Parking meter and a device therefor

Abstract

A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A single space parking meter comprising:
 a lower housing;   a removable single space parking meter mechanism comprising: an internal structure to be at least partially and removably received within the lower housing;   a front housing, exposed to an external environment, coupled to the internal structure;   and input controls comprising one or more buttons for interacting with the single space parking meter, the input controls located above a top of the lower housing when the removable single space parking meter mechanism is partially received within the lower housing; and   a meter cover secured to the lower housing and securing the removable single space parking meter mechanism at least partially within the lower housing.   
     
     
         3 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the front housing comprises a payment card slot. 
     
     
         4 . The single space parking meter of  claim 3 , wherein the payment card slot is located above a top of the lower housing when the removable single space parking meter mechanism is partially received within the lower housing. 
     
     
         5 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the input controls comprise four buttons. 
     
     
         6 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises a payment card reader coupled to the internal structure. 
     
     
         7 . The single space parking meter of  claim 6 , wherein the payment card reader is configured to read one or more of: credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards, and Smart Cards. 
     
     
         8 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises a contactless payment reader coupled to the internal structure. 
     
     
         9 . The single space parking meter of  claim 8 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises an antenna for the contactless payment reader. 
     
     
         10 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises a display coupled to the internal structure. 
     
     
         11 . The single space parking meter of  claim 10 , wherein the meter cover comprises a window through which the display is visible. 
     
     
         12 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises a controller for controlling operation of the single space parking meter mechanism coupled to the internal structure. 
     
     
         13 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises a power supply unit coupled to the internal structure. 
     
     
         14 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the front housing, the meter cover, and the lower housing provide a protective housing for the parking meter mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the front housing is rigidly attached to the internal structure of the removable parking meter mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the meter cover is pivotally attached to the lower housing. 
     
     
         17 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the meter housing to the lower housing. 
     
     
         18 . The single space parking meter of  claim 2 , further comprising a solar panel. 
     
     
         19 . The single space parking meter of  claim 18 , wherein the meter cover comprises a window through which the solar panel is visible.