US3849936A

US3849936A - Parking stall barrier

Info

Publication number: US3849936A
Application number: US00340554A
Authority: US
Inventors: V Geraci
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-12
Filing date: 1973-03-12
Publication date: 1974-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-26
Also published as: AU6646674A; JPS5026336A; FR2221584A1; DE2411433A1; IL44370A0; BR7401836D0

Abstract

A remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus for controlling the use of a parking space. The apparatus includes a barrier member which is selectively positionable in a stall blocking position or a retracted position. Control means provided with the apparatus permits the user to unlock the barrier in either of the stall blocking or retracted positions so as to permit movement of the barrier to the retracted position when the user wishes to use the parking space and to permit movement of the barrier to the stall blocking position when the user removes his vehicle from the parking space. The apparatus is surface mounted for facilitated installation and includes electrically operated means for effecting unlocking of the barrier when desired.

Description

United States Patent [191 Geraci Nov. 26, 1974 PARKING STALL BARRIER [22] Filed: Mar. 112, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 340,554

[52] US. Cl. 49/35, 49/49 [51] Int. Cl EOlf 13/00 [58] Field of Search 49/35, 49, 70, 25, 31, 49/131, 132

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,024,063 12/1935 Roper 49/131 2,588,502 3/1952 Dunn i i 49/35 2,588,879 3/1952 Richards 49/25 X 2,637,920 5/1953 Stratton 49/35 2,741,859 4/1956 Castle 49/35 X 2,805,498 9/1957 Mosher et 49/35 X 3,303,613 2/1967 Seuntjens 49/131 3,368,305 2/1968 Piekarski i 49/70 3,626,637 12/1971 Rudicel 49/35 X Salloum 49/35 Reynolds 49/131 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7 ABSTRACT A remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus for controlling the use of a parking space. The apparatus includes a barrier member which is selectively positionable in a stall blocking position or a retracted position. Control means provided with the apparatus permits the user to unlock the barrier in either of the stall blocking or retracted positions so as to permit movement of the barrier to the retracted position when the user wishes to use the parking space and to permit movement of the barrier to the stall blocking position when the user removes his vehicle from the parking space. The apparatus is surface mounted for facilitated installation and includes electrically operated means for effecting unlocking of the barrier when desired.

37 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PARKING STALL BARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to space control means and in particular to barrier apparatus for use in controlling the use of a vehicular parking stall.

2. Description of the Prior Art One form of parking stall control means is illustrated in S. R. Genoe U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,740 which shows a parking space guard having a barrier means selectively locked in an upright position to prevent unauthorized use of the sapce. To effect the locking of the barrier in this position, the hasp of a padlock is inserted through perforations in an upright and a flange of the support. In the use of the guard, the user must leave the vehicle, remove the lock from the device and turn the upright downwardly to permit the vehicle to move into or from the stall. To dispose the guard in the stall blocking position, the user must manually raise the upright to permit relocking thereof in the vertical position.

In the U.S. Fat. to stratton et al. No. 2,637,920 and Castle, No. 2,741,859, barrier-type devices are remotely controlled as by coin-operated devices accessible to the driver from the vehicle. The use of radio control or electromagnetic devices in connection with parking space barriers is also illustrated in U.S. Pats. to Rose et al., No. 3,041,507 and Piekarski, No. 3,368,305.

U.S. Pat. to Dull, No. 3,061,960 and Sprung, No. 3,417,508 show manually operable guards, and Dunne U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,502 shows a space control wherein the weight of the vehicle actuates the barrier.

Other U.S. Pats. which show related control devices are those of Capre, No. 1,935,017; Sweetser, No. 2,657,486; Chicoine et al., No. 2,842,876; Marmont et al., No. 2,929,623; Neblett, No. 3,134,184; Staples No. 3,150,454.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends a new and improved remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus which includes a barrier member, means for selectively locking the barrier member in an upstanding vehicle blocking position and horizontal non-blocking position, and release means for unlocking the barrier member only when a vehicle bears against the barrier.

