US3193073A - Parking meter mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1965 F. 1.. MICHAELS, SR 3,1

PARKING METER MECHANISM Filed July 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 a -9- -ea o 0 4 I v -=115 14 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE Y5.

y 1965 F. MICHAELS, SR 3,193,073

PARKING METER MECHANISM Filed July 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

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ATTOR 5Y5.

July 6, 1965 F. MICHAELS, SR

PARKING METER MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 24, 1963 INVENTO 6W 0 BY v ATTOENEY5- July 6, 1965 F. L. MICHAELS, SR 3, 3,07

PARKING METER MECHANISM Filed July 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,193,073 PARKING METER Ii IECHANISM Frank L. Michaels, Sn, Erlanger, Ky, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hancock Industries, line, Jackson, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Fiied July 24, 1963, Ser. No. 297,494 9 tCEairns. (El. 194-61) This invention relates to parking meter mechanisms and, more particularly, to parking meter mechanisms of the manually operated type.

In manually operated parking meter mechanisms of the type shown and described in my prior US. Patent No. 2,916,127, the user must manually overcome the force of a torsion spring, which tends to return the timing indicator to its zero position, to register the purchased time on the meter. If the users hand slips from the handle of the parking meter mechanism of my aforesaid prior United States patent after the coin has been advanced toward the receptacle, the torsion spring moves the indicator to the zero position so that the user loses his coin without receiving any of the purchased time. The present invention satisfactorily solves this problem by providing a stop mechanism that prevents the torsion spring from being effective after the coin has been ad vanced towards the receptacle by the user until the timing indicator has been advanced a predetermined time period. Thus, the stop mechanism of the present invention will prevent the loss of the coin by the user if his hand should slip from the handle during the time when the greatest torque is being exerted by the user to advance the coin toward the receptacle.

In the manually operated mechanism of my aforesaid prior United States patent, the violation flag drops from the view of the user as soon as the timing indicator starts to advance. When the user sees the violation flag drop from view, he may accidentally release the handle since he might believe that further advancement of the timing indicator will occur automatically. Since the timing indicator must be advanced to the complete selected time by the operation of the handle, the accidental release of the handle by the user will result in a loss of time other than that already shown by the parking meter indicator. The present invention satisfactorily solves this problem by maintaining the violation flag in a viewing position until the indicator has been advaced to the selected time.

Thus, thepresent invention tends to revent the user from inadvertently releasing the handle after the coin has been ple, the stop mechanism of the present invention will prevent the torsion spring from returning the timing indicator to zero.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the body of an assembled parking meter including the structure of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the meter with its back cover plate removed to show some of the internal mechanism of the meter;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the structure of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the meter, similar to FIGURE 2, with parts omitted to show the mechanism constituting the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view, similar to FIG- United States Patent 0 3,193fi73 Patented July 6, I965 ice URE 5, with the coin just starting to be advanced toward the receptacle;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view, similar to FIG- URES 5 and 6, in which the timing indicator has been advanced to the maximum selected time;

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational view, similar to FIG- URES 5 to 7, showing the relation of the parts of the present invention when the violation flag is being 10wered; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a parking meter mechanism including a chassis plate I, which forms the front half of a meter body. The back half of the body (not shown) registers with the chassis plate 1 so that together they constitute a sealed weatherproof body, which is adapted to be mounted upon a post 2.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a housing 3, which has timing mechanism therein, is disposed in the lower portion of the body of the meter. The timing mechanism is actuated by a spring-powered clock motor, which is well known in the art and will not be described herein since the details do not constitute any part of the present invention. The spring of the motor is wound by turning a crank or handle 4, which is disposed on the exterior of the chassis plate 1 (see FIGURE 1).

Unless a coin has been inserted in the meter, the handle 4- cannot be turned effectively because of limiting means which will be described hereinafter. Consequently, the spring can be wound only when a coin has been inserted in the meter. Furthermore, it can be wound only in a precisely determined amount so that, under no circumstances, can the clock be injured by overly tight winding.

