Parking meter anchor system

• US 6,098,361 A
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: POM, Inc.
• Original Assignee: POM, Inc.
• Inventors: Kiehl, William C., Roten, J. Michael, Ward, Seth II
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, PHI DIEU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US09/038,218
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 52/298, 403/277, 403/279, 403/281, 403/274
• US Class Current: 52/298
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/685 Subsoil means, e.g. foundations
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2269 in a socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4924 Inner member is expanded by longitudinally inserted element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4941 Deformation occurs simultaneously with action of separate, diverse function, joint component

Abstract

A post attachment including an anchor receptacle (20) mounted in the ground. A post (30) is attached to the anchor receptacle by a removable locking bar (40) which engages a slot (34) in the post and a groove (28) in the anchor receptacle. A first tool (12) is utilized which straightens the locking bar for attachment of the post to the anchor receptacle. A second tool (14) is utilized which bends the locking bar for disengagement from the post slot and anchor receptacle groove so that the post may be removed from the anchor receptacle.

Claims

1. A mounting system for a parking meter, comprising:

an anchor receptacle designed to be permanently attached to the ground;

a post, one end of which fits inside said anchor receptacle;

a locking bar which is designed to be inserted into said post to lock said post and said anchor receptacle together in a fixed position;

a first tool which straightens said locking bar from a bent position to attach said anchor receptacle to said post;

a second tool which bends said locking bar to disconnect said anchor receptacle from said post.

2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said anchor receptacle comprises a hollow tube having a groove on an inner circumference thereof.

3. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said post comprises a hollow tube having an aperture through the walls thereof.

4. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said first tool causes a portion of said locking bar to be pushed through an aperture in said post to engage a groove in said anchor receptacle.

5. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said second tool causes said locking bar to be bent, wherein said post and said anchor receptacle are no longer locked in said fixed relationship.

6. A parking meter, comprising:

an anchor receptacle which is permanently attached to the ground;

a post, a first end of which is inserted into said anchor receptacle;

a meter, attached to a second end of said post, for the receipt of payment of parking fees;

a deformable locking bar which extends through one or more apertures in said post to engage an inner surface of said anchor receptacle;

wherein bending said locking bar allows said locking bar to disengage from said inner surface of said anchor receptacle, whereby said post may be removed from said anchor receptacle.

7. The parking meter of claim 6, wherein said anchor receptacle is attached to the ground by concrete.

8. The parking meter of claim 6, wherein said meter is an electronic meter.

9. The parking meter of claim 6, wherein said locking bar is not accessible when said meter is attached to said post.

10. A method for providing support for a parking meter, comprising the steps of:

(a.) permanently mounting an anchor receptacle to the ground;

(b.) aligning a bent locking bar with apertures in a post;

(c.) inserting a first end of said post containing said locking bar into said anchor receptacle;

(d.) using a first tool to straighten said locking bar, thereby engaging said anchor receptacle to lock said post to said anchor receptacle in a fixed relationship;

(e.) attaching a parking meter to said post;

(f.) when it becomes desirable to remove or replace said post, using a second tool to bend said locking bar and at least partially disengage from said anchor receptacle, thereby allowing said post to be removed from said anchor receptacle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said anchor receptacle is mounted in concrete.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said locking bar is a substantially flat piece of metal with only one bend.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said anchor receptacle and said post each comprises a hollow tube.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein straightening said locking bar causes it to be engaged in a groove on an inner surface of said anchor receptacle.

15. A method of installing a mounting post, comprising the steps of:

(a.) permanently mounting an anchor receptacle to the ground;

(b.) inserting a bent locking bar into said post to engage an aperture in said post;

(c.) inserting a first end of said post containing said locking bar into said anchor receptacle;

(d.) using a tool to straighten said locking bar, thereby locking said post to said anchor receptacle in a fixed relationship.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said anchor receptacle is mounted in concrete.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said anchor receptacle and said post each comprises a hollow tube.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein straightening said locking bar causes it to be engaged in a groove on an inner surface of said anchor receptacle.