The release means may include a remote control means for permitting the user to unlock the barrier while remaining within the vehicle. Alternatively, the control means may comprise a coin-operated control as desired. The apparatus is adapted for surface mounting and may be battery-operated if desired, thereby eliminating the need for expensive wiring to the apparatus while yet providing positive operation of the apparatus as desired over long periods of time.

More specifically, the invention comprehends a remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus including a barrier member, means for mounting the barrier member in a vehicular parking stall, switch means associated with the barrier to be operated by at least one of the wheels of a vheicle as it is brought into or from the stall, a controlled operating means such as a remote controlled signal receiver or coin-operated device, means for selectively guiding the barrier to a stall blocking position and to a retracted position allowing ingress and egress by the vehicle relative to the stall, means for permitting operation of the signal receiver only when the switch means is operated, means for latching the barrier in the retracted position and in the stall blocking position, controlled means for transmitting a signal to the remote controlled receiver where used, and means responsive to operation of the signal receiver by the controlled means or to the deposit of a coin in the coin-operated device to release the latching means for permitting movement of the barrier to the retracted position when the vehicle is entering and is disposed in the stall, and permitting movement of the barrier to the stall blocking position upon the vehicle leaving the stall. The barrier may be pivotally mounted adjacent one end and the latching means may include a movably mounted latch member, a connector movably mounted to the barrier and selectively engageable with the latch member to lock the barrier in either of the stall blocking or retracted positions.

The remote control means may include a receiver associated with the barrier and a transmitter within the vehicle to be parked or may be a coin-controlled device to be actuated by the driver when desiring to use the parking space. The receiver is arranged to be operated only when the vehicle engages the barrier to actuate a control switch associated therewith and thereby potentiate the receiver for receiving a suitable control signal from the transmitter.

The barrier is released from each of the stall blocking and retracted positions by the signal transmitted to the receiver as a result of operation of a solenoid operating the latch member controlling the barrier connector. The barrier is spring biased to the stall blocking position, and in the illustrated embodiment, one end of a spring is connected to the connector for urging the barrier to the stall blocking position. The latch member may be pivotally mounted for actuation by the solenoid and may include different shoulder means for locking the barrier in the stall blocking and retracted positions.

The parking stall barrier apparatus is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa parking stall barrier apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGS. IA, 18, 1C and ID are diagrammatic side elevations illustrating first, second, third and fourth steps, respectively, in the use of one embodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the installed barrier means in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the installed barrier means in the stall blocking position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section of a preferred embodiment of the vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus;

FIG. 6A is a transverse section similar to that of FIG. 6 but with the barrier in the retracted position; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the barrier in the retracted position with portions broken away to facilitate illustration of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. lof the drawing, a plurality of vehicular parking stall barrier apparatuses generally designated 10 are shown as provided for controlling the use of a plurality of parking spaces 11 as by vehicles 12, such as automobiles. Each apparatus 10 is identical and, thus, the description thereof will be limited to one such apparatus.

