US2437556A - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

arch 9, 1948.

M- H. RHODES TIMING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1943 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 March 9, 1948. RHODES 2,437,556

TIMING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 25, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PEG-.4. GT ll filllll l" E 32 1,21,)7/ I I,

S I Q Q z E Q Q Patented Mar. 9, 1948 TED STATES PATENT OFFICE M. H. Rhodes, Inc., Hartford, Conn.,

tion of Delaware 21. corpora- Original application October 25, 1943, Serial No. 507,640, which is a division of application Serial No. 349,119, August 1, 1940. Divided and this application October 1, 1945, Serial No. 619,681

2 Claims.

This invention relates to timing devices, and

with regard to certain more specific features, to coin-controlled timing devices for indicating the passage of a purchased length of time, as for parking automobiles or the like. This application is a division of my copending application Serial 507,640, filed October 25, 1943, now abandoned, which in turn is a division of and was copending with my application Serial No. 349,119, filed August 1, 1940, now Patent 2,369,688.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a coin-controlled timing device of the class described which is adapted to indicate at all times what portion of a purchased length of time has passed; the pro vision of a device of the class described which during the period of time which has been purchased, displays the coin employed in setting, but does not so display it during the time consumed over and above the purchased time; and the provision of a device of the class described which is substantially fool-proof in operation, simple in construction, and which may be economically made. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of ing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is is a section similar to Fig. 3, but showing a different position of the mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The device of the presentinvention is particularly adapted for 'use as a so-called parking meter which is usually installed in connection with designated parking spaces for automobiles along the curbs 01' city streets. The timing device itself is usually mounted on a post on the a device embodycurb in proximity to the designatedparking space. The device is adapted to receive a coin from a person parking his automobile in the designated space, and has means thereon for indicating a duration or period of time corresponding to the length of time a person is entitled to park in the designated space in return for the value of a coin presented.

One of the principal features of the present invention is that it indicates progressively the gradual expiration of the purchased time interval, as determined by the value of a coin initially deposited in the device.

The present invention likewise employs the coin used in initiating operation of the device as an additional signal to patrolling ofiic-ers and to the public, that thespace is being occupied either legally or illegally. Neither is it possible for collectors or mechanics to cheat the municipality by removing from the device the coin which is employed as a signal, as above referred to. Likewise the device of the present invention prevents removal of a coin once it has been inserted in the coin chute.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a device in which'numeral I indicates a rectangular casing which has a semi-circular top portion. The top part of the front of the casing I has a semi-circular opening 2 preferably holding a glass. Back of this is a scale '3 upon which are figures to indicate the amount of legal parking time remain-ing. In front of this scale and movable thereover by the-clockwork mechanism is a semicircular shield 4 which, upon initiating operation of the device, is rotated until it is substantially invisible. In initiation of the operating of the device iscarriedout :by means of a handle 5 (see Fig. 2 which operates the setting mechanism upon .the insertion ofa coin into the coin slot .6. Shield 4 is attached to a shaft 1 Whichis .rotated by the clockwise mechanism.

The back of the device'is provided with a view ing disc 10, arranged opposite the place where the coin is held during legal operation of the .device, and also with an appropriate lock such as a screw lock H. I

-Referring now to Fig. 2, the device has .an appropriate coin receptacle l2 for permanent retention of coins, The receptacle I2 is preferably removable from the device so the collector can merely replace it-with an empty box'and-take the-coin containing receptacle to a central collecting point. .If the receptacle I2 is of the type which automatically locks upon removal from the device, accurate records of receipts from a specific device may be kept, and fraudulent returns by the collector are made difficult. A temporary coin receiver |3 is connected to receptacle l2 and opposite receiver I3 is located a viewing glass H] which may preferably be constructed of magnifying glass.

