Wheel stop made of metal pipe and capable of transmitting power to electric car while being parked

• US 8,317,000 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MEC Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MEC Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Miki, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Melanie Torres
• Application Number:
  US12/960,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 188/5, 188/36, 188/32, 188/1.12, 320/102, 320/111, D25/102, D10/10, 404/565, 404/6, 362/152
• US Class Current: 188/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/426 Parking guides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A wheel stop is disclosed which is engaged by a wheel of a vehicle in an attempt to be parked in a parking lot, to limit movement of the vehicle. The wheel stop includes a middle extending portion, first and second leg portions, all of which are integrally formed with a metal pipe. The wheel stop further includes first and second anchor plates affixed to the first and second leg portions, respectively, the anchor plates being anchored to the parking lot; an electric cable disposed within the metal pipe; and an electric outlet disposed on an outer surface of the metal pipe, and connected with the electric cable, to thereby allow, when the vehicle parked in the parking lot is an electric car, a power supply cable extending from the electric car to be plugged into the electric outlet.

Claims

1. A wheel stop installed on a supporting surface of a vehicular parking lot, which is engaged by selected at least one of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle in an attempt to be parked in the parking lot, to limit movement of the vehicle in a direction that allows the selected at least one wheel to pass over the wheel stop, to thereby define a parking space for the vehicle,

the wheel stop comprising a middle extending portion, first and second leg portions, all of which are integrally formed with a continuous and hollow metal pipe,

wherein the middle extending portion extends generally horizontally, to thereby allow the selected at least one wheel to abut with the wheel stop, and

the first and second leg portions are each in the form of an elbow bent at generally 90 degrees, each leg portion having a proximal end located at a corresponding one of both ends of the middle extending portion, and a distal end supported on the supporting surface of the parking lot,

the wheel stop further comprising

first and second anchor plates affixed to the distal ends of the first and second leg portions, respectively, the anchor plates being anchored to the supporting surface of the parking lot;

an electric cable disposed within the metal pipe; and

an electric outlet disposed on an outer surface of the metal pipe, and connected with the electric cable, to thereby allow, when the vehicle parked in the parking lot is an electric car, a power supply cable extending from the electric car to be plugged into the electric outlet.