Briefly, as shown in FIGS. lA-lD, apparatus 10 is arranged to permit the parking in space 11 only by an authorized user. Thus, the barrier apparatus 10 includes a barrier member 13 which is selectively disposed in a stall blocking position as shown in FIG. 1A, and a retracted position as shown in FIG. 1C. When the stall is not in use, the barrier is normally in the stall blocking position of FIG. 1A so that unauthorized use of the parking space 11 is prevented. However, when the authorized user of the parking space wishes to park the vehicle 12 therein, he may bring the front wheels 14 of the vehicle onto the front end portion 15 of the barrier member and concurrently operate a suitable acutating means illustratively comprising a radio frequency transmitter device 16 to operate a radio frequency receiver 17 in a control post 18 at the rear of the parking space 11. Alternatively or additionally, a coin-controlled device l7a may be provided for effecting operation of apparatus 10. This control of the receiver 17 is effected by means of a switch 19 which is operated by FIGS. 18 and 3. Reception of the remote control radio frequency signal by receiver 17 effects electrical operation of a solenoid 20 to move a latching member 21 away from locking association with a connector 22 attached to the barrier member 13 to permit the connector to move along a bottom channel 23 of the device to a substantially horizontal position as a result of a downward force on the barrier member 13 as by the weight of the car thereon. The barrier member 13 is carried on a downwardly opening support channel 24 which is pivotally mounted to the upwardly opening bottom channel 23 by means of a pivot pin 25 which is urged upwardly by a coil spring 26 between the pivot pin 25 and web of channel 23. The pin 25 is received in a vertically elongated slot 27 in channel 23 to permit suitable downward movement against the action of spring 26 to effect operation of switch 19 through an operator 19a connected thereto.

Thus, as seen in FIGS. 1B, 1C, 2 and 3, the movement of latching member 21 by solenoid 20 permits the user to drive the vehicle 12 forwardly into stall 11 with the weight of the car bringing the barrier to the retracted position of FIGS. 1C and 2. The user need send the operating signal only to release the latch member 21 and, thus when the barrier is in the retracted position of FIG. 2, solenoid 20 is no longer energized as a result of the discontinuation of the transmission of the operating signal to receiver 17, and a roller 28 carried on the lower end of the connector 22 may be locked in a suitable downwardly opening recess 29 in the latch member 21 against the action of a coil spring 30 tending to urge the roller 28 to the left as seen in FIG. 2 against a stop shoulder 31 defined by the front edge of the recess 29. The tension of spring 30 may be controlled by suitable threaded mounting device 32 carried on the channel 32 and connected to the opposite end of the spring.

The barrier 13 may remain in the retracted position while the vehicle 12 is retained in the parking space 11. Alternatively, means may be provided for releasing the barrier to provide antitheft functioning of the apparatus. When it is desired to move the vehicle, it is backed out until the front wheels 14 again rest on the leading portion 15 of the barrier 13 thereby again closing switch 19 and permitting the user to again actuate the solenoid 20 by means of the transmitter 16. Operation of solenoid 20 effects a movement of the latch member 21 pivotally about a pivot 33 on channel 23 so as to swing the latch member away from the roller 28 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, and thereby permit spring 30 to urge the lower end of the connector 22 along the channel 23. The upper end of the connector 22 is connected to the channel 24 by a suitable pivot 34 and, thus, the action of spring 30 causes a swinging of the barrier 13 about the axis of pivot 25 to the-upper stall blocking position of FIGS. 1A and 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the angularity of the inclined arrangement of the barrier 13 may be adjusted by disposing pin 34 in any one ofa plurality of holes 35 spaced longitudinally in channel 24. In this position, downward movement of the barrier 13 is prevented by the abutment of the connector 22 with the end 36 of the latch member 21 which is now restored to the horizontal position by the de-energization of solenoid 20. The extension of coil spring 30 is adjusted by device 32 so that the coil spring is substantially relaxed in the stall blocking arrangement of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3, with the weight of the barrier 13 and channel 24 effectively urging the lower connector end against the latching member end 36.

Thus, when the user removes the vehicle from the parking space 11 the barrier is again disposed in the stall blocking position of FIGS. 1A preventing unauthorized use of the parking space.

The operation of solenoid 20 is effected electrically by means of any suitable power supply which may include conventional -v. AC power supplies. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply comprises a battery 37 which may be mounted in control post 18. As the entire system is deenergized as long as switch 19 is open, there is no drain on the battery 37 during periods of nonuse of the apparatus. It is only when the user's vehicle wheels bear down on the front end 15 of the barrier that the receiver 17 and solenoid 20 may be connected to the battery for operation thereof. Upon release of the latching means of the apparatus, the user drives the vehicle fully into the parking space, once again removing the downward force on the barrier portion 15 and thereby disconnecting the electrical apparatus from the battery 37.

