Parking meter

• US 20080245638A1
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Hunter, Murray David Kirby, Hall, Mathew James, Jones, David Andrew, King, David William
• Granted Patent: US 7,854,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/350
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0021 Access to services on a time-basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/248 Housing construction casings for coin-freed apparatus G07F9/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A parking meter assembly (10) including a base (11) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly (10) also includes a parking meter (13) having a front face (17) that includes a coin slot (25) a card slot (20) and a control panel (21). The parking meter (13) further includes a rear face (27) having a window aperture (28) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel (29) behind the aperture (28).

Claims

1. A parking meter including:

a coin sensor;

a card reader;

an electronic device electrically connected to the sensor and reader so as to receive information electronically therefrom, a display to provide information visually, a telephone connection to provide receiving information in respect of a card used in respect of said card reader, and connections for at least one rechargeable battery to power the reader, sensor and device; and

a solar cell operatively associated with said connections to charge said battery;

a body having;

a front face having a coin slot into which coins are inserted for delivery to the sensor and then the coin storage facility;

a card slot into which a card is inserted to be read by said reader, and a rear face providing a window via which said solar cell is exposed to light, and providing visual access to said display.

2. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said meter includes an indicator to provide an indication whether a parking period has expired.

3. The parking meter of claim 2, wherein said indicator is adjacent or at said rear face.

4. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said meter is adapted to be fixed to a post fixed to a ground surface, with said body including a set of panels to be fixed relative to said post, and a cover panel pivotally attached to the panel set for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal axis between a closed position and an open position.

5. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said meter includes controls at said front face via which a user can operate the parking meter.

6. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said coin sensor, said card reader, said device and said control panel are a module removable as an assembly from within said body.

7. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said module includes a body, and said coin sensor is a coin validator unit removably located in said body.

8. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said telephone is a mobile (cellular) telephone.

9. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said front face and rear face converge upwardly.