VEHICLE PARKING GUIDE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A vehicle parking guide includes an elongated body having a triangular cross-sectional shape. Included on one of the sides of the triangular body is an adhesive section. The adhesive section allows the triangular body to be selectively attached to a floor surface, such as that of a garage, to mark a desired parking location. The vehicle parking guide is positioned so that one of the tires of a vehicle must pass up and over the apex of the guide. The physical sensation of rolling up and over the triangular shape of the parking guide serves as feedback to the vehicle's driver to stop the vehicle after the parking guide is passed over, thereby parking the vehicle precisely at the predetermined parking location.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices to assist the parking of a vehicle. In particular, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to parking guides that are mounted on a floor surface. More particularly, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to parking guides that are configured to be driven over by a tire of a vehicle to provide confirmatory feedback to a driver that the vehicle is positioned at a desired parking location.

BACKGROUND

Home builders have continued to reduce the size of homes, particularly the garage, in an effort to make homes more affordable and energy efficient. Furthermore, garages have become the denizen of a multitude of extraneous items ranging from undesirable clutter, such as boxes, trash, and debris, to useful devices, such as work benches, tool chests, and the like. Thus, a once open and accommodating area within which to park a vehicle is now shrunk and is fraught with an array of obstacles and hazards by which the vehicle can be hit, scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged during the parking process. At the same time, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and trucks have become incredibly popular. These vehicles tend to be expensive and large, while having reduced visibility, making them difficult to precisely navigate in tight areas. Thus, the expanding size of these vehicles, as well as the continued constriction of a freely-available vehicle parking area within the garage has made parking a difficult and hazardous challenge for individuals. Aside from moving the vehicle into a parked position without incident requiring an expensive repair, it is even more difficult to park the vehicle while attempting to accommodate the area needed for occupants to open and close the doors to enter and exit the vehicle.

While many parking assistance devices have been developed, they suffer from various deficiencies. For example, many of these devices are confusing and difficult to install accurately in a manner that allows them to provide effective and accurate parking guidance. In addition, many parking aids are not capable of providing consistent parking guidance because they are susceptible to being moved out of position. Furthermore, many parking aids do not provide effective feedback to the driver of the vehicle to allow him or her to accurately determine when to stop at a desired parking location during the parking process.

In particular, current generation parking aids that are designed to be driven over by a vehicle tire to alert a driver of the arrival at a desired parking position are plagued by several drawbacks. For example, the shape and overall height of theses parking aids are such that they cannot be easily and continuously driven over at slow speeds as the engine idles. As such, the driver must come to a stop in front of the parking aid, and then apply power by pressing the accelerator pedal. This causes a rapid ascent of the tire over the parking aid, which leads to a rapid descent of the tire as it rolls over the top of the parking aid due to the momentum generated by the weight of the vehicle. In order to avoid overshooting the intended stopping point and desired parking position of the vehicle, the driver must then rapidly brake, causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt and violent stop. Given the lack of user-friendliness, and the propensity for inducing overshoot of the vehicle beyond the desired parking position, such current generation parking aids are unreliable and therefore undesirable for use.

Therefore, there is a need for a parking guide that is easy to install and resistant to being moved out of position. In addition, there is a need for a parking guide that allows a driver to consistently position the vehicle within a garage. Furthermore, there is a need for a parking guide that provides clear and unmistakable feedback to the vehicle's driver so that he or she can precisely stop during the parking process at a designated or previously determined location. Moreover, there is a need for a parking guide that is capable of being driven over by a tire at vehicle idle speeds, without the need to stop the vehicle and accelerate over the parking guide.

SUMMARY

In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the various embodiments disclosed herein to provide a vehicle parking guide that includes an elongated triangular body, and an adhesive section attached to one face of the body.

It is another aspect of the various embodiments disclosed herein to provide a method of parking a vehicle that includes providing an elongated triangular body having an adhesive section attached to one face of the body; attaching the adhesive section to a floor surface to identify a desired parking position for the vehicle; driving a vehicle tire over the triangular body without stopping the vehicle when it initially contacts the triangular body; and detecting that the tire has traveled over the triangular body to identify that the vehicle is at the desired parking position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will become better understood with regard to the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an end of the parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a vehicle tire approaching the parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a vehicle tire contacting the parking guide in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of a vehicle tire after traveling over the parking guide, whereupon the vehicle is stopped and parked at a predetermined desired parking position in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A vehicle parking guide in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein is referred to by numeral 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. It should be appreciated that the parking guide 10 may be utilized with any vehicle, including passenger cars, trucks, and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) for example. The parking guide 10 includes an elongated body 20 having a triangular cross-section that includes flat faces or surfaces 30A, 30B, and 30C, which is terminated by opposed ends 32. Attached to face 30C is one or more adhesive sections 40 for securing the parking guide 10 to a floor surface 41. The adhesive sections 40 may comprise any adhesive, such as adhesive liquid or gel or adhesive tape for example. In the case of adhesive tape 40, as shown particularly in FIG. 2, the side of the adhesive tape 40 that is to be attached to the floor 41 may include a release liner 42 that is removed by the user to reveal the adhesive when he or she installs the parking guide 10 in a manner to be discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the adhesive tape used comprises #30 EXTREME brand adhesive tape sold by 3M, which provides a suitable bond to the floor surface 41.

