Title:
BARRIER FOR PARKING SPACES
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 3688439
Abstract:
The invention pertains to a barrier which can be raised and lowered to permit only authorized parking within a given parking space. The barrier is pivotally mounted on a base plate which is fixed in the ground, and the barrier is in the form of a post having an internal locking member and a lift mechanism which is reinforced by the post against bending or other distortion. A lift handle is located transversely within the post and extends on either side for a sufficient distance so that conventional size automobiles cannot fit between adjacent barriers. A security device prevents lifting of the locking means except by operation of a key issued to the authorized user.
Inventors:
Donald, Doxsee #1 Cedar Canyons D. R. R. (Grabill, IN)
46741
46741
Plaque It!
Sponsored by: Flash of Genius |
Application Number:
05/146902
Publication Date:
09/05/1972
Filing Date:
05/26/1971
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Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
49/131, D25/126, 49/49
International Classes:
E01F13/08; E01F13/00; E01F13/00
Field of Search:
49/131,35,49,132,133,134 94/1.5 256/64 116/63P
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Dennis, Taylor L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
John, Young A.
Claims:
1. A raisable and lowerable barrier for vehicles comprising a base having permanently fixed anchorage means held at ground level, a plurality of fasteners for securing said anchorage means at ground level, two upright support members secured to said base and providing a journal mounting for said barrier, a post constituting said barrier and proportioned to fit between said uprights, a pivot pin received through aligned openings in said post and said upright support members whereon said post is pivoted from an upright to a lowered position on said pivot pin, a ground-adjacent section of said post being removed to provide clearance whereby said post is pivotally raised and lowered, manually raisable means conforming generally with the interior dimension of the post to be fitted within said post and disposed at the bottom of said post for operative engagement with said base to prevent pivoting of said post about said pivot pin and to form a blockage against pivoting of the post about said pin, manually operable means to raise said locking means to permit pivoting of said post to a lowered position and a security lock to prevent raising of said means.
2. The barrier in accordance with claim 1 wherein said manually raisable locking means includes a circular section telescopically fitted within said post and having a slot through which said pin is passed providing limited vertical movement of said locking means relatively to said post, a vertical rod operatively connected to said locking means, a finger extending through said post whereby said locking means can be manually lowered and raised, and a key operated security device for preventing raising of said locking means to permit pivotal movement of said barrier between raised and lowered positions.
3. The barrier construction in accordance with claim 1 including a handle located transversely within said post and extending laterally whereby adjacent barriers prevent entry of conventional size automobiles therebetween.
4. The barrier construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said finger extends through a track provided in said post to permit lifting of said locking means.
2. The barrier in accordance with claim 1 wherein said manually raisable locking means includes a circular section telescopically fitted within said post and having a slot through which said pin is passed providing limited vertical movement of said locking means relatively to said post, a vertical rod operatively connected to said locking means, a finger extending through said post whereby said locking means can be manually lowered and raised, and a key operated security device for preventing raising of said locking means to permit pivotal movement of said barrier between raised and lowered positions.
3. The barrier construction in accordance with claim 1 including a handle located transversely within said post and extending laterally whereby adjacent barriers prevent entry of conventional size automobiles therebetween.
4. The barrier construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said finger extends through a track provided in said post to permit lifting of said locking means.
Description:
Assigning parking places in commercial parking lots, factories, offices, apartment lots and the like is a normal and usual practice. Unauthorized parking in such lots is a source of great inconvenience and annoyance to the authorized parking space holder since it deprives the authorized space holder of his regular assigned location and this discourages the orderly and profitable renting of such spaces.
On the other hand the usage of parking spaces is difficult to monitor since there is a normal turnover in such spaces and also because the amount of rent cannot justify any extensive or elaborate guarding means.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive blocking device which can be raised and lowered by an authorized user to provide ingress and egress at an assigned parking space.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which can be installed quite easily and conveniently at a given parking space and which is permanently installed at the parking space site to control the usage of such assigned space.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a monitoring device for parking spaces which can be raised and lowered and can be locked in an upright position to deny access except to an authorized user by means of a key, and can also be unlocked to lower the device and provide access to the parking space.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions which proceed with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a parking area, one of which is occupied and having a plurality of the devices corresponding to the present invention installed at the parking space, one of the devices being shown lowered and the other two raised;
FIG. 2 is an isometric detail view of one of the devices shown detached from the ground;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views on lines 3--3 and 4--4 respectively of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a detail view of the key, lock and latch of FIGS. 2 and 4; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the lower portion of the locking mechanism, a tubular member and pivot support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring next to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, there are a number of parking spaces 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18, the parking space 10 being occupied by a vehicle 20. Each space has a barrier device constructed in accordance with the present invention, each of which is identically constructed and designated generally by reference numeral 22. Each barrier device is pivoted between a raised position to prohibit access to the parking space except by an authorized user and a lowered position at which time a vehicle can be driven into the space by an authorized user. Each barrier device 22 consists of a circular cross section hollow tube post 26 which can be either covered or uncovered at the upper end 27, a base 28 and a locking member 30. The base plate 28 is held in place on the pavement, asphalt, earth, or the like, by means of a plurality of anchor bolts 33 which are passed through openings 32, 34, 36 and 38. The fasteners can consist of anchor bolts (FIG. 4) having flanges 42 which are held within the concrete including the threaded upper portions of the anchor bolts 33 are received through the mounting openings and receiving nuts 44, which are turned down to clamp the base 28 in place to the surface of the pavement.