The upper portion of the chassis plate 1 has a window 5 which is a transparent pane. A timing dial 6, which is calibrated in units of time, is mounted adjacent the rear of the window 5 for viewing therethrough. A pointer 8 of an indicator '7 also is visible through the window 5 and cooperates with the dial 6 to show the amount of parking time, which has been purchased by the user or the time remaining of that purchased by the user. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a violation flag 9 also is visible through the window 5 whenever the violation flag 9 is in a raised or viewing position.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the handle 4 is secured to a shaft 12 which is rotatably mounted at one end in a journal 11 in the chassis plate 1 and in a journal in a frame 13 (see FIGURE 2) at its other end. The shaft 12 is preferably formed of two concentric members that are secured together. The frame 13 is held parallel to the chassis plate 1 and in spaced relation to it by means of spacing studs 14. The timing mechanism housing 3 is secured to the frame 13 by suitable means, such as screws 15.

The shaft 12 has an actuator plate 16 (see FIGURES 58) attached thereto for rotation therewith. Thus, whenever the handle 4 is rotated, the actuator plate 16 also rotates therewith through the shaft 12. A torsion spring (not shown) is attached to the shaft 12 and exerts a clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 2-8) torque on the shaft 12.

The actuator plate 16 has a projecting member 1'7 on its outer surface or periphery. The actuator plate 16 has a slot 13, which is spaced clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 58) from the projecting member 17. A second projecting member 19, which has its outer surface or periphery at a slightly smaller radius from the center of the shaft 12 as the outer surface or periphery of the projecting member 17, is disposed adjacent the rear of the slot 18. The actuator plate 16also has, a

driving stud secured inwardlyof the projecting member 19. r

'ceptacle 27. During this rotation, the

finger 29 of-the pawl 30 remains in the slot 18.

Unless a coin is inserted in an aperture, which is sheltered from.the weather by a covering lip 21, the

'actuator plate 16 is limited in its counter-clockwise movement (as viewed .in FIGURES 58) by engagement of the front surface or edge of the projecting member 17 with the end of a spring-biased lever22. Thus, the

handle 4 cannot be turned effectively to set any time on the meter unless a coin is deposited.

The spring-biased lever 22 is 'urged clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES S-8') about its axle 23 by a Spring (not shown). The additional details of the lever 22 are disclosed in my aforesaid prior'United States patent and will not be described in detail herein.

in the meter, it moves along a passageway 24 until it reaches a position in which it rests between an annular I shoulder vand a sensing wheel 26 (solid line position of FIGURES). The annular shoulder 25 is formed integral with the actuator plate 16 so that'it rotates with the shaft 12, and thesensing wheel 26 is rotatably mounted on the lever 22.

With 'a coin disposed between the annular shoulder '25 and the sensing wheel 26' (solid line position of FIG- URE 5), a counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 12 by rotating the handle 4 results in counter-clockwise or front surface of the projecting member 17 into contact with'the coin (see FIGURE 6). Continued rotation of the actuat-or'plate 17 causes the lever 22 to rotate counter-clockwise about its axle 23 to permit the coin to advance between the shoulder 25 and the wheel 26 downward to a receptacle. 27. (seeFIGURE 4) 'where it may be viewed through a window 28. a

When the actuator plate 16 has been advanced to the position of FIGURE 6 wherein the forward surface of the projecting member 17 is contacting the coin, a finger .29 of a pawl'30 is disposed within thesl-ot 18. The .pawl 30 has anoval-shaped slot 31 in substantially the center portion thereof and. a heart-shaped slot 32 in its end, which is remote fromthe finger 29.

A pin or stud 33, which is secured to an upstanding support 34, extends through the slot 31. A second pin .or stud 35, which also is. attached to the support 34,

extends through the heart-shaped slot 32. The upstanding support 34 is secured to the chassis plate 1 through a mounting lug 36. The pawl 30 is secured to t-he upstanding support 34 by a spring washer 37. cooperating with the pin 33.

