Parking Meter

• US 20150235503A1
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: King, David William, Hunter, Murray David Kirby, Hall, Matthew James, Jones, David Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,685,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 single space parking meter comprising:

a card reader;

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

a solar cell operatively associated with the connections to charge the at least one rechargeable battery;

a housing in which the card reader and the electronic device are located, the housing comprising an intermediate panel set and a cover panel, wherein the cover panel is movably attached to the intermediate panel set, and a surface of the cover panel and a surface of the intermediate panel set comprise a face, the cover panel comprising a plurality of buttons that operate the parking meter upon manipulation by a user;

a window aperture in the cover panel via which the solar cell is exposed to light;

wherein the card reader is electrically linked to provide information to the electronic device to provide information of whether payment has been made;

wherein the screen of the electronic device is visible through the window of the cover panel when the cover panel is attached to the intermediate panel.

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

4. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the meter is adapted to be fixed to a post fixed to a ground surface, with the intermediate panel set including comprising a set of panels to be fixed relative to the post, and the cover panel is pivotally attached to the intermediate 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 the card reader, the electronic device, and the screen are a module removable as an assembly from within the housing.

7. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the communication connection is a mobile (cellular) telephone connection.

16. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the card reader is configured to read credit cards or debit cards.

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

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A single space parking meter comprising:

a housing comprising an intermediate panel set and a cover panel, the cover panel being movably attached to the intermediate panel set, wherein the housing comprises a first window, a plurality of buttons that operate the parking meter upon manipulation by a user, the plurality of buttons on the cover panel, and a second window;

a module configured to be removably received by the housing, the module comprising;

(a) a card reader, and

(b) an electronic device electrically connected to the card reader so as to receive information electronically therefrom, the electronic device comprising;

(i) a screen to provide information visually via the first window when the cover panel is attached to the intermediate panel set,

(ii) a communications connection to provide receiving information in respect of the card reader,

(iii) a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to provide power to the card reader and the electronic device, and

(iv) a solar cell operatively coupled with the rechargeable battery to charge the rechargeable battery, the solar cell configured to receive light via the second window;

wherein the card reader is electrically linked to provide information to the electronic device to provide information of whether payment has been made.

17. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein the meter comprises an indicator to provide an indication whether a parking period has expired.

19. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein the communication connection is a mobile (cellular) telephone connection.

20. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein the card reader, the electronic device, and the screen are a module removable as an assembly from within the housing.

21. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein the communication connection is a mobile (cellular) telephone connection.

22. The parking meter of claim 11, wherein the card reader is configured to read credit cards or debit cards.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)