Abstract:
The floor mounted automobile protection system for a multiple car parking garage, lots or spaces comprises a cushion positioned between adjacent parking spaces of the garage or parking lot, which cushion is supported from the floor and sized to extend at least along a portion of the length of doors of cars parked in the spaces to keep the door of one car from striking the adjacent car when opened. Further, the cushion is flexible and supported from the floor in a flexible manner so as not to interfere with the exit and entry through the vehicle doors. Being floor or ground supported the present invention is useful in open or outside parking lots without any ceiling.

Description:
[0001]     This non-provisional United States Patent application claims the benefit of and the priority of Provisional U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 60/684,734, filed May 26, 2005 of the same title as above, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an automobile protection system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a floor supported cushion, which is used in a multicar garage or parking spaces in a manner to be positioned between adjacent vehicles in a multicar garage or parking spaces. The cushion is supported from the floor such that opening of a door of one vehicle does not come into contact with the side of the adjacent vehicle, but rather with the floor supported cushion, protecting the door and side of the either vehicle from damage when the door of the one vehicle is opened.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     Various embodiments of floor supported protectors have been proposed. However, none have been as versatile as that of the present invention which accommodates not only protection of automobiles, but also accommodates the opening of the closely spaced, parked automobile doors.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to the present invention there is provided a floor mounted automobile (car or vehicle) protection system for a multiple car garage or parking spaces having at least a floor. The invention is particularly advantageous in outside or open parking lots without any support structure above. The system includes a support structure or mounting bracket extending upwardly from the floor. The support structure is generally placed midway between adjacent car parking spaces and extends a substantial distance along and parallel to the parking space, say about 72 inches or 20% of the length of the space, or 30% of the length of the vehicle to be parked in the space, or at least 70% of the length of the doors on a typical 4-door vehicle, say from 60 inches to 96 inches. The support structure is located to permit exit from and entry into either vehicle located on either side of the system. A cushion, similar to that described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,863, which is herein incorporated fully by reference, extends above the floor and downwardly from the top end of the floor mounted support structure, the cushion being preferably sized to extend along the length of the doors of cars parked in the parking spaces, and/or for the percentages or distances mentioned above. The support structure cushion is of a height sufficient to not interfere with a person entering a parked car, with the top of the cushion, say of from 2.5 feet to 4 feet, and preferably about 3 feet to 3.5 feet above the ground, while the bottom of the cushion 3 to 15 inches and, preferably, about 4 to 12 inches above the ground to keep it clear of the users&#39; feet. The cushion is very flexible from side to side to accommodate and be moved by opening of a door of either one of the adjacent parked cars, with the cushion rather than the opening door striking the adjacent parked car. Thus, two or more cars may be parked in adjacent parking spaces without the opening door of one car contacting or denting the other car or being interfered with by the floor mounting system.  
         [0005]     The present invention enjoys a particular advantage in parking lots that are open and have no ceiling or other upper structure to support such a cushion, even over that shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,863. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of one form of floor support structure having a flexible rod mounted on one style of a spring attached to a floor mounted base for use between two cars, and illustrates in dotted lines how the support can bend or flex.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  is perspective view of a second embodiment of floor support generally similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , but having a second style spring.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cushion used in the automobile protection system of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an assembly of several supports of  FIG. 1A  (or alternately could be of  FIG. 1 ) and the cushion of  FIG. 2  shown mounted between the parking spaces or on the garage floor.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view showing the automobile protection system installed between two automobiles in a garage.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view and shows the protection system of the present invention installed between the two vehicles, with the garage details other than the floor deleted for clarity.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the automobile protection system shown protecting the adjacent vehicles in the parking spaces.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top view similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing how the opening of the door of one vehicle deflects the cushion of the present invention to permit entry/exit while protecting the adjacent vehicle.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the parking alignment system described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,863, also used in conjunction with the floor mounted protection system of the present invention showing an automobile in dashed lines.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the parking alignment system and floor mounted protection system.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of one of the automobiles shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  shows the positioning elements of  FIGS. 9 and 10  as seen by a driver through the windshield.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing the cushion flexing in an opposite direction upon opening of a door of a second car adjacent the cushion.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a front door of one vehicle on one side of the cushion and a rear door of an adjacent vehicle on the other side of the cushion opened simultaneously with the cushion flexing to accommodate both.  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative floor support having one style spring.  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  but showing that floor support with a second style spring.  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is a view from the bottom showing the ribbing of supports of  FIG. 14  or  15  taken on the line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 17  is a third style base for use with the present invention having two reflectors.  