Resilient means, such as spring 38,-=is secured to the Whenever 'a coin (dot-dash position of FIGURE 5) is deposited mined by time-measuringslots 58 and 59 (see FIGURE 4) in the time-measuring plate,57 cooperating with an ear 69 of a spring biased lever 61, which has the ear 69 positioned by movement of the lever 22, or by the pointer 8 of the indicator, 7' engaging a stop pin 62 for the coin of largest value as described in detail in my aforesaid prior United States patent. It should .be understood that the stop pin 6 2 also functions to stop rotation of the handle 4 and the indicator 7 whenever the inserted coin purchases more time than is available on the meter due to prior purchases...v The minimum amount of rotation occurs for the coin of smallest value. In my aforesaid prior United States patent, the coin of smallest value is a nickel in the example with a dime and a quarter beingthe other, coins..

movement of the actuator plate 16 to bring the forward, 30.

upstanding support 34 for cooperation with the pawl 30. As viewed in FIGURES 5 to 8, the spring 38 urges the pawl 30 upwardly and to the left. Thus, when the actuator plate '16 is advanced from the position of FIG- URE 5 to the position of FIGURE 6, the spring 38 urges the finger -29 of the pawl 30 into the slot 18. This movement of the finger 29 into the slot 18 is produced by the force of the spring 38 urging the right end of the pawl 30 upwardly and to the left so that the pin 35 moves into the lower portion of the heart-shaped slot 32, When this occurs, the pawl 30 moves so that the .-pin 33 abuts against the right hand edge of the oval slot As the indicator 7 is advanced, .a portion of itsgear 39 meshes'with a gear 40, which is disposed exteriorly vof'the timing mechanism housing 3., Since the. gear 40 is connected to the motorof the timing mechanism, the movement of the indicator 7 ,to its selected time results 'inwinding of the motor.

In order that thetorsion spring may return theactuator' plate 16 to its starting position of FIGURE 5 after the indicator7 has been set at its selected time, the finger 29 of the pawl 30 must be'removed from the slot ,18 at the time of completion of, rotation of the actuator plate 16duc.to the'coin of smallest value. Thus, in the example with a n-ickehidime, andquarter, the finger 29 of thepawl 30 must be completely removed from the 7 slot 18 by the time that the. indicator v7 hasvbeen set :for a nickels worth of time.

Accordingly, the projecting member 19 has a camming surface 41 adjacent the rear of theslot 18. When the actuatorplate 16 has been rotated to set the indicator 7 at 'anickels worth of time, the, finger 29 of the pawl 30 must have ridden out of the slot 18 and along the camming surface 41 to rest on the front edge. of the outer surface or periphery of the projecting member 19. In FIGURE 7,

the finger 29 of the pawl 30 is shown resting at the rear edge of the'outer surface of the projecting member 19; this occurs when a quarter is inserted in the meter. If a dime were inserted in the meter, the finger 29 would be resting at an intermediate point between-the front and rear edges of the outer surface of the projecting member 19. As the finger'29 of the pawl 30 rides up the, camming surface 41 of the projecting member 19, the force ofthe spring 38 is overcome whereby the heart-shaped slot 32 is positioned so that the pin 35 is removed from the lower .portion thereof. The force of the spring 38 then cooperates to move the pawl 30 so that the pin 35 is disposed in the upper portion of the heart-shaped slot 32 as shown in FIGURE 7; this occurs whenever. the finger 29 of the .pawl 3.0 is resting upon the top or outer surface of the 'projectingmember 19. l

'Whenthe handle 4 is. released by the user after the indicator 7' has been set at the selected time, the torsion springrotates' the actuator plate 16' clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 5-8). The force ofthe spring 38 maintains thefinger 29 of the pawl 30 out of the slot 18 as the actuator plate 16 is rotating clockwise. However, the direction of the force of the spring 38 is such that, it tends to slightly rotate the finger 29 of the pawl 30 downwardly .tion flag 9 in the raised or viewing position.

when it is no longer supported by the outer surface of the projecting member 19, but the amount of downward movement is limited by the pin 35 being disposed in the upper portion of the heart-shaped slot 32 so that the finger 29 does not extend into the slot 18. However, as shown in FIGURE 8, the finger 29 does move downwardly suiticiently to engage the rear surface of the projecting member 17.

I The contact of the rear surface of the projecting member 17 with the finger 29 of the pawl 30 is sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 38 and remove the pin from the upper portion of the heart-shaped slot 32. The

' downward movement of the finger 29 is stopped by engagement with the outer surface of the actuator plate 15 (see FIGURE 5 In this position, the spring 38 is repositioned to its start position with the pin 35 disposed in the heartshaped slot 32 in its start position. Thus, the pawl 39 is now ready to function again when a coin is inserted in the meter.

