Coin box receptacle

• US 5,507,378 A
• Filed: 11/03/1994
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tricom SA (Altice Europe NV)
• Original Assignee: Tricom SA (Altice Europe NV)
• Inventors: Leone, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US08/333,672
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 194/202, 194/350, 232/15, 232/16, 70/DIG. 49, 70/53
• US Class Current: 194/202
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes

Abstract

A parking meter coin box receptacle retrofits into an existing parking meter while increasing the interior volume of the coin box receptacle, so that more coins can be accumulated between periodic emptying of the box. Moreover, the coin box receptacle includes an exterior display portion to hold a seal, in a secure visible position for locking with a bore within an interior rod within the receptacle. A fastener is in positional register with the seal, and a bore within the fastener accommodates a fiber optic strand within the seal fastener, to hold the locking rod in place and to indicate tampering when the fiber optic strand is cut. The exterior display portion of the coin box receptacle includes an outwardly facing window, so that the bar code on the seal fastener can be easily viewed while the seal fastener is in place in a locked position. An alternate coin box receptacle includes a mount for insertion of the receptacle into a parking meter, wherein vertical wall plates are placed within the parking meter head housing to facilitate a smooth sliding insertion of the coin box receptacle within the parking meter housing head. In addition, to further facilitate the insertion of the receptacle, the round door plate, instead of rotating down, is first moved forward upon a movable track, and then rotated horizontally to facilitate the insertion of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A parking meter assembly to secure a coin box therein from tampering or loss due to theft, comprising a coin box receptacle insertable within a parking meter, a seal for said coin box, said seal having a fiber optic strand within a channel within said seal to lock a fastener of said coin box in place, said coin box including an exterior display portion holding said seal therein in a secure position for locking with said fastener within an interior of said coin box, said fastener being in positional register with said seal, said display portion of said coin box of the parking meter including a visible window, so that said seal can be easily viewed while said seal and said fastener are in the locked position, said fastener being in communication with said fiber optic strand, for opening said seal when said fastener is withdrawn, axially and longitudinally away from said seal, thereby severing said fiber optic strand.

2. The coin box as in claim 1, further comprising a novel mounting means for insertion of said coin box into the parking meter, said mounting means including at least one vertical wall plate within the parking meter to facilitate sliding insertion of said coin box within the parking meter, a door plate movable forward about a movable track, said door plate rotatable horizontally to facilitate the insertion of said coin box within the parking meter.

3. The coin box as in claim 1, further comprising an arcuate bottom portion, so that when the face plate of the receptacle is pulled forward of the body of the receptacle, thus exposing the interior of the receptacle, the coins within said coin box, fall by gravity down the arcuate bottom wall and out of said coin box.

4. The parking meter assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a means to retrofit said coin box into the parking meter while increasing the interior volume of the coin box receptacle, so that more coins can be accumulated between periodic emptying of the box, said means comprising an arcuate top portion and an arcuate bottom portion of said coin box.

5. The parking meter assembly, as in claim 1, wherein said seal is bar coded with a corresponding respective bar code number on the outside of said coin box, said parking meter assembly having a hand held scanner with a probe responsive to said bar codes.

6. The fastener as in claim 1 further comprising a seal interruption means including a bore for insertion for said fiber optic strand therein, said fastener responsive to breaking said fiber optic strand when said fastener is withdrawn away from said seal.

7. The coin box as in claim 1, further comprising an anti-theft means including rotatable closure means responsive to opening upon insertion of coins within said coin box and responsive to closing after the coin has passed said closure means.

8. A parking meter assembly to secure a coin box therein from tampering or loss due to theft, comprising a coin box receptacle insertable within a parking meter, said coin box receptacle comprising a coin box body for receiving coins therein, and a removable cap cover engagable with said coin box body, said cap cover having a shunt opening for insertion of coins therethrough into said coin box body, a seal being insertable within a cap cover of said coin box receptacle, said seal having a fiber optic strand within a channel within said seal, said fiber optic strand engagable with seal interruption fastener, said fastener extending upward from an inside surface of said coin box receptacle, said cap cover of said coin box receptacle further including an exterior display portion, said seal insertable within said exterior display in a secure position for locking with said fastener, said fastener being in positional register with said seal, said display portion of said cap cover of said coin box receptacle including a visible window, so that said seal can be easily viewed while said seal and said fastener are in the locked position, said fastener being in communication with said fiber optic strand, for opening said seal when said coin box body is withdrawn, axially and longitudinally away from said cap cover, thereby severing said fiber optic strand of said seal within said display portion of said cap cover.

9. The fastener as in claim 8 further comprising a bore for insertion of said fiber optic strand therein, said fastener responsive to breaking said fiber optic strand when said fastener is withdrawn away from said seal.