Guide device & car park

Abstract

The invention relates to a guide device ( 2 ) for helping drivers to guide their vehicles into parking spaces, and a car park that includes a plurality of the guide devices for delimiting the boundaries of parking spaces in which vehicles may be parked, thereby defining the layout of the car park. The guide device ( 2 ) includes a support member ( 10 ) that is constructed and arranged to stand on the ground, at least one arm that is supported by the support member and in use extends substantially horizontally from the support member, and a ground anchor ( 12 ) having a lower part for anchoring in the ground and an upper part to which the support member may be attached.

1 . A guide device for helping drivers to guide their vehicles into parking spaces, said guide device including a support member that is constructed and arranged to stand on the ground, at least one arm that is supported by the support member and in use extends substantially horizontally from the support member, and a ground anchor having a lower part for anchoring in the ground and an upper part to which the support member may be attached.  
     
     
         2 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , in which the support member includes a ground-contacting portion that is deformable to accommodate movements of the ground.  
     
     
         3 . A guide device according to  claim 2 , in which the support member includes a resilient plastics moulding.  
     
     
         4 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , in which the support member includes ground engaging elements for preventing rotation of the support member relative to the ground.  
     
     
         5 . A guide device according to  claim 4 , in which the ground engaging elements comprise spikes on a lower surface of the support member.  
     
     
         6 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , in which the ground anchor includes a spike that is suitable for being driven into the ground.  
     
     
         7 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , including means for attaching and locking the ground anchor to the support member to prevent rotation relative thereto.  
     
     
         8 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , including a plurality of arms that are supported by the support member, said plurality of arms including a first arm for demarking a side boundary of a parking space and a second arm for demarking an end boundary of a parking space.  
     
     
         9 . A guide device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second arms are constructed and arranged to be substantially horizontal in use.  
     
     
         10 . A guide device according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second arms are substantially perpendicular to each other.  
     
     
         11 . A guide device according to  claim 8 , in which the first arm is substantially longer than the second arm.  
     
     
         12 . A guide device according to  claim 11 , in which the first arm has a length in the range 100-300 cm, preferably approximately 150 cm, and the second arm has a length in the range 100-150 cm, preferably approximately 80 cm.  
     
     
         13 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member is constructed and arranged to be substantially vertical in use.  
     
     
         14 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each arm is made of a plastics material.  
     
     
         15 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each arm is made of polyethylene.  
     
     
         16 . A guide device according to  claim 1 , incorporating information or advertising displayed upon the visible surface and applied during manufacture or subsequently.  
     
     
         17 . A car park having a plurality of guide devices according to  claim 1 , said guide devices being arranged to define the layout of the car park and demark the boundaries of parking spaces within which vehicles may be parked.  
     
     
         18 . A car park according to  claim 17 , said guide devices being arranged to define the pattern of the aisles and to control the circulation of vehicles within the car park.  
     
     
         19 . A car park according to  claim 17 , said car park having a grassed or aggregate surface.  
     
     
         20 . A car park according to  claim 17 , said car park having a tarmacadam, concrete or other hard surface.  
     
     
         21 . A car park according to  claim 17 , including one or more vehicle aisles, said parking spaces being set at an acute angle to the aisles.  
     
     
         22 . A car park according to  claim 21 , said car park having a herringbone configuration in plan.  
     
     
         23 . A guide device for helping drivers to guide their vehicles into parking spaces, said guide device including a support member that is constructed and arranged to stand on the ground, and a plurality of arms that are supported by the support member, said plurality of arms including a first arm for demarking a side boundary of a parking space and a second arm for demarking an end boundary of a parking space.  
     
     
         24 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , wherein the first and second arms are constructed and arranged to be substantially horizontal in use.  
     
     
         25 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , wherein the first and second arms are substantially perpendicular to each other.  
     
     
         26 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , in which the first arm is substantially longer than the second arm.  
     
     
         27 . A guide device according to  claim 26 , in which the first arm has a length in the range 100-300 cm, preferably approximately 150 cm, and the second arm has a length in the range 100-150 cm, preferably approximately 80 cm.  
     
     
         28 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , wherein the support member is constructed and arranged to be substantially vertical in use.  
     
     
         29 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , wherein the or each arm is made of a plastics material.  
     
     
         30 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , wherein the or each arm is made of polyethylene.  
     
     
         31 . A guide device according to  claim 23 , incorporating information or advertising displayed upon the visible surface and applied during manufacture or subsequently.  
     
     
         32 . A car park having a plurality of guide devices according to  claim 23 , said guide devices being arranged to define the layout of the car park and demark the boundaries of parking spaces within which vehicles may be parked.  
     
     
         33 . A car park according to  claim 32 , said guide devices being arranged to define the pattern of the aisles and to control the circulation of vehicles within the car park.  
     
     
         34 . A car park according to  claim 32 , said car park having a grassed or aggregate surface.  
     
     
         35 . A car park according to  claim 32 , said car park having a tarmacadam, concrete or other hard surface.  
     
     
         36 . A car park according to  claim 32 , including one or more vehicle aisles, said parking spaces being set at an acute angle to the aisles.  
     
     
         37 . A car park according to  claim 36 , said car park having a herringbone configuration in plan.