When the indicator 7 is in the position of FIGURE 2 wherein it is at its zero time position and abutting against a stop pin 42, a finger 43 of the indicator 7 engages a pin 4-1 on the violation flag 9 to maintain the violation flag 9 in its raised or viewing position. The violation flag 9 is pivotally mounted on an upstanding arm 45 of the frame 13 by a pin 56. The weight of the violation flag 9 is positioned with respect to the pin 46 so that the flag 9 tends to rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 28). Thus, as soon as the indicator 7 is moved from its zero time position, the violation flag 9 would tend to rotate so as to be removed from its viewing position through the window 5.

Accordingly, a yoke 47 is employed to maintain the violation flag 9 in the raised or viewing position until the indicator 7 has been set at the selected time. The yoke 47 has a two-arm lever 48 at one end of a hollow shaft 49, which surrounds one of the studs 14 to permit the yoke 47 to rotate thereabout, and :a holding member 50 at the other end of the hollow shaft 49.

When the actuator plate 16 is in the position of FIG- URE 5 and the indicator is at zero time, the indicator 7 is holding the violation flag 9 in its raised position. At this FIGURE 5 to the position of FIGURE 6, the projecting member 19 engages a flange 54 on an upper :arm 55 of the lever 48. This results in the yoke 47 rotating clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 5-8) about the stud 14 to the position of FIGURE 6 wherein the holding member 50 has a flange 56 contacting the violation flag 9 adjacent its pivot pin 46. At the same time, the position of the spring 52 is changed so that its force acts against the lever 48 to urge it clockwise to maintain the holding member 5!) is engagement with the violation flag 9. Thus, the holding member 58 has its flange 56 in engagement with the violation fiag 9 prior to the time that the finger 43 of the indicator 7 is rotated away from contact with the pin 44 of the flag 9.

As the actuator plate 16 is moved from the positon of FIGURE 6 toward the position of FIGURE 7, the yoke 47 remains in the same position whereby it holds the viola- As previously set forth, the movement from the position of FIG- URE 6 to the position of FIGURE 7 occurs when a quarter is inserted in the meter in the example of a nickel, dime, and quarter of meter. However, regardless of what coin is inserted in the meter, the yoke 47 is in position to hold the violation flag 9 in a raised or viewing position when the finger 43 of the indicator 7 is moved away from contact with the violation flag 9.

After the indicator 7 has been set to the selected time, the violation fiag 9 must be lowered from the viewing position. This is accomplished by the driving stud 20 engaging the lower arm 51 of the two-arm lever 48 to rotate the yoke 47 counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 5-8) about the stud 14. Counter-clockwise rotation of the yoke 47 removes the flange 56 of the holding member 58 from contact with the violation flag 9 and the weight of the violation fi-ag F causes it to rotate counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 5-8) to a lowered or inactive position in which it cannot be viewed through the window 5. Of course, the spring 52 is again repositioned so that it aids in maintaining the yoke 47 in the position of FIGURE 8.

Considering the operation of the present invention, the start position is shown in FIGURE 5 wherein the yoke 47 is maintained away from contact with the violation flag 9, which is being held by engagement of the finger 43 of the indicator 7 with the pin 44. Similarly, the finger 29 of the pawl 36 is positioned behind the rear surface or edge of the projecting member 17 of the actuator plate 16.

When a coin is inserted in the meter, it moves along the passageway 24 until it comes to rest between the sens ing wheel 26 and the annular shoulder 25. The user or operator then rotates the handle 4, which results in the shaft 12 and the actuator plate 16 being rotated counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 2-8 As the actuating plate 16 advances from the position of FIGURE 5 toward the position of FIGURE 6, the yoke 47 rotates clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 5-8) until the flange as of the holding member 50 engages the violation flag 9. The yoke 47 is maintained in this engaging position by the spring 52. However, the indicator 7, which is set at zero time, is holding the violation flag 9 in its raised position at this time. Of course, if the meter had some time already registered thereon, the violation flag 9 would have been in a lowered position and the movement of the yoke 47 would have moved the violation flag to a raised position.

As the counter-clockwise rotation of the actuator plate 16 continues, the front surface of the projecting member 17 contacts the coin, which is disposed between the annular shoulder 25 and the sensing wheel 26. At this time, the finger 29 of the pawl 30 is urged into the slot 18 by the spring 38.

