U.S. patent number 3,770,090 [Application Number 05/270,261] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-06 for parking meter assembly.
Invention is credited to Clarence D. Fayling, Philip M. Ray, John W. Van Horn.
United States Patent |
3,770,090 |
Fayling , et al. |
November 6, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
PARKING METER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A twin parking meter mount comprising a coin vault mounting two
or more parking meter heads, a coin receptacle received in the
vault and serving both meter heads, a side access opening formed in
the vault to provide for the removal and insertion of the coin
receptacle, and a door secured to the coin receptacle and
hingelessly and detachably mounted on the vault for selectively
closing the access opening. Other features include an internal
reinforcing liner arrangement for the coin vault and a coin vault
top plate that reinforces walls of the vault.
Inventors: |
Fayling; Clarence D.
(Pittsburgh, PA), Van Horn; John W. (Russellville, AR),
Ray; Philip M. (Dardanelle, AR) |
Family
ID: |
23030583 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/270,261 |
Filed: |
July 10, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
194/350 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/248 (20130101); G07F 9/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
9/10 (20060101); G07F 17/00 (20060101); G07F
17/24 (20060101); G07f 009/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;232/7,15,9,12,16
;194/1B,DIG.21,DIG.22 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Claims
What is claimed and described to be secured by Letters Patent
is:
1. A parking meter assembly comprising housing means defining a
chamber, a plurality of coin-controlled parking meter mechanisms in
which coins are adapted to be deposited, said parking meter
mechanisms being supported on said housing means, a single coin
receptacle movably disposed in said chamber for receiving coins
deposited in said mechanisms, said housing means being formed (a)
with passages for guiding coins from said mechanisms to said
receptacle and (b) with a side access opening to provide for the
removal of said receptacle from said chamber, a lockable door
hingelessly and removably mounted on said housing means for
selectively closing said opening, and means pivotally securing said
receptacle to said door.
2. In a coin-controlled parking meter assembly, a hollow casing
formed with a bottom wall and walls extending upwardly from said
bottom wall, a cover on said casing at the upper ends of said
upwardly extending walls and covering the top of the casing, said
cover having at least one coin passage for directing coins into
said interior of said casing, a coin collection receptacle disposed
in said casing for receiving coins directed through said passage,
said receptacle having upstanding wall portions that define a coin
collection chamber, at least one housing mounted on said cover, a
coin-controlled timing mechanism received in said housing, and
passage means in said housing for directing deposited coins to said
passage, the improvement comprising at least one rigid reinforcing
liner disposed in said casing and removably trapped between said
cover and said bottom wall to provide an interior barrier between
one of said upwardly extending walls and said receptacle, a portion
of said liner being approximately coextensive with one of said wall
portions.
3. A coin-controlled parking meter assembly comprising a hollow
casing formed with a bottom wall and at least one pair of opposed
walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, a cover on said
casing at the upper ends of said opposed walls to provide a
covering for said casing, said cover having at least one coin
passage for directing coins into said interior of said casing, a
coin collection receptacle disposed in said casing between said
opposed wall for receiving coins directed through said passage, at
least one housing mounted on said cover, a coin-controlled timing
mechanism received in said housing, passage means in said housing
for directing deposited coins to said passage, a first rigid
reinforcing liner disposed in said casing between said receptacle
and one of said opposed walls to provide a barrier between said
receptacle and said one of said opposed walls, and a second rigid
reinforcing liner disposed in said casing between said receptacle
and the other of said opposed walls to provide a barrier between
said receptacle and the other of said opposed walls, said first and
second liners being trapped between said cover and said bottom
wall.
4. A parking meter assembly comprising a hollow casing formed with
a bottom wall portion, first and second opposed wall portions
extending upwardly from said bottom wall portion and third and
fourth opposed wall portions extending between said first and
second wall portions and upwardly from said bottom wall portion,
the widths for said third and fourth wall portions being smaller
than the widths of said first and second wall portions, a cover on
the top of said casing, a pair of coin-receiving housings mounted
said cover on opposite sides of a plane transversely intersecting
said first and second wall portions and extending between said
third and fourth wall portions, a coin-controlled timing mechanism
in each housing, coin discharge passage means in each housing, said
cover having a through passage in registry with each coin discharge
passage means to provide for the transfer of deposited coins to the
interior of said casing, a coin collection receptacle in said
casing for receiving coins entering said casing through each
through passage, one of said third and fourth wall portions being
formed with an access opening to provide for the removal of said
receptacle from said casing, a lockable door selectively closing
said access opening, first and second reinforcing liners disposed
in said casing and formed separately of said casing and said
receptacle, said first liner extending between said first wall
portion and said receptacle to provide a barrier between said
receptacle and said first wall portion, and said second reinforcing
liner extending between said second wall portion and said
receptacle to provide a barrier between said receptacle and said
second wall portion.
5. A parking meter assembly comprising housing means defining a
chamber, a plurality of coin-controlled parking meter mechanisms in
which coins are adapted to be deposited, said parking meter
mechanisms being supported on said housing means, a single coin
receptacle removably disposed in said chamber for receiving coins
deposited in said mechanisms, said housing means being formed (a)
with passages for guiding coins from said mechanisms to said
receptacle and (b) with a side access opening to provide for the
removal of said receptacle from said chamber, a lockable door
hinglessly and removably mounted on said housing means for
selectively closing said opening, and means securing said
receptacle to said door and providing for limited pivotal and
rectilinear motion of said door relative to said receptacle to
enable said door to be manipulated for effecting locking engagement
and disengagement of said door with respect to said housing
means.
6. A parking meter assembly comprising housing means defining a
chamber, a plurality of coin-controlled parking meter mechanisms in
which coins are adapted to be deposited, said parking meter
mechanisms being supported on said housing means, a single coin
receptacle removably disposed in said chamber for receiving coins
deposited in said mechanisms, said housing means being formed (a)
with passages for guiding coins from said mechanisms to said
receptacle and (b) with a side access opening to provide for the
removal of said receptacle from said chamber, a lockable door
hinglessly and removably mounted on said housing means for
selectively closing said opening, and means securing said
receptacle to said door and providing for limited pivotal and
rectilinear motion of said door relative to said receptacle.
