On this day in 1930 the patent application for Garage Ramp System was granted. U.S. Patent No. 1,782,369.
The Garage Ramp System was invented by Horace L. Smith Jr., of Richmond, Virginia. This patent application was granted on November 18, 1930 as U.S. Patent No. 1,782,369.
One of the objects of Mr. Smith’s invention is to provide a multi-story garage having a ramp unit so constructed and arranged that ascending and descending automobiles may be driven through, into and out of the ramps without interfering with each other, and a maximum number of automobiles may be driven through the system within a given time.
Other objects and advantages of this invention is that each of the floor and aligned openings are provided in the walls and permit automobiles to enter them. Further, the floors in the core portion of the ramp are a part of the floors of the building. The openings are so arranged that an automobile may be driven from any main floor directly into the core portion for services and this enables traffic to move rapidly.
Also since the ramps have a pitch of two stories, exit doors for the ascending ramp and entrance door for the descending ramp will be arranged one above the other on opposite sides. That is the door on the second floor above the ascending ramp door leads to the descending ramp, and the doors for the ascending ramp and the descending ramp on any floor will be on opposite sides of the ramp structure or unit. This arrangement enables motorists to avoid traffic going in the opposite direction on the floor. In fact, the open driveways on the floors may be so arranged that, at no time, will a departing motorist cross the path of one who is parking.
Although this invention is almost 100 years old, it is still very relevant in bigger cities like New York and Chicago where parking is a premium. This invention allows cars to be off the streets but in a safe spot so vandalism, accidents, and weather incidents are not as likely to happen.
