Patent Publication Number: US-6666617-B1

Title: Method and apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The transportation industry often requires additional parking areas for temporary automotive vehicle storage prior to vehicle transfer and/or distribution. Such parking areas are typically needed adjacent rail yards and automotive production facilities. These additional parking areas are sometimes only needed for a relatively short period of time, such as two or three months, but can also be used for up to five years. Regardless, it is desirable to minimize the time and expenses associated with constructing the additional parking areas. 
     Traditionally automotive vehicle parking lots are constructed by covering a land area with concrete or asphalt. These traditional construction methods provide a desirable hard surface for automotive vehicles to be driven on, but are time-consuming and expensive. Further, covering the land area with concrete or asphalt can create complications in the project, such as having to construct a retention pond to deal with excess rain water. 
     Other less permanent methods for constructing automotive vehicle parking lots are also known. These other methods include covering a land area with gravel, wood chips, or shredded rubber from recycled tires. These non-traditional methods reduce the time and expenses associated with constructing the parking areas. However, these methods do not provide the desired parking surface, and can lead to the automotive vehicles being damaged. Such automotive vehicle damage can range from scratches in a vehicle&#39;s paint to extensive body damage caused by vehicles sliding into one another when excessive rain washes away the gravel, wood chips, or shredded rubber, and turns at least a portion of the parking area into a mud pit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a method of constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. According to the inventive method, a composite drainage material is provided through which water drains. The composite drainage material comprises a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The land area is covered with the composite drainage material by placing rolls of the composite drainage material adjacent one another to form the temporary automotive parking lot. The rolls of the composite drainage material are unrolled over the land area so that longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls adjoin one another. A portion of the longitudinal edge portions of the adjacent rolls are overlapped. The overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions of adjacent rolls are secured to each other and not to the land area to create a gapless and continuous surface of the composite drainage material with at least the majority of the land area lying underneath the composite drainage material. The first layer of each of the rolls contacts the land area. The second layer of each of the rolls faces away from the land area and provides the gapless and continuous surface on which automotive vehicles are parked. The composite drainage material directs water which contacts the second layer through the first layer, through the core between the layers, and into the land area covered by the composite drainage material. 
     According to one aspect of the inventive method, the step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls comprises the steps of looping a plurality of tie members through the overlapped portions of the cores along the longitudinal edge portions of each of the adjacent rolls, and tightening the tie members to attach the cores of the adjacent rolls to each other. 
     According to another aspect of the inventive method, the step of securing the overlapped portions of the adjacent rolls further comprises the step of securing the second layer of the adjacent rolls to each other to form a longitudinal seam. 
     The present invention further provides an apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. The apparatus comprises a composite drainage material through which water drains. The composite drainage material comprises a polymeric open mesh core disposed between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The composite drainage material is adapted to cover the land area so that the land area lies underneath the composite drainage material. The first layer contacts the land area. The second layer faces away from the land area and has a surface on which automotive vehicles are parked. The composite drainage material directs water which contacts the second layer through the first and second layers, through the core between the layers, and into the land area covered by the composite drainage material. The composite drainage material is formed in rolls. Each of the rolls has longitudinal edge portions and is unrolled adjacent one another to cover the land area to form the temporary automotive parking lot. At least a portion of the adjacent longitudinal edge portions of the rolls overlaps each other. The longitudinal edge portions are secured to each other and not to the land area at the overlapping portions to form a continuous and gapless surface made of the composite drainage material. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the overlapped portions of the longitudinal edge portions comprise portions of the core in each of the adjacent rolls. The overlapped portions of the cores are secured together by a plurality of tie members that are looped through the overlapped portions and tightened. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the second layer of each of the adjacent rolls is secured to each other to form a longitudinal seam. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot of FIG. 1 during its construction; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot shown in FIG. 2 during construction; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a step in the construction of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating another step in the construction of the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a step for constructing a temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with a second method; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating another step for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with the second method of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a step for constructing a temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with a third method; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating another step for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with the third method of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a step for constructing a temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with an fourth method; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating another step for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot in accordance with the fourth method of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 illustrating an alternate step for constructing the temporary automotive vehicle parking lot in accordance with the fourth method; and 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line  14 — 14  in FIG. 2 illustrating another aspect of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for constructing a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot on a land area. As representative of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a temporary automotive vehicle parking lot  10 . 
     The parking lot  10  is situated on a land area  12  adjacent railroad tracks  14 . The land area  12  has been cleared of any trees and large shrubbery. Thus, the land area  12  comprises soil  16  and has an upper surface  18  (FIG. 2) which may be covered by grass or other vegetation (not shown). Preferably, the land area  12  is relatively flat. 