7. The parking meter defined in claim 1 comprising means securing
said receptacle to said door to provide for the removal of said
receptacle and door as a unit from said housing means.
8. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said
housing means comprises a hollow casing receiving said receptacle
and having an open top and a cover mounted on said casing for
covering said open top, said casing having opposed front and back
walls and opposed side walls extending between said front and back
walls, said parking meter mechanisms being supported on said cover
and being disposed on opposite sides of a plane transversely
intersecting said front and back walls, said passages being formed
through said cover, and said access opening being formed through
one of said side walls to provide for the removal of said
receptacle laterally of said plane.
9. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said
parking meter mechanisms are received in separate meter casings
that fixed to said cover.
10. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said
passages are on opposite sides of said plane, and wherein said
receptacle has separate coin inlet openings respectively
registering with said passages when said receptacle is positioned
in said chamber.
11. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said
casing is elongated in a direction to provide said front and back
walls with widths that are greater than the widths of said side
walls.
12. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said door
is secured to said receptacle to provide for the removal of said
receptacle from said chamber by withdrawing it through said access
opening upon removal of said door, wherein said casing is formed
with a bottom wall, and wherein said receptacle rests on said
bottom wall when it is disposed in said chamber to receive coins
passing through said passages.
13. In a coin-controlled parking meter assembly, a hollow casing
having an open top and being formed with a bottom wall and walls
extending upwardly from said bottom wall, a cover detachably
mounted on said casing at the upper ends of said upwardly extending
walls to provide a covering for said open top, said cover having at
least one coin passage for directing coins into said interior of
said casing, a coin collection receptacle disposed in said casing
for receiving coins directed through said passage, at least one
housing mounted on said cover, a coin-controlled timing mechanism
received in said housing, and passage means in said housing for
directing deposited coins to said passage, the improvement
comprising at least one rigid reinforcing liner disposed in said
casing and removably trapped between said cover and said bottom
wall to provide an interior barrier between one of said upwardly
extending walls and said receptacle.
14. The coin-controlled parking meter assembly defined in claim 13
wherein said bottom wall is formed with an upwardly opening groove
in which the lower edge of said liner is seated.
15. The coin-controlled parking meter assembly defined in claim 13
wherein the top of said receptacle is spaced below the upper edges
of said upwardly extending walls, and wherein said cover has a
depending portion disposed over said receptacle and extending into
the space between the top of said receptacle and the upper edges of
said upwardly extending walls.
16. The coin-controlled parking meter assembly defined in claim 13
wherein the upper portion of said liner is confined between said
depending portion and said one of said upwardly extending
walls.
17. The coin-controlled parking meter assembly defined in claim 15
comprising means extending through an opening in said liner and
spanning the space between said depending portion and said one of
said upwardly extending walls for limiting sideward movement of
said liner in said casing.
18. A parking meter assembly comprising a hollow casing having an
open top, said casing being formed with a bottom wall portion,
first and second opposed wall portions extending upwardly from said
bottom wall portion and third and fourth opposed wall portions
extending between said first and second wall portions and upwardly
from said bottom wall portions, a cover detachably mounted on said
casing to cover said open top, a plurality of meter housing mounted
on said cover for receiving deposited coins, a coin-controlled
timing mechanism in each housing, coin discharge passage means in
each housing, said cover having a through passage in registry with
each coin discharge passage means to provide for the transfer of
deposited coins to the interior of said casing, coin collection
receptacle means in said casing for receiving coins entering said
casing through each through passage, a first reinforcing liner
removably trapped between said bottom wall portion and said cover
and extending between said first wall portion and said receptacle
means, and a second reinforcing liner removably trapped between
said cover and said bottom wall portion and extending between said
second wall portion and said receptacle means.
19. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 18, there being two
of said housings, one on each side of a plane transversely
intersecting said first and second walls.
20. A parking meter assembly comprising a hollow casing having an
open top, a cover mounted on said casing and covering said open
top, a pair of housings mounted on said cover for receiving
deposited coins, a coin-controlled timing mechanism in each
housing, coin discharge passage means in each housing, said cover
having a through passage in registry with each coin discharge
passage means to provide for the transfer of deposited coins to the
interior of said casing, coin collection receptacle means in said
casing for receiving the coins entering the casing through each
through passage, the top of said receptacle means being spaced
below the upper edge of said casing at said open top, and said
cover having a depending portion disposed over said receptacle
means and extending into the casing space between the top of said
receptacle means and the upper edge of said casing, said depending
portion being adjacent to wall portions of said casing in the
region of said upper edge to reinforce said wall portions.
21. The parking meter assembly defined in claim 20, wherein each of
said passages in said cover is formed through said depending
portion.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to parking meters and to coin storage
assemblies for coin-controlled devices.
BACKGROUND
Prior to this invention it has been the practice to make vandal
resistant parking meter coin receptacle-receiving vaults from
ferrous casting such as malleable iron, ductile iron or steel.
Because of high melting temperatures, ferrous castings have never
been produced economically by modern precision die casting
techniques commonly used for aluminum and zinc alloys. The use of
precision aluminum of zinc die castings is desirable because of the
elimination of expensive machining operations, lighter weight, and
the inherent corrosion resistance of these materials.
Coin vault walls for twin parking meter assemblies are particularly
susceptible to forced cave-in because of the relatively large wall
size required to accommodate one or more coin boxes to serve two
meter heads. One example of this type of twin parking meter
assembly is described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,828,909 issued on Apr. 1,
1958 to L. D. Sollenberger et al for Parking Meter.
