Parking meter

Abstract

A parking meter which electrically indicates "remaining time" and which electrically operates only in the presence of a vehicle and when there is "paid-for" time on the meter. Thus, for example, unused time by one departing motorist is cancelled.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A parking meter comprising: counting means comprising: an electrical down counter,   first input means responsive to a selected input for initially setting said down counter to a selected count, and   second input means for providing clock input signals to said down counter, whereby with each signal said down counter is counted down a selected count;     coin-operated switching means including at least one coin switch and means responsive to the receipt of a particular coin for operating said switch and providing a selected count input to said first input means of said down counter;   vehicle detection means responsive to the detection of the presence of a vehicle for applying a circuit operating bias to at least said counting means;   clock means for providing electrical pulses at a selected time rate to said second input means; and   readout means responsive to the output of said down counter for visually indicating an output state of said down counter.   
     
     
       2. A parking meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said readout means comprises means for indicating whether time remaining on said meter is finite or zero. 
     
     
       3. A parking meter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said readout means comprises means for indicating the remaining "paid for" time on said meter. 
     
     
       4. A parking meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said readout means is a meter, indicating "remaining time" in minutes. 
     
     
       5. A parking meter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vehicle detection means comprises metal detection means for applying said operating bias upon the detection of the presence of a metal body. .Iadd.6. A parking meter comprising: counting means comprising: an electrical down counter,   first input means responsive to a selected input for initially setting said down counter to a selected count, and   second input means for providing clock input signals to said down counter, whereby with each signal said down counter is counted down a selected count;     coin-operated switching means including at least one coin switch and means responsive to the receipt of a particular coin for operating said switch and providing a selected count input to said first input means of said down counter;   clock means for providing electrical pulses at a selected time rate to said second input means; and   readout means responsive to the output of said down counter for visually indicating remaining paid-for time. .Iaddend.