Parking meter and a device therefor

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A single space new parking meter device, comprising:
a wireless communications element configured to:
a. communicate electronic payment information to a financial system, the electronic payment information comprising non-cash payment automatically deducted at the end of a parking time period, the automatic deduction optionally repeated at the end of each subsequent time period up to a maximum permitted parking time;b. communicate management information to a management center, the management information comprising one or more of: malfunction information, tampering information, and location information; andc. communicate expiration information to the management center; a timing mechanism for measuring time spent parking; and a payment mechanism for accepting payment for parking; wherein at least a portion of the timing mechanism and/or at least a portion of the payment mechanism extends into an interior space of a housing base of a formerly separate single space old parking meter device, the housing base having surfaces defining the interior space, the interior space having an open top; wherein the new parking meter device is configured to retrofit the old parking meter device by being receivable into the housing base of the old parking meter device through the open to such that the extending portion of the new parking meter device is at least partially enclosed in the interior space of the housing base and by engaging with the housing base to replace: (1) the rest of the original exterior housing of the old parking meter device, and (2) the original interior contents of the old parking meter device; and wherein the retrofitting results in a post-retrofitted parking meter device comprising the new parking meter device and the housing base of the old parking meter device.