In the foregoing type of twin parking meter assembly, two meter
heads are customarily supported on a plate that covers an open top
of the receptacle-receiving coin vault. The meter heads are
typically mounted side-by-side on the cover plate, thus requiring
the receptacle-receiving vault to be formed with relatively wide
front and back walls. Furthermore, the lockable door providing
access to the interior of the coin vault for removing the coin box
is customarily mounted in the front wall of the vault, and it has
been the practice to hinge the door to the coin vault. These
structural features contribute to a relatively large height of the
vault and to a relatively large access door.
Another problem encountered with parking meters is theft by the
authorized collector. One solution proposed prior to this invention
was to utilize a sealed type of coin box having a coin discharge
opening that is selectively closed by a lockable door. This type of
coin box prevents the collector from gaining access to the
collected coins.
One procedure followed in the use of such a sealed coin box is to
have the authorized collector replace the filled coin box with an
empty one and to return the filled coin box to a central collection
place, such as a bank. Another prior practice is to provide the
collector with a specially constructed coin collection head, having
an inaccessible key that fits into the lock on the discharge door
when the door is inserted into the collection head. In both cases,
however, the construction of prior parking meters are such that the
door to the vault may be closed and locked without placing a coin
box in the vault. As a result, unscrupulous collectors circumvent
the deterrent of the sealed coin box construction by not placing a
coin box in the vault. The door of the empty coin vault would be
closed and locked, and coins deposited in the meter would then
accessibly accumulate on the bottom of the vault. On his next
collection round, the collector could then open the door to the
vault and pocket the accumulated coins.
SUMMARY & OBJECTS OF INVENTION
A major object of this invention is to provide a novel parking
meter assembly.
Another major object of this invention is to provide a novel coin
storage assembly for a coin-controlled device.
Another important object of this invention is to provide a novel
coin receptacle housing or vault construction that may be made from
non-ferrous die cast materials, but yet effectively resists forced
break-in.
Still another important object of this invention is to provide a
novel, low profile coin vault for a twin parking meter
assembly.
Still another object of this invention is to reinforce a parking
meter coin vault in a novel manner.
Still another major object of this invention is to provide a novel
vandal-resistant parking meter.
A further important object of this invention is to provide a novel
parking meter construction that effectively prevents a collector
from closing the coin vault access door without positioning a coin
box in the vault to receive deposited coins.
According to one feature of this invention, the twin parking meter
coin vault is novelly provided with a side access opening for
removing the coin box in the vault. This structural feature, as
compared with conventional front and/or back access openings,
contributes significantly to a relatively low profile (i.e., low
height) coin vault. By lowering the profile of the vault, the vault
becomes more resistant to forced cave-in without resorting to
thicker vault walls or stronger materials for fabricating the
vault.
Thus a more specific object of this invention is to provide a
plural parking meter assembly with a novel receptacle receiving
vault or housing that has a side access opening through which the
coin box may be removed.
According to a further feature of this invention, the side access
opening in the coin vault is selectively closed by a lockable door
that is removably and hinglessly mounted on the vault. Elimination
of a hinged connection between the access door and the wall of the
vault eliminates a structurally weak feature that is susceptible to
destruction for the purpose of gaining access to the coin box in
the vault.
Thus, another more specific and important object of this invention
is to provide a novel coin vault access door that is removably and
hinglessly mounted on the vault.
According to a further feature of this invention, the coin box is
secured to the vault access door so that the coin box and the door
are removable from the vault as a unit. The coin box is secured
only to the access door in a permanent or semi-permanent fashion.
This structural feature acts as an effective deterrent to
unscrupulous collectors because the collector cannot close the
access door without positioning the coin box in the vault to
receive deposited coins. Used in conjunction with a sealed type of
coin box, or more specifically the type of coin box that has a
lockable coin discharge door, the feature of securing the coin box
to the access door precludes the practice of gaining access to
deposited coins by either dumping the contents of the coin box or
by leaving the coin box out of the coin vault to allow deposited
coins to accumulate on the floor of the vault.
Accordingly, another important object of this invention is to
provide a novel coin storage assembly in which the coin box is
secured to the vault access door, thus effectively preventing the
collector from closing the access door without positioning the coin
box in the vault to receive deposited coins.
Coin boxes have in the past been secured to the access door in
prior parking meter constructions. For example, it has been
proposed to make the coin box integral with the access door as
described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,465,146 issued on Mar. 22, 1949 to R.
F. Broussard for Coin Gate Mechanism. In such prior parking meter
constructions, however, the access door is hinged or otherwise
permanently secured to the coin vault or receptacle-receiving
housing. As a result, the coins can conveniently be removed only by
using an unsealed, dump type coin box in which the deposited coins
are immediately accessible to the collector by opening the access
door and dumping the contents of the coin box.
Another disadvantage of the coin collection structure described in
U.S. Pat. No. 2,465,146 is that the height of the coin vault
opening must be sufficiently great to enable the coin box to be
swung out of the vault for the purpose of dumping its contents.
This structural feature adds significantly to the height of the
coin vault as compared to the height of the coin vault in this
invention. Furthermore, the feature of securing the coin box to an
access door that is hinged or otherwise secured to the coin vault
does not lend itself to the type of collection wherein a sealed
type coin box is removed from the coin vault and inserted into a
coin collection head. This coin collection arrangement is described
in U. S. Pat. No. 3,321,129 issued on May 23, 1967 to William C.
Hutton et al for Coin Collection System.
The coin vault of this invention comprises a hollow casing having
an open top and front, back and side walls. The access opening is
formed in one side wall, and the meter heads are mounted on a plate
that covers the open top of the casing. According to another
feature of this invention, the front and back walls of the coin
vault casing may be reinforced by interior liners that are
separably trapped between the floor of the casing and the cover
plate.
According to another feature of this invention the cover plate is
formed with a depending portion that extends into the coin vault
casing to reinforce upper wall regions of the casing that are above
the coin box.
