Abstract: An electro-mechanical lock on the coin vault of a parking device is controlled by the electronic components of the parking meter. Combining the electro-mechanical lock with a standard mechanical lock provides additional security in that two devices must be employed to open the meter. This provides greater security for coin collection without the need to provide separate circuitry to control the lock. Additionally, the electro-mechanical lock can be triggered by a smart card which also triggers an audit of the meters activity, providing an audit trail for coin collection.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical lock on the coin vault of a parking device is controlled by the electronic components of the parking meter. Combining the electro-mechanical lock with a standard mechanical lock provides additional security in that two devices must be employed to open the meter. This provides greater security for coin collection without the need to provide separate circuitry to control the lock. Additionally, the electro-mechanical lock can be triggered by a smart card which also triggers an audit of the meters activity, providing an audit trail for coin collection.

Abstract: A clip or protrusion which is built into the mechanism of a parking meter allows the mechanism to be attached outside the meter housing in an upright position so that it can be evaluated and simple repairs can be performed quickly without dropping the mechanism onto the pavement. By designing the clip with tapered notches, the mechanism can be attached to various thicknesses or styles of meter housings.

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.

Abstract: A coin operated parking meter which includes a meter housing having a coin receiving slot and spaced transparent closure windows. A time dial is provided with time indicia thereon and the dial is mounted in the housing between the windows. A translucent time indicating pointer is pivotally movable from one end through an arc relative to the time dial in the housing. The translucent pointer is visible on a short range basis to the naked human eye when a motorist is positioned near the meter for advising time available for parking and with the translucent time indicating pointer being relatively invisible to the naked human eye when viewed by a person on a longer range basis such as from an adjacent street by a cruising motorist. A swingable violation flag is swingably mounted to arcuate movement when the translucent time indicating pointer falls to a zero time position.

Abstract: A multiple coin sensing apparatus for a parking meter has an index which positions a stop pin in accordance with the diameter of the coin being cycled through the meter. The indexing mechanism comprises a disc which is provided with a groove for each coin to be accommodated into which grooves the stop pin is received upon rotation of the indexing mechanism. The amount of movement of the indexing mechanism is determined by the length of the groove with which the stop pin is aligned by the coin being cycled through the meter.

Abstract: A parking meter for handling coins of different denominations has a single entrance slot for admitting coins into the interior of the meter where they are received in a pocket on a coin carrier. A first cam surface cooperated with the coin on initial movement of the coin carrier to position the coin in the pocket to cooperate with the appropriate one in accordance with the coin denomination of a plurality of time setting cam surfaces which cooperate with the coin to set time on the meter in accordance with the coin denomination as the carrier is moved through the remainder of its time setting cycle.