Method and apparatus for constructing an automotive vehicle parking lot

Abstract

A method and apparatus for constructing an automotive vehicle parking lot ( 10 ) on a land area ( 12 ) is provided. A composite drainage material ( 20 ) is provided through which water drains. The composite drainage material ( 20 ) comprises a polymeric open mesh core ( 22 ) between first and second layers ( 24 and 26 ) of a non-woven geo-textile fabric. The land area ( 12 ) is covered with the material ( 20 ) by placing rolls ( 28 ) of the material adjacent one another. The rolls ( 28 ) are unrolled over the land area ( 12 ) so that longitudinal edge portions ( 30 and 40 ) of adjacent rolls adjoin one another. A portion ( 34, 44 ) of the longitudinal edge portions ( 30 and 40 ) are overlapped and secured to each other, and not to the land area ( 12 ), to create a gapless and continuous surface ( 84 ) of the material ( 20 ), with the majority of the land area ( 12 ) lying underneath the material. The first layer ( 24 ) of each of the rolls ( 28 ) contacts the land area ( 12 ). The second layer ( 26 ) of each of the rolls ( 28 ) faces away from the land area ( 28 ) and provides the surface ( 84 ) on which vehicles are parked.

1 - 11 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         12 . An automotive vehicle parking lot for a plurality of automotive vehicles on a land area, said parking lot comprising: 
 a plurality of separate rolls of a composite drainage material placed adjacent each other with longitudinal edge portions adjoining and overlapping one another and which are secured together to create a gapless and continuous surface with at least the majority of the land area lying underneath the composite drainage material, the composite drainage material comprising a layer of a polymeric open mesh core between first and second layers of a non-woven geo-textile fabric; and    a plurality of parking spaces for the plurality of vehicles, the parking spaces being arranged around a main drive which bisects the parking lot and a plurality of drive lanes intersecting the main drive, the main drive and the drive lanes comprising predetermined drive paths along the composite drainage material for vehicles to follow when being parked;    wherein underneath the composite drainage material at the location of the main drive comprises an area of the land excavated to a predetermined depth, an additional layer of non-woven geo-textile fabric placed into the area of the land excavated, and a layer of stones on top of the additional layer of non-woven geo-textile fabric.    
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein underneath the composite drainage material at the location of each drive lane comprises an area of the land excavated to a predetermined depth, an additional layer of non-woven geo-textile fabric placed into the area of the land excavated, and a layer of stones on top of the additional layer of non-woven geo-textile fabric.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the plurality of rolls of the composite drainage material are anchored to the land area by burying edge sections of the rolls underneath a predetermined amount of land.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the edge sections of the rolls are anchored to the land at an outer periphery of the parking lot.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14  wherein the edge sections of the rolls are anchored to the land at areas distributed inside of an outer periphery of the parking lot.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the anchored rolls located inside of the outer periphery of the parking lot are secured to each other by heat-fusing to an adjacent edge portion of a roll of composite drainage material not anchored to the land at a location of the anchored roll that is a predetermined distance from the buried edge of the anchored roll.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 12  wherein the composite drainage material further includes an upper layer of a perforated polymeric material that is heat-fused to the second layer.