     A composite material  20  through which water can drain is used to construct the temporary parking lot  10  on the land area  12 . The composite drainage material  20  comprises a polymeric open mesh core  22  (FIG. 3) between first and second layers  24  and  26  (FIG. 4) of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The core  22  is 2-8 mm thick and is extruded from polyethylene resin. 
     The geo-textile fabric used for the first and second layers  24  and  26  is a continuous layer of a polypropylene material with an additive to help protect the fabric from the effects of ultra-violet light. The first and second layers  24  and  26  are water permeable, but are sufficiently dense to prevent solid matter, such as soil, from penetrating through the layers. Each of the first and second layers  24  and  26  is 2-8 mm thick. 
     The polyethylene core  22  is placed between the first and second layers  24  and  26  and the composite drainage material  20  is laminated using a heating process. The heating process fuses both the first and second layers  24  and  26  of the fabric to the core  22  to create the composite drainage material  20 . While central portions  25  and  27  (constituting the vast majority) of the first and second layers  24  and  26 , respectively, are fused to the core  22 , along the outer periphery of the composite drainage material  20 , the first and second layers are not fused to the core, as is described further below. 
     The composite drainage material  20  is formed in rolls  28 , as shown in FIG. 2, for ease of shipping and installation. The composite drainage material  20  may be 7 to 12 feet wide, and up to 250 feet long when unrolled. Each roll  28  of the composite drainage material  20  includes oppositely disposed first and second longitudinal edges  30  and  40  (FIG.  4 ). 
     The first longitudinal edge  30  is formed by an edge portion  32  of the first layer  24 , an edge portion  33  of the core  22 , and an edge portion  34  of the second layer  26 . As may be seen in FIG. 4, the edge portions  32 - 34  are flush with one another and are not fused together. The unfused first longitudinal edge  30  extends inward for a length L 1  of 6 to 10 inches to the fused central portion  27  of each roll  28 . 
     The second longitudinal edge  40  is formed by an edge portion  42  of the first layer  24 , an edge portion  43  of the core  22 , and an edge portion  44  of the second layer  26 . As may be seen in FIG. 4, the edge portions  42 - 44  are flush with one another. The unfused second longitudinal edge  40  extends inward for a length L 2  of 6 to 10 inches to the fused central portions  25  and  27  of each roll  28 . 
     To construct the temporary parking lot  10 , several rolls  28  of the composite drainage material  20  are placed on the land area  12  adjacent one another. The rolls  28  of the composite drainage material  20  are then unrolled, as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the first longitudinal edge  30  of one roll of the composite drainage material adjoins and overlaps, as described further below, the second longitudinal edge  40  of an adjacent roll of the composite drainage material. The first fabric layer  24  of each roll  28  of the composite drainage material  20  contacts the upper surface  18  of the land area  12 . The second fabric layer  26  of each roll  28  faces upward, away from the land area  12 , and provides a surface  80  on which automotive vehicles  82  (FIG. 1) may be parked. 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, the adjoining first and second longitudinal edges  30  and  40  of adjacent rolls  28  are unrolled so that the second longitudinal edge overlaps the first longitudinal edge. Next, the first and second layers  24  and  26  of the second longitudinal edge  40  are pulled back, as shown in FIG. 5, exposing the core  22 . More specifically, the edge portion  42  of the first layer  24  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is folded back underneath itself over the land area  12 , and the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  of the second longitudinal edge is pulled back to expose the edge portion  43  of the core  22 . The edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  of the first longitudinal edge  30  is also pulled back as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The edge portion  43  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is then inserted between the edge portion  33  of the core  22  and the edge portion  32  of the first layer  24  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . As may be seen in FIG. 5, there is approximately 4 to 8 inches of overlap between the edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22 . 
     Next, the edge portion  43  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is secured to the edge portion  33  of the core  22 . The edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22  are secured together by looping a plurality of tie members  50 , only one of which is shown in FIG. 5, through the edge portions  33  and  43  and tightening. The tie members  50  may be of any known construction and made of either a plastic or a metal. The tie members  50  are then tightened to draw the edge portions  33  and  34  together and thereby secure the longitudinal edges  30  and  40  to each other. 
     The next step is to secure the second layer  26  of the two adjoining rolls  28  to each other and form a seam  52  that extends along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40 . As shown in FIG. 6, the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  along the second longitudinal edge  40  is laid down over the edge portion  33  of the core  22  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . The edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  along the first longitudinal edge  30  is then unfolded and laid down on top of the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  in an overlapping fashion. 
     Next, the edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  are sewn together with stitches  54  at or near the terminal end of the edge portion  44 . The stitches  54 , which are shown schematically in FIG. 6, weave through the edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  and extend along the entire longitudinal edge portions  30  and  40 . The stitches  54  may be made of nylon or other suitable material and can have any known stitching pattern. Sewing of the stitches  54  is preferably done by machine. 
