Parking meter with automatic reading means
First Claim
1. In a coin controlled meter construction including coin receiving means, manually controlled drive means for said receiving means, a movable cam adapted to be drivingly engaged by said receiving means, indicator means for displaying the time purchased, and a cam follower associated with said indicator means, said cam defining a surface for engagement with said cam follower, movement of said cam by said receiving means selectively positioning the cam depending upon the amount of time purchased, the improvement comprising a link having one end operatively connected to said manually controlled drive means and the other end connected to said indicator means, first means normally urging said manually controlled drive means in one direction whereby said link pulls the cam follower of said indicator means out of engagement with said surface to thereby prevent accurate reading of the time remaining on said meter, second means normally urging the cam follower of said indicator means into engagement with said cam surface, said first means applying a greater force than said second means, and wherein operation of said manually controlled drive means overcomes said first means whereby said indicator means is temporarily moved by said second means to a position for accurately reading the time remaining on the meter.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A meter construction such as a parking meter wherein time is purchased upon insertion of coins into the meter. A time indicator means is movable over a dial face for displaying the amount of time purchased. Cam follower means are connected to the indicator means so that the indicator means is held in displaying position after purchase of time when the follower is held in engagement with a cam connected to the clock mechanism. Once time has been purchased, and the follower is not manually held in engagement with the cam, the time indicator disappears from view. Manually operated means are provided for moving the indicator and associated cam follower so that if the previous purchaser or a new purchaser arrives at the meter, it will be possible for either one to determine the amount of previously purchased time remaining on the meter. This arrangement leads to more efficient use of meters from a revenue collection standpoint, users are always able to get an accurate time reading, and traffic congestion, energy consumption, and air pollution problems are better controlled.
22 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. In a coin controlled meter construction including coin receiving means, manually controlled drive means for said receiving means, a movable cam adapted to be drivingly engaged by said receiving means, indicator means for displaying the time purchased, and a cam follower associated with said indicator means, said cam defining a surface for engagement with said cam follower, movement of said cam by said receiving means selectively positioning the cam depending upon the amount of time purchased, the improvement comprising a link having one end operatively connected to said manually controlled drive means and the other end connected to said indicator means, first means normally urging said manually controlled drive means in one direction whereby said link pulls the cam follower of said indicator means out of engagement with said surface to thereby prevent accurate reading of the time remaining on said meter, second means normally urging the cam follower of said indicator means into engagement with said cam surface, said first means applying a greater force than said second means, and wherein operation of said manually controlled drive means overcomes said first means whereby said indicator means is temporarily moved by said second means to a position for accurately reading the time remaining on the meter.
- 5. In a coin controlled meter construction including coin receiving means, drive means for said receiving means, indicator means for displaying the time purchased, and positioning means for engagement by said indicator means whereby the indicator means will display the time purchased, said positioning means being drivingly connected to said receiving means, movement of said positioning means by said receiving means selectively locating the positioning means depending upon the amount of time purchased, the improvement comprising a control means for said indicator means, a link having one end operatively connected to said control means and the other end connected to said indicator means, first means normally urging said control means in one direction whereby said link pulls the indicator means out of engagement with said positioning means to thereby prevent accurate reading of the time remaining on said meter, second means normally urging the indicator means into engagement with said positioning means, said first means applying a greater force than said second means, and wherein operation of said control means overcomes said first means whereby said indicator means is temporarily moved by said second means to a position for accurately reading the time remaining on the meter.
- 11. In a coin controlled meter construction including coin receiving means, drive means for said receiving means, indicator means for displaying the time purchased, and positioning means for engagement by said indicator means whereby the indicator means will display the time purchased, said positioning means being drivingly connected to said receiving means, movement of said positioning means by said receiving means selectively locating the positioning means depending upon the amount of time purchased, the improvement comprising a control means for said indicator means, a link having one end operatively connected to said control means and the other end connected to said indicator means, first means normally urging the indicator means out of engagement with said positioning means to thereby prevent accurate reading of the time remaining on said meter, said control means through said link being adapted to urge the indicator means into engagement with said positioning means, said control means applying a greater force than said first means, and wherein operation of said control means overcomes said first means whereby said indicator means is temporarily moved by said control means to a position for accurately reading the time remaining on the meter.
Specification