With the finger 29 of the pawl 30 in the slot 18, any accidental release of the handle 4 by the user as he attempts to advance the coin toward the receptacle 27 will not allow the torsion spring to return the actuator to the position of FIGURE 5. Therefore, the finger 29 provides a positive stop to prevent the loss of the users coin.

As the coin passes between the sensing wheel 26 and the annular shoulder 25 due to rotation of the actuator plate 16, the finger 29 moves along the slot 18 until it comes to the end thereof. At this time, the finger 29 starts to ride out of the slot 18 and along the camming surface 4-1 of the projecting member 19. The predetermined time in which the finger 29 is disposed'within the slot 18 is slightly less than the time that the smallest valued coin, which is a nickel in this example, will purchase.

Continued counter-clockwise movement of the actuator plate 16 causes the finger 29 of the pawl 30 to ride upwardly along the camming surface 41 to the top or outer surface of the projecting member 19. At this time, the pawl is in the position of FIGURE 7. However, it reaches the rear edge of the outer surface of the projecting member 19 only when the largest valued coin, which is a quarter in this example, is inserted. For a nickel, the pawl rests on the front edge of the outer surface of the projecting member 19. During this entire operation, the yoke 47 hold the violation fiag 9 in the raised position.

Further rotation of the actuator plate 16 is prevented by the end of the slot 58 or 59 engaging the car 60 or by the indicator 8 contacting the stop pin 62 as described in detail in my aforesaid prior US. patent. At the completion of counterclockwise rotation, the user releases the handle 4 and the torsion springrsnaps the actuator plate 16 clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES. 5 8). 'ator plate 16 rotates clockwise, the driving stud 20 en-- gages the lower arm 51 of the lever 48 of the yoke 47 to;

As the acturotate the yoke 47 counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIG- URES 5-8) about the stud 14. Shortly thereafter, the rear .ofthe projecting member 17 engages the finger 29 of the pawl 30 to move'the pawl 30 to the position of FIGURE 85. At this time, the mechanism is ready for the insertion of another coin.

While the meter has been described with respect to the use of more than one coin, it should be understood that this invention may be readily employed with only a single coin.

It is only necessary that the slot 18 be so proportioned to the specific single coin that the finger 29 of the pawl 30 will be disposed upon the top surface of the ber 19 when counterclockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 5-8) rotation -of the actuator plate .16 is completed.

The greatest torque, which the .user must exert on the handle 4, occurs when the coin is passing between the sensing wheel 26 and the annular. shoulder 25. Therefore, this is when the greatest opportunity of accidental loss ofcontrol of the handle 4 from the grasp of the user can occur. After advancement of the indicator 7 starts,

the torque, which the user must exert, is. substantially reduced and the chances for the user releasing his grasp are reduced substantially. Furthermore, with the violation flag 9 remaining in a raised position for viewing through the window 5 until the indicator 7 has been completely set to the selected time, the user will continue to rotate the handle 4 until it is prevented by the slot 58 or 59 cooperating with the ear 60 of the lever 61 or the pointer 8 of the indicator 7 contacting the stop pin 62 as .described'in detail in my aforesaid prior .U.S. patent.

into said slot by moving said one pin into a lower por- .tion of'said heart-shapedslot to prevent rotation of said actuator in said one direction after the advancing means a has started the 'coin toward the. receptacle, and saidactu- An advantage of this invention is that the accidental loss of a coin in a parking meter through slippage of the operators grasp from the handle is substantially reduced.

Another advantage of this invention is that it maintains the violation flag in the raised or viewing position until the indicator is set at theselected or desired time.

For purposes of exemplification, a particular embodiment of the invention has .been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof .may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim: V 1. In a manually operated parking meter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator'rotatably mounted on said shaft,

said shaft being spring biased in one direction, means attached to said shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time,

the improvement comprising an actuator secured tosaid one of said slots and the other of said pins passing through the other of said slots, means cooperating with one of said pins to mount said pawl on'said meter, said one slot being disposed adjacent one end of said pawl and being heart- .shaped while said other slot 'isdisposed in the centerxpor- 'tion of said pawl and is oval shaped, said pawl having a finger at. its other end for cooperation with said actuator,

resilient means acting against said one end of'said pawl, said actuator having a slot in its periphery to receive said finger of said pawl, said resilient means urging said finger 'ator having means to remove the'finger of said pawl from said slot after said actuator has been advanced a predetermined distance in said second direction by said moving 'means,-said finger removing means acting against said pawl to overcome said resilient means and move said one pin into an upper portion of said heart-shaped slot whereby the finger remains'out of the path of the slot of the actuatorwhen the actuator moves in said one direction due to release of said, moving means.

