Parking meter
A parking meter assembly ( 10 ) including a base ( 11 ) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly ( 10 ) also includes a parking meter ( 13 ) having a front face ( 17 ) that includes a coin slot ( 25 ) a card slot ( 20 ) and a control panel ( 21 ). The parking meter ( 13 ) further includes a rear face ( 27 ) having a window aperture ( 28 ) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel ( 29 ) behind the aperture ( 28 ).
1. A parking meter including:
a housing defining an interior;
a cover configured to moveably attach to the housing by an attachment element requiring a sliding motion and a pivoting motion to attach the cover to the housing, the cover comprising a first window;
an electronic device configured to be removably received by the housing, the electronic device comprising:
a card reader that reads a card for making payment;
a screen to provide information visually;
a communication connection to provide information for a card used to make payment via said card reader;
connections for at least one rechargeable battery; and
a solar cell operatively associated with said connections to charge said battery;
wherein the screen of the electronic device is visible through the first window of the cover panel when the electronic device is received by the housing.
2. The parking meter of claim 1 , wherein said meter includes an indicator to provide an indication whether a parking period has expired.
3. The parking meter of claim 2 , wherein said indicator is adjacent or at said rear face.
4. The parking meter of claim 1 , wherein said meter is adapted to be fixed to a post fixed to a ground surface, with an intermediate panel set comprising a set of panels to be fixed relative to said post.
5. The parking meter of claim 1 , wherein said card reader, said electronic device and said screen are a module removable as an assembly from within said housing.
6. The parking meter of claim 1 , wherein said communication connection is a mobile (cellular) telephone connection.
7. The parking meter of claim 1 , further including a second window which said solar cell is exposed to light.
8. The parking meter of claim 1 , wherein said card reader slopes downwardly.