Parking system

Abstract

An automobile storage system to increase the space efficiency and accommodate additional automobiles. The system has a first row of automobile storage units with a first plurality of side-by-side bays, each bay having a width, some of the bays provide parking stations, a second row of like automobile storage units adjacent the first row of automobile storage units. Each automobile storage unit has multiple levels with at least one designated level, and remaining levels. The designated level provides for ingress and egress of automobiles to/from the automobile storage unit, and includes at least one ingress lane devoid of any stored automobiles. Some of the remaining levels provide the parking stations which are positioned vertically with respect to the designated level. An elevator is provided for delivery and retrieval of an automobile to/from the system. The automobile storage unit rows are staggered with respect to each other by a distance of about the width of at least one bay.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automobile storage system, comprising:
 a first row of automobile storage units having a first plurality of side-by-side bays, each bay having a width, some of the bays provide parking stations;   a second row of automobile storage units adjacent the first row of automobile storage units, the second row of automobile storage units having a second plurality of side-by-side bays, some of the bays in the second set of bays provide parking stations;   wherein each automobile storage unit has multiple levels comprising at least one designated level, and remaining levels, wherein the designated level provides for ingress of automobiles to the automobile storage unit, egress of automobiles from the automobile storage unit, or ingress and egress of automobiles to and from the automobile storage unit,   wherein at least some of the remaining levels comprise the parking stations, which are positioned vertically with respect to said designated level;   an elevator shaft provided for allowing travel of an elevator car for delivery and retrieval of an automobile to and from the parking stations, the elevator shaft having a width and being positioned between a left-side parking station and a right-side parking station; and   wherein the second row of automobile storage units is staggered with respect to the first row of automobile storage units by a distance of about the width of one bay, or about the width of one bay and the width of the elevator shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The automobile storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third row of automobile storage units adjacent said second row of automobile storage units and staggered by a distance of about the width of one bay, or about the width of one bay and the width of the elevator shaft, relative to the first and second rows of automobile storage units. 
     
     
         3 . The automobile storage system of  claim 1 , comprising a third row of automobile storage units adjacent the second row of automobile storage units, wherein the second row of automobile storage units is staggered in a first direction by a distance of about the width of one bay, or about the width of one bay and the width of the elevator shaft relative to the first row of automobile storage units, and wherein the third row of automobile storage units is staggered in the same first direction by a distance of about the width of one bay, or about the width of one bay and the width of the elevator shaft relative to the second row of automobile storage units. 
     
     
         4 . The automobile storage system of  claim 1 , comprising a third row of automobile storage units adjacent the second row of automobile storage units, wherein the second row of automobile storage units is staggered in a first direction by a distance of about the width of one bay and the width of the elevator shaft relative to the first row of automobile storage units, and wherein the third row of automobile storage units is staggered in the same first direction by a distance of about the width of one bay and the width of the elevator shaft relative to the second row of automobile storage units. 
     
     
         5 . The automobile storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one drive aisle adjacent the first row of automobile storage units. 
     
     
         6 . The automobile storage system of  claim 6 , further comprising a second drive aisle adjacent the second row of automobile storage units. 
     
     
         7 . The automobile storage system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the parking stations contain automobile pallets.