The triangular body 20 may be formed from solid rubber or composites thereof. However, in other embodiments, other suitable materials, including polymeric materials, may be used, as well as combinations of such materials. In some embodiments, the rubber material may have a durometer hardness of approximately 80. Providing the body 20 with a sufficient hardness ensures that the body 20 does not overly compress under the weight of the vehicle passing over the parking guide 10. This ensures that the driver of the vehicle can feel the physical feedback of driving up and over the triangular body 20 of the parking guide 10, thereby confirming that the vehicle is parked at the desired predetermined position. If the triangular body 20 compresses too much under the weight of the vehicle, the driver may not feel or perceive the physical feedback imparted from driving up and over the parking guide 10 and will not stop the vehicle immediately at the desired position after driving over the parking guide 10. In addition, the body 20 may have any suitable width and length. In some embodiments, the body 20 of the parking guide may be at least as long as a width of a vehicle's tire 54 but may be shorter or longer as desired.

It is further contemplated that the height of the parking guide from the base 30C to an opposed apex 50 may be approximately 0.875 inches; however, other dimensions may be used.

It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, each of the dimensions of 0.875 inches and 1.25 inches used for the height from the base 30C to the apex 50 and the width of section 30C, respectively, may be set to different dimensions (larger or smaller) as long as the relative ratio based on 0.875 inches and 1.25 inches is maintained.

It should also be appreciated that the apex 50 may have a radius of curvature of approximately 0.156 inches, although any dimension may be used.

It should be further appreciated that the width of the section 30C may be approximately 1.25 inches; however, other dimensions may be used.

It should also be appreciated that in some embodiments, the body 20 may be hollow or partially hollow. In other embodiments, the triangular body 20 may be configured such that the faces or surfaces 30A and 30B meet at a curved apex 50, as shown clearly in FIG. 1. In further embodiments, the apex 50 may be flat, concave, or convex in shape. It should be appreciated that the apexes 60A and 60B formed at the junction between faces 30C and 30A and faces 30C and 30B, respectively, are not curved but form a sharp edge.

It is also contemplated that the faces 30A-B of the body 20 may have one or more ribs or protrusions that facilitate the gripping of the vehicle's tire 54 as it travels over the parking guide 10. In other embodiments, the faces 30A-B may be textured, dimpled, or porous. In further embodiments, the faces 30A-B may include pores (i.e. interconnected apertures) to facilitate the drainage of water, such as from rain or melted snow that may collect on the faces 30A-B so that it is carried away to improve traction of the vehicle's tire 54 as it travels over the parking guide 10. This serves to improve the consistency at which a vehicle can be parked using the parking guide 10.

In other embodiments, the faces 30A-B may have spaced longitudinal or traversely-extending drainage channels 34A/34B (and associated protrusions) disposed therein to facilitate the drainage of water and melted snow that may accumulate on the surface of the faces 30A-B during use. For example, the drainage channels on one or more of the faces 30A-B may extend downwardly from the apex 50 toward the floor surface 41 to which the guide 10 is attached. As such, traction of the vehicle's tire 54 with the parking guide 10 is improved, thereby enhancing the consistency in which a vehicle can be parked using the guide 10.

It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, one or more of the faces 30A and 3B may be concave or convex in shape.

The following discussion presents the manner in which the parking guide 10 is placed into operation. And while this discussion relates to the use of the parking guide 10 in a home garage, it should be appreciated that the parking guide 10 may be used in any parking application, such as in a parking lot, parking garage, driveway, or any other circumstance where precision parking of a vehicle is desired.