These reinforcing features are effective and relatively
inexpensive. Thus, these reinforcing features also each contribute
to a light weight coin vault construction that can be made from
inexpensive relatively weak material such as aluminum alloy.
Although the detail description herein is directed to a twin or
plural parking meter assembly, it will be appreciated that certain
features of this invention are applicable to parking meters having
a single head and to coin storage assemblies for other coin
controlled devices.
Further objects of this invention will appear as the description
proceeds in connection with the below-described drawings and the
appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a twin parking meter assembly
incorporating the principles of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the parking meter assembly shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parking meter shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along lines 4--4 of FIG.
1;
FIG. 5 is a section taken substantially along lines 5--5 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially along
lines 6--6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the coin box and access door assembly
shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the coin box and door assembly
shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the parking meter coin vault shown in FIG.
1 with the coin vault cover plate and meter heads removed;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the coin vault casing shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the coin vault casing shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 12 is a section taken substantially along lines 12--12 of FIG.
10;
FIG. 13 is a section taken substantially along lines 13--13 of FIG.
10;
FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of the coin vault cover plate shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the coin vault cover plate shown in
FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along lines
16--16 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 17 is a section taken substantially along lines 17--17 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 18 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along lines
18--18 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section taken substantially aling lines
19--19 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 20 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along lines
20--20 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 21 is a partially sectioned fragmentary elevation of a
modified plural meter assembly incorporating a dump type coin
box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the parking meter assembly incorporating the principles of this
embodiment is generally designated at 20 and is of the twin type
having a pair of coin-controlled parking meter units or heads 22
and 23 and a lower coin vault or housing 24. Vault 24 is common to
and serves both parking meter heads 22 and 23. Meter 20 is mounted
on an upstanding tubular post 25 in a manner to be described in
detail later on.
Parking meter head 22 comprises a casing 26 that houses the usual
coin-controlled timing and indicator mechanism which is generally
indicated at 28. Mechanism 28 is of any suitable conventional
construction and includes a pointer or indicator 30 that is
swingable across the usual time-indicating meter scale 32.
Indicator 30 and scale 32 are observable through a window 34 that
is mounted in the front wall of casing 26. Casing 26 has the usual
coin receiving slot, as indicated at 36. Coins are inserted through
slot 36 to set time on the meter. Coins deposited in the meter head
and providing for the actuation of the timing mechanism are either
positively driven or pass by gravity down through a coin chute or
passage 37 and into a coin collection and storage box or receptacle
38 which is disposed in vault 24.
Parking meter head 23 is preferably of the same construction as
parking meter head 22. Accordingly, like numerals suffixed by the
letter a have been applied to designate the corresponding parts of
meter head 23.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, vault 24 comprises a one piece casing 40
that is open at its top and a top cover plate 42. A chamber 44 that
is defined by casing 40 and top plate 42 receives coin box 38.
Parking meter heads 22 and 23 are mounted on top plate 42 in
side-by-side relation as shown. Casings 26 and 26a are supported by
top plate 42 and are rigidly fixed thereto by machine screws 46
(see FIG. 1). Top plate 42 is mounted on casing 42 and is fixed to
casing 40 by four machine screws that are indicated at 47.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 10 and 5, casing 40 is integrally formed
with a bottom wall 48, opposed, spaced apart, parallel front and
back walls 49 and 50 and a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls
51 and 52 that extend between walls 49 and 50. Walls 49-52 extend
upwardly from bottom wall 48 as shown.
Casing 40 is elongated transversely of side walls 51 and 52 to
accommodate the side-by-side arrangement of meter heads 22 and 23.
The width of walls 49 and 50 are thus significantly greater than
the widths of walls 51 and 52. Meter heads 22 and 23 are
symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane
normally and medially intersecting walls 49 and 50.
According to one feature of this invention an access opening 54
(FIG. 5) is formed in side wall 52. Opening 54 has a rectangular
configuration and is selectively closed by a hingless, detachable
door 56 to provide access to the interior of vault 24.
As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 11, side wall 52 is formed with a
recessed ledge 60 that bounds the sides and bottom of opening 54.
Ledge 60 is offset inwardly from the outer side wall face of vault
24 to provide an inwardly recessed seat for door 56. Ledge 60
terminates at the upper end of opening 54 so that the upper edge of
opening 54 is not bounded by the recessed seat. Door 56 is stepped
along its two side edges and its bottom edge to interfit with the
stepped side wall regions defined by ledge 60. Door 56 matingly
seats in the recessed seat defined by ledge 60 in such a manner
that the outside face of door 56 is substantially flush with the
outside face of side wall 52. The stepped region of door 56 defines
an inwardly facing flat shoulder surface 62 that interfittingly
seats against ledge 60 when door 56 is mounted in its closed
position as shown in FIG. 5.
With continued reference to FIG. 5, a cylindrical bore 64 is formed
through door 56. A lock barrel 66, forming a part of a key operated
cylinder lock 68 is coaxially mounted in bore 64. Lock 68 comprises
a keeper 70 that is slidable between its unlocked and locking
positions in a pocket or recess 71. Recess 71 is defined by door 56
and a one-piece bracket or mounting plate 72. Keeper 70 comprises a
sturdy, flat-sided, rigid metal tongue.
In its lowered, locking position keeper 70 projects downwardly into
an upwardly opening groove 73. Groove 73 is formed in bottom wall
48, extends transversely of front and back walls 49 and 50 and is
delimited by a transverse rib 74 (see FIG. 10) and a raised portion
76 of bottom wall 48. Portion 76 is formed at the mouth of opening
54 and defines ledge 60. Rib 74 is integral with bottom wall 48. In
its raised, unlocked position keeper 70 clears groove 73 to permit
door 56 to be removed from casing 40.
Along its upper edge, door 76 is integrally formed with a thick,
sturdy lip 80 which extends upwardly along the inner face of side
wall 52 when the door is in its closed position as shown in FIG. 5.
