Parking meter control unit
First Claim
1. An adapter unit for use with a standard parking meter for introducing a control effect into said meter, said meter including a timing mechanism, and coin-controlled means for setting said timing mechanism to the commencement of a predetermined time interval;
- said adapter including;
ultrasonic electrical detector means for sensing the presence of a vehicle adjacent said parking meter, and control means coupled to said ultrasonic detection means and activated thereby to introduce the aforesaid control effect into said meter, in which said ultrasonic electrical detection means includes a receiving reflector member, a receiving electrical-acoustical transducer mounted within said receiving reflector member, a transmitting reflector member mounted at the mouth of said receiving reflector member, and a transmitting electrical-mechanical transducer mounted within said transmitting reflector member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an equalizer or control unit to be used in conjunction with the present day type of parking meter. The control unit of the invention comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver system which senses the presence of a parked vehicle, and which controls the parking meter in a manner such that the time remaining in the meter is returned to zero when the vehicle is driven away. The system to be described also controls the meter in a manner so as to prevent anyone from inserting coins into the meter after an initial parking interval has expired thereby to prevent the monopolization of the parking space by one vehicle over extended periods of time.
129 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An adapter unit for use with a standard parking meter for introducing a control effect into said meter, said meter including a timing mechanism, and coin-controlled means for setting said timing mechanism to the commencement of a predetermined time interval;
- said adapter including;
ultrasonic electrical detector means for sensing the presence of a vehicle adjacent said parking meter, and control means coupled to said ultrasonic detection means and activated thereby to introduce the aforesaid control effect into said meter, in which said ultrasonic electrical detection means includes a receiving reflector member, a receiving electrical-acoustical transducer mounted within said receiving reflector member, a transmitting reflector member mounted at the mouth of said receiving reflector member, and a transmitting electrical-mechanical transducer mounted within said transmitting reflector member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- said adapter including;
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13. A parking meter controller for connection to
a parking meter adjacent a space occupiable by a vehicle, said meter having a member movable from a timing position to a time expired position, said parking meter controller comprising: -
a switch movable to an actuated position when the movable member in the parking meter is in a timing position; reset means actuatable to permit the movable member to move from its timing position to its time-expired position; and sonic sensing means in said parking meter controller, said sonic sensing means being directed horizontally toward said space, said sonic sensing means being connected to be energized by actuation of said switch for sonically determining the presence of a vehicle adjacent said parking meter controller and occupying said space, said sonic sensing means being connected to said reset means so that, upon determination by said sonic sensing means of the absence of a vehicle adjacent said parking meter controller, said reset means is actuated to permit the movable member to move to its time-expired position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An adapter unit for use with a standard parking meter for introducing a control effect into said meter, said meter including a timing mechanism, and coin-controlled means for setting the timing mechanism to the commencement of a predetermined time interval;
- said adapter unit including;
detection means for sensing the presence of a vehicle adjacent said parking meter;
a shield movable between a coin-blocking and a coin-unblocking position with respect to said coin-controlled means, control means coupled to said detection means and activated thereby to cause said shield to move to said coin-blocking position at the setting of said timing mechanism to prevent further coins from being inserted into said meter so long as the aforesaid vehicle remains adjacent thereto; and
so that said coin-blocking may be pre-adjusted to block further coin insertion after an adjustable, predetermined amount of parking time has been purchased.
- said adapter unit including;
Specification