot; at least a portion of said adjacent longitudinal edge portions of said rolls overlapping each other, said longitudinal edge portions being secured to each other and not to the land area at said overlapping portions to form a continuous and gapless surface made of said composite drainage material.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said overlapped portions of said longitudinal edge portions comprise portions of said core in each of said adjacent rolls.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said overlapped portions of said cores are secured together by a plurality of tie members that are looped through said overlapped portions and tightened.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said second layers of said adjacent rolls are secured together by stitches.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said second layers of said adjacent rolls are further secured together by heat-fusing said second layers to form a longitudinal seam.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said second layer of each of said adjacent rolls is secured to each other to form a longitudinal seam.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said longitudinal seam is formed by sewing said second layers together.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said longitudinal seam comprises a butt joint between said second layers, said second layers being held together along said longitudinal seam by heat-fusing said second layers together.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said second layer of said composite drainage material includes lines which are painted on said continuous and gapless surface to indicate a plurality of parking places for automotive vehicles.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein a central section of said first and second layers of said composite drainage material are heat-fused to opposite sides of said core, said core being secured to said second layer sufficient to withstand automotive vehicle traffic directly on said second layer including turning of automotive vehicle wheels on said second layer without said second layer becoming detached from said core, said first and second layers at said longitudinal edge portions remaining unfused to said core.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said overlapped portions of said longitudinal edge portions comprises a portion of said core of one of said rolls that is inserted between said core and one of said first and second layers of an adjacent one of said rolls.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said overlapped portions of said cores are secured together by a plurality of tie members that are looped through said overlapped portions and tightened.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said second layers of said adjacent rolls are secured together by stitches.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said second layers of said adjacent rolls are further secured together by heat-fusing said second layers to form a longitudinal seam.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said second layer of each of said adjacent rolls is secured to each other to form a longitudinal seam.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said longitudinal seam is formed by sewing said second layers together.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said longitudinal seam comprises a butt joint between said second layers, said second layers being held together along said longitudinal seam by heat-fusing said second layers together.
US Referenced Citations (12)
