Gated parking corral

Abstract

The gated parking corral is a protected parking area designed to be set up in parking lots or fields to protect a vehicle from damage. The gated corral has a fence with vertical posts and horizontal beams attached between the vertical posts to form an enclosure. At the end of the enclosure, a gate arm is pivotally connected to one of the vertical posts. A padded rail is connected between the vertical posts and protects vehicles from dings when the doors are opened. Sensors are affixed along the horizontal beams that determine the presence of a vehicle within the enclosure. Once the sensors detect a vehicle within the enclosure, the gate arm is closed. Upon payment of a certain amount of monies into a coin box connected to the gate arm, the gate arm will operate in an upward direction to allow the vehicle to exit the corral.

1 . A gated parking corral, comprising: 
 a fence having a plurality of vertical posts and a plurality of horizontal beams coupled between the vertical posts, the vertical posts and horizontal beams defining a vehicle-receiving enclosure;    a gate arm pivotally connected to at least one of the vertical posts, the gate arm being pivotal in an upward and a downward direction;    a plurality of sensors disposed along the fence, the sensors being designed to detect the presence of a vehicle in the enclosure; and    means for operating the gate arm, said means for operating the gate arm being electrically connected to the sensors;    wherein upon detection of the presence of a vehicle in the enclosure by the sensors, the gate arm is pivoted in the downward direction, confining the vehicle within the enclosure.    
   
   
       2 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising padding material affixed along the fence.  
   
   
       3 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base, said vertical posts being attached to the base.  
   
   
       4 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 3 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of flat 3-inch plates attachable to a support surface.  
   
   
       5 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-receiving enclosure is approximately twenty feet long.  
   
   
       6 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is approximately thirteen feet wide.  
   
   
       7 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein the gate arm is approximately nine feet long.  
   
   
       8 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein the fences are configured for angled parking.  
   
   
       9 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein the fences are configured for straight-in parking.  
   
   
       10 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein said fences define multiple vehicle-receiving enclosures configured end-to-end.  
   
   
       11 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein said fences define multiple vehicle-receiving enclosures configured side-by-side.  
   
   
       12 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are affixed along the horizontal beams.  
   
   
       13 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 12 , wherein side sensors are affixed along side horizontal beams and rear sensors are affixed along a horizontal beam in a normal relationship to the side horizontal beams.  
   
   
       14 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 13 , wherein the side and rear sensors are connected in series.  
   
   
       15 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a loop sensor disposed within the ground under the enclosure; the loop sensor being electrically connected to the fence sensors, the loop sensor having the capability to detect whether a vehicle is present.  
   
   
       16 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a padded rail attached between the vertical posts and disposed in parallel relationship to the horizontal beams connected between the vertical posts.  
   
   
       17 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a parking status indicator light having the capability to indicate go, caution and stop in sequence as a vehicle approaches the vehicle-receiving enclosure, is partially inside the enclosure, and is completely inside the enclosure, respectively.  
   
   
       18 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an electrical power source connected to the sensors and the means for operating the gate arm; and    a solar panel connected to the power source for charging the electrical power source.    
   
   
       19 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising a timer programmable to delay closure of the gate arm for a predetermined time period after a vehicle has entered the vehicle-receiving enclosure.  
   
   
       20 . The gated parking corral according to  claim 1 , further comprising a payment box attached to said fence, the payment box having means for receiving payment in multiple forms, the payment box being configured to only accept payment when the gate arm is in a closed position, the payment box having means for signaling the gate arm to open once a required payment amount is received by the payment box.