Lip 80 separably butts against the inside face of side wall 52 to
thus interlock with the side wall and thereby prevent the upper
edge of door 56 from being pulled or pried outwardly when the door
is in its closed position. As shown, lip 80 is inwardly offset from
the door portion that is received in the recess that is defined by
ledge 60.
Abutment of keeper 70 with the inwardly facing, groove-defining
surface of raised portion 76 prevents the lower edge of door 56
from being pulled or pried outwardly. Seating engagement of
shoulder 62 against ledge 60 prevents door 56 from being pushed or
tilted inwardly from its illustrated closed position.
To remove door 56, lock 68 is operated by a suitable, unshown key
to raise keeper 70 to its unlocking position. The lower edge of the
complete door and lock assembly is then tilted outwardly to clear
casing 40. Door 56 is then lowered sufficiently to permit lip 80 to
clear the side wall region defining the upper edge of opening 54.
Door 56 is now free to be completely withdrawn and thus fully
separated from casing 40.
From the foregoing description it is clear that door 56 is not
hinged in any manner to casing 40 or any other parts of vault 24.
It also will be appreciated that door 56 is completely separable
and removable from casing 40. The advantages of this hingless door
construction will be explained in detail later on.
As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, door 56, on its inner side, is
integrally formed with a pair of parallel, spaced apart,
upstanding, reinforcing rib portions 82. Rib portions 82 extend
lengthwise of door 56, and at their upper ends, they are integrally
joined to lip 80. The lower ends of rib portions 82 integrally join
with a thickened door portion 84 through which bore 64 is formed.
Rib portions 82 and portion 84 are received between a pair of
flat-sided, parallel, spaced apart arm portions 86 of mounting
plate 72. Mounting plate 72 is rigidly fixed to door 56 preferably
by rivits 88 that extend through arm portions 86 and engage in rib
portions 82 and thickened portion 84. In this manner, mounting
plate 72 is permanently fixed to door 56.
Mounting plate 72 has a cross portion 90 (see FIG. 16) integrally
joining arm portions 86 in the region of lock 68 and delimiting
recess 71. When keeper 70 is in its fully raised unlocked position
(see FIG. 7) it is fully withdrawn into recess 71.
Referring to FIGS. 5-9, door 56 is pivotally mounted on and thus
carried by coin box 38 by means of a cylindrical pivot pin 92. Pin
92 extends through aligned apertures 94 that are formed in inwardly
protruding extensions of arm portions 86.
As best shown in FIG. 6, pivot pin 92 also freely extends through
aligned apertures that are formed through the side walls of an end
portion 98 of coin box 38. The width of end portion 98 is reduced
as compared with the coin-receiving body of box 38 and is received
between arm portions 86 as shown.
The ends of pin 92 protruding beyond arm portions 86 are
peripherally grooved to mount snap rings 100. Snap rings 100 are
buttable against arm portions 86 to thus limit axial displacement
of pin 92 and to prevent axial removal of the pivot pin. The coin
box end portion 98 is thus axially confined between arm portions
86, and owing to pin 92, coin box 38 cannot be disassembled from
door 56 except by removal of one of the snap rings 100 and
subsequent removal of pin 92 or by destruction of one or more
parts.
With the foregoing construction, coin box 38 and door 56 are each
pivotable or swingable through limited distances about the axis of
pin 92. Coin box 36 and door 56 are thus relatively pivotable about
the axis of pin 92. In addition, door 56, due to the elongation of
apertures 94 is rectilinearly displaceable relative to coin box 38
in a direction extending radially of pin 92. This construction
permits door 56 to be pivoted through a limited, but sufficient
angle relative to coin box 38 to permit the lower edge of door 56
to be swung outwardly from a closed position for effecting removal
of the door from vault 24. After the lower edge of the door is
pivoted outwardly to a position where it clears side wall 52, it
then may be lowered, due to the elongation of apertures 94, to
permit lip 80 to clear the side wall region that defines the upper
edge of opening 54. Door 56 is now completely free of vault 24
enabling it and coin box 38 to be withdrawn from vault 24 as a
unit.
When coin box 38 is positioned in vault 24 to receive coins
inserted into meter heads 22 and 23, it separably rests on and is
supported by bottom wall 48 as shown in FIG. 5. Coin box 38 is only
secured to door 56 as previously described, and it is not attached
or secured in any way to any other parts of vault 24. Thus, by
removing door 56, coin box 38 is withdrawn from chamber 44 through
opening 54. Hence withdrawal of coin box 38 is laterally of the
parking meter assembly. More particularly, coin box 38 is inserted
and withdrawn laterally of a vertical plane transversely
intersecting walls 49 and 50.
Coin box 39 is advantageously of the sealed or pilferage resistant
type described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,321,129 issued on May 23, 1967
to William C. Hutton et al. for Coin Collection System. With this
type of coin box, the coins deposited therein are not accessible to
the collector, and the coin box requires a special coin collection
head (not shown) described in the above-identified patent for
transferring the collected coins to a coin collection box (not
shown) that is carried by the collector. With this type of coin
box, therefore, the authorized collector cannot gain access to the
collected coins by opening door 56 and by withdrawing the coin box
from vault 24.
Preferably the structure forming a part of coin box 38 for
effecting the removal of coins deposited therein is the same as
that described in the above-identified patent. Briefly, this
structure is shown in FIG. 5 to comprise a door 110 that is
pivotally mounted by pins in a wall of the coin box. Door 110 upon
being opened provides a discharge opening in the coin box wall for
transferring the deposited coins to the unshown coin collection box
that is carried by the collector. Door 110 is normally held closed
by a locking device 116 that is only unlocked when the unshown key
is inserted into it.
The above-mentioned key is contained in the coin collection head so
that door 110 can only be opened to dump the contents of the coin
box by inserting the coin box into the collection head. As a
result, the coin collection head prevents access to the deposited
coins as they are dumped. The only way that the coin can be removed
from the coin collection head is by pulling the coin box out of the
coin collection head to effect the removal of the unshown key.
