Importance

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Abstract

A tamper-resistant device retrofits onto an existing parking meter or other coin accepting machine to increase the exterior security of the parking meter at the point where the coins are deposited into the parking meter. Accordingly, potential thieves and vandals would not have direct access to the internal components of the parking meter, thereby eliminating the possibility of intentionally stuffing and blocking the coin track by inserting objects other than coins into the coin track. The tamper-resistant device provides a deposit slot spaced apart from the original coin slot for depositing one coin at a time into the parking meter. By relocating the deposit slot, the tamper-resistant device prevents vandals from inserting hard objects directly into the parking meter, thereby damaging the internal components of the parking meter. The tamper-resistant device comprises generally, three components: a support structure that is rigidly secured to the parking meter; a movable coin receiving structure that moves within the support structure in the horizontal direction and provides a cradle for moving the coin; and a coil spring that causes the coin receiving structure to move back into its original position after being depressed. After the insertion of a coin in the deposit slot of the tamper-resistant device, a potential user depresses the coin receiving structure and moves the coin to align with the original coin slot and coin track, thereby closing the opening of the deposit slot simultaneously upon alignment of the coin with the exit slot as it then slides down into the original coin slot and coin track.

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First Claim