2. In a manually'operated parking @meter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said'shaft being spring biased in one direction,

fmeans attachedtosaid shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator securedto said shaft, saidactuator having means to advance a coin toward a receptacle or the like when said moving means is actuated, "aviolation flag pivotally mounted on'said meter, said'flagbeing maintained in a raised position by said indicator when said indicatoris at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said actuatorhaving means to movesaid rotatably mounted means into contact with said violation flag when said actuator is rotated to start to advance the coin, resilient meansmaintaining said rotatably mounted means in conrotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being spring. biased in one direction, means attachedto said shaft for moving the shaft manufally'in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft, said actuator having means to advance a coin toward a receptacle or the like when said moving .mean's is actuated, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter, said flag being maintainedin a raisedposition by said indicator when said indicator is at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said .means including a holding member, said actuator having means to engage saidrotatably mounted means to move said holding member into contact with said violation flag when said actuator is rotated to start to advance the coin, resilient means maintaining said holding member in contact with said violation flag to hold said violation flag in said raised position, and said actuator having means to engage the rotatably mounted means after said indicator has been moved to the selected time to remove said holding member from engagement with said violation flag whereby said violation flagj moves from said raised position to .a lowered position. v

4...In ajmanually operated parking meter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being spring biased in one direction,

vmeans attached to said shaft. for moving the shaft manually in'a .second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft,.said actuator having means to ad- 'vance a coin toward a receptacle or the like when said 'moving means is actuated, said actuator having a project- 'ing member and astud, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter,said flag"being maintained in a raised position by said indicator when said indicator is at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said rotatably 'mounted means including a two arm lever and a holding member spaced from each other, said projectingmember engaging one arm of said lever to move said holding member into contact with said violation flag when said actuator is rotated to start to advance the coin, and resilient means maintaining said holding member in contact with said violation flag to hold said violation flag in said raised position, said stud contacting said other arm of said lever after said indicator has been moved to the selected time ot remove said holding member from engagement with said violation flag whereby said violation flag moves from said raised position to a lowered position.

5. In a manually operated parking meter having a I rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being spring biased in one direction, means attached to said shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft, said actuator having means to advance a coin toward a receptacle or the like when said moving means is actuated, means to prevent the shaft from rotating in said one direction after the advancing means has started the coin toward the receptacle until the indicator has been advanced a predetermined time, said actuator having means to render the preventing means inoperative after the indicator has been advanced the predetermined time, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter, said flag being maintained in a raised position by said indicator when said indicator is at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said rendering means of said actuator moving said rotatably mounted means into contact with said violation flag when said actuator is rotated to start to advance the coin, resilient means maintaining said rotatably mounted means in contact with said violation flag to hold said violation fiag in said raised position, and said actuator having means to engage the rotatably mounted means after said indicator has been moved to the selected time to remove said rotatably mounted means from engagement with said viola tion flag whereby said violation flag moves from said raised position to a lowered position.

6. In a manually operated parking meter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being spring biased in one direction, means attached to said shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft, said actuator having a projecting member for advancing the coin toward a receptacle or the like, said actuator having a slot in its outer surface, said meter having a resiliently biased pawl mounted thereon for cooperation with said slot to prevent rotation of said actuator in said one direction after said projecting member has started advancing the coin toward the receptacle, said actuator having means to remove the pawl from said slot to permit the actuator to rotate in said one direction when said moving means is released, said removing means being ineffective until said actuator has advanced a predetermined distance whereby the indicator is set at a predetermined time, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter, said flag being maintained in a raised position by said indicator when said indicator is at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said removing means moving said rotatably mounted means into contact with said violation flag when said actuator is rotated to start to advance the coin, resilient means maintaining said rotatably mounted means in contact with said violation flag to hold said violation flag in said raised position, and said actuator having means to engage the rotatably mounted means after said indicator has been moved to the selected time to remove said rotatably mounted means from engagement with said violation flag whereby said violation flag moves from said raised position to a lowered position.

'7. In a manually operated parking meter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being spring biased in one direction,

means attached to said shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft, said actuator having a first projecting member for advancing a coin toward a receptacle or the like, said actuator having a slot in its outer surface, said meter having a pawl mounted thereon for cooperation with said slot to prevent rotation of said actuator in said one direction after said first projecting member of said actuator has started to advance the coin, said pawl being mounted for both pivotal and lateral movement, resilient means urging said pawl into said slot, said actuator having means to remove the pawl from the slot when the actuator is advanced to a predetermined position in which the indicator has been moved a predetermined time, said actuator having a second projecting member, said second projecting member overcoming the force of the resilient means to remove the pawl out of the path of the slot when the actuator moves in said one direction after said moving means is released, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter, said flag being maintained in a raised position by said indicator when said indicator is at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said second projecting member moving said rotatably mounted means into contact with said violation flag when said actuator is rotated to start to advance the coin, second resilient means maintaining said rotatably mounted means in contact with said violation flag to hold said violation flag in said raised position, and said actuator having means to engage the rotatably mounted means after said indicator has been moved to the selected time to remove said rotatably mounted means from engagement with said violation flag whereby said violation flag moves from said raised position to a lowered position.

8. In a manually operated parking meter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft being spring biased in one direction, means attached to said shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, the improvement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft, said actuator having means to advance a coin toward a receptacle or the like when said movin means is actuated, a pawl having a pair of slots, said meter having a pair of pins thereon, one of said pins passing through one of said slots and the other of said pins passing through the other of said slots, means cooperating with one of said pins to mount said pawl on said meter, one of said slots being disposed adjacent one end of said pawl while the other slot is disposed in the center portion of said pawl, said pawl having a finger at its other end for cooperation with said actuator, resilient means acting against said one end of said pawl, said actuator having a slot in its periphery to receive said finger of said pawl, said resilient means urging said finger into said slot of said actuator to prevent rotation of said actuator in said one direction after the advancing means has started the coin toward the receptacle, said actuator having means to remove the finger of said pawl from said slot after said actuator has been advanced a prede termined distance in said second direction by said moving means, said finger removing means acting against said pawl to overcome said resilient means whereby the finger remains out of the path of the slot of the actuator when the actuator moves in said one direction due to release of said moving means, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter, said flag being maintained in 11 having means to engage the rotatably mounted means after said indicator has been moved to the selected time to remove said rotatably mounted means from engagement with saidviolation flag whereby said violation flag "moves from said raised position to a lowered position;

9. In a manually operated parkingmeter having a rotatable shaft, an indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft, said shaft, being spring biased in one direction,

means attached to said shaft for moving the shaft manually in a second direction to move the indicator to a selected time, thejimprovement comprising an actuator secured to said shaft, said actuator having means to advance a coin toward a receptacle or the like when said end of said pawl and being heart-shaped while said other slot is disposed in the center portion of said pawl and is oval-shaped, said pawlhaving a finger at its other a slot in its periphery to receive said finger of saidpawl,

said resilient means urging said finger into said slot of said actuator by moving said onepin into a lower portion of said heart-shaped slot to prevent rotation of said actuator in said one direction after the advancing means has 'started the coin toward the receptacle, said actuator having means to, remove the finger of said pawl from said slot of said actuator after saidactuator has been advanced a predetermined distance insaid second direction by said 'moving means, said finger remoying means acting'against said pawl toovercome said, resilient means andrnove' said one pin into an upper portion of said heart-shaped slot whereby the finger remains out of the path of'the slot of the actuator when the actuator moves in said one direction dueto release of said moving means, a violation flag pivotally mounted on said meter, said flag being maintained in a raised position by said indicatorwhen said indicator is at zero time, means rotatably mounted on said meter, said finger removing means moving said rotatably mounted means into contact with said violation flag ,when said actuator isrotated to start to advance thecoin,

second resilient means maintaining said rotatably mounted means in contact with said violation flag to hold said violation flag in said raised'position, andsaid actuator having means to engage the rotatably mounted means after said indicator has been moved to the selected time to remove said rotatably mounted means from engagement with said violation fiag'whe reby said violation flag moves from said raised position to a lowered position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,821 10/40 Jennings 2;916,127 12/59 MiC11alS 194-61 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

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