Vertical integrated parking system

Abstract

A vertically integrated parking system whereby the parking spots are attached to certain apartments or offices in a residential or commercial building. The parking system provides in the residential building parking spots for certain residential apartments such that the parking spot is located on the same floor as the apartment. The parking system includes various safety precaution devices such as carbon monoxide and nitrous dioxide detectors to protect residents of the building and an infrared detector system is used to guide and avoid damage to the automobiles.

1 . A parking system for vehicles in a building comprising:
 a plurality of apartments in the building;   a plurality of parking garages for a vehicle, each parking garage associated with one of the apartments, the parking garage being located on the same floor as its associated apartment;   an elevator for transporting vehicles between a ground floor of the building and the parking garages;   first pathway means for providing entry to the building and access to the elevator;   second pathway means for providing egress from the elevator at the ground floor and exit from the building; and   a control system for controlling access to and from the building, the elevator and the garages.   
   
   
       2 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the control system includes a user interface system located proximate to at least one of a vehicle entrance to the building, an entrance to the elevator and a vehicle exit from the building. 
   
   
       3 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the user interface system includes at least one video monitor to guide a driver of the vehicle and provide information via a display of instructions. 
   
   
       4 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the control system further includes security devices for allowing authorized access to a vehicle entrance to the building, the elevator, the parking garages and a vehicle exit from the building. 
   
   
       5 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the security devices include an RFID tag available to be used in an authorized vehicle for access to the first pathway means, the elevator, the parking garages and the second pathway means. 
   
   
       6 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the RFID tag communicates with the control system to provide a vehicle access to only an authorized parking garage. 
   
   
       7 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the security devices further includes a weight sensor outside the vehicle entrance to the building for detecting the presence of a vehicle seeking entry to the parking system. 
   
   
       8 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the control system further includes infrared sensors located inside the elevator and the parking garage for detecting a position of a vehicle entering or exiting the elevator or one of the parking garages to allow the control system to guide a driver to properly align the vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the elevator and the parking garages include a safety system. 
   
   
       10 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the safety system includes a CO and NO2 detection system. 
   
   
       11 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the safety system also includes a smoke detector. 
   
   
       12 . The parking system of  claim 10  wherein the safety system is connected to the control system and provides warnings where the CO and NO2 detection system is located and remotely. 
   
   
       13 . The parking system of  claim 11  wherein the safety system is connected to the control system and provides warnings where the smoke, CO and NO2 detection systems are located and remotely. 
   
   
       14 . The parking system of  claim 13  wherein the safety system is connected to the control system and provides warnings where the CO and NO2 detection system is located and remotely in the event of preset levels of CO, NO2 or smoke. 
   
   
       15 . The parking system of  claim 1  further including an exhaust system for venting the gases in the elevator and the parking garages and forcing fresh air into the elevator and parking garages. 
   
   
       16 . The parking system of  claim 10  wherein the safety system continuously monitors CO and NO2 levels so that when a predetermined level of either CO or NO2 is reached in the elevator or the parking garages an exhaust system for venting the gases and forcing fresh air into the elevator and parking garages where the predetermined level is detected will automatically turn on. 
   
   
       17 . The parking system of  claim 16  wherein the safety system has two predetermined levels, and on detecting a first, lower predetermined level of CO or NO2, the exhaust system is turned on, and on detecting a second, higher predetermined level of CO or NO2, in addition to the exhaust system being turned on, an alarm condition is triggered where the second level is detected and remotely. 
   
   
       18 . The parking system of  claim 9  wherein the safety system further includes a motion detector in the parking garages that will automatically turn on an exhaust system for venting the gases in the parking garages and forcing fresh air into the parking garages when it detects any motion in the parking garage. 
   
   
       19 . The parking system of  claim 10  wherein an exhaust system for venting the air in the elevator and forcing fresh air into the elevator will be activated in the elevator when doors to the elevator are opened. 
   
   
       20 . The parking system of  claim 1  wherein a parking garage includes crash bars placed on the walls of the parking garage to prevent a vehicle from crashing through the walls. 
   
   
       21 . The parking system of  claim 1  wherein at least one parking garage contains at least one wall that is constructed of at least 3-hour rated fire wall to prevent the quick spread of fire to the building. 
   
   
       22 . The parking system of  claim 1  wherein at least one parking garage further includes a drain located in the floor for draining fluids that may leak onto the floor from a vehicle. 
   
