Universal adaptor for electronic parking meters

• US 6,275,170 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Devices Inc. (Heico Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Devices Inc. (Heico Corporation)
• Inventors: Jacobs, James P., Yost, Vincent G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US09/593,575
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/693.9, 340/693.12, 340/933, 340/693.5, 194/900, 194/217, 194/200
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/246 provided with vehicle proximity-detectors detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/248 Housing construction casings for coin-freed apparatus G07F9/10

Abstract

A universal adaptor for use with electronic parking meters which provides these electronic parking meters with the ability to detect the presence of a parked vehicle and to adjust the position of the detector for accomplishing the vehicle detection, to gather statistics on the parking spaces and the meters, to alert the parking authority of meters that are expired in connection with vehicles still parked, and zeroing the remaining time off of any meter once the parked vehicle departs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a parking meter and a vault, the vault being arranged for receipt of coins, the parking meter and the vault being arranged to be mounted on a stanchion at a corresponding curb side parking space, or at a parking lot space, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an enclosure arranged for mounting between the parking meter and the vault, said enclosure including an internal passageway for permitting coins inserted into the parking meter to drop through said passageway into the vault for collection in the vault; and

(b) at least one fastener securing said enclosure between the parking meter and the vault.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 adapted for housing at least one electrical component therein.

3. An apparatus for use with a parking meter and a vault, the vault being arranged for receipt of coins, the parking meter and the vault being arranged to be mounted on a stanchion at a corresponding curb side parking space, or at a parking lot space, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an enclosure arranged for mounting between the parking meter and the vault, said enclosure including an internal passageway for permitting coins inserted into the parking meter to drop through said passageway into the vault for collection in the vault; and

(b) means for securing said enclosure between the parking meter and the vault.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for securing is a releasable securing means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 adapted for housing at least one electrical component therein.