System for locking objects

• US 4,773,020 A
• Filed: 11/06/1986
• Issued: 09/20/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anders S. Remar, Bela Farkas, Carl A. Anderson
• Original Assignee: Anders S. Remar, Bela Farkas, Carl A. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Carl A., Farkas, Bela, Remar, Anders S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US06/927,811
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 364/464, 364/467, 364/569, 235/29 R, 235/30 A, 235/49, 235/66, 235/130 R, 235/377, 235/378, 235/382.5, 194/215, 194/220, 194/227, 194/230, 194/247, 194/900, 194/901, 194/902, 70/235, 70/277, 70/280, 340/51
• US Class Current: 705/418
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2003/005 Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/04 involving forked supports of brackets for holding a wheel B62H3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 194/90 Parking meter with barrier

Abstract

A system for locking objects for a predetermined time on the basis of prepayment. A central processing unit (1) is connected to a plurality of object-locking devices (27) which may be locked after prepayment has been made into said unit. During count-down of the unit (1) to zero the object-locking devices can be unlocked for access, but only once. When the count-down continues below zero unlocking is prevented until additional payment has been made.

The System is particularly appropriate as a parking system for bicycles, a system for locking washing machines in laundromats, and a system for lockers at bus and railroad stations and at airports.

Claims

1. A parking system for bicycles, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of bicycle stands;

each bicycle stand including an arbitrary number of individual, numbered, lockable bicycle parking places;

(b) sensor means;

one of said sensor means being disposed in each of said individual bicycle parking places for sensing the presence of a bicycle;

(c) locking means;

one of said locking means being disposed in each of said individual bicycle parking places for locking a bicycle;

(d) a control unit;

said control unit being common to all of said bicycle stands;

(e) receiver means;

said receiver means being connected between said sensor means and said control unit for receiving sensing signals from said sensor means in said control unit;

(f) register means;

said register means being connected between said locking means and said control unit for sending locking and unlocking signals, respectively, from said control unit to said locking means;

(g) printing means;

said printing means being connected to said control unit for receiving control signals therefrom and for sending signals thereto;

(h) payment receiving means;

said payment receiving means being connected to said control unit for providing information on payment received for parking;

(i) a random code generator;

said random code generator generating a random, secret code and being connected to said control unit and said printing means;

(j) a keyset for manual actuation;

said keyset being connected to said control unit for supplying the keyed number of a bicycle place to the control unit in response to such keying;

(k) clock means;

said clock means being connected to said control unit for supplying clock pulse signals thereto;

(l) start button means;

said start button means being connected to said control unit;

(m) a display;

said display being connected to said control unit for receiving signals for displaying;

(i) said keyed bicycle place number;

(ii) the present time when the control unit is in a quiescent position;

(iii) the outgoing time when payment for the keyed bicycle place number has been made to a payment receiving means; and

(iv) the amount of money paid; and

(n) a receipt dispenser;

said receipt dispenser being connected to said printing means, said start button means initiating--after the place number of a selected bicycle place has been keyed on said keyset by the parker, after payment in said payment receiving means has been made, and after manual actuation of said start button means has been carried out by the parker--(A) locking of the bicycle and (B) printout on said receipt of;

said selected, keyed bicycle place number, a randomly generated secret code number in the form of a combination of digits subsequently to be introduced manually by the parked on the keyset for releasing the locked bicycle, said displayed outgoing time, and said displayed amount of money paid.

2. A parking system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display indicates the additional payment required once the initial parking period has been exceeded, said control unit thereby validating the originally generated secret unlocking code which may be utilized once when said additional payment has been received by said payment receiving means.

3. A parking system in accordance with claim 1, comprising means for releasing said locked bicycle by an authorized person by means of a specific function of said control unit.

4. A parking system for bicycles, said system comprising:

(a) a plurality of bicycle stands;

each bicycle stand including an arbitrary number of individual, numbered, lockable bicycle parking places;

(b) sensor means;

one of said sensor means being disposed in each of said individual bicycle parking places for sensing the presence of a bicycle;

(c) locking means;

one of said locking means being disposed in each of said individual bicycle parking places for locking a bicycle;

(d) a control unit;

said control unit being common to all of said bicycle stands;

(e) receiver means;

said receiver means being connected between said sensor means and said control unit for receiving sensing signals from said sensor means in said control unit;

(f) register means;

said register means being connected between said locking means and said control unit for sending locking and unlocking signals, respectively, from said control unit to said locking means;

(g) printing means;

said printing means being connected to said control unit for receiving control signals therefrom and for sending signals thereto;

(h) payment receiving means;

said payment receiving means being connected to said control unit for providing information on payment received for parking time thereto;

(i) a random code generator;

said random code generator generating a random, secret code and being connected to said control unit and said printing means;

(j) a keyset for manual actuation;

said keyset being connected to said control unit for supplying the keyed number of a bicycle place to the control unit in response to such keying;

(k) clock means;

said clock means being connected to said control unit for supplying clock pulse signals thereto;

(l) start button means;

said start button means being connected to said control unit;

(m) a display;

said display being connected to said control unit for receiving signals for displaying;

(i) said keyed bicycle place number;

(ii) the present time when the control unit is in a quiescent position;

(iii) the outgoing time when payment for the keyed bicycle place number has been made to said payment receiving means; and

(iv) the amount of money paid; and

(n) a receipt dispenser;

said receipt dispenser being connected to said printing means, said start button means initiating--after payment in said payment receiving means has been made and after manual actuation of said start button means has been carried out by the parker--(A) locking of the bicycle and (B) printout on said receipt of;

an available bicycle place number telling the parker where to park his bicycle, a randomly generated secret code number in the form of a combination of digits subsequently to be introduced manually by the parker on the keyset for releasing the locked bicycle, said displayed outgoing time, and said displayed amount of money paid.

5. A parking system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said display indicates the additional payment required once the initial parking period has been exceeded, said control unit thereby validating the originally generated secret unlocking code which may be utilized once when said additional payment has been received by said payment receiving means.

6. A parking system in accordance with claim 4, comprising means for releasing said locked bicycle by an authorized person by means of a specific function of said control unit.