Thus, the apparatus 10 requires not only the use of a remote control transmitter and receiver, but also concurrently positioning of the users vehicle wheels on the front portion only of the barrier 13 to effect the desired release of the barrier to either the retracted or stall blocking positions. The weight of the vehicle causes the released barrier 13 to be moved down to the retracted position in which position it is latched, or locked, as the solenoid is de-energized at that time. To restore the barrier to the stall blocking position once it is released in the retracted position, the coil spring 30 is utilized. Thus, the only electrical apparatus needed to control the operation of the apparatus is a low power radio receiver and a relatively low power latch control solenoid. As a result, the battery may have long life between need for recharging.

As the apparatus comprises a surface mounted apparatus, installation thereof is extremely simple and may be effected by any suitable means such as by bolts.

As shown, the barrier 13 may extend the full width of the vehicle, or at least sufficiently to underlie both front wheels of the vehicle to effectively avoid cocking of the barrier. The barrier may have a downturned leading apron 39 and a downturned trailing apron 40 for guiding the vehicle wheels upwardly onto the midportion 41 of the barrier in driving the vehicle thereover. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the downturned channel 24 nests over the upturned channel 23 to effectively enclose the apparatus carried on channel 23 and prevent manual operation of the latch 21. The

downturned aprons

39 and 40 and flexible cover 51 effectively prevent access to the opposite ends of the channels.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, a preferred form of vehicular'parking stall barrier apparatus generally designated 110 is shown to comprise a barrier member 113 which is selectively disposed in the stall blocking position shown in FIG. 6 and the retracted position shown in FIG. 6A. Barrier 113 carries depending support channels 124 which are pivotally of FIG. 6, the pivot element 147 underlies a holding element 150 on the channel 124 to effectively preclude clockwise swinging of the barrier to the retracted position of FIG. 6A notwithstanding moving of an automobile onto the barrier. Further, when the barrier is in the retracted position of FIG. 6A, the pivot of the members 147 in the counterclockwise direction causes them to latch over the holding element 150 and thereby prevent release of the barrier from the retracted position until such time as the solenoid 120 is energized to release the barrier for pivotal movement to the stall blocking position by the action of spring 144 as shown in FIG. 6.

Thus, the cooperating pivot element 147 and holding member 150 effectively define a. holding means which is responsive to the operation of the signal receiver 117 which may be disposed within apparatus 110 for selectively releasably retaining the barrier in either of the stall blocking or retracted positions. The pivot element defines an L-shaped member having its leg 147a fixed to the rod 148 and a turned end 147b adapted to cooperate with the holding member 150 to effect such control of the barrier. Thus, pivot end 147b cooperates with the holding member 150 which effectively defines a latch member in controlling the positioning of the barrier.

Apparatus 110 functions generally similarly to apparatus 10 in that when the user wishes to park the vehimounted to bottom channels 123 carried on a base 142. Thus, as shown, to effect such pivotal mounting, a pivot pin 125 extends through suitable slots 127 in the base channels 123 and suitable openings 143 in the barrier channels 124. Pivot pin 125 is biased upwardly by coil springs 126 so as to maintain the switch 119 open until the front portion 115 of the barrier is urged downwardly as by the weight of an automobile passing there over to close switch 119 and thereby activate the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 7, three cooperating

channels

123 and 124 are provided in apparatus 110 including a first pair of channels 124a and 12311 at the righthand end 141a of the barrier, a second set of channels 124]) and 12312 at the mid-portion 141!) of the barrier, and a third set ofchannels 124C and 1230 at the lefthand end 1416. The switch 119 may be associated with the middle channels 124]) and 12319.