Initially, to place the parking guide 10 into use, the driver parks the vehicle at a predetermined or “desired parking position” within the garage. The desired parking position is the position at which the vehicle is intended to be parked each time the garage is entered and that is identified by the parking guide 10. To mark the “desired parking position”, the parking guide 10 is placed directly behind one of the vehicle's tires 54, such that the parking guide 10 is at a substantially right angle to the path that the vehicle tire 54 travels as the vehicle is moved into and out of the garage. To secure or anchor the parking guide 10, the adhesive section 40 is applied between the face 30C of the body 20 and the floor surface 41. In the case of an adhesive section 40 comprising adhesive tape, the release liner 42 is removed to expose the adhesive 40 for attachment to the floor surface 41. Once installed, the apex 50 of the parking guide 10 is positioned distal (i.e. away) to the floor surface 41. It should be appreciated that the parking guide 10 may be positioned behind any tire desired. In fact, multiple parking guides 10 may be used, whereby multiple parking guides 10 are installed behind respective tires.

Once installed, a driver navigates his or her vehicle into the garage, as shown in FIG. 6A, using the parking guide 10 as a visual reference point for the path the vehicle should follow to arrive at the “desired parking position”. As the driver drives, he or she controls the vehicle without stopping as the tire 54 rolls over the parking guide 10, as shown in FIG. 6B. During the traversal of the parking guide 10, the driver will feel the physical feedback from the ascent and descent of the vehicle going up and over the parking guide 10. It should be appreciated that the driver is able to drive the car at idle speeds as he or she traverses the parking guide 10 without having to stop the vehicle. Such idle speeds may include speeds less than 5 miles per hour, and as such, may include speeds that are less than 1 mile per hour (MPH), 1-2 MPH, 2-3 MPH, 3-4 MPH, and 4-5 MPH. In other words, the structural configuration of the parking guide 10 is such that it allows the driver to continuously drive, without stopping, over the parking guide 10, which imparts more control over the vehicle when it is brought to a stop at the “desired parking position”. However, it should be appreciated that a driver may proceed to traverse the parking guide 10 at any desired speed, including speeds of 5 MPH and above. The ascent and descent of the vehicle, and the resultant physical sensation communicated to the driver, alerts or indicates to the driver that the vehicle has now arrived at the “desired parking position”, as shown in FIG. 6C, and that the vehicle should be stopped. Once stopped at the “desired parking position”, the vehicle can be parked, and the occupants can exit the vehicle.

Thus, the parking guide 10 is highly advantageous in that it allows a driver to effectively identify a correct path to a desired parking position within a confined area, such as a garage, through visual alignment with the parking guide. In addition, the parking guide 10 affords more precise and consistent parking guidance over other parking aids by providing physical feedback to the driver that he or she has navigated the vehicle to the desired parking position. Furthermore, the parking guide 10 is easy and user-friendly to install and is convenient and easy to use, without being easily moved out of position by the weight of the vehicle. It should also be appreciated that the parking guide 10 is capable of being driven over at idle speeds, without needing to stop the vehicle initially when the tire 54 contacts the front of the parking guide 10 and then accelerating, as is required with current-generation parking aids. As a result, the consistency and ease in which the vehicle is brought into the “desired parking position” by the parking guide 10 is dramatically increased.

Therefore, it can be seen that the objects of the various embodiments disclosed herein have been satisfied by the structure and its method for use presented above. While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, only the best mode and preferred embodiments have been presented and described in detail, with it being understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the embodiments, reference should be made to the following claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking guide comprising:

an elongated triangular body; and

an adhesive section attached to one face of said body.

2. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein said body is formed of rubber.

3. The vehicle parking guide of claim 2, wherein said body has a hardness durometer of 80.

4. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein one or more faces of the body are textured.

5. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein one or more faces of the body include spaced, longitudinally extending channels.

6. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein said body is solid.

7. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein said body is hollow.

8. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein at least one face of said body has a width of approximately 1.25 inches.

9. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein at least one face of said body has a height of approximately 0.875 inches.

10. The vehicle parking guide of claim 1, wherein an apex of said triangular body that is opposite said adhesive section is curved.

11. A method of parking a vehicle, comprising:

providing an elongated triangular body having an adhesive section attached to one face of said body;

attaching said adhesive section to a floor surface to identify a desired parking position for the vehicle;

driving a vehicle tire over said triangular body without stopping the vehicle when it initially contacts said triangular body; and

detecting that the tire has traveled over the triangular body to identify that the vehicle is at the desired parking position.

12. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said body is formed of rubber.

13. The method of parking a vehicle according to 12, wherein said body has a hardness durometer of 80.

14. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein one or more faces of the body are textured.

15. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein one or more faces of the body include spaced, longitudinally extending channels.

16. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said body is solid.

17. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said body is hollow.

18. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein at least one face of said body has a width of approximately 1.25 inches.

19. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said body has a height of approximately 0.875 inches.

20. The method of parking a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein an apex of said triangular body that is opposite said adhesive section is curved.