     The two second layers  26  are then heat-fused together to form the longitudinally extending seam  52 . The edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  are fused together near the terminal end of the edge portion  34  using a heat gun  56 , a portion of which is shown schematically in FIG.  6 . The seam  52  formed by the two second layers  26  extends along the entire longitudinal edge portions  30  and  40 . 
     A second method for joining the first and second longitudinal edges  30  and  40  of the adjacent rolls  28  is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, it can be seen that the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is pulled back to expose the edge portion  43  of the core  22 . Similarly, the edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  of the first longitudinal edge  30  is also pulled back to expose the edge portion  33  of the core  22 . 
     The edge portion  43  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is then inserted between the edge portion  33  of the core  22  and the edge portion  32  of the first layer  24  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, there is approximately 4 to 8 inches of overlap between the edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22 . As shown in FIG. 7, the edge portion  42  of the first layer  24  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is slid under the edge portion  32  of the first layer  24  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . 
     Next, the edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22  are secured together by tie members  50 , as described previously with regard to FIG. 5, through the edge portions  33  and  43 . As shown in FIG. 7, there may be more than one row of the tie members  50  extending along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40  of the rolls  28 . 
     The next step is to secure the second layer  26  of the two adjoining rolls  28  to each other and form a seam  58  that extends along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40 . As shown in FIG. 8, the edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  along the first longitudinal edge  30  is laid down over the edge portion  33  of the core  22  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . The edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  along the second longitudinal edge  40  is then unfolded and laid down on top of the edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  in an overlapping fashion. 
     The edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  are sewn together with stitches  54  at or near the terminal end of the edge portion  34 . The stitches  54 , which are shown schematically in FIG. 8, weave through the edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  and extend along the entire longitudinal edge portions  30  and  40 . The stitches  54  may be made of nylon or other suitable material and can have any known stitching pattern. Sewing of the stitches  54  is preferably done by machine. 
     The two second layers  26  are then heat-fused together to form the longitudinally extending seam  58 . The edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  are fused together near the terminal end of the edge portion  44  using the heat gun  56 , shown schematically in FIG.  8 . The seam  58  formed by the two second layers  26  extends along the entire longitudinal edge portions  30  and  40 . 
     A third method for joining the first and second longitudinal edges  30  and  40  of the adjacent rolls  28  is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9, it can be seen that the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  of the second longitudinal edge  40  and the edge portion  42  of the first layer  24  of the second longitudinal edge are pulled back to expose the edge portion  43  of the core  22 . The edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  of the first longitudinal edge  30  is also pulled back to expose the edge portion  33  of the core  22 . 
     The edge portion  43  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is then placed on top of the edge portion  33  of the core  22  and the edge portion  32  of the first layer  24  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, there is approximately 4 to 8 inches of overlap between the edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22 . The edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22  are then secured together by tie members  50 , as described previously with regard to FIG. 5, through the edge portions  33  and  43 . It should be understood that there may be more than one row of the tie members  50  extending along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40  of the rolls  28 . 
     The next step is to secure the second layer  26  of the two adjoining rolls  28  to each other and form a seam  60  that extends along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40 . As shown in FIG. 10, the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  along the second longitudinal edge  40  is laid down over the edge portion  33  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge. The edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  along the first longitudinal edge  30  is then laid down on top of the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  in an overlapping fashion. 
     The edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  are sewn together with stitches  54  at or near the terminal end of the edge portion  44 . The stitches  54 , which are shown schematically in FIG. 10, weave through the edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  and extend along the entire longitudinal edge portions  30  and  40 . The stitches  54  may be made of nylon or other suitable material and can have any known stitching pattern. Sewing of the stitches  54  is preferably done by machine. 
     The two second layers  26  are then heat-fused together to form the longitudinally extending seam  60 . The edge portions  34  and  44  of the two second layers  26  are fused together near the terminal end of the edge portion  34  using the heat gun  56 , shown schematically in FIG.  8 . The seam  60  formed by the two second layers  26  extends along the entire longitudinal edge portions  30  and  40 . 
     Additional methods for securing the second layers  26  together along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40  and forming a seam are illustrated in FIGS. 11-13. In FIG. 11, the edge portion  44  of the second layer  26  of the second longitudinal edge  40  and the edge portion  42  of the first layer  24  of the second longitudinal edge are pulled back to expose the edge portion  43  of the core  22 . The edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  of the first longitudinal edge  30  is also pulled back to expose the edge portion  33  of the core  22 . 