Barrier 113 may be biased to the stall blocking position of FIG. 6 by suitable spring means, which in the illustrated embodiment, comprise a heavy coil spring 144 having one end held by a spring retainer 145 carried on the web of the barrier channel 124 and the other end held by a spring retainer 146 carried on the web of the base channel 123.

Barrier 113 is normally prevented from being moved to the retracted position by three pivot elements 147 fixed to a rod 148 which is journalled on a plurality of bearing supports 149 carried on base channel 123. Rod 148 is pivoted about the longitudinal axis thereof by a solenoid 120 to swing the pivot elements 147 to a retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6A upon energization of the solenoid. The solenoid is biased to swing the pivot elements 147 in a counterclockwise di rection, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 6A, away from the retracted position upon de-energization of the solenoid. Thus, when the barrier is in the stall blocking position cle 12, he brings the front wheels 14 of the vehicle in engagement with the front of barrier 113 and actuates the radio receiver 117 by means of his transmitter device 16 to energize solenoid and thereby retract latch member 147. Movement of the automobile wheels further onto the barrier 113 then causes the barrier to move to the retracted position of FIG. 6A. Upon discontinuation of the actuating signal, solenoid 120 is deenergized, permitting the member 147 to swing back to the latching position of FIG. 6A thereby maintaining the barrier in the retracted position.

As shown in FIG. 6, receiver 117 may be provided within the apparatus 110 eliminating the need for the separate post 18 as in the embodiment of apparatus 10. Where the operation of the apparatus is effected by a battery, the battery 137 may be similarly mounted within the apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver and battery are mounted to the barrier member 113, as shown in FIG. 61. As discussed above relative to battery 37, the battery may be selectively chargeable or nonchargeable as desired. By incorporating the receiver and battery directly in the barrier apparatus, the need for wiring between the post and the barrier apparatus is eliminated. However, where the control means comprise coin-controlled means, the moditied apparatus 110 may utilize the arrangement of apparatus 10 selectively as desired; that is, where a post must be provided for mounting the coin-actuated means, the battery 137 may be installed therein for facilitated maintenance. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, alternatively, apparatus 10 may utilize the arrangement of FIG. 6 wherein the receiver and battery are mounted within the barrier apparatus eliminating the need for the post 18 in apparatus 10.

To move the automobile from the parking area, the user withdraws the vehicle until the trailing wheels again actuate switch 119 to permit energization of the receiver 117 by actuation of the control 16 in the automobile to release the latch means 174, 150 andpermit the barrierto move back to the stall blocking position.

Upon the trailing wheels leaving the barrier, switch 119 is again opened to de-energize the solenoid and return the apparatus to the locking stall blocking arrangement of FIG. 6.

The apparatus of FIGS. 607 is similar to the apparatus of FIGS. 1-5 and similar elements thereof are identified by similar reference numerals except 100 higher The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim: I

l. A remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus comprising:

a barrier member;

means for mounting the barrier member in a vehicular parking stall;

switch means associated with said barrier to beoperated by at least one of the wheels of a vehicle as it is brought into or from the stall;

a remote control signal receiver;

means for selectively guiding the barrier to a stall blocking position, and to a retracted position allowing ingress and egress by the vehicle relative to the stall;

means for permitting operation of the signal receiver only when said switch means is operated;

means for releasably retaining said barrier in the retracted position and in said stall blocking position;

controlled means for transmitting a signal to the receiver; and

means responsive to concurrent operation of the signal receiver by said controlled means and operation of the switch means to release said releasable retaining means for permitting movement of the barrier to the retracted position upon the vehicle entering said stall, and permitting movement of the barrier to the stall blocking position upon the vehicle leaving said stall.

2. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guiding means includes means for urging the barrier to the stall blocking position.

3. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guiding means includes spring means for biasing the barrier to the stall blocking position.

4. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier is yieldingly mounted adjacent said switch means to be urged downwardly by the weight of the vehicle thereon and means are provided for operating said switch means in response to the downward movement of said barrier by said vehicle weight.

5. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 further including means for pivotally mounting the barrier adjacent one end thereof about a horizontal axis and means for swinging said barrier about said axis between an inclined stall blocking position and a horizontal retracted position.

6. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 further including means for pivotally mounting the barrier adjacent one end thereof about a horizontal axis and means for swinging said barrier about said axis between an inclined stall blocking position and a horizontal retracted position includconnector movably mounted to said barrier and having means engaging the latch member to lock the barrier in said stall blocking position, and electrically operated means for moving the latch member to release said barrier by disengaging the latch member from said means engaging the latch member.

9. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said releasable retaining means comprises a movably mounted latch member, a connector movably mounted to said barrier and having means engaging the latch member to lock the barrier in said retracted position, and electrically operated means for moving the latch member to release said barrier by disengaging the latch member from said means engaging the latch member.

10. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 including battery means for operating said signal receiver and means for releasing said releasable retaining means.

11. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises surface mounting apparatus.

12. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said releasable retaining means comprises a movably mounted latch member, a connector movably mounted to said barrier, and having means engaging the latch member to lock the barrier in said stall blocking position and in said retracted position, electrically operated means for moving the latch means to release said barrier by disengaging the latch means from said means engaging the latch means, and means for urging the connector away from the latch member when said latch means is moved to release the barrier.

13. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining said barrier means comprises holding means having a holding portion and a pivot portion, said means responsive to the operation of the signal receiver comprises means for selectively pivoting said pivot portion, and said barrier member includes means cooperating with said holding portion of the hodling means for releasably holding the barrier in said retracted and stall blocking position as an incident of the pivoting of the holding means by said signal receiver responsive means.

14. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 13 wherein said signal receiver re sponsive means includes a pivot element carrying said pivot portion of the latching means and a solenoid con nected to said pivot element for pivoting said element about a pivot axis thereof.

15. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 13 wherein said holding portion comprises a turned end of said holding means and said cooperating means of the barrier defines a latch member selectively engaged by said turned end.

16. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a base member and said guiding means includes a spring acting between said barrier and said base member for urging the barrier to the stall blocking position.

17. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a base member and means for pivotally mounting said barrier to the base member, and said guiding means includes a spring acting between said barrier and said base member for pivotally urging the barrier to the stall blocking position.

18. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining the barrier comprises a rod and a plurality of latching elements longitudinally spaced on said rod and engageable with cooperating means on the barrier, and said means responsive to operation of the signal re ceiver comprises means for selectively moving said rod to disengage said latching elements from said cooperating means.

19. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means in cludes a base member and means for pivotally mounting said barrier to the base member, and said guiding means includes a spring acting between said barrier and said base member for pivotally urging the barrier to the stall blocking position, said means for pivotally mounting said barrier including yieldable means, said switch means being disposed adjacent said mounting means to be pivoted as an incident of the yielding thereof.

20. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier is elongated and said releasable retaining means includes holding means disposed adjacent the ends of the barrier.

21. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier is elongated and said releasable retaining means includes holding means disposed adjacent the ends of the barrier and adjacent the center of the barrier.

22. Barrier apparatus for controlling access to a vehicular parking space having an entrance portion, said apparatus comprising: a barrier member; mounting means for movably mounting said barrier member to said entrance portion of said parking space for selective movement between an upstanding blocking position thereacross and a retracted horizontal non-blocking position permitting movement of a vehicle into and from said parking space; locking means for selectively locking the barrier member in said blocking and nonblocking positions; and release means for releasing said locking means to unlock said barrier member in either of said positions only when a vehicle bears against said barrier apparatus.

23. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 wherein said release means includes remote control means for permitting the user to unlock said barrier while remaining within the vehicle.

24. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 wherein said mounting means comprises surface mounting structure.

25. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 wherein said release means includes a battery and battery operated means for selectively unlocking the barrier member.

26. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 wherein said release means includes a radio receiver operatively associated with said release means to effect unlocking of the barrier member and transmit ter means adapted to be disposed within the vehicle for remotely operating said receiver.

27. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 including an enclosure, said locking means and said release means being disposed within said enclosure.

28. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 27 including battery means for controlling the locking and unlocking of the barrier member mounted within the enclosure.

29. The vehicular parking spacebarrier apparatus of claim 27 including a remote controlled receiver for controlling the locking and unlocking of the barrier member mounted within the enclsoure.

30. Barrier apparatus for controlling access to a vehicular parking space having an entrance portion, said apparatus comprising: a barrier member; mounting means for movably mounting said barrier member on the surface of said entrance portion of said parking space for selective movement between an upstanding blocking position thereacross and a retracted horizontal non-blocking position permitting movement of a vehicle into and from said parking space; electrically operative locking means underlying said barrier member and overlying said parking space surface for selectively locking the barrier member in said blocking and nonblocking positions; and release means for releasing said locking means to unlock said barrier member in either of said positions only when a vehicle bears against said barrier apparatus.

31. The vehicular parking barrier apparatus of claim 30 including enclosure means for protecting the electrically operative locking means against the elements.

32. The vehicular parking barrier apparatus of claim 30 including a lower mounting member, said electrically operative locking means being carried subjacent said barrier member on said lower mounting member.

33. The vehicular parking barrier apparatus of claim 30 wherein said locking means includes a holding element movable with said barrier member and a movable latching element carried by said surface mounting means for selective engagement with said holding element to positionally retain said barrier member.

34. The vehicular parking barrier apparatus of claim 30 wherein said locking means includes a holding element movable with said barrier member, a movable latching element carried by said mounting means for selective engagement with said holding element to positionally retain said barrier member, and radio means for remotely controlling the movement of said latching element.

35. Barrier apparatus for controlling access to a parking space having an entrance portion, said apparatus comprising: a barrier member mounting means for movably mounting said barrier member to said entrance portion of said parking space for selective movement between an upstanding blocking position thereacross and a retracted horizontal non-blocking position permitting movement of a vehicle into and from said parking space; electrically operative locking means underlying said barrier member for selectively locking said barrier member in said blocking and non-blocking vents movement of said barrier member from said blocking position to said non-blocking position, and said remote control means further is arranged to operate said locking means to permit movement of said barrier member from said blocking position to said nonblocking position as an incident of a vehicle passing over said barrier member.

37. The vehicular parking barrier apparatus of claim 35 wherein said electrically operative locking means is disposed fully above the parking surface of said parking space.

Claims

1. A remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus comprising: a barrier member; means for mounting the barrier member in a vehicular parking stall; switch means associated with said barrier to be operated by at least one of the wheels of a vehicle as it is brought into or from the stall; a remote control signal receiver; means for selectively guiding the barrier to a stall blocking position, and to a retracted position allowing ingress and egress by the vehicle relative to the stall; means for permitting operation of the signal receiver only when said switch means is operated; means for releasably retaining said barrier in the retracted position and in said stall blocking position; controlled means for transmitting a signal to the receiver; and means responsive to concurrent operation of the signal receiver by said controlled means and operation of the switch means to release said releasable retaining means for permitting movement of the barrier to the retracted position upon the vehicle entering said stall, and permitting movement of the barrier to the stall blocking position upon the vehicle leaving said stall.

6. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 further including means for pivotally mounting the barrier adjacent one end thereof about a horizontal axis and means for swinging said barrier about said axis between an inclined stall blocking position and a horizontal retracted position including means for biasing the barrier toward said stall blocking position.

7. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said barrier extends lengthwise across the stall at least the width of the lateral wheel spacing of the vehicle so as to be engaged simultaneously by a pair of the vehicle wheels.

8. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said releasable retaining means comprises a movably mounted latch member, a connector movably mounted to said barrier and having means engaging the latch member to lock the barrier in said stall blocking position, and electrically operated means for moving the latch member to release said barrier by disengaging the latch member from said means engaging the latch member.

13. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining said barrier means comprises holding means having a holding portion and a pivot portion, said means responsive to the operation of the signal receiver comprises means for selectively pivoting said pivot portion, and said barrier member includes means cooperating with said holding portion of the holding means for releasably holding the barrier in said retracted and stall blocking position as an incideNt of the pivoting of the holding means by said signal receiver responsive means.

14. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 13 wherein said signal receiver responsive means includes a pivot element carrying said pivot portion of the latching means and a solenoid connected to said pivot element for pivoting said element about a pivot axis thereof.

18. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining the barrier comprises a rod and a plurality of latching elements longitudinally spaced on said rod and engageable with cooperating means on the barrier, and said means responsive to operation of the signal receiver comprises means for selectively moving said rod to disengage said latching elements from said cooperating means.

19. The remote control vehicular parking stall barrier apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a base member and means for pivotally mounting said barrier to the base member, and said guiding means includes a spring acting between said barrier and said base member for pivotally urging the barrier to the stall blocking position, said means for pivotally mounting said barrier including yieldable means, said switch means being disposed adjacent said mounting means to be pivoted as an incident of the yielding thereof.

22. Barrier apparatus for controlling access to a vehicular parking space having an entrance portion, said apparatus comprising: a barrier member; mounting means for movably mounting said barrier member to said entrance portion of said parking space for selective movement between an upstanding blocking position thereacross and a retracted horizontal non-blocking position permitting movement of a vehicle into and from said parking space; locking means for selectively locking the barrier member in said blocking and non-blocking positions; and release means for releasing said locking means to unlock said barrier member in either of said positions only when a vehicle bears against said barrier apparatus.

25. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 wherein said release means includes a battery and battery-operated means for selectively unlocking the barrier member.

26. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rElease means includes a radio receiver operatively associated with said release means to effect unlocking of the barrier member and transmitter means adapted to be disposed within the vehicle for remotely operating said receiver.

29. The vehicular parking space barrier apparatus of claim 27 including a remote controlled receiver for controlling the locking and unlocking of the barrier member mounted within the enclosure.

30. Barrier apparatus for controlling access to a vehicular parking space having an entrance portion, said apparatus comprising: a barrier member; mounting means for movably mounting said barrier member on the surface of said entrance portion of said parking space for selective movement between an upstanding blocking position thereacross and a retracted horizontal non-blocking position permitting movement of a vehicle into and from said parking space; electrically operative locking means underlying said barrier member and overlying said parking space surface for selectively locking the barrier member in said blocking and non-blocking positions; and release means for releasing said locking means to unlock said barrier member in either of said positions only when a vehicle bears against said barrier apparatus.

35. Barrier apparatus for controlling access to a parking space having an entrance portion, said apparatus comprising: a barrier member mounting means for movably mounting said barrier member to said entrance portion of said parking space for selective movement between an upstanding blocking position thereacross and a retracted horizontal non-blocking position permitting movement of a vehicle into and from said parking space; electrically operative locking means underlying said barrier member for selectively locking said barrier member in said blocking and non-blocking positions, said locking means selectively locking said barrier member in said non-blocking position as an incident of a vehicle passing over said barrier; remote control signal transmitting and receiving release means for selectively operating said locking means to release said locking apparatus; and means for causing said barrier member to move from said non-blocking position to said blocking position upon said release only when the barrier member is free of engagement by the vehicle.

36. The vehicular parking barrier apparatus of claim 35 wherein said locking means further selectively prevents movement of said barrier member from said blocking position to said non-blocking position, and said remote control means further is arranged to operate said locking means to pErmit movement of said barrier member from said blocking position to said non-blocking position as an incident of a vehicle passing over said barrier member.