Patent ID: 7597521

Claim:
A vehicle parking system comprising: a rigid frame including four vertically upstanding posts and a base, the frame generally defining a rectangular volume; at least three platforms movably disposed in the frame, each platform being configured to support at least one vehicle; the at least three platforms being coupled to each other by a telescopic coupling, wherein in a first position the at least three platforms are nested upon each other and, upon being elevated, each platform raises the platform directly below; the telescopic coupling including four telescopic members each associated with one of the four vertically upstanding posts, each telescopic member including a first pipe coupled to a first platform, a second pipe coupled to a second platform and a rod coupled to a third platform, wherein the first pipe is dimensioned to slide over the second pipe and the second pipe is dimensioned to slide over the rod; and a hoist unit centrally mounted on top of the rigid frame positioning the center of gravity of the vehicle parking system within the frame, the hoist unit including an electric drive unit coupled to the telescopic coupling and configured to raise and lower the at least three platforms, wherein upon being fully raised the at least three platforms define three parking positions, and the base defines a fourth parking position, wherein the hoist unit further comprises a single, selectively rotatable drum including four wires wound upon the drum, each of the four wires coupled to one of the telescopic members, wherein rotation of the drum will raise and lower the telescopic coupling.