Ceiling-Mounted Parking Space Protector with Rotating Shock-Absorbing Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reserving parking spaces in car parks are labor-intensive and costly, and existing solutions like removable bollards interfere with cleaning machines and provide inadequate protection for vehicle bodywork against door shocks, while high-end vehicles often lack sidebars that could mitigate these issues.

Innovation Solution

A device that can be suspended from a car park ceiling, rotating between two positions to block access or absorb door shocks, featuring shock-absorbing bodies, wireless control for remote operation, and sensors to manage access and prevent unauthorized use, with optional features like retroreflective surfaces and sound signals for enhanced visibility and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If removable bollards are provided in the roadway to reserve parking spaces, then parking space reservation is achieved, but installation cost is prohibitive and cleaning machines are interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking space reservationVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the parking space reservation function from complex ground-based systems (removable bollards) and relocates it to a simple overhead support structure. The support is permanently mounted on the ceiling, eliminating the need for expensive removable bollards while maintaining the reservation function through the positioning of protective bodies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective body acts as an intermediary element that serves dual functions: it reserves the parking space by occupying the access area and simultaneously protects the vehicle bodywork from door shocks. This single element replaces multiple separate systems (reservation markers and protective barriers).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If screwed plastic sidebars are installed on vehicles to protect bodywork, then shock protection is provided, but manufacturing cost increases and high-end vehicles no longer include them

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor shock protectionVSAvoidvehicle manufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of equipping vehicles with protective sidebars, the invention inverts the approach by providing protection from the parking infrastructure (overhead support with protective bodies) rather than from the vehicle itself. This eliminates the need to modify vehicle manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective body is designed to automatically absorb door shocks through its shock-absorbing material without requiring active control systems or complex mechanisms. The passive shock absorption capability is inherent in the material design, eliminating the need for expensive active protection systems on vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device effectively reserves parking spaces, protects vehicle bodywork from door shocks, and does not interfere with cleaning operations, while providing secure access management and visual guidance for users, thus reducing labor costs and enhancing safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

at least one shock absorbing body (115, 120) supported by each bracket (105, 110)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

Shocks that may impact a door of a parked vehicle, for example when opening a door of another vehicle, are absorbed by the shock absorption body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMaterial deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

at least one shock absorbing body includes a retroreflective device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRetroreflection: Retroreflector

Data Source

PatentEP3353350B1Device for reserving a parking space and protecting the bodywork of a land vehicle and car park comprising same
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 A2C POP UP CONCEPT
  • EP3353350B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3353350B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3353350B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The device (10) for reserving a space and protecting the bodywork of a land vehicle, comprises: - at least one support (105, 110) of at least one body (115, 120), the support comprising a means (150) for attachment to a ceiling of a premises, - a motor unit (175) for rotating the body support about a vertical axis between a first position and a second position perpendicular to the first position, a means (170) for controlling the motor unit to control the movement of the support between the first and second positions and - at least one shock-absorbing body supported by each support.