         [0024]      FIG. 18  is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the base of  FIG. 17  turned 90° showing how the floor support may be assembled.  
         [0025]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional assembled view showing a base as in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , but with another style spring. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated in  FIG. 3-9  therein a floor mounted automobile protection system of the present invention generally identified by the reference numeral  10  for use with adjacent parking spaces  10 A and  10 B (for example see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), such as in multicar garage  11  or a parking lot to keep doors  12  of a first vehicle  13 , upon opening, from contacting the side  14  of the adjacent vehicle  15 , and causing dents, chips, or other damage, etc., therein, which commonly takes place when an open door  12  of a vehicle  13  contacts an adjacent vehicle  15 . Of course, the present invention also protects the opening of doors  12 A of the adjacent vehicle  15  from damaging the side  14 A of the first vehicle  13 .  
         [0027]     In  FIGS. 1, 1A , and  3 , the floor support structure  20  of the system  10  is better illustrated and shows the same to incorporate a support base or mounting member  16  which is engageable to the floor  18  of the garage  11  or other parking structure providing parking spaces  10 A and  10 B.  
         [0028]     As is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, the mounting support  20  base  16  is adapted to be secured to the floor, such as by adhesive or a plurality, in this instance eight, fasteners  34 . In this instance, the support base  16  generally has a square or rectangular bottom  22  (which could be suitable to receive or cooperate with adhesive—see  FIGS. 16, 18  or  19 ), top  23  and four sloped sides  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 . Preferably reflective or iridescent surfaces could be provided on the visible or extended portions of the support  20 , and preferably the base  16  (see  FIGS. 17-19 ), to help make it visible in no or low light, such as at night and or when the garage door is closed and no lights, either the vehicle&#39;s or garage&#39;s, are on. For convenience, the base  16  can be provided with openings  33  to receive a plurality of fasteners  34 , such as screws, bolts, etc., to hold the support base  16  to the floor, with or without the use of adhesive. Of course, it should be understood that an adhesive, such as epoxy, cements and glues, could also be used alone.  
         [0029]     Preferably mounted to the support  16  is a flexible spring  40  such as a conical style spring  40 A shown in  FIG. 1  or the double conical style spring  40 B shown in  FIG. 1A . The springs could measure from ⅞ inch diameter to 3 inches in outside diameter, from 3 inches to 8 inches in height, and from 1/16 inch to ¼ inch in spring coil wire diameter. The inside diameter at the top of the spring is such to accommodate a rod. At the bottom the spring inside diameter is such to engage the spring mounting bolt or stud.  
         [0030]     As is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, on the spring  40  ( 40 A or  40 B), a further flexible rod  48  is provided. One end of the rod is secured, say as by being inserted or threaded into the center of the coil spring  40 A or  40 B and the other end is rounded, and or provided with a round protective cap  50 . It should be understood that the ends of the springs may include female threaded end disks to which the respective ends the spring is attached. The rod  48  could be made, for example, of carbon fiber, fiberglass, spring steel, etc.  
         [0031]     As is shown in  FIG. 1 , and would also be true of  FIG. 1A  embodiment, the rod and spring can both flex. Preferably, with the support  20  secured to the floor, its upper structure both in this instance spring  40 A and rod  48 , will bend to about 90 degrees with a force from 3 pounds to 12 pounds. Again, preferably this flexibility is exhibited at least side to side, and to some degree in all directions. This flexure helps accommodate the motions caused by the opening of the various car doors in the adjacent spaces. While the rod  48  shown is of a round or circular in cross section, it could be of another shape, such as square, rectangular, elliptical, etc. Typically the rod  48  would be about 30 inches to 50 inches long with about 38±2 inches being ideal and cross sectional of 1/16 to ¼ inches square and spaced apart from 2 feet to 8 feet, with about 36 inches being ideal. For example, a rod of ⅛ inches to ⅝ inches in diameter is a good size. Also, if the rod is of sufficient flexibility itself, the spring might be omitted, and the rod directly mounted to the support base, or even directly into openings, such as a hole or opening made, drilled or otherwise provided in the floor itself.  