Closing of door 110 and removal of the unshown key automatically
actuates the lock mechanism to lock door 110 closed.
When door 56 is in its closed position, it properly positions coin
box 38 to receive coins that are inserted into meter heads 22 and
23. More specifically, coin box 38 will be positioned by mounting
door 56 in its closed position so that two coin receiving slots 120
(see FIGS. 5 and 7) respectively align with two coin chutes or
passageways 122 (FIG. 5). Passageways 122 are formed through plate
42. Chutes 122 respectively register with chutes 37 and 37a and are
in open communication therewith so that coins descending in chutes
37 and 37a pass downwardly through chutes 122 and then through coin
slots 120 into coin box 38. Slots 120 are formed in the top wall of
coin box 38 and are so configured as to make it difficult to jiggle
the coins out of the coin box.
By virtue of securing door 56 to coin box 38 in the manner
previously described, it will be appreciated that door 56 cannot be
mounted in its closed position on casing 40 without properly
positioning coin box 38 within chamber 44 to receive the coins
descending through chutes 122. Therefore, unscrupulous collectors
cannot pilfer coins by leaving the coin box out of the vault,
closing and locking the access door and then returning at a later
time to take the coins that accumulate on the floor of the empty
vault. In contrast with types of parking meters that permit such a
practice, the coin collection construction of this invention
precludes the mounting of door 56 in its closed position without
positioning coin box 38 in vault 24 to receive the deposited
coins.
With the previously described pin and snap ring construction for
securing door 56 to coin box 38 it is realized that given ample
time and proper tools an unscrupulous collector could disconnect
box 38 from door 56 to enable him to close door 56 without
positioning coin box 38 in vault 24. However, it has been found
that the time needed for removing snap rings 100 and the probable
damage that occurs to the rings in the course of removing them is
sufficient deterrent to discourage such a practice. It also will be
appreciated that door 56 fits in opening 54 and can be locked in
only one position, thus preventing a collector from positioning the
coin box up-side down in vault 24.
As best shown in FIG. 5 and 10, casing 40 is rigidly fixed to post
25 by a mounting bolt 130 and wedge elements 132. Bolt 130 extends
down through a central aperture in bottom wall 48 and engages
elements 132 in post 25. By tightening bolt 130 elements 132 are
wedged into engagement with post 25 to securely fix casing 40 to
post 25. The head of bolt 130 is disposed in vault 24, and a metal
washer 134 may be provided between the bolt head and bottom wall 48
as shown.
With continued reference to FIG. 10, bottom wall 48 is internally
and integrally formed with parallel, straight reinforcing ribs 136,
137, and 138. Ribs 136-138 are parallel with front and back walls
49 and 50. The flat bottom of coin box 38 seats on ribs 136-138
when the coin box is positioned in vault 24. Ribs 136-138 are
sufficiently high to provide a clearance between the bottom of coin
box 38 and the head of bolt 130.
Referring to FIG. 13, front wall 49 is interiorly and integrally
formed with a series of parallel, spaced apart, upstanding
reinforcing ribs 139. Similarly, back wall 50, as shown in FIG. 12,
is also interiorly and integrally formed with a series of parallel,
spaced apart, upstanding reinforcing ribs 140. Ribs 139 and 140
extends vertically when casing 40 is mounted on post 25. Ribs 139
and 140 are tapered towards their upper ends as shown to provide
increased reinforcement at the lower region of vault 24.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 17, a pair of generally rectangular, rigid,
reinforcing plate liners 142 and 144 may advantageously be mounted
in vault 24 to respectively provide reinforcement along front wall
49 and back wall 50. Liners 142 and 144 are flat-sided and are
fabricated from steel plate or other suitable, sturdy material.
Liner 142 vertically extends between wall 49 and the opposing wall
of coin box 38. Liner 144 vertically extends between wall 50 and
the opposing wall of coin box 38. Liners 142 and 144 extend almost
the entire length of coin box 38 and are coextensive with the side
wall regions of coin box 38 that define the main portion of the
coin collection chamber.
From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that when
entry into vault 24 is forced by way of either front wall 49 or
back wall 50, it is necessary to break through the wall of the
vault, the adjacent one of liners 142 and 144 and the opposing wall
of the coin box to obtain access to the coins deposited in the coin
box. Liners 142 and 144 therefore effecrively inhibit forced entry
to coin box 38 by way of either front wall 49 or back wall 50.
As shown in FIG. 17, the lowe straight edge of liner 142 is loosely
seated in a straight, upwardly opening, liner locating groove 146.
Groove 146 is formed between rib 136 and the interior face of front
wall 49. Similarly, the lower straight edge of liner 144 is loosely
seated in a straight, upwardly opening, liner locating groove 148.
Groove 48 is formed between rib 138 and the interior face of back
wall 150.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 17, the height of coin box 38 is
appreciably less than the height of vault 24 extending from bottom
wall 48 to the upper edge of casing 40. Plate 42 is integrally
formed with a depending portion 150 that protrudes downwardly into
vault 24 to occupy the space between the top wall of coin box 38
and the upper edge of casing 40. Portion 150 is disposed over the
top wall of coin box 38.
The upper region of liner 142 extends between wall 49 and portion
150, and the upper region of liner 144 extends between wall 50 and
portion 150.
Referring to FIGS. 14, 15 and 17, depending portion 150 is formed
with spaced apart forward and rearward walls 152 and 153 and side
wall portions 154 and 155 at opposite ends of walls 152 and 153.
Walls 152 and 153 extend between and are integrally joined to wall
portions 154 and 155 as shown in FIG. 14. Walls 152 and 153 and
wall portions 154 and 155 cooperate to define a downwardly opening
recess 156. Depending portion 150 is also integrally formed with
longitudinal and transverse reinforcing rib portions 158 that are
disposed in recess 156.
