US3663936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Admission system for drive-in enterprises
Assignee: EPRAD Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-05
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1989-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An admission system is designed for use with drive-in enterprises wherein patrons enter the premises in automobiles. The admission system has a number of unique features including a cumulative counter for automatically totalling the number of patrons entering the premises at each predetermined admission rate. The system also includes a lock-out feature for preventing premature operation of the system as an automobile approaches the entrance. Further, the system has additional counters for totalling all automobiles entering the premises and all transactions completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Angelo Boudouris
- 👤 Stanley J Kulish Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:01
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/065; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/14; G07F17/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
An admission control system for use with an entrance through which automobiles normally pass and where a predetermined fare is collected comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of fares that patrons in each entering automobile may be charged based upon the number of patrons in the automobile, said plurality of switches being positioned adjacent said entrance, an indicator unit including a plurality of indicating lamps with a different one of said lamps corresponding to each of said plurality of switches, said indicator unit having a panel positioned in full view of patrons in the entering automobile, a treadle switch assembly positioned adjacent the entrance on the side through which the automobiles pass after the fare is collected, a plurality of electrical contacts, at least one pair of said contacts being associated with each of said switches, a plurality of means associated with each of said plurality of switches for closing each of said at least one pair of contacts when the associated switch is actuated, means connecting said contacts with said lamps to selectively light each lamp when a corresponding switch is closed, counting means for counting the total number of patrons entering at the predetermined fare, and means associated with said contacts for operating said counting means when an automobile passes over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
An admission control system for use with an entrance through which automobiles normally pass and where a predetermined fare is collected comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of fares that patrons in each entering automobile may be charged based upon the number of patrons in the automobile, said plurality of switches being positioned adjacent said entrance, an indicator unit including a plurality of indicating lamps with a different one of said lamps corresponding to each of said plurality of switches, said indicator unit having a panel positioned in full view of patrons in the entering automobile, a treadle switch assembly positioned adjacent the entrance on the side through which the automobiles pass after the fare is collected, a plurality of electrical contacts, at least one pair of said contacts being associated with each of said switches, a plurality of means associated with each of said plurality of switches for closing each of said at least one pair of contacts when the associated switch is actuated, means connecting said contacts with said lamps to selectively light each lamp when a corresponding switch is closed, counting means for counting the total number of patrons entering at the predetermined fare, and means associated with said contacts for operating said counting means when an automobile passes over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1 and including an additional counter for counting all transactions occurring at the entrance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1 and including a car counter for counting all automobiles passing through the entrance and over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 1 and including an alarm, and means for actuating said alarm when an automobile passes through the entrance and over said treadle switch assembly without any of said plurality of switches being closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
An admission control system according to claim 1 wherein said means associated with said contacts for operating said counting means includes a plurality of additional contacts located in a predetermined pattern, contact means movable in a path for sequentially connecting each of said additional contacts to said counting means, means responsive to the actuation of each of said plurality of switches for completing a circuit to a predetermined number of said additional contacts corresponding to the number of patrons corresponding to each such switch, and means responsive to an automobile passing over said treadle switch assembly for causing said contact means to sequentially contact each of said additional contacts, whereby said counter means is counted up by one each time said contact means is connected to a contact to which a circuit is completed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
186 words
An admission control system for use with an entrance through which automobiles normally pass and where a predetermined fare is collected comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of total fares that patrons in each entering automobile may be charged, said plurality of switches being positioned adjacent said entrance, an indicator unit including a plurality of indicating lamps with a different one of said lamps corresponding to each of said plurality of switches, means for lighting each lamp when the corresponding switch is closed, said indicator unit having a panel thereof positioned in full view of patrons in automobiles passing through the entrance, a treadle switch assembly positioned adjacent the entrance on the side through which the automobiles pass after the fare is collected, counting means for indicating the number of patrons entering at the entrance, said counting means being activated when an automobile passes over said treadle switch assembly, and means for making the operation of remaining ones of said plurality of switches ineffective after one of said plurality is closed and before an automobile passes over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
186 words
An admission control system for use with an entrance through which automobiles normally pass and where a predetermined fare is collected comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of total fares that patrons in each entering automobile may be charged, said plurality of switches being positioned adjacent said entrance, an indicator unit including a plurality of indicating lamps with a different one of said lamps corresponding to each of said plurality of switches, means for lighting each lamp when the corresponding switch is closed, said indicator unit having a panel thereof positioned in full view of patrons in automobiles passing through the entrance, a treadle switch assembly positioned adjacent the entrance on the side through which the automobiles pass after the fare is collected, counting means for indicating the number of patrons entering at the entrance, said counting means being activated when an automobile passes over said treadle switch assembly, and means for making the operation of remaining ones of said plurality of switches ineffective after one of said plurality is closed and before an automobile passes over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An admission control system according to claim 6 wherein said counting means indicates the total number of patrons entering at the entrance at each of a plurality of different fares.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An admission control system according to claim 6 and including means for inhibiting activation of said counting means if an automobile backs up over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An admission control system according to claim 6 wherein said counting means is activated only when two wheels on one side of an automobile pass over said treadle switch assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An admission control system according to claim 6 and including a remote counter spaced from the entrance, said remote counter indicating the total number of automobiles passing through the entrance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
216 words
An admission control system for use with an entrance through which automobiles normally pass and where a predetermined fare is collected comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of total fares that patrons in each entering automobile may be charged, an out switch for indicating an automobile from which no fare is received, said plurality of switches being positioned adjacent said entrance, an indicator unit including a plurality of indicating lamps with a different one of said lamps corresponding to each of said plurality of switches, means for lighting each lamp when the corresponding switch is closed, said indicator unit having a panel thereof positioned in full view of patrons in automobiles passing through the entrance, an alarm, means for operating said alarm when said out switch is closed, switch means positioned adjacent the entrance for detecting an automobile passing through the entrance, a second alarm, means for operating said second alarm if an automobile activates said switch means when none of said switches including said out switch is closed, counting means associated with said plurality of switches for indicating the total number of patrons entering the entrance, and means for operating said counting means when an automobile activates said switch means after one of said plurality of switches has been actuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
216 words
An admission control system for use with an entrance through which automobiles normally pass and where a predetermined fare is collected comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of total fares that patrons in each entering automobile may be charged, an out switch for indicating an automobile from which no fare is received, said plurality of switches being positioned adjacent said entrance, an indicator unit including a plurality of indicating lamps with a different one of said lamps corresponding to each of said plurality of switches, means for lighting each lamp when the corresponding switch is closed, said indicator unit having a panel thereof positioned in full view of patrons in automobiles passing through the entrance, an alarm, means for operating said alarm when said out switch is closed, switch means positioned adjacent the entrance for detecting an automobile passing through the entrance, a second alarm, means for operating said second alarm if an automobile activates said switch means when none of said switches including said out switch is closed, counting means associated with said plurality of switches for indicating the total number of patrons entering the entrance, and means for operating said counting means when an automobile activates said switch means after one of said plurality of switches has been actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 11 and including means for making the operation of more than one of said plurality of switches and said out switch ineffective until an automobile concerning which a first of said switches was actuated has activated said switch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |