Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including value accumulator for plural checks – Having solid state circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-05-15
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including value accumulator for plural checks
Having solid state circuitry
C194S350000, C340S932200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230868
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the control of parking and, in particular, to a system of the type wherein a parking meter is located proximate a parking space with the driver of the vehicle depositing coins in the meter or using other payment means such as a debit card after parking a vehicle in the space. Typically, the meter will be mounted on a stanchion located at a particular parking space and a single stanchion is often used for supporting each meter. In some instances, the same stanchion may be used for supporting two or more meters with each of the meters on the stanchion being assigned to a single parking space adjacent the stanchion.
In an attempt to minimize cost both in terms of the number of individual meters required and the number of stanchions required, and in order to improve the street appearance, proposals have been made to employ the same system for controlling more than one parking space rather than requiring a single meter for each space. Telkor and International Parking Systems have developed housings adapted to be located on the street for controlling multiple parking spaces. These housings include display panels with instructions for designating the space being used and depositing required payments.
A multi-bay parking meter described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,942 illustrates another arrangement of this type. In this instance it is proposed that a single electronic parking meter be mounted on a supporting stanchion but that the meter be programmed to permit the control of two or four separate parking spaces. The standard display window for the meter would be used as the means for advising the driver of the status of the respective spaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides for the use of a housing adapted to be located on the street for use in controlling parking at two or more spaces. The housing includes a mounting area for a single electronic parking meter mechanism and large display panels, separate from the mechanism, for instruction of drivers and for display of meter status. Control buttons are accessible to the driver and coin and card deposit means are available for use when the driver has operated the control buttons to indicate the parking space selected.
The mounting area for the meter mechanism, the displays, control buttons and deposit means are located in an upper section of the housing. A lower housing section supports coin cans for use with a collection system and a coin return means is provided so that coins deposited at the wrong time, or invalid coins, will not be collected. The housing design is such that very high security is achieved since there are no areas where easy access to the lower housing can be obtained. The upper housing is designed for minimum susceptibility to vandalism. The combined upper and lower housing sections provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and since the need for a single stanchion for each parking space is eliminated, the overall street appearance is enhanced when the concepts of this invention are employed.
Since only a single meter mechanism is required for multiple spaces, the cost for parking enforcement is reduced. Furthermore, maintenance is simplified since the mechanism can be easily replaced whenever service is required so that the downtime for any particular group of parking spaces will be minimal. Collection of revenues is also simplified since the revenue from several spaces is obtained in a single collection operation.
The meter mechanism is provided with peripheral port technology as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,369 and an operating system as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,083. With this arrangement, other devices such as communications systems and printers can be added to the system. Due to the housing design features which are separate and apart from the meter mechanism, the usual space constraints found with conventional stand alone parking meters are not encountered.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5617942 (1997-04-01), Ward, II et al.
patent: 5732812 (1998-03-01), Grainger et al.
patent: 5805083 (1998-09-01), Sutton et al.
patent: 5841369 (1998-11-01), Sutton et al.
patent: 5845268 (1998-12-01), Moore
patent: 6099401 (2000-08-01), Perkitny
Carmen Ralph H.
Descombes Paul
Magness Todd
Rodgers J. Michael
Tuxen Gorm
Duncan Industries, Inc.
Jaketic Bryan
Olszewski Robert P.
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe
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