The tube post 26 has a portion 46 removed so that it can pivot about pin 48. The pivot or bolt 48 is received through coaxially aligned openings 51 and 52, which are located in the post 26 and upright mounting members 53, 54 respectively. The upright mounting members 53, 54 may be formed integrally with or welded to base plate 28. The diameter of the post 26 and the spacing of the uprights 53, 54 are so proportioned that the post 26 fits closely between these two members. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, locking member 30 is located within tube post 26, and has an elongated track or slot 50 whereby locking member 30 can be raised and lowered, the lower position being the position wherein post 26 is prevented from pivoting downwardly in the direction of the arrow 55 (FIGS. 2, 4). When the locking member 30 is raised, so the upper end 57 is in the dotted line position (FIG. 4) by moving in the direction of arrowhead 58, the post 26 can be pivoted downwardly or in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 4). The locking member 30 is raised and lowered by means of an operator bar or rod 60 having an inwardly bent finger 62 and an outwardly projecting tab 64 which extends through a slot 66 in the post. The tab 64 is raised to the dotted line position (FIG. 4), and concurrently the locking member 30 is raised to the dotted line position; and conversely, when the tab 64 is lowered, locking member 30 is in a full line position preventing pivoting of the post.
The upward movement of the locking member 30 from the full line position to the dotted line position and permitting lowering of the post 22 is prevented by a latch 70 (FIG. 5) which is pivoted counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow head 72 (FIG. 5) bringing the latch 72 into engagement with finger 62 and preventing such movement. The latch 72 can be turned clockwise in the direction of the arrow 74 (FIG. 5) to the dotted line position to be out of engagement with finger 62 and permitting the tab 64 to be operated manually upwardly, lifting the raising bar 60 to cause the locking member 30 to move from its full line position to its dotted line position (FIG. 4) whereby the post 26 can be pivoted to a lower position. The latch 70 can only be rotated as described however by a key 80 through tumblers 83 and keyway 85, the key so being issued to an authorized occupant of the particular parking space which is guarded against entry by unauthorized persons. The top end 27 of each post has a transverse bar 80 and the bars are dimensioned so that between adjacent devices there is insufficient space for a conventionally sized vehicle to enter in the space between contiguous devices. The bars 80 have an internal spring 81 wrapped around the bar 80 and expanded to prevent endwise movement of the handle bar once the handle bar is inserted through openings 87.
If it is desired the devices can be located so that once they are raised they are closed adjacent to the rear bumper of the car 20. Thus, the location of the devices 22 can be determined so that the distance from guard device 22 to the curb 90 would be one car length whereby the guard device 22 when raised will prevent unauthorized maneuvering of the automobile 20 so that it serves as an anti-theft device as well as a means for preventing unauthorized entry to the parking spaces 10-18.
The particular materials of construction are not essential according to the present invention and it should be understood that the post 26 can be of stainless steel, aluminum or other such metal construction. The post can also be of plastic composition if it is desired; all of these materials of construction are comprehended and are intended to be included within this invention.
Also, the particular means of attachment of the base member 28 to the pavement can be varied, for example, instead of anchor bolts 33 as indicated in FIG. 4, openings can be drilled in the pavement and expanding sleeves inserted therein and log bolts are passed through the openings 32-38 in the base plate 28 and screwed into the expanded sleeves (not shown). These expedients are all intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
The present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a selective example embodiment. It will be understood that this is illustrative of the invention and is by no means restrictive thereof. It is reasonably to be expected that those skilled in this art can make numerous revisions and adaptations of the invention and it is intended that such revisions and adaptations will be included within the scope of the following claims.
