Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A time metering device particularly useful as a parking card, comprising: a time storage device for storing data representing a total pre-purchased time; a time measuring device; at least one time-selector key for manually selecting a predetermined time interval; display means; and an electrical circuit including: comparator means comparing the selected predetermined time interval with the pre-purchased time stored in said storage device; display-enabling means enabling the display to display said predetermined time interval if said interval is no larger than the pre-purchased time stored in said storage device; and decrementing means for decrementing said display means according to the time measured by said time measuring device beginning with the manual operation of said time-selector key.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A time metering device particularly useful as a parking card, comprising: a time storage device for storing data representing a total pre-purchased time; a time measuring device; at least one time-selector key for manually selecting a predetermined time interval; display means; and an electrical circuit including: comparator means comparing the selected predetermined time interval with the pre-purchased time stored in said storage device; display-enabling means enabling the display to display said predetermined time interval if said interval is no larger than the pre-purchased time stored in said storage device; and decrementing means for decrementing said display means according to the time measured by said time measuring device beginning with the manual operation of said time-selector key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device according to Claim 1, wherein said decrementing means also decrements said time storage device according to the time measured by said time measuring device beginning with the manual operation of said time-selector key; and wherein said time metering device further includes an "off" key which, when manually operated, terminates the operation of said decrementing means to decrement said display means and said time storage device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The time metering device according to Claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of time-selector keys each manually operated to select a different time interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The time metering device according to Claim 3, wherein each of said time-selector keys represents a different timing zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The time metering device according to Claim 4, wherein each of said time-selector keys represents a different parking zone, and the predetermined time interval represents the maximum parking time for that zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The time metering device according to either of Claims 4 or 5, wherein said decrementing means decrements said display means and said time storage device at a different rate according to the time-selector key operated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The time metering device according to any one of Claims 4-6, further including penalty means effective, when the maximum time interval for the respective zone has expired and the "off" key has not been operated, to provide a signal in said display means of the fact that the pre-selected time interval has expired, and thereafter to increase the rate of decrementing the time storage device until the "off" key is operated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The time metering device according to either of Claims 6 or 7, wherein said electrical circuit further includes means for displaying the remaining time stored in said time storage device immediately upon depressing one of said time-selector keys, before the selected time interval is displayed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The time metering device according to Claim 8, wherein said latter means displays the remaining time stored in the time metering device in a form which has been scaled according to the rate at which the operated time-selector key is to decrement the time storage device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The time metering device according either of Claims 8 or.9, wherein said electrical circuit includes delay means for delaying the decrementing means for a short time period sufficient for the user to view the display of the remining time stored in the time storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The time metering device according to any one of Claims 4-10, including a further key representing a zone of unlimited time, which further key, when manually operated, decrements the time selector device according to the time measured by the time measuring device beginning with the manual operation of said further key until said "off" key is operated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
The time metering device according to any one of Claims 4-11, wherein said display means comprises: a digital display displaying the selected predetermined time interval in digital form as decremented by said decrementing means; and a bar display displaying the selected predetermined time interval in the form of a bar of full scale length, which bar is shortened by said decrementing means at a rate so as to be of 0 length at the expiration of the preselected time interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The time metering device according to any one of Claims 4-12, wherein said display means further displays an identification of the time-selector key operated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
- 14. The time metering device according to any one of Claims 4-12, wherein said device further carries a viewable serial number, and said display means further displays, at periodic intervals, a code marking viewable with the serial number of the respective time metering device to indicate whether the latter device is valid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The time metering device according to any one of Claims 4-14, wherein said electrical circuit further includes: means for storing the zone selected by the operation of a time selector key; and means for preventing the selection of the same zone for a predetermined time period after the time interval for such previous zone was terminated by the operation of the "off" key.