Walls 152 and 153 and wall portions 154 and 155 depend from a
rectangular cover portion 160 of plate 42. The central regions of
walls 152 and 153 are in parallel spaced apart relation and are
disposed near front and rear walls 49 and 50 respectively. Chutes
122 are formed through wall portions 154 and 155 as shown in FIGS.
5 and 14.
As best shown in FIG. 17, the upper region of liner 142 is disposed
between, and thus confined between, walls 49 and 152. Similarly,
the upper region of liner 144 is disposed between, and thus
confined between, walls 50 and 153. The lower region of liner 142
is confined between the opposed side wall regions of groove 146,
while the lower region of liner 144 is confined between the opposed
side wall regions of groove 148. Inward movement of liner 142 from
its reinforcing position adjacent to wall 49 is limited by abutment
with wall 152 and rib 136. Inward movement of liner 144 from its
reinforcing position is limited by abutment with wall 153 and rib
138.
The clearance between the upper straight edges of liners 142 and
144 and the underside of plate portion 160 is just sufficient to
permit plate 42 to properly seat on the upper edge of casing 40.
Thus liners 142 and 144 extend substantially the entire distance
between bottom wall 48 and the underside of plate portion 160.
Advantageously, liner 142 may be secured against sideward movement
laterally of side walls 51 and 52 by an allen head screw 162 as
shown in FIG. 18. Screw 162 is threaded into a tapped bore 164 that
is centrally formed through wall 152. Screw 162 freely projects
through an aperture 165 in liner 142 and has a tip that seats in a
small inwardly opening pocket or recess 166 that is formed in the
central rib 139. Abutment of screw 162 with the edge of aperture
165 limits sideward displacement of liner 142, as well as any other
displacement extending radially of the axis of screw 152.
As best shown in FIG. 18, a corresponding construction is provided
for liner 144 to limit the sideward displacement of liner 144.
Accordingly like reference numerals suffixed by the letter small a
have been applied to designate the structural features associated
with liner 144. As shown, screw 162a is threaded into tapped bore
164a, and it extends freely through aperture 165a in liner 144 and
seats in pocket 166a that is formed in the central rib 140.
Abutment of screw 162a with the edge of aperture 165a limits
sideward displacement of liner 144, as well as displacement of
liner 144 in any other direction extending radially of the axis of
screw 162a. Bore 164a is formed through wall 153, and the axes of
bores 164 and 164a are aligned.
Liners 142 and 144 may be removed through the open top of casing 40
after screws 162 and 162a are inwardly threaded so that they clear
pockets 166 and 166a. Access to screws 162 and 162a is attained by
removing coin box 38 from vault 24. It will be appreciated that
liners 142 and 144 are supported in vault 24 independently of coin
box 38. Thus, when coin box 38 is removed from vault 24, liners 142
and 144 are retained in their illustrated reinforcing
positions.
Liners 142 and 144 are assembled in vault 24 by inserting them
through the open top of casing 40 before plate 42 is fastened to
casing 40. Before coin box 38 is inserted into vault 24, screws 162
and 162a are then threaded into pockets 166 and 166a respectively
by inserting the appropriate tool through opening 54. From the
construction just described, it will be appreciated that liners 142
and 144 may optionally be omitted from the parking meter vault
assembly without requiring any alterations to the component parts
of vault 24 or to coin box 38. It also will be appreciated that,
instead of being fastened in place, liners 142 and 144 are trapped
in position between cooperating surfaces on plate 42 and casing 40
when plate 42 is mounted on casing 40. As a result, liners 142 and
144 are mounted in vault 24 in a simplified and inexpensive
manner.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 14, 15, 17 and 18, the underside of plate
portion 160 is formed with a downwardly opening rectangular groove
170 around its outer marginal edge. Groove 170 follows the
rectangular contour of plate portion 160 and is defined by an
endless rectangular lip or ridge 172 on its inward side and by the
rectangular border portion 174 on its outer side. Lip 172 is
integral with and depends from plate portion 160, and as shown in
FIG. 14, lip 172 peripherally surrounds depending portion 150. As
shown in FIG. 15, lip 172 depends below border portion 174.
As shown in FIGS. 5, 9, 10, 17 and 18, the upper edge of casing 40
is formed with an upwardly protruding, rectangular, endless lip or
ridge 176 that peripherally surrounds the open top of the casing.
Lip 176 interfittingly seats in groove 170 when plate 42 is mounted
on casing 40 as best shown in FIGS. 5, 17 and 18. Thus, in
assembled relation border portion 174 extends downwardly along the
outer face of lip 176 and seats on the upper casing edge that is
disposed outwardly of lip 176, while lip 172 extends downwardly
along the inner side of lip 176 below the abutment interface
between the bottom edge of border portion 174 and the upper edge of
casing 40.
Seating engagement of lip 176 in groove 170 properly positions
plate 42 on casing 40 and interlocks plate 42 and casing 40. Lip
176 blocks insertion of a tool, such as a chisel, between plate 42
and casing 40 for prying cover 42 off casing 40. The extent to
which such a tool may be forced between border portion 174 and the
upper edge of casing 40 does not provide sufficient leverage for
stripping screws 47.
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, lip 172 is disposed outwardly of and
depends below the upper edges of liners 142 and 144. Liners 142 and
144 thus provide an additional wall for resisting forced entry by
breaking through the front and rear portions of lip 172.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 9 and 19, each of the two screws 47 on the
left side of vault 24 (as viewed from FIG. 4) extends through a
smooth walled bore 182 in plate 42 and is threaded into a tapped
blind bore 184 in a reinforcing, interior wall portion 186. Wall
portion 186 is integral with walls 49-51 and is elongated in the
direction of wall 51. Wall portion 186 merges with wall 51 to thus
reinforce the latter. When plate 42 is mounted on casing 40, bores
182 axially align with bores 184.
