Patent Application
20120044046
This invention relates to a remote controlled parking space barrier for preventing unauthorized vehicles from using reserved spaces while allowing an authorized vehicle to park in the reserved space.
Barrier posts for parking lots and passage ways are well known and have been in widespread public use for many years. For example, Quante U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,910 discloses a barrier for temporarily blocking access to parking places, driveways and access roads. As disclosed, a post is used, which is anchored in the ground and is foldable about an articulation arranged over the ground so that mechanism is activated over a receiver in cooperation with a portable emitter. The post is suitably built as a hollow body, so that the drive and the remaining parts can be safely lodged therein. In this manner, the barrier post can be remote controlled without difficulty from an approaching vehicle by means of the portable emitter.
A more recent Williams U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,110 discloses a vehicle parking barrier for temporarily blocking a reserved space. The barrier is installed on the surface and has a base with legs embedded within the surface. A hinge plate is attached to the base and allows the barrier to be rotated to a horizontal position permitting a vehicle to safely pass over the collapsed barrier. A channel shaped post is pivotally attached to the hinge plate and a rigid strut is retained on one end within the post and on the other to the hinge plate. The strut forms a right angle triangle with the post. In addition, a pull pin holds the upper end of the strut in place and when removed, permits the barrier to be rotated horizontally removing the obstruction. A second, or electromechanical, embodiment utilizes a linear actuator for the strut. An electronic controller receives a signal through a coded radio frequency transmitter and receiver and in turn energizes the actuator to rotate the barrier into a horizontal position. Limit switches control positioning and indicator lights and denote the barrier position. The electrical system operates on low voltage direct current supplied by a D.C. power supply.
Finally, Worsham U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,958 discloses a remote controlled parking barrier apparatus. As disclosed a radio-operated parking barrier apparatus is provided with a base housing, a barrier arm including a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, and a drive assembly disposed within the base housing that includes a pivot arm having a proximal end affixed to the shaft, and a driver having a reciprocally driven plunger movably connected to the distal end of the pivot arm. The back end of the driver is pivotally connected to the floor panel of the base housing to accommodate the vertical movement of the accurate motion that the end of the plunger must necessarily follow in converting the linear movement of the plunger into the rotation movement of the barrier arm around the shaft mounted in the base housing. The driver preferably utilizes a threaded shaft and drive nut to reciprocate the driver in operating the device. The drive, assembly provides a simple and reliable linkage between the barrier arm and the base housing.
Notwithstanding the above it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for an improved remote controlled barrier for a parking spaces or the like. There should be a demand and a potential market for such barriers because they are relatively compact, easy to install and waterproof so they can be installed in open parking lots. In addition, the system in accordance with the present invention senses unauthorized vehicles in the vicinity of the space and prevents unauthorized users from blocking or entering the space. Further, the systems in accordance with the present invention include a sensor that senses the removal of a vehicle from a reserved space and automatically raises the barrier within a pre-selected time of any such movement. The device can also be further modified to include a relatively bright flashing light and audible sound during daylight hours and a soft-flashing light and lesser sound during hours of darkness.
A remotely controlled parking space barrier for preventing access to a reserved parking space by an unauthorized vehicle while allowing authorized vehicles to use the space includes a barrier assembly including an anchoring member and a rotatable barrier member that is rotateable between a relatively flat or horizontal position in a generally vertical position for preventing vehicular access to a reserved parking space. The assembly also includes means for anchoring the anchoring member in a parking space and includes a D.C. motor for rotating the barrier member between the generally flat or horizontal position that is generally parallel to the parking space and an upright or vertical position that prevents a vehicle from entering the space. In addition, a lighting system including a plurality of lights, an alarm and a first sensor for sensing an unauthorized vehicle within a predetermined distance from the parking space and means for flashing the lights in the lighting system and sounding the alarm when an unauthorized vehicle approaches the reserved space or comes within a predetermined distance of the entrance to the reserved space. Additional means are disposed within an authorized vehicle or on an authorized individual to send a signal to a receiver to rotate the barrier member to a generally horizontal position to thereby allow access to the authorized vehicle.
A preferred embodiment of the invention also includes means for detecting a vehicle within the parking space and upon departure thereof automatically actuating the rotatable barrier member into a generally vertical position.
The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts.
As illustrated in
Referring more specifically to
The barrier assembly 24 is preferably operable by a remote controlled apparatus 32 and 32′ shown schematically in
When an operator of an authorized motor vehicle approaches their reserved space, they press a button on the vehicle disposed device to send a signal to activate the barrier to thereby rotate the barrier member 24 to its relatively flat position. The driver then pulls the vehicle into the reserved space over the assembly 20.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
A further embodiment of the invention provides multiple levels of reserved spaces. For example, it is contemplated that an individual can rent an individual reserved space that is reserved exclusively for his/her use. However, it is also contemplated that an individual can also for a lesser price reserve access for one vehicle to use up to four, five, six spaces or more. In such cases a multi-channel RF Transceiver is used and the number of RF channels will be equal to the number of adjacent assigned spaces. In such cases, the same channels can be used in other parking areas within a city or region since the coverage of the transceiver is limited to several meters. In this way an individual can reserve limited access to a number of preferred spaces across the city for their personal use when visiting doctors, lawyers, stores, restaurants and the like.
While the invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments it should be recognized that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