Fig. 3 shows the device ready for the reception of a coin. Numeral |4 indicates a circular wall or cylinder which is preferably formed integrally with a plate l5, as by die casting, and acts to prevent insertion of a coin except at the intended place. The cylinder I4 is not a complete cylinder, it being provided with a relatively wide opening l6 adjacent the arm 2| which will be described in more detail hereinafter. The plate I is rotatably mounted upon a shaft l1, upon which is also mounted the handle 5. The opposite end of shaft |1 carries cam |8 which cooperates with member |9, mounted on plate l5 by pin 60, to cause rotation of the plate l5 and cylinder l4 in one direction, but not in the other. Spring 20 mounted on plate |5 retains member IS in position for cooperation with cam I8.

On plate |5 are arms 2| and 22 movably mounted by means of rivet 23. Spring 24, attached to plate l5 by means of rivet 25 and to arm 2| at opening 26, positions arm 2| in the proper relationship to the remainder of the device. Similarly, arm 22 is positioned by spring 21 attached to plate |5 by rivet 28 and to arm 22 by opening 29. Spring 24 is stronger than spring 21 and they are adjusted so that in the Fig. 3 position spring 21 is elongated. Projection 35 on arm 2| which projects through opening 3| in plate l5, controls and limits the movement of arm 2| in cooperation with wedge 32 located between plate l5 and the back of the device.

Located below plate I5 is coin holder 33 adapted to temporarily suspend the coin opposite viewing window It) prior to deposit thereof in coin box l2. The coin is held by bar 34 which projects thereunder. Projecting portion 35 of holder 33 cooperates with hook 36 on arm 22 to drop the coin when the device is operated to reset it. Arm 22 is curved outwardly as shown in the drawing so that the hook 36 is in the same plane as projecting portion 35 and will not engage the circular wall |4. Positioned adjacent the member 33 is -V-shaped element 31, mounted on pin 38. Element 31 cooperates with cams 39, located on the screw lock H, to drop the coin from holder 33 into coin box |2 as lock II is opened.

In front of the setting mechanism is located a triangular shaped dog 40. It is mounted on the shaft 1 which carries the clockwork mechanism indicated generally at 4|. The dog 40 winds the clockwork mechanism upon initiation of operation of the device by the plate l5 and members assembled therewith. Lug 42 (see Fig. 2) on'arm 2| is positioned to contact dog 40 under certain'conditions of operation, and carry out the winding operation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When theplate l5 assembly is in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the opening l6 opposite the coin chute 6, it is ready to receive a coin 43 which is inserted through the coin slot 6 and drops into the semi-circular segment 49 of arm 2|, as indicated. A movable coin-retaining member 6| prevents removal of the coin after insertion. If the handle 5 is now rotated, carrying with it plate l5 and assembly, projecting and the interior wall 45 of the case portion 30 attached to arm 2| contacts wedge 32 tensioning spring 24 and moving arm 2| toward the center of the assembly. This permits the coin 43 to assume by gravity the position shown in Fig. 4, where it. is held between the minor semi-circular segment 44 of arm 2|,

This retains the tension in spring 24, while at the same time the tension in spring 21 has been released because thepin 46, attached to arm 2|, which imposed the tension upon spring 21 through arm 22 as shown in Fig. 3, by the movement of arm 2|, has been moved away from the projecting portion 41 of arm 22. With the coin in positionas shown in Fig. 4, lug 42 on arm 2| is brought into position to contact dog 40, as

shown in Fig. 4.

Releasing the tension in spring 21 has dropped arm 22 to the position likewise shown in Fig. 4, where it contacts projecting portion 35 of holder 33 by means of hook 36. Further rotation of the handle 5 and the plate |5 assembly trips the coin holder 33 to drop the coin held temporarily before window Ill into the coin box |3, and likewise begins winding the timing mechanism,

Continuing rotation of the handle 5 until the arm 22 has passed holder 33, allows holder 33 to fall back into position by gravity, but continues winding the clockwork mechanism. This winding continues until the opening I6 is brought opposite the coin slot 48, which connects with the temporary coin receiver |3. When the coin 43 reaches this position, it is discharged into the temporary coin holder, releasing the tension on spring 24, so that the device is again in the condition shown in Fig. 3.

