Tire lock

• US 5,829,285 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPT, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pit Bull Tire Lock Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Thomas Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Boucher, Darnell M.
• Application Number:
  US08/862,002
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 70/225, 70/226, 70/237, 70/238, 70/258, 70/259, 70/260, 70/18, 70/19
• US Class Current: 70/226
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/093 comprising ground-engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5841 Rotation blocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles

Abstract

Apparatus and method for obtaining same-day payment of parking violation fines imposed by a municipality or other governmental body, having a tire clamp with a combination lock, to be applied to a tire of the violator'"'"'s vehicle, and a notice to the vehicle owner, which informs the owner of a phone number to call, to pay the fine by credit card and obtain the combination to the lock, allowing the owner to release the vehicle, after which the vehicle owner clamps the tire clamp around a parking meter or sign post, for later retrieval by police.

Claims

1. A method for a person to remove a clamp locked to a tire of the vehicle comprising the steps of:

contacting a remote location via telephone;

communicating an account designation via telephone;

receiving a combination for a lock via telephone for unlocking said lock;

manipulating said lock to enter said combination, thereby unlocking said lock;

releasing said clamp from said tire of said vehicle; and

locking said clamp to a fixed structure with said lock.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating a lock identifier to said remote location via telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said fixed structure comprises one of a parking meter and a sign post.