Visual parking guide

• US 20030037718A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kuldip Randhawa
• Original Assignee: Kuldip Randhawa
• Inventors: Randhawa, Kuldip
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/28R
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/22 using a parallactic triangle with variable angles and a base of fixed length at, near, or formed by the object

Abstract

A visual parking guide, more particularly, a thin flat surface, divided into three zones, with a multitude of markings in each zone, to assist drivers of varying heights to park their car in a safe parking position. The visual parking guide is mountable on a supporting structure such that at least a portion of the parking guide is within the field of view of the driver. By parking the vehicle at a preferred distance from a stationary structure and aligning a fixed point relative to the vehicle with one of the multitude of markings on the visual parking guide, the driver can determine a reference point to use as a means to determine the safe parking position.

Claims

1. A visual parking guide to assist a driver in parking a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a flat surface adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure; and

(b) a multitude of markings positioned on said flat surface;

wherein when said flat surface is mounted on said supporting structure within the field of view of said driver and when said driver aligns a fixed point relative to said vehicle with one of said markings, said driver can position said vehicle at a preferred distance from said supporting structure.

2. The visual parking guide of claim 1, wherein said flat surface is made of a semi-rigid material.

3. The visual parking guide of claim 2, wherein said multitude of markings are generally horizontal curved lines.

4. The visual parking guide of claim 3, wherein said multitude of markings have light reflective properties.

5. The visual paring guide of claim 4, wherein said flat surface is divided into a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone.

6. The visual parking guide of claim 5, wherein said first zone is within the field of view of a tall driver.

7. The visual parking guide of claim 6, wherein said second zone is within the field of view of an average height driver.

8. The visual parking guide of claim 7, wherein said third zone is within the field of view of a short driver.

9. The visual parking guide of claim 8, wherein said flat surface is mounted on a wall.

10. The visual parking guide of claim 9, wherein said flat surface is mounted on a sign.

11. The visual parking guide of claim 10, wherein said flat surface is mounted on a post.

12. The visual parking guide of claim 11, wherein a table of suggested heights to mount said flat surface is positioned on a first corner of said flat surface.

13. The visual parking guide of claim 12, wherein instructions to mount said flat surface is positioned on a second corner of said flat surface.

14. The visual parking guide of claim 13, wherein a diagram displaying proper use of said visual parking guide is positioned on a third corner of said flat surface.

15. A method of setting a reference point for parking a vehicle in a parking space adjacent to a stationary structure, comprising the steps of:

(a) parking said vehicle at a preferred distance from said stationary structure;

(b) providing a visual parking guide, comprising;

(i) a flat surface adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure; and

(ii) a multitude of markings positioned on said flat surface;

(c) mounting said visual parking guide on said supporting structure such that said visual parking guide is within the field of view of a driver of said vehicle; and

(d) said driver aligning a fixed point relative to said vehicle with one of said multitude of markings to determine said driver'"'"'s reference point in relation to said vehicle and said visual parking guide.

16. The method of parking a vehicle in a parking space adjacent to a stationary structure after determining a reference point by the method of claim 15, wherein said driver parks said vehicle at said preferred distance by aligning said fixed point with said reference point.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said flat surface is divided into a first, second and third zone.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first zone is within the field of view of a tall driver and said multitude of markings positioned within said first zone determine said tall driver'"'"'s reference point in relation to said vehicle and said visual parking guide.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second zone is within the field of view of an average height driver and said multitude of markings positioned within said second zone determine said average height driver'"'"'s reference point in relation to said vehicle and said parking guide.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said third zone is within the field of view of a short driver and said multitude of markings positioned within said third zone determine said short driver'"'"'s reference point in relation to said vehicle and said visual parking guide.