Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 FIEI.D OF T~E INVENTION
The present invention relates to a blocking
arrangement for preventing unauthorized use of a private
parking space such as those found in underground parking
areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most apar-tment buildings have reserved parking areas
specifically for tenants of the building. In many cases
these reserved parking spaces are left unattended and
accessible to unauthorized use. In many instances,
visitors to the building who are unable to find any
visitor parking ~ill use the reserved parking spaces if
they are not properly guarded.
There are availabele some types of parking space
guards. Ho~ever~ these prior art systems, which are
generally quite complicated, can present a danger hazard
as a result of their rigid nature. The danger can be
both in the form of damage to the guard itself and/or to
the vehicle. For example, conventional guards could
cause severe damage to the fuel tank resulting in fuel
leakage and a potential fire and explosion hazard.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides an arrangement for
blocking a parking space against unauthorized use. The
arrangement comprises blocking means, a mounting system
for mounting the blocking means at the parking space in a
manner such that the blocking means is moveable from an
upright blocking position to a generally prone access or
drive-over position and locking means for releasably
~0 locking the blocking means in the upright blocking
position.
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1 The blocking means is provide(i with a springy or
flexible portion which may be hidden to eliminate
attempted entrance to the parking space, but which allo~,rs
bending of the blocking means in the event of inadvertent
or otherwise undue force on it when in the blocking
position. This mitigates damage to both the guard
arrangement and the vehicle while still providing an
effective parking space guard.
According to the present invention the reserved
parking area can be left guarded by simply locking the
blocking means in its upright blocking position which
prevents unauthorized use of the parking space. In order
to gain access, the authorized user of the parking space
simply removes the locking means to lay the blocking
means in its prone access position to allow the vehicle
to be driven directly over the blocking means into the
parking space. If the blocking means is inadvertently or
otherwise hit, the spring portion allows deflection which
might otherwise cause damage to both the vehicle and the
blocking arrangement.
~RIEF DISCUSSION OF THE DRA~INGS
The above as well as other advantages and features
of the present invention will be described in greater
detail according to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reserved parking
sphce blocked against unauthorized use by a blocking
arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention-
~0 Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the
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1 arrangement shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the blockingarrangement of Figures 1 and 2 in the down position;
Figllre 4 is a perspective view at an alternate form
of a blocking arrangement according to a further
preferred embodiment of the present invention, when in
the blocking position;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the arrangement
shown in Figure 4 in the prone access position;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a slightly
modified arrangement from that shown in Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of a further preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 8 is a side view of the embodiment shown in
Figure 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TQ THE PREFERRED
EM~ODI~IENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
As shown in Figure 1, a reserved parking spot is
blocked by a blocking arrangement generally indicated at
1, against use by unauthorized persons. The parking
guard which comprises a mounting base plate 3 and an
upright blocking portion 5 is located at the entrance to
the parking spot and is shown in Figure 1 in its upright
blocking position. The parking guard or block can easily
be laid down to the Figura 3 position with the proper
releasing keys to allow the authorized parker, use of his
or her parking spot.
Referring in more detail to Figures 2 and 3, the
arrangement comprises a pair of blocking members 7~
secured at their feet 8 to the base plate 3. The feet
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1 are housed within the base plate in a manner to allow
swinging of the blocking members from the blocking
position in Figure 2 to a prone position as shown in
Figure 3, where the blocking members fold at one another
to a relatively flat position directly on the base plate.
The base plate itself is provided with hollowed
bosses 13 into which the feet of the blocking members are
fitted and locked in position by means of small studs
15. ~he tubular construction of the blocking members and
the corre~ponding shaping at the ba3e allows the folding
action of the blocking members.
When the blocking members are swung up to the Figure
2 position they form a triangular arrangement having an
apex generally indicated at 9. Each of the blocking
members has a small opening at the apex for receiving a
lock 11, which holds them in the upright triangular
position. When the lock i8 removed the two blocking
members fold into the region defined between stops 15 and
a second set of small bosses 17 on the base plate. Both
these bosses and the larger bosses 13 have a ramped shape
to prevent catching of the undercarriage of the car on
the blocking arrangement.
~ he construction of the blocking members includes
springs 10 immediately above the feet of these members.
The remainder of the blocking members above the springs
is formed from polyurethane with the springs also being
protected and hidden by a polyurethane covering.
