Abstract: A rope or line tensioning and/or coupling apparatus for tensioning a rope or coupling two ropes that is formed from a planar member having judiciously located slots and a drilled hole that allows the rope to be inserted into the drilled hole, looped with a knot for passing the loop through a slot formed intermediate the side edges of the apparatus and opposing slots at the top for securing the loop portions and a series of slots at the bottom for helically winding the rope or line by inserting opposite disposed slots.

Abstract: Parking machines communicate automatically with service personnel located at a central station in response to the occurrence of a machine error. The service personnel are thus made aware promptly of this situation without having to travel to the site of each parking machine so that appropriate action can be timely taken. The parking machine stores an error signal, and the telephone number of the central station is then dialed. When a communication link is established telephonically, an audible message is generated by the parking machine and transmitted to the central station identifying the parking machine and a machine error. As long as the machine is not serviced, it will re-dial the central station to transmit the error message, and this is repeated at a time interval set according to whether the error has disabled the parking machine or not.