GB2228605A - Car park security device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a detector 4 capable of sensing when a car has entered a specified car parking space 3, an alarm 6 which will give a signal of the presence of a said car, said signal being actuated a predetermined time interval after entry of the car into the space 3, and a user identification means such that upon acceptance of information to correctly identify a car park user before the end of said time interval, the operation of said alarm signal will be prevented. When fitted in a car park area, the device acts to reserve a particular parking space for a predetermined user. <IMAGE>

Description

CAR PARK SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a car park security device. It relates particularly to means for guarding a car parking space in a car park area so as to deter against or prevent unauthorised use of that space.

In the construction of a car park area, it is frequently required to restrict particular spaces in that area to individual drivers who will each be provided with a respective space that can be used. One system sometimes seen at present uses a hinged post at the front of the parking space. The post is normally locked in a vertical position but the lock may be released by use of a key held by the driver authorised to use that space.

When the post has been unlocked, it may be moved to a horizontal zttitude and the car can then be driven above the released post and left in the parking space that has thus been made available.

This system has disadvantages in that it is necessary for the car driver to stop a short distance from the available space, to leave the car to unlock and reposition the security post, and then to drive the car into the parking space that has been released. The same sequence must be performed when a driver removes the car from the parking space. This arrangement thus introduces delays and it can increase obstructions in the roadway portions of the parking area. In addition, the security posts are easily damaged by cars and equally they can cause damage themselves to the bodies of cars using the car park.

The present invention was devised to overcome some of these disadvantages.

According to the invention, there is provided a car park security device comprising a detector capable of sensing when a car has entered a specified car parking space, an alarm which will give a signal of the presence of a said car, said signal being actuated a predetermined time interval after entry of the car into said space, and a user identification means such that upon acceptance of information to correctly identify a car park user before the end of said time interval, the operation of said alarm signal will be prevented.

The detector may be a proximity sensor such as a pneumatic switch which will be actuated when the car wheels pass over a sensor tube. In another embodiment, the detector may be a sensing wire which will be able to sense the presence of a car by an inductive effect.

The alarm may be located alongside the car parking space.

Conveniently, where there are several secure spaces in the car park, the alarm can be located alternatively at a central position so the whole car park area can be supervised by a small number of staff. In this instance, the central location may also have display means to show which space in the car park area is the one where the unauthorised use has been detected. The car park supervisory staff may then check the usage of the parking space and if misuse is detected the offending car can be immobilised.

The parking user identification information may be provided by the car driver by means such as a key, a credit card, a number entered on a key pad, or a remote control code transmitter. A code transmitter could be fixed to the car body such that it would not need to be handled at all by the driver. It could be actuated for example, upon turning the car ignition switch to stop the car engine. When the car has left the parking space, the detector will recognize that it is no longer present and the security device can be left to await the next arrival.

Where use of the car park is permitted only for a limited time period, the alarm signal can be arranged to operate at the end of said period so that the supervisory staff have an indication that an excess time period has been entered, and any appropriate charges will become payable.

By way of example, a particular embodiment of the invention vill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows in a partially cut-away view a portion of a car park area fitted with the security device.

The car park area 1 depicted has roadway 2 portions along which an incoming car is intended to pass until it reaches an unoccupied parking space 3. At the inner end of each parking space, a road wheel sensor 4 is mounted at ground level. The sensors are arranged in groups and each group is connected to a signal receiver 6. Each signal receiver 6 is provided kith its own alarm bell and in addition the receiver has its ow.

infrared receiver window for detecting an appropriate radiated identification signal. The signal receivers 6 are all connected to a central electrical power supply. In addition, the receivers 6 are also connected to a central indicator board so that an output from the receiver can be indicated in the office of a car park supervisor.

In operation of the car park where the security device of the invention is present, a car passes along the roadway 2 and, under the control of the driver, the car enters its prearranged parking space 3. As the road wheels pass over the sensor L, the sensor initiates operation of a time clock in the signal receiver 6 so that after a preset time interval the alarm bell at the receiver will be sounded. The arrangement is such that, if the clock operation should be interrupted before expiry of the time interval then the alarm bell will remain silent.

The car driver, after stopping the car engine, leaving the car and locking the door, then operates a user identification means constituted by a pocket sized infrared transmitter which is directed towards the signal input window of the receiver 6.

This signal input, if received within the preset time interval for the receiver, will interrupt operation of the clock and thus prevent sounding of the alarm bell. If the car driver does not take this action within the preset time interval for the receiver, the alarm bell will sound and this will warn the car park supervisor that a possible misuse of the parking space has occurred.

For improved security, the infrared transmitter carried by the car driver will produce a particular output signal frequency pattern. The signal receiver 6 will correspondingly be programmed so that it will only respond to the correct input signal.

When intending to drive away from the car park, the driver may just enter the car and drive away. The movement of the car wheels over the road wheel sensor 4 then serves to reset the security device to await the next arrival.

The car park security device of the invention has been found to be comparatively simple to construct and it is able to operate without providing any physical barrier to the car or of causing any significant delay in entering and leaving the parking space. The state of all the signal receivers 6 in the car park can be easily displayed in an office of a car park supervisor and if an unauthorised car has occupied a particular space, an appropriate sanction such as fitting a wheel clamp may be taken.

The road wheel sensor 4 may comprise a pneumatic tube, a pressure or magnetism sensing wire or some other suitable detection mechanism. This sensor may be built into the ground surface just below roadway level, if necessary. The sensor will work equally well on the rear or front wheels of the car.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, the office of the supervisor could be provided with means for metering use of each space so that customers could be charged according to the amount of parking usage involved. In the drawing, the secure car park spaces have been shown in small groups of six which each rely on a common signal receiver 6.

It is clear that, in an alternative embodiment, each space could have its own receiver or else the groups could be much larger with perhaps a dozen spaces sharing one receiver.

The drivers renote control transmitter may additionally be used to operate an entry barrier at the public street entrance to the car park. The receiver at this barrier would clearly be programmed to respond to any of the different frequency signals used by the individual users of the car park spaces. The invention is not limited, however, to use in a larger type of car park which would have an entry barrier and/or a parking supervisor's office. A receiver 6 with its associated alarm bell will also work effectively on its own as a deterrent without being required to deliver an output signal to a central location foE supervision.

Claims (5)

1 A car park security device comprising a detector capable of sensing when a car has entered a specified car parking space, an alarm which will give a signal of the presence of a said car, said signal being actuated a predetermined time interval after entry of the car into said space, and a user identification means such that upon acceptance of information to correctly identify a car park user before the end of said time interval, the operation of said alarm signal will be prevented.

2 A security device according to Claim 1, in which the detector is a pressure sensor located in the path of the car wheels.

3 A security device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which a signal receiver adjacent the parking space has means for accepting user identification data from a predetermined parking space user.

4 A security device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said user identification means is a coded signal produced in a portable transmitter when actuated by the parking user.

5 A car park security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.