Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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48547-1
PARKING LOT STRUCTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a parking structure fox
parked cars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Designing a parking structure involves fitting the
maximum number of vehicles into as small a space as
possible while still providing sufficient room for
manoeuvring of vehicles and providing easy entry and exit
from the structure.
Examples of prior art parking structures can be
found in:
United States Patent 4,424,651 to Lee et al.;
United States Patent 3,440,781 to Lott et al.; and
United States Patent 3,713,549 to Routhier
Many modern parking structures are built as multi-
story buildings having a sloped floor arrangement such
that each floor acts as a ramp to the next higher floor.
The floors are sloped at a relatively low angle and
marked with parking stalls to permit vehicles to park.
Other parking structure designs rely on alternating level
floors with interconnecting 180° U-turn ramps to lower
and higher floors at opposite ends of a floor. Both of
these arrangementssuf,fer from t)ne drawback that a
vehicle must travel past all stalls in the structure to
reach a particular parking spot. While driving past all
the stalls allows an opportunity to park in the first
available empty spot, it also means that a vehicle moving
through the parking structure j~s subject to delays by
other vehicles parking or moving out of a parking stall.
CA 02105317 2004-O1-14
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Alternating ramps, split-levels and numerous 180 turns
also tends to create blind spots for drivers and reduce
overall visibility through the parking structure leading
to security and safety problems. Sloped parking floors
also make loading of vehicles difficult as shopping carts
tend to roll away from the vehicle unless the carts are
carefully positioned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a parking structure
that addresses the foregoing shortcomings of the prior
art. The present invention provides a parking structure
for vehicles comprising:
a plurality of substantially level parking floors;
a plurality of parking spaces on each floor; and
at least one ramp system for access between floors
comprising ramp sections extending between adjacent
floors arranged to define a continuous path from a bottom
floor to a top floor within the parking structure that
does not involve travelling among the parking spaces on
each floor, the end of one ramp section being spaced
apart from the start of the next ramp section at each
floor to define an entrance to and an exit from the ramp
system, with an opening through the floor beneath each
ramp section after the bottom floor.
The ramp system allows vehicles to drive directly to
a floor having empty parking spaces and bypass filled
parking stalls. In addition, the parking structure of
the present invention is based on an open layout for
maximum visibility so that a vehicle arriving at a floor
can quickly determine whether all parking stalls are
filled and move onto the next floor without wasting time
or disrupting traffic flow by having to navigate through
parked cars on filled floors. Flat, level floors have
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substantially corner to corner visibility and wheeled
shopping carts remain in position on the level surface
when loading a vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTTON OF THE DRAWINGS
Aspects of the invention are illustrated, merely by
way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of the
parking structure of the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a sectioned perspective view of the ramp
system of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a schematic
elevation view of a parking structure according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Parking structure 2
comprises a plurality of substantially level parking
floors 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 constructed on an open layout.
Preferably, the structure uses conventional reinforced
concrete with a minimum of internal support columns 27 to
improve visibility on a floor. Figure 1 shows a parking
structure with five floors, however, it is apparent that
a structure according to the present invention can be
designed with two or more floors. In addition, the
structure of the present invention can be used above
ground and below ground.
Each floor is marked with a plurality of parking
spaces that are laid out in a set pattern. Traffic
movement on a particular floor is according to a set one-
way pattern. Preferably, angle parking stalls are
painted on the floor in a. conventional pattern. In
addition, to assist a driver in locating his vehicle,
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each floor can be painted with a unique colour. Each
parking stall is marked with a sequential number which is
either unique to the parking structure or to a particular
floor. The number is painted on the flooz and wall of
the particular stall in a colour to correspond with the
colour assigned to the floor. For larger sites, each
floor can be divided into colour coded quadrants. For
ease of identification, columns 27 would also be painted
with a colour strip corresponding to the colour of the
floor or colour quadrant. As a further aid, each floor
would be identified by a unique and distinctive graphic
symbol incorporating the floor level number. A
pedestrian access elevator (not shown) to the various
levels would include a colour coded map to orient drivers
returning to their vehicle on foot.
There is a ramp system, best illustrated in Figure
2, for vehicle access to the various floors. The ramp
system comprises a series of ramp sections-16 extending
through access openings 32 in adjacent floors. Ramp
sections 16 are arranged to define a continuous path from
the bottom to the top floor within the parking structure
that does not involve travelling among the parking spaces
on each floor. In a smaller parking structure as
illustrated, ramp sections 16 are arranged in a central
location in a single ramp system, however, in a larger
structure, there may be several such ramp systems spread
throughout the structure., Positioning of the ramp system
is flexible according to the size and shape of the
property or lot. Beneath each ramp section, an
additional floor opening 33 can be formed through the'
floor. Parking is not possible below ramp sections 16
and the unused space below the ramp sections is
preferably used to provide improved visibility between
floors through openings 33.
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Each access opening 32 and view opening 33 is
surrounded by guard means for safety purposes.
Preferably, the guard means comprise a plurality of
spaced steel cables 23 or rails extending between the
support columns 27 adjacent openings 32 or 33 on three
sides. The cables can be half inch diameter spaced at 6
inch intervals to a standard 42 inch height. The cables
permit full visibility on each floor through the openings
they surround. Plastic markers can be affixed to the
steel sables to make drivers aware that the cables are in
place about each access opening at all locations where
drivers would approach the steel cables head on where
unmarked cables might be difficult to see.
