Terminals and methods of use and manufacture thereof

1 . A parking terminal comprising:

a bottom plate;

a body;

a front panel;

a hood;

a vent located between the hood and the front panel; and

an electronic access control mechanism that, based on interaction with the parking terminal by a human, transmits electronic instructions to one or more hardware components that regulate vehicle traffic with respect to a parking facility, the one or more hardware components not physically connected to the parking terminal;

wherein the bottom plate is configured to be secured to a surface, the body is removably attached to the bottom plate and the front panel and the hood are supported by the body.

2 . The parking terminal of claim 1 , wherein the hood comprises a top surface which forms an angle α from a horizontal axis.

3 . The parking terminal of claim 2 , wherein the angle α is approximately equal to or at least 26 degrees.

4 . The parking terminal of claim 2 , wherein the angle α is between approximately 40 and approximately 50 degrees.

5 . The parking terminal of claim 2 , further comprising:

a drain outlet located proximate a first side of the front panel; and

a channel disposed on an interior surface of the front panel.

6 . The parking terminal of claim 5 , further comprising a baffle located on an inner surface of the hood proximate the front panel.

7 . The parking terminal of claim 1 , the terminal further comprising a frame, wherein the one or more hardware components are removably attached to the frame and wherein the frame is supported by the body.

8 . The parking terminal of claim 7 , wherein the one or more hardware components comprise a bar code reader, an RFID reader, and a credit card reader.

9 . The parking terminal of claim 8 , wherein the front panel further comprises a display.

10 . The parking terminal of claim 9 , wherein the display comprises a touch screen.

11 . The parking terminal of claim 1 , wherein the hood comprises a first side, a second side, and a top surface and the first side and the second side form an angle σ therebetween and wherein the angle σ is between approximately 40 and approximately 50 degrees.

12 . The parking terminal of claim 1 , further comprising:

an opening in the bottom plate; and

a passage in the body aligned with the opening.

13 . A method of installing a parking terminal comprising a bottom plate, a body, a front plate adapted to receive one or more devices, a hood, and a vent located between the hood and the front plate, the method comprising:

selecting a location for installation of the terminal;

leveling a surface at the location;

positioning the bottom plate at the location;

securing the bottom plate in place at the location;

aligning a lower edge of the body with the bottom plate;

securing the body to the bottom plate;

securing the front plate to the body; and

securing the hood to the body, wherein the location is a parking facility, and wherein the parking terminal comprises an electronic access control mechanism that, based on interaction with the parking terminal by a human, transmits electronic instructions to one or more hardware components that regulate vehicle traffic with respect to a parking facility, the one or more hardware components not physically connected to the parking terminal.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the bottom plate comprises a vertical support extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottom plate, and wherein aligning the lower edge of the body with the bottom plate comprises aligning the body with the vertical support.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the bottom plate comprises an opening and the body comprises a passageway, the method further comprising:

prior to positioning the bottom plate at the location, installing cabling at the location and routing the cabling through the opening in the bottom plate;

prior to aligning the lower edge of the body with the bottom plate, routing the cabling through the passageway within the terminal body;

attaching the cabling to a controller within the body; and

communicatively coupling the controller to the one or more devices.

16 . A method of servicing a parking terminal comprising a bottom plate, a body having a front and rear access panel, a first vent located on a back plate of the body of the terminal, a front panel adapted to receive one or more devices, a hood, and a vent located between the hood and the front access panel, the method comprising:

opening the front access panel by rotating a key in a key slot located in the front access panel;

accessing an interior of the body;

closing the front access panel; and

locking the front access panel, wherein the location is a parking facility, and wherein the parking terminal comprises an electronic access control mechanism that, based on interaction with the parking terminal by a human, transmits electronic instructions to one or more hardware components that regulate vehicle traffic with respect to a parking facility, the one or more hardware components not physically connected to the parking terminal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

removing the hood from the body;

removing at least one of the one or more devices; and

replacing the hood on the body.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

detaching the body from the bottom plate;

accessing cabling located proximate the bottom plate; and

reattaching the body on the bottom plate.