Electromechanical parking meter door communications interface

Abstract

An electronic security system for a parking meter includes a vault door having a spring-biased contact terminal for making breakable electrical contact with a housing hinge bracket contact terminal mounted in a vault opening. An electronic lock control circuit is able to communicate with a meter control (coin counting/auditing) circuit in the meter portion of the system through the vault door/housing hinge bracket contact terminals, thus eliminating a direct cable connection between the lock circuit and the meter circuit. The spring-biased contact may be substituted by equivalent breakable electrical contacts such as optocoupler contacts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic parking meter, comprising: 
 a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter;    a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, and a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface; and    an access device for operating said lock, comprising means for storing data for presentation to said lock control circuit, means for storing information for presentation to said coin counting/auditing circuit, and means for storing information received from said coin counting/auditing circuit;    said second section including a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;    said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable;    wherein the lock includes a shell and a plug mounted inside the shell, and a shell retainer bushing nut for retaining the shell and plug within a recess in the vault door.    
     
     
         2 . An electronic parking meter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said lock includes a solenoid having a plunger that prevents mechanical operation of said lock when extended, said meter further including a removable blocking tab insertable between said plunger and a stop for said plunger, for blocking operation of said plunger in meters wherein electronic locking functions are not provided.  
     
     
         3 . An electronic parking meter, comprising: 
 a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter;    a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, and a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface; and    an access device for operating said lock, comprising means for storing data for presentation to said lock control circuit, means for storing information for presentation to said coin counting/auditing circuit, and means for storing information received from said coin counting/auditing circuit;    said second section including a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;    said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable;    further including a wire form retainer functioning as a guide to keep said interface cable away from the vault opening and the vault door during access/reinstallation operations so as to avoid damage to the interface cable.    
     
     
         4 . An electronic parking meter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said lock includes a solenoid having a plunger that prevents mechanical operation of said lock when extended, said meter further including a removable blocking tab insertable between said plunger and a stop for said plunger, for blocking operation of said plunger in meters wherein electronic locking functions are not provided.  
     
     
         5 . In an electronic parking meter having a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter, a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface, and a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, the improvement comprising: 
 said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;    said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable;    wherein said access device is capable of communicating directly with said coin counting/auditing circuit through said lock circuit, when said vault door is mounted in said vault opening; and    wherein the lock includes a shell and a plug mounted inside the shell, and a shell retainer bushing nut for retaining the shell and plug within an aperture in the vault door.    
     
     
         6 . An electronic parking meter as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said lock includes a solenoid having a plunger that prevents mechanical operation of said lock when extended, said meter further including a removable blocking tab insertable between said plunger and a stop for said plunger, for blocking operation of said plunger in meters wherein electronic locking functions are not provided.  
     
     
         7 . In an electronic parking meter having a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter, a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface, and a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, the improvement comprising: 
 said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;    said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable;    wherein said access device is capable of communicating directly with said coin counting/auditing circuit through said lock circuit, when said vault door is mounted in said vault opening; and    further including a wire form retainer functioning as a guide to keep said interface cable away from the vault opening and the vault door during access/reinstallation operations so as to avoid damage to the interface cable.    
     
     
         8 . An electronic parking meter as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said lock includes a solenoid having a plunger that prevents mechanical operation of said lock when extended, said meter further including a removable blocking tab insertable between said plunger and a stop for said plunger, for blocking operation of said plunger in meters wherein electronic locking functions are not provided.  
     
     
         9 . In a parking meter having a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a second section including a lock, a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, the improvement comprising: 
 said lock including a shell and a plug mounted inside the shell, and a shell retainer bushing nut for retaining the shell and plug within an aperture in the vault door.    
     
     
         10 . A parking meter as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said lock includes a solenoid having a plunger that prevents mechanical operation of said lock when extended, said solenoid being operated by electronic locking functions, said meter further including a removable blocking tab insertable between said plunger and a stop for said plunger, for blocking operation of said plunger in meters wherein electronic locking functions are not provided.