   
       23 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first pathway includes a drop off area for letting passengers or items out of the vehicle before entering the elevator. 
   
   
       24 . The parking system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first pathway includes an elevator bypass for moving the vehicle directly to the second pathway to exit the building without going through the elevator. 
   
   
       25 . A parking system for vehicles in a building comprising:
 a plurality of apartments in the building;   a plurality of parking garages for a vehicle, each parking garage associated with one of the apartments, the parking garage being located proximate its associated apartment;   an elevator for transporting vehicles between a ground floor of the building and the parking garages;   first pathway means for providing entry to the building and access to the elevator;   second pathway means for providing egress from the elevator at the ground floor and exit from the building; and   a control system for controlling access to and from the building, the elevator and the garages.   
   
   
       26 . The parking system of  claim 25  wherein the control system further includes security devices for allowing authorized access to a vehicle entrance to the building, the elevator, the parking garages and a vehicle exit from the building. 
   
   
       27 . The parking system of  claim 26  wherein the security devices include an RFID tag available to be used in an authorized vehicle for access to the first pathway means, the elevator, the parking garages and the second pathway means. 
   
   
       28 . The parking system of  claim 27  wherein the RFID tag communicates with the control system to provide a vehicle access to only an authorized parking garage. 
   
   
       29 . The parking system of  claim 25  wherein the control system further includes infrared sensors located inside the elevator and the parking garage for detecting a position of a vehicle entering or exiting the elevator or one of the parking garages to allow the control system to guide a driver to properly align the vehicle. 
   
   
       30 . The parking system of  claim 25  wherein the elevator and the parking garages include a safety system. 
   
   
       31 . The parking system of  claim 30  wherein the safety system includes a CO and NO2 detection system. 
   
   
       32 . The parking system of  claim 31  wherein the safety system also includes a smoke detector. 
   
   
       33 . The parking system of  claim 30  wherein the safety system is connected to the control system and provides warnings where the CO and NO2 detection system is located and remotely. 
   
   
       34 . The parking system of  claim 31  wherein the safety system is connected to the control system and provides warnings where the smoke, CO and NO2 detection systems are located and remotely. 
   
   
       35 . The parking system of  claim 25  further including an exhaust system for venting the gases in the elevator and the parking garages and forcing fresh air into the elevator and parking garages. 
   
   
       36 . The parking system of  claim 30  wherein the safety system continuously monitors CO and NO2 levels so that when a predetermined level of either CO or NO2 is reached in the elevator or the parking garages an exhaust system for venting the gases and forcing fresh air into the elevator and parking garages where the predetermined level is detected will automatically turn on. 
   
   
       37 . The parking system of  claim 36  wherein the safety system has two predetermined levels, and on detecting a first, lower predetermined level of CO or NO2, the exhaust system is turned on, and on detecting a second, higher predetermined level of CO or NO2, in addition to the exhaust system being turned on, an alarm condition is triggered where the second level is detected and remotely. 
   
   
       38 . The parking system of  claim 30  wherein the safety system further includes a motion detector in the parking garages that will automatically turn on an exhaust system for venting the gases in the parking garages and forcing fresh air into the parking garages when it detects any motion in the parking garage. 
   
   
       39 . The parking system of  claim 30  wherein an exhaust system for venting the air in the elevator and forcing fresh air into the elevator will be activated in the elevator when doors to the elevator are opened. 
   
   
       40 . A method of remotely accessing a vehicle parking garage located on the same floor as an apartment in a building comprising the steps of:
 Providing the car with a security device to provide access to the parking system;   Entering the building with authorization provided by the security device through an entry door from outside the building;   Following an interior path on a ground floor to a car elevator;   Entering the car elevator with authorization provided by the security device;   Selecting the appropriate floor for the elevator to move to based on a preset parking garage location in the security device;   Moving the elevator to the floor on which the parking garage is located;   Opening the door between the elevator and the parking garage when the elevator is on the parking garage's floor; and   Moving the vehicle from the elevator into the parking garage.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the authorization is achieved by the security device sending a radio frequency coded signal to a parking system control system which includes an indication of the floor of the parking garage that the security device is authorized to use. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising removing the vehicle from the parking garage by calling the elevator to the parking garage's floor with the security device, riding the elevator to the ground floor where the exit door of the elevator opens; driving the vehicle along an exit pathway to the exit door from the building; opening the exit door from the building with the security device; and driving the vehicle through the opened exit door out of the building.