On the other hand the usage of parking spaces is difficult to monitor since there is a normal turnover in such spaces and also because the amount of rent cannot justify any extensive or elaborate guarding means.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive blocking device which can be raised and lowered by an authorized user to provide ingress and egress at an assigned parking space.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which can be installed quite easily and conveniently at a given parking space and which is permanently installed at the parking space site to control the usage of such assigned space.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a monitoring device for parking spaces which can be raised and lowered and can be locked in an upright position to deny access except to an authorized user by means of a key, and can also be unlocked to lower the device and provide access to the parking space.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following descriptions which proceed with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a parking area, one of which is occupied and having a plurality of the devices corresponding to the present invention installed at the parking space, one of the devices being shown lowered and the other two raised;
FIG. 2 is an isometric detail view of one of the devices shown detached from the ground;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views on lines 3--3 and 4--4 respectively of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a detail view of the key, lock and latch of FIGS. 2 and 4; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the lower portion of the locking mechanism, a tubular member and pivot support.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring next to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, there are a number of parking spaces 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18, the parking space 10 being occupied by a vehicle 20. Each space has a barrier device constructed in accordance with the present invention, each of which is identically constructed and designated generally by reference numeral 22. Each barrier device is pivoted between a raised position to prohibit access to the parking space except by an authorized user and a lowered position at which time a vehicle can be driven into the space by an authorized user. Each barrier device 22 consists of a circular cross section hollow tube post 26 which can be either covered or uncovered at the upper end 27, a base 28 and a locking member 30. The base plate 28 is held in place on the pavement, asphalt, earth, or the like, by means of a plurality of anchor bolts 33 which are passed through openings 32, 34, 36 and 38. The fasteners can consist of anchor bolts (FIG. 4) having flanges 42 which are held within the concrete including the threaded upper portions of the anchor bolts 33 are received through the mounting openings and receiving nuts 44, which are turned down to clamp the base 28 in place to the surface of the pavement.
The tube post 26 has a portion 46 removed so that it can pivot about pin 48. The pivot or bolt 48 is received through coaxially aligned openings 51 and 52, which are located in the post 26 and upright mounting members 53, 54 respectively. The upright mounting members 53, 54 may be formed integrally with or welded to base plate 28. The diameter of the post 26 and the spacing of the uprights 53, 54 are so proportioned that the post 26 fits closely between these two members. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, locking member 30 is located within tube post 26, and has an elongated track or slot 50 whereby locking member 30 can be raised and lowered, the lower position being the position wherein post 26 is prevented from pivoting downwardly in the direction of the arrow 55 (FIGS. 2, 4). When the locking member 30 is raised, so the upper end 57 is in the dotted line position (FIG. 4) by moving in the direction of arrowhead 58, the post 26 can be pivoted downwardly or in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 4). The locking member 30 is raised and lowered by means of an operator bar or rod 60 having an inwardly bent finger 62 and an outwardly projecting tab 64 which extends through a slot 66 in the post. The tab 64 is raised to the dotted line position (FIG. 4), and concurrently the locking member 30 is raised to the dotted line position; and conversely, when the tab 64 is lowered, locking member 30 is in a full line position preventing pivoting of the post.
The upward movement of the locking member 30 from the full line position to the dotted line position and permitting lowering of the post 22 is prevented by a latch 70 (FIG. 5) which is pivoted counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow head 72 (FIG. 5) bringing the latch 72 into engagement with finger 62 and preventing such movement. The latch 72 can be turned clockwise in the direction of the arrow 74 (FIG. 5) to the dotted line position to be out of engagement with finger 62 and permitting the tab 64 to be operated manually upwardly, lifting the raising bar 60 to cause the locking member 30 to move from its full line position to its dotted line position (FIG. 4) whereby the post 26 can be pivoted to a lower position. The latch 70 can only be rotated as described however by a key 80 through tumblers 83 and keyway 85, the key so being issued to an authorized occupant of the particular parking space which is guarded against entry by unauthorized persons. The top end 27 of each post has a transverse bar 80 and the bars are dimensioned so that between adjacent devices there is insufficient space for a conventionally sized vehicle to enter in the space between contiguous devices. The bars 80 have an internal spring 81 wrapped around the bar 80 and expanded to prevent endwise movement of the handle bar once the handle bar is inserted through openings 87.
If it is desired the devices can be located so that once they are raised they are closed adjacent to the rear bumper of the car 20. Thus, the location of the devices 22 can be determined so that the distance from guard device 22 to the curb 90 would be one car length whereby the guard device 22 when raised will prevent unauthorized maneuvering of the automobile 20 so that it serves as an anti-theft device as well as a means for preventing unauthorized entry to the parking spaces 10-18.
The particular materials of construction are not essential according to the present invention and it should be understood that the post 26 can be of stainless steel, aluminum or other such metal construction. The post can also be of plastic composition if it is desired; all of these materials of construction are comprehended and are intended to be included within this invention.
Also, the particular means of attachment of the base member 28 to the pavement can be varied, for example, instead of anchor bolts 33 as indicated in FIG. 4, openings can be drilled in the pavement and expanding sleeves inserted therein and log bolts are passed through the openings 32-38 in the base plate 28 and screwed into the expanded sleeves (not shown). These expedients are all intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
The present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a selective example embodiment. It will be understood that this is illustrative of the invention and is by no means restrictive thereof. It is reasonably to be expected that those skilled in this art can make numerous revisions and adaptations of the invention and it is intended that such revisions and adaptations will be included within the scope of the following claims.