US3750899A — Vertical-lift double-deck parking structure

Claim 1

Independent Claim 243 words

The elevator for parking automotive vehicles in double-deck stacked relation which comprises: a bedframe including a pair of upright stanchions spaced apart transversely a distance adapted to receive an automotive vehicle therebetween, said stanchions having front and rear pairs of parallel rails extending longitudinally thereof; an elevatable subframe mounted between the stanchions of the bedframe for vertical movement between a lowered position at ground level and an elevated position raised to a height sufficient to receive a vehicle therebeneath, said subframe including upstanding mast members and front and Rear pairs of rollers journalled on said mast members for rotation about transversely-extending horizontal axes spaced one above the other in parallel relation, said front and rear pairs of rollers being positioned and adapted to ride the front and rear pairs of rails respectively with the latter roller pair rearwardly offset above the former, and a horizontally disposed vehicle support platform extending fore and aft between the stanchions in forwardly offset relation thereto so as to continually bias the rollers against their respective tracks; a pair of upstanding extendable jack-forming subassemblies positioned in transversely spaced relation adjacent the stanchions and directly connected to the mast members of the subframe; and, common drive means connected to said jack-forming subassemblies operative upon actuation to simultaneously actuate same in the same direction and at the same speed, said jack-forming subassemblies cooperating with one another and with the subframe to raise and lower the latter with a vehcile aboard.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 243 words

The elevator for parking automotive vehicles in double-deck stacked relation which comprises: a bedframe including a pair of upright stanchions spaced apart transversely a distance adapted to receive an automotive vehicle therebetween, said stanchions having front and rear pairs of parallel rails extending longitudinally thereof; an elevatable subframe mounted between the stanchions of the bedframe for vertical movement between a lowered position at ground level and an elevated position raised to a height sufficient to receive a vehicle therebeneath, said subframe including upstanding mast members and front and Rear pairs of rollers journalled on said mast members for rotation about transversely-extending horizontal axes spaced one above the other in parallel relation, said front and rear pairs of rollers being positioned and adapted to ride the front and rear pairs of rails respectively with the latter roller pair rearwardly offset above the former, and a horizontally disposed vehicle support platform extending fore and aft between the stanchions in forwardly offset relation thereto so as to continually bias the rollers against their respective tracks; a pair of upstanding extendable jack-forming subassemblies positioned in transversely spaced relation adjacent the stanchions and directly connected to the mast members of the subframe; and, common drive means connected to said jack-forming subassemblies operative upon actuation to simultaneously actuate same in the same direction and at the same speed, said jack-forming subassemblies cooperating with one another and with the subframe to raise and lower the latter with a vehcile aboard.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the front rails are essentially vertical while the rear rails have a slight rearward inclination adapted to elevate the front end of the platform above the rear end thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the platform includes at least one stop positioned to engage a rear wheel of a vehicle parked thereon and hold same sufficiently far forward for the doors of the driver compartment to open clear of the stanchions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the stanchions project substantially above a vehicle parked therebetween, the front tracks extend upwardly from a point adjacent the base of said stanchions while the rear tracks terminate adjacent the top thereof, and in which the front set of rollers are located alongside the platform.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: a latch means interconnects the bedframe and subframe releasably fastening the latter in elevated position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the jack-forming subassemblies comprise a pair of upstanding transversely spaced parallel hydraulic rams; and, in which the drive means comprises a pump connected to deliver hydraulic fluid to the latter in parallel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the interengaged rail and roller sets define cooperating grooves and ribs that interlock to prevent relative transverse movement therebetween.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 90 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the bedframe includes longitudinally extending base members projecting forwardly of the stanchions to define a stand therefor, the subframe includes a transversely-extending cross frame element interconnecting the masts and cooperating therewith to define an arch sized to pass an automobile moved onto the platform, and in which the jack-forming subassemblies comprise hydraulic servomotors connected between the base members of the bedframe and the cross frame element of the subframe in transversely spaced substantially parallel relation to one another.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 91 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the stanchions rise to a height at least as high as that of the roof of an automobile parked on the platform when the latter is in elevated position, the front pair of rails extend from a level adjacent the bottom of the stanchions up at least as high as the elevated platform, and the rear pair of rails extend down along said stanchions from a level near the top thereof to at least said platform in elevated position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 64 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in qhich: at least one wheel-contacting stop is mounted between the stanchions of the bedframe spaced to the rear thereof in position to engage a rear wheel of a vehicle backed thereagainst and locate same sufficIently far forward so that the doors to the driver compartment are free to open ahead of said stanchions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 1 in which: the platform is formed to provide a shallow trough extending longitudinally thereof midway between the side margins adapted to discharge fluids over the ends.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 2 in which: the platform includes a transversely spaced pair of parallel wheel-receiving channels terminating at the rear extremity thereof in upstanding wheel-engaging stops adapted to receive and retain a free-wheeling vehicle moving rearwardly thereagainst under the influence of said platform in tilted condition.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 78 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 3 in which: the bedframe includes a pair of longitudinally extending base members projecting rearwardly of the stanchions to define a stand therefor and diagonal braces interconnecting said base members and stanchions from a position behind the latter, said brace members cooperating with said base members and stanchions to define a truss frame adapted to resist the forward bending moment induced in the latter by the forwardly overbalanced subframe.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 96 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 5 in which: the latch means comprises at least one stop mounted on a stanchion, a latch pin mounted on the subframe for movement between an engaged position atop said stop and a disengaged position retracted out of the path thereof, spring means connected to the latch pin normally biasing same into engaged position, and a release lever connected to the latch pin operative upon actuation to release same, said release lever being accessible to an operator located outside the path of vertical movement of the subframe.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 126 words

The double-decked parking strucrure as set forth in claim 6 in which: the hydraulic rams are of the single-acting type, the pump is connected to receive fluid from a source thereof and feed same to both rams simultaneously, a reservoir is connected to receive fluid exhausted from both rams, and a three-position control valve is connected to control the flow of fluid both to and from the rams, said valve having a neutral position operaive to isolate the rams from both the pump and reservoir so as to prevent fluid flow therebetween in either direction, a feed position connecting the rams to the pump while disconnecting them from the reservoir, and an exhaust position connecting the rams to the reservoir and disconnecting them from the pump.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 65 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 6 in which: a second pump is connected in parallel with the first pump, one of said first and second pumps is motor driven and the second is manually operated, and in which a check valve is located downstream of each pump operative to prevent reverse flow of fluid in one while the other is operating.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 7 in which: the rollers are circumferentially grooved and the rails comprise upstanding ribs.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 59 words

The double-decked parking structure as set forth in claim 8 in which: the subframe includes overhanging portions projecting beyond the mast members out over the base members of the bedframe forwardly of the stanchions, and in which the jack-forming subassemblies are mounted in vertical position between the base members of the bedframe and the overhanging portions of the subframe.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

The double-decked vertical parking structure as set forth in claim 9 in which: the front and rear pairs of rollers are spaced apart vertically a distance such that said front roller pair traverses essentially the lower half of the stanchions while said rear pair tranverses the upper half thereof upon movement of the subframe between its lowered and elevated positions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The double-decked vertical parking structure as set forth in claim 11 in which: the front end of the platform is tilted to define a downwardly and forwardly sloping ramp When said platform is in lowered position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-08-06	1977-02-05	1977-08-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-08-06	1981-02-05	1981-08-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-08-06	1985-02-05	1985-08-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vertical-lift double-deck parking structure

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