According to this arrangement, the blocking members will
deflect downwardly if they are hit hard enough when in
the upright blocking position. This feature
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1 substantially mitigates possible damage to the structure
and the polyurethane construction reduce~ the likelihood
of tearing through an automobile gas tank in the event
that someone does in fact drive over the structure. As
such the structure is extremely effective as a visible
impairment to parking in the reserved space and at the
same time if someone inadvertently or otherwise does
drive into the structure, it will spring back to its
blocking position without risking fire and explosion
damage otherwise resulting from full leakaee.
The base plate itself is provided with small
openings 19 for receiving bolts 21 which are bolted
directly into the concrete floor of the parking garage to
permanently secure the blocking arrangement at the
entrance to the parking space.
Figure 4 shows a blocking arrangement having a
single blocking member 23 mounted to a base plate 21. In
this arrangement the lower legs 24 and 24a of the
blocking member, provided with interior springs and
formed from polyurethane above the hidden springs, are
pivotally mounted at 25 to a pair of ramps 27 forming
part of the base plate. Located at the end of the
blocking member, remote from the base plate is a further
ramp 29. Each of these ramps is again arranged to cover
any areas that might otherwise catch on the undercarriage
of the vehicle aæ it drives over the blocking arrangement
in the prone position of Figure 5.
Leg 24a of blocking member 23 is fitted with a
locking arrangement comprising a pivoting pin 31 and a
plate 33 mounted directly on leg portion 24a. 1'he
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1 pivoting pin and the small plate are each provided with a
small opening with the two openings aligning with one
another when the blocking member is in the Figure 4,
uprieht position. When the holes are aligned a lock 35
fits through the pivoting pin into the plate and locks
the blocking member against being folded to the Figure 5
position. After the lock i9 removed the pin and plate
are moveable relative to one another to allow the
blocking member to be laid into its prone position for
driving the vehicle into and out of the parking space.
Figure 6 shows an arrangement in which the blocking
member itself is identical to that shown in Figures 4 and
5. However, in this arrangement rather than having a
single ba,se plate the mounting system for the blocking
arrangement includes a pair of base portions 22 with a
locking arrangement being located on the lower leg of the
blocking member at one of the base portions. This
arrangement is somewhat lighter than the earlier
svructures and has advantages from a packing and shipping
standpoint.
The arrangements described above are particularly
suited for indoor use. However, a special mounting
system i~ shown in the Figures 7 and 8 arrangement which
is more suitable to outdoor use, in that this arrangement
is adapted to meet snowplowing requirements.
More particularly, the arrangement of Figure 7
includes a pyramidal base which slopes upwardly and
inwardly from all four sides. The base is fitted with a
pair of foot pads 34 anchoring a blocking member 32. The
foot pads are countersunk in the base which further
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1 includes a recess 36 for receiving the blocking member
when it i9 in the down position, as shown in Figures 7
and 8.
This pyramidal recessed base allows snowplowing of
the guard when the blocking member is lowered and the
structure is covered by snow and not visible. The
snowplow will, however, ride up over the base rather than
catching on and lifting the base.
The entire unit is stabilized by an insert around
the underside of the base having downwardly projecting
barbs or prongs 38 which are driven into the asphalt or
pavement when the base is bolted in position. ~he bolts
themselves have an irregularly shaped head, such as a
triangular or oval head, so that they are difficult to
remove other than with a specially designed tool which is
only available to the person installing and servicing the
structure. This, of course, substantially reduces
tampering to the structure.
All of the arrangements above are made from a
material which will stand up to substantial impacts in
the event that they are inadvertantly hit by a moving
automobile. They are all extremely effective against
guarding a parking spot by simply raising the blocking
portion to the upright position where the entire
arrangement is highly visible to anyone attempting to
make unauthorized use of a parking space. It should be
noted that, even though damage prevention springs and
polyurethane construction components are provided, these
features are not recognizable to an unauthorized person
so that the structure remains highly effective as a
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1 parking guard. The locking system for any of the
arrangments described above i9 readily accessible for a
person having the appropriate key or combination to
release the lock 80 that the blocking member can be laid
down essentially flat to a position where the vehicle i8
very easily driven over the structure to get into and out
of the parking spot by authorized persons.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
invention have been described herein in detail it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations
may be made thereto without departing from the ~pirit of
the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
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