         [0032]     Carried on the plurality (at least two, and preferably three or more) flexible supports  20  is a cushion  60  which is elevated and oriented and held at a position between the vehicle body sides  14  or  14 A of the adjacent vehicles  13  and  15  such that the opening of door  12  or  12 A of either takes place against the cushion  60  rather than the body side of the adjacent vehicle  13  or  15 . The supports  20  are placed to permit the cushion  60  to extend well along the sides of the parked vehicles as is discussed above, but to not interfere in the ingress or egress.  
         [0033]     Turning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , it will be seen that the system  10  is created from multiple parts. The cushion  60 , itself preferably, is double folded material along an upper line or periphery  64  thereof and has, preferably a horizontal cloth or material pocket  68  created adjacent the folded upper periphery  64  within which a firm yet flat, flexible element, bar, strip, or rod  72  may be received. It should be understood that this flexible element is optional and not always necessary. This strip could be made of steel, plastic or composite materials such as carbon fiber. The flexible rod or strip  72  should have vertical stiffness to help prevent sag of the cushion, but yet must permit the rod and cushion to flex horizontally to absorb door movement. Preferably, the rod&#39;s cross section is generally many times higher (vertically) than it is thick (horizontal) to give it the desired directional flexibility and vertical support. For example, the cross section could be 1 inch high and 0.04 inches thick.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cushion  60  has several vertical pockets  74 , one for each support  20 , formed therein, say by sewing or stitching  80  and  82  the double folded material together to form the two or more, and preferably three, vertical pockets  74 , which are open at the bottom. The pockets should be spaced about 3 feet to 5 feet apart with about 3.5 feet to 4 feet being preferred.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cushion with its pockets  74  are slipped onto a set of properly correspondingly spaced supports  20  and their rods  48 . It should be noted that in doing so, the cushion  60  and its pockets  74  will also automatically properly space the supports for installation purposes. The supports&#39; positions can then be marked on and then fastened to the floor.  
         [0036]     For reasons of economy of manufacture, the cushion used with the present invention could be made also to accommodate the invention in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,863. To this extent, the cushion  60  could also be adopted to receive and be suspended as shown therein, and have the cushion structure called for therein, such as the hanging grommets  90 . Also, it will be seen therein, that the hangers depend from the clips that are engageable to the cushion via openings or grommets  90  created in the upper periphery above the horizontal pocket. Of course, other means than the clips and openings could be used.  
         [0037]     Also, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the double thickness of the cushion  60  may be sewn, as at  92  and  94  to form the horizontal pocket  68 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 3-6  show the garage floor support structures  20  to which the system  10  can be engaged. Also, as noted earlier, the two supports or more need not be placed similarly, but each could be placed as needed or desired, which is about 36 inches apart for best flex and support. Of course the cushion  60  would need to be constructed to accommodate the desired support spacing. It should be noted that one of the supports is near or at the rear of the garage, while the other is toward the front of the garage. Preferably, a third support is used in between. With two supports, the support members are spaced apart about or at least 20% the length of the automobile to be parked therein. The support member closest to the garage door, if present, is spaced a few (six) feet, or less behind the open garage door, the other or second support member being at least 6 feet behind the first support member if only two are employed. A third support member may extend from the floor, about in the center between the two front and rear supports.  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows flexibility of the cushion  60  as the door  12  of a car  13  is opened there against.  
         [0040]      FIGS. 8-11  show the provision of a positioning apparatus  100  in the form of spaced indicia, for positioning the cars  13  and  15  appropriately relative to the system  10  and in spaced  10 A and B. This positioning system is like that shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,863. Such positioning apparatus is defined in greater detail in the description of the method of use below. It will be understood, that the positioning apparatus is not only used to make sure the car  13  and  15  are pulled far enough forward into the garage  11 , but also to allow sufficient distance between the cushion  60  and the car door(s)  12  and  12 A to allow one to enter either car  13  or  15  via the door(s)  12  or  12 A adjacent the cushion  60 .  
         [0041]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show desired front to back alignment of the car  13  using one windshield engaging element  104  of the positioning apparatus  100  with  FIG. 11 , showing the driver&#39;s view of the alignment of the windshield engaging element  104  in centered position relative to cooperating indicia or strip  106  on the rear garage wall  108 .  
         [0042]      FIGS. 4-9  and  12 - 13  show that when the cars  13  and  15  are appropriately positioned using the positioning apparatus  100  (not shown in  FIG. 3  but shown in  FIGS. 8-11 ), entry and egress through the doors  12  adjacent the cushion  60  and its floor supports  20  are easily accommodated.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show that the cushion  60  can flex in two directions and simultaneously in adjacent areas when doors  12  and  12 A of both cars  13  and  15  adjacent thereto are opened simultaneously.  