Each ramp section 16 is formed from reinforced
concrete and extends between and is supported by
conventional "T" beams. Alternatively, for thinner ramp
floors, each ramp section 16 can comprise an essentially
planar reinforced concrete slab that is supported by a
plurality of tensioned cables 22 extending from the floor
above. This arrangement in conjunction with the open
layout of each floor serves to maximize visibility on a
floor so that a dxiver navigating the ramp system can
quickly inspect a floor for open parking spaces. If none
are available, the driver can continue moving up the ramp
system until a floor with open spaces is found and exit
from the ramp system to that floor. This avoids driving
through all the parking spaces while still permitting
efficient searching for a parking spot. The ramp system
provides quick access to any floor at any time for
emergency or security vehicles which can travel directly
to a floor and bypass intermediate floors.
Preferably, each ramp section 16 is dimensioned for
two-way traffic. Directional arrows 25 are used to
indicate travel directions for drivers. To ensure lane
control on the ramp system, painted lines or a dividing
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barrier 26 can be used. to define lanes. At the floor
that cars access the parking structure, there is a device
29 to monitor usage of the parking structure and/or
collect parking fees such as a ticket dispenser, time
clock or access card reader. In the illustrated example,
device 29 is located at floor 6 at street level. If the
structure was built underground, the access would be at
the floor 14.
At each floor, the end of one ramp section is spaced
apart from the start of the next ramp section to define
an entrance to and an exit from the ramp system at 20.
As shown in Figure 2, travel in entrance/exit area 20 is
controlled by traffic islands 24. vehicles may enter the
ramp system at any floor level to travel up or down the
ramp system. There is preferably a signalling system
using overhead display signs 35 at each floor level
indicating whether a parking floor is filled and
directing traffic to the next level as necessary. Signs
35 can also be used to indicate the direction of travel
on a particular lane of the ramp system.
The extent of parking availability on each floor can
be determined automatically by using sensors positioned
in each parking stall. The sensors are connected to a
central computer and report the presence or absence of a
parked vehicle to the computer. The computer, in turn,
communicates with signs 35. The computer processes the
signals from the parking stalls and adjusts the message
displayed on sign 35 appropriately. For example, when
the computer is signalled by the sensors that all parking'
stalls on a particular floor are filled, the computer
would send a signal to the overhead signs for that floor
to display a message such as "FLOOR FULL" and a direction
arrow to direct traffic on the ramp system to other
floors .
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Depending on the overall length 28 of the parking
structure, it is desirable for the ramp sections 16 at a
floor to be aligned with each other such that there is a
straight path through the parking structure which permits
increased visibility in the parking structure at each
level. In a parking structure with a relatively short
overall length 28 and multiple floors, it will be
necessary at some stage to introduce a turn in the ramp
system as shown at 30 to permit further upward extension
of the ramp system in the parking structure. As
illustrated in Figure 2, turn 30 may be a 180 degree turn
dimensioned to maintain an adequate turning radius for
vehicles.
In order to ensure full visibility within the
parking structure of the present invention, preferably'
walls, ceilings and pillars would be painted white and
high intensity full spectrum or white lighting would be
used throughout.
The open layout of the structure and the level
floors provides good visibility on each floor and makes
it possible to position a minimal number of surveillance
cameras on a floor and still obtain views of all floor
areas. Security patrolling of the parking structure is
also made easier by the open layout and direct access to
any level provided by the ramp system. Visibility
openings 33 allow security patrols a view of multiple
floors from a single level.
The level floor and ramp system of the present
invention make the structure very adaptable for special
uses other than parking. Any floor can be temporarily or
permanently closed off for special events use or use as a
storage level or a reserved or valet parking level.
Traffic would be directed on the ramp system to the next
level bypassing the closed off level. The stacked floor
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arrangement makes it possible for additional floors to be
added to the structure as needed when the parking
structure is constructed above-ground.
Depending on the lay of the land at the parking
structure site and surrounding street elevations, it is
possible to have multiple entrances/exits to the parking
structure at different levels. Each entrance/exit at a
particular level would join the direct access ramp
system.
It is also possible for ramp system traffic flow to
be controlled based on the time of day. A parking
structure could, in the morning or at event times,
dedicate the ramp system to one-way traffic flow to
handle traffic looking for parking spaces. In the
evening, the ramp system could be dedicated to one-way
traffic flow exiting to street level. In a parking
structure having more than one ramp system, one ramp
system can be dedicated to one-way traffic flow depending
on the time of day, while the others ramp systems would
always support two-way traffic. If a ramp system is
dedicated to one-way traffic flow, dividing barrier 26
can be removed at each ramp entrance/exit area 20 to
facilitate traffic flow.
The parking structure of the present invention
permits quick and efficient parking of vehicles, hence
the trade mark "Rapid Direct Park" is appropriate for
identifying parking structures manufactured according to
the present invention.
Although the present invention has been described in
some detail by way of example for purposes of clarity and
understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes
and modifications may be practised within the scope of
the appended claims.