At its upper end, wall portion 186 terminates in a flat, horizontal
edge surface 188 that is recessed a significant distance below the
upper end of casing 40. Bores 184 open at edge surface 188 and are
disposed a significant distance inwardly of walls 49-51.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 9, and 20 each of the two screws 47 on the
right side of vault 24 (as viewed from FIG. 4) extends through a
smooth walled bore 190 in plate 42 and is threaded into a tapped
blind bore 192 in an interior boss portion 194. Boss portions 194
are disposed within vault 24 in the right-hand corners of casing 40
and are integrally joined to side wall 52 above opening 54.
At their upper ends, boss portions 194 terminate in flat horizontal
edge surfaces 196. Bores 192 open at edge surfaces 196 and axially
align with bores 190 when plate 42 is mounted on casing 40. Edge
surfaces 196 are recessed a significant distance below the upper
edge of casing 40, and bores 192 are disposed significant distances
inwardly of walls 49, 50 and 52.
Edge surfaces 188 and 196 are contained in a common horizontal
plane that is parallel with bottom wall 48. The arrangement of
bores 182, 184, 190 and 192 is symmetrical.
Depending portion 150 fills an appreciable part of the vault space
between the top of coin box 38 and the upper edge of casing 40.
Depending portion 150 thus provides an additional interior
reinforcing wall barrier that resists forced entry into vault 24
through the regions of walls 49-52 above coin box 38. In
particular, forced entry by caving walls 49-52 in the region above
coin box 38 is effectively resisted by depending portion 150 which
offers a relatively large rigid mass that must be crushed in order
to gain access to the coin box. Thus, walls 49-52 are interiorly
reinforced by depending portion 150 in the region above coin box
38.
Owing to the previously described reinforcing features of vault 24,
it is exceedingly difficult to cave in walls 49 and 50 and the
regions of walls 51 and 52 above coin box 38. Owing to opening 54,
side wall 52 mainly extends only in the region above coin box 38,
and this region is thickened and reinforced by boss positions 194.
In addition, the depth of vault 24 and hence the widths of side
walls 51 and 52 between walls 49 and 50 is relatively small to
consequently make it difficult to cave in the side wall regions.
Side wall 51 is furthermore thickened and thereby reinforced by
wall portion 186. Depending portion 150 furthermore provides plate
42 with a thickened region covering the open top of casing 40 to
resist forced cave-in of plate 42.
The depth of vault 24 is relatively shallow as compared with width
of the vault (i.e., the widths of walls 51 and 52 are appreciably
shorter than the widths of walls 49 and 50) because of the
formation of access opening in the side of vault 24 rather than the
front or back of the vault 24 and because of the elongation of coin
box 38 in a direction extending parallel to walls 49 and 50.
Owing to the hingeless construction of door 56, the height of vault
24 is reduced as compared with conventional vaults in which the
access door is hinged to a wall of the vault and carries or is
secured to the coin box. With the hingeless construction of door
56, it is not necessary to provide enough vertical clearance to
pivot the door and to thereby swing the coin box out of the vault
as is required with certain conventional parking meter vault
constructions.
The foregoing reinforced vault and hingeless door construction thus
enables vault 24 to be constructed with a low profile which in
itself contributes to resisting forced cave in of the vault walls.
Furthermore, the provision of access opening 54 in the side of
vault 24, rather than the front or back thereof, permits opening 54
to make considerably smaller than the size that would be needed to
accommodate coin deposits from both meter heads 22 and 23 if the
access opening were conventionally formed in the front or back
walls of the vault. Door 56 is therefore much smaller as compared
with conventional parking meter constructions and particularly as
compared with twin parking meter head constructions of the type
described herein. Hence the relatively small size of door 56 makes
it less vulnerable to forced entry. The absence of a hinge for
mounting door 56 on casing 40 also eliminates another source that
is subject to destruction for gaining forced entry into vault
24.
The reinforced, low profile construction of vault 24 permits the
component parts of vault 24 to be die cast from such materials such
as aluminum or zinc alloys. As compared with conventional vaults
that are customarily formed from sand cast ferrous alloys, aluminum
or zinc alloys and the like provide a less expensive, lighter
weight vault that is not subject to corrosion.
The effect of downwardly recessing portions 186 and 194 and of
disposing bores 184 and 192 inwardly of the upper edge of casing 40
makes forced entry difficult by driving a chisel between plate 42
and the edge of casing 40 to pry plate 42 loose. Portions 186 and
184 and plate 42 provide masses of metal that extend between bores
184 and 192 and the extremity of a chisel or other tool hen it is
forcibly inserted between the upper edge of casing 40 and plate 42.
The masses of metal tend to deform when pried to relieve stresses
that would strip the threads on screws 47.
As shown in FIG. 4, plate 42 is formed with slightly raised
locating bosses 200 and 202 for casings 26 and 26a respectively.
The bores for screws 47 and 46 are on bosses 200 and 202 so that
casings 26 and 26a cover screws 46 and 47 to prevent access
thereto.
The dual parking meter assembly shown in FIG. 21 is the same as
that shown in FIGS. 1-20 except for the coin box in vault 24.
Accordingly, like reference characters have been applied to
designate like parts of the assembly shown in FIG. 21, and the coin
box in the assembly of FIG. 21 is designated at 204.
Coin box 204, instead of being of the vandal resistant type shown
in the previous embodiment, is of the dump type which has
relatively large, spaced apart coin receiving apertures 206 in the
coin box top wall. Coin box 204 is pivotally secured to and carries
door 56 in the manner described in the previous embodiment. When
door 56 is closed aperture 206 will align with chutes 122. Coins
deposited in box 204 are dumped out by simply tilting box 204
sufficiently to enable the coins to pour out of one or more of the
apertures 206. As compared with coin box 38, it will be appreciated
that coins deposited in box 206 are immediately accessible to the
collector upon opening door 56 and removing box 206 from vault
24.
* * * * *