         [0044]     The method of installation is as follows:  
         [0045]     Park one of the vehicles  13  or  15  in desired locations with in the garage  11  or parking spaces  10 A and B.  
         [0046]     Engage windshield engaging positioning member  104  (forming one of the spaced indicia) to the ceiling  107  with that member touching the windshield  112  just above the windshield wiper  114  and centered over the steering wheel  116 . The member  104  can be, for example, a ball hanging from a string or the like attached to the roof, ceiling or support beam of the garage or parking structure.  
         [0047]     Align the reflective strip or adhesive tape  106  (forming the other of the spaced indicia) on the wall  108  in front of the vehicle  13  or  15 , so when the driver is looking through the windshield  112 , the member  104  is centered on the reflective strip  106 . Back the one vehicle  13  or  15  out of the garage  11  and then drive it in using the positioning apparatus  102 . When the windshield  112  strikes the member  104  and it is centered on the reflective strip  106  the car  13  or  15  should be properly parked.  
         [0048]     With the one vehicle  13  or  15  located, the above procedure is used to locate the other vehicle  13  or  15  to be adjacently parked in the adjacent space. This adjacent vehicle has its own or second set of locating elements  104  and  106 .  
         [0049]     With the two vehicles located, the distance between them is measured. Preferably this distance is from 12 inches to 36 inches and preferably 24 inches. The measured distance then is divided by two and points are marked to form a centerline  75  ( FIG. 6 ) for the cushion supports  20 . The cushion  60  and the vertical pockets  74  therein are used to determine how far apart the supports should be on the center line  75 . In fact, the supports  20  can be placed in the vertical pockets  74  and then the cushion  60  will self locate the supports  20 . The cushion  60  is then located relative to the vehicles length and parking spaces. All the consumer need do is determine, where relative to the vehicle doors, the cushion  60  should be placed. The cushion supports  20  may then be mounted to the floor as with adhesive, fastening or both. The necessary appropriate openings are made or drilled in the floor (if needed or used) to secure the fastener used, be it concrete bolt, screws and/or adhesive, synthetic cements or epoxies and tape.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIGS. 14-16 , an alternative support  120  is shown and has a flat base  116  with a honeycomb of intersecting right angled ribs  118  and  119  to help hold the base to the floor with adhesive. As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  again various spring styles can be used. Preferably as noted above the ends of the springs carry threaded disk to receive both the rod  48  and retaining stud or bolt  130 . The base  116  has an opening  117  to accommodate the bolt or stud  130 . The base accommodates a nut  121  in the bottom (or head of the bolt). Both are held against rotation by epoxy and/or the adhesive used to hold the base to the floor. The advantage of the stud over the headed bolt is: with the rod, spring, and stud removed only the flat base remains on the floor, to minimize interference with the user. If the bolt or screw is used, with the rod and spring removed, the bolt or screw would still extend above the base.  
         [0051]     Referring to FIGS.  17  to  19 , another preferred base  216  and support  220  is shown. The base  216  is a modified highway or road marker, such as offered by RoDon Corp. and model type “Blue Synthetic”. The base  216  has two reflective surfaces  215  to help make it visible in low light, the honeycomb, ribbed bottom  218 ,  219  for increased grip with adhesive, and a center opening  217  for a headed screw or bolt or, preferably, a stud  230 . As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19  the stud  230  is held onto the base by upper (optional) and lower nuts  232  and  234 . If desired a washer  231  (only one shown) could be provided for each nut. The lower nut  234  in turn will be held against rotation and in place relative to the base by epoxy and/or the adhesive. The stud is screwed onto this secured lower nut  234 . The stud is held in place by the upper nut  232  and/or threaded into lower end of the spring. The spring is them installed with the rod  48  threaded or connected to the upper end of the spring, and if desired the cap  50  may be put onto the upper end of the rod, and/or that end of the rod rounded for protection and to prevent excessive wear on the top of the cushion pocket.  
         [0052]     It should be understood in a multicar parking garage or lot (say an open lot), the system of the present invention could be provided on each side of each parking space, be it two or 200.  
         [0053]     As described above, the floor mounted automobile protection system of the present invention provides a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, modifications including equivalent elements and/or steps can be proposed to the floor mounted automobile protection system without departing from the teachings herein.