As soon as the winding of the clockwork mechanism, by means of dog 40, ceases, as by the operator releasing handle 5 or by the dropping of coin 43 into the temporary coin receiver l3, the clockwork beginsto drive the shield 4 over scale 3. The winding mechanism and the clockwork are adjusted so that suflicient winding is given by the rotation of dog 40, as described above, to operate the shield 4 over the scale 3,

for the full time or any portion of time purchased.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a member 50 is mounted on shaft 1 to be rotary with the clockwork mechanism. This member has a projecting portion 5| which cooperates with a V-shaped member 52 rotatably mounted on a ,pin 53 to operate coin holder 33 through projection 35. The pro- J'ection 5| is positioned so that upon expiration of the purchased parking time, this projection contacts V-shaped member 52, and moves the temporary coin holder 33 to drop the coin into the coin box I2. The coin therefore drops into temporary coin receiver |3 upon initiation of operation of the device, and is dropped therefrom into coin box |2 as soon as the purchased time has been exhausted. The presence of the coin,

' therefore, which is visible through Window |U,

acts as a. signal to the patrolling offi cer and to the public that the device is measuring purchased time, rather than overtime. V V

Practically as soon as the parker commences to turn the crank and before lug 42 contacts dog 40 to set any time, the previous parkers coin is automatically dropped into the coin box if it has not already dropped upon occurrence of one of the events previously described. Thisfdropping of the previous coin sets up an indication'to the patrolling officer, to the parker, and to the public.

One coin does not contact another in the winding mechanism, so that there is no possibility of two coins telescoping. The presence of the window In on the back of the device operates as a signal to the patrolling ofiicer through the presence or absence of a coin showing therethrough.

If preferred, the alternative form of the invention shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 of my above-mentioned copending application Serial No. 507,640 may be employed. This embodiment is particularly useful where the meter is to operate with coins of different values to provide a corresponding purchased time interval. In this instance, however, the coin receiving memberZl shown herein would be employed in lieu of the coin receiver 62 shown in said Figs. 11-14.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A coin-controlled timing device comprising a clockworks mechanism, a manually rotatable coin carrier, a coin receiver having a coin receiving space mounted on said carrier, means for permitting the insertion of a coin into said space at one rotated position of the carrier, means for releasing the coin from said space at a second rotated position of the carrier, means forming a driving connection for winding and setting said clockworks when the carrier is rotated between said rotated positions of the carrier with a coin positioned in said space, a temporary coin holder comprising a passageway for receiving a coin released from said space at the second rotated position of the carrier and a pivoted stop member normally blocking the passage of a coin through said passageway and adapted to be pivoted to a coin releasing position, a permanent coin holder for receiving coins released from the temporary coin holder,

means for temporarily pivoting said stop member to coin releasing position upon the initiation and means for pivoting said stop member to coin releasing position upon completion of unwinding of the clockworks mechanism.

2. A coin-controlled timing device comprising a clockworks mechanism having a rotatable shaft by means of which the clockworks may be wound and set and which is returned to an original position upon unwinding of the clockworks, a manually rotatable coin carrier, a coin receiver having a coin receiving space mounted on said carrier, means for permitting the insertion of a coin into said space at one rotated position of the carrier, means for releasing the coin from said space at a second rotated position of the carrier, a temporary coin holder comprising a passageway for receiving a coin released from said space at the second rotated position of the carrier and a pivoted stop member normally retaining the coin in said passageway and adapted to be pivoted to a coin releasing position, a permanent coin holder for receiving coins released from the temporary coin holder, engaging means operable when a coin is in said space of the coin receiver and the coin carrier is rotated between said rotated positions for engaging the shaft of said clockworks to win-d and set the clockworks and for pivoting the stop member to release any coin in the temporary coin holder at the initiation of the winding operation, and means on said shaft for again pivoting the stop member to coin releasing position when the shaft is returned to said original position by the clockworks.

MARCUS H. RHODES.

REFERENCE S CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Toce et al. Nov. 18, 1941 Number of a winding operation,

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