     The edge portion  43  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is then inserted between the edge portion  33  of the core  22  and the edge portion  34  of the second layer  26  of the first longitudinal edge  30 . The edge portion  43  of the core  22  overlaps the edge portion  33  of the core  22  over a distance of 4 to 8 inches. 
     Next, the edge portion  43  of the core  22  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is secured to the edge portion  33  of the core  22 . The edge portions  33  and  43  of the cores  22  are secured together by looping a plurality of tie members  50 , only one of which is shown in FIG. 11, through the edge portions  33  and  34  and tightening. The tie members  50  are then tightened to draw the edge portions  33  and  34  together and thereby secure the longitudinal edge  30  and  40  to each other. 
     The next step is to secure the second layer  26  of the two adjoining rolls  28  to each other and form a seam  62  that extends along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40 . This may be done in a couple of different manners. One process for securing the two second layers  26  together is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. As shown in FIG. 11, an end section  46  of the edge portion  44  of the second longitudinal edge  40  is trimmed off using a sharp blade or utility knife  64 . The end section  46  is trimmed off at a location such that, when the edge portion  34  of the first longitudinal edge  30  is unfolded and laid down next to the now-cut edge portion  44 , a butt joint  66  (FIG. 12) is created between the second layer  26  of the first longitudinal edge and the second layer  26  of the second longitudinal edge  40 . The two second layers  26  are then heat-fused together along the butt joint  66  of the adjoining edge portions  34  and  44  to form the longitudinally extending seam  62 . 
     An alternate method for securing the second layers  26  together along the longitudinal edges  30  and  40  and forming a seam is illustrated in FIG.  13 . In FIG. 13, the edge portion  34  of the first longitudinal edge  30  and the edge portion  44  of the second longitudinal edge  40  are brought together in an abutting fashion. The edge portions  34  and  44  are then sewn together using stitches  68 , such as the stitches previously described, to form a longitudinally. extending seam  70 . Depending on their size, excess sections  72  of the edge portions  34  and  44  that extend beyond the stitching may either be trimmed off or left attached to the edge portions. 
     With the adjoining longitudinal edges  30  and  40  of adjacent rolls  20  secured together using either of the aforementioned methods, a continuous and gapless surface  84  of the composite drainage material  20  is created on which the automotive vehicles  80  can be parked. 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view through a portion of FIG.  2  and illustrates another step in the process for constructing the temporary automotive parking lot  10 . This step comprises anchoring peripheral sections  90  of a portion of the rolls  28  that define the outer periphery of the temporary automotive parking lot  10  to the land area  12 . The peripheral sections  90  are anchored by being buried in the land area  12 . First, trenches  92 , only one of which is shown in FIG. 14, are dug in the soil  16  underneath the peripheral sections  90 . The trenches  92  are one to four feet wide and one to three feet deep. Next, the peripheral sections  90  are placed into the trenches  92 , forming a lining inside each trench. Finally, the trenches  92  are filled with the soil  16  previously removed, covering over the peripheral sections  90  and thereby anchoring the peripheral sections to the land area  12 . 
     Finally, to complete the temporary automotive parking lot  10 , lines  100  (FIG. 1) are painted on the surface  80  on the second fabric layer  24  of the rolls  28  of the composite drainage material  20  to indicate a plurality of parking places for the automotive vehicles  82 . 
     As shown by the arrows in FIGS. 6,  8 ,  10 , and  12  the composite drainage material  20  directs water, such as rain, which contacts the surface  80  through the composite drainage material and into the soil  16  of the land area  12 . The water flows through the second fabric layer  26 , through the core  22 , and through the first fabric layer  24 . The combination of the core  22  and the fabric layers  24  and  26  function to disperse the water across a large section of the land area  12  so that normal ground water flow for the land area is maintained. This dispersion of the water obviates the need for a retention pond. 
     The core  22  in the composite drainage material  20  provides a sufficiently hard surface for the automotive vehicles  82  to be driven on. Further, the heat fusion of the fabric layers  24  and  26  to the core  22  allows the composite drainage material  20  to withstand vehicle traffic, including turning of vehicle wheels, without the fabric layers becoming detached from the core. The geo-textile fabric of the first and second layers  24  and  26  stabilizes the soil  14  and traps the soil underneath the composite drainage material  20  to prevent large amounts of dirt and/or mud from penetrating to the upper surface  80  of the composite drainage material. Further, the continuous and gapless surface  84  formed by the overlapping junction between the adjacent rolls  28  of the composite drainage material  20  also prevents dirt and/or mud from penetrating to the surface  80  between adjacent rolls. The composite drainage material  20  is reusable and has a useful life of up to five years. Finally, the composite drainage material  20  is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install. 
     From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. For example, anchor trenches could placed in other, non-peripheral portions of the temporary automotive parking lot  10 . Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.