Abstract:
A parking meter has a vault housing and a vault door removably covering a main opening and having a back facing an interior of the housing. A lock assembly includes a lock cylinder disposed on the door and that has a body and a usually movable portion. A bolting mechanism operatively connects to the movable portion of the lock cylinder for selectively providing a locked position. A support structure is disposed on the interior side of the door and holds the bolting mechanism. A removable retainer engages the body of the lock cylinder, which is usually stationary. This results in the retainer preventing motion of the body sufficient to operate the bolting mechanism. The support structure is configured for releasably maintaining the retainer on the lock cylinder body. The vault housing defines a tool hole providing access to the interior of the housing for insertion of a disengagement tool through the tool hole. The retainer has a portion configured for connecting to the disengagement tool and is configured so that retracting the disengagement tool while connected to the retainer provides enough disengagement from the lock cylinder body to permit motion of the lock cylinder body to operate the bolting mechanism when the movable portion will not move relative to the body.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
   The present invention relates generally to parking meters, and more particularly to the opening of parking meter vault doors with jammed malfunctioning locks.   
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , a conventional parking meter  200 , such as Duncan Models 80, 90, 95, 2000, 90 duplex and 95 duplex, has an upper housing  202  for receiving coins, using a timer and displaying a time period based on the amount and type of coins received. The meter  200  also has a lower housing or vault  204  typically holding a coin box (not shown) for storing the coins inserted into the top housing  202 . The vault  204  has an opening  206  covered by a vault door  208  that swings on brackets  210  for opening and closing the vault door. A lock cylinder  212  is positioned on a back or back side  214  of the door  208  and has a key hole  216  exposed to the exterior of the door  208  through a hole  218  in the door.  
   The lock cylinder  212  has a rotatable shaft  242  secured to a lock cam  220  which has two slots  222  for receiving bolt pins  224  extending from bolts  226 . The bolts  226  are supported between bracket plates  228 ,  230 . When a key (not shown) is turned in the lock cylinder  212 , it turns the lock cam  220  which pushes the bolt pins  224  along slots  222 . This in turn drives the bolts  226  to engage or disengage holes  232  on bolting plates  234  disposed on the vault housing  204  in order to lock or unlock the vault door  208 .  
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , a retainer  236  straddles the lock cylinder  212  and clamps onto the top and sidewalls  238  of the lock cylinder to prevent rotation of the body or exterior surface  244  of the lock cylinder, as well as secure it against the door  208  both vertically and horizontally. Walls  240  of the bracket  228  abut the sides of the retainer  236  and prevent rotation of the retainer.  
   Frequently, the lock cylinder  212  breaks or malfunctions so that the vault door  204  cannot be opened. This occurs, for example, when the wear of the gears  in the lock cylinder or a broken key piece or other foreign instrument within the keyhole jams the lock cylinder so that shaft  242  will not rotate. In this case, the vault door must be opened first to gain access to the lock cylinder  212  for replacement or repair. One way to unlock the door is to rotate the entire lock cylinder (or lock cylinder body)  212  to thereby rotate the cam  220  which in turn moves the bolts  226 . This cannot be accomplished, however, as long as the retainer  236  is holding the lock cylinder  212  and prevents such rotation.  
   As a result, opening the broken vault door  208  is typically accomplished by drilling holes at appropriate locations on the vault door as known in the art to disengage it from the vault housing  204 . Once the door  208  is open, the retainer  236  can be pulled off of the lock cylinder  212  to remove it from the door  208 . This procedure not only requires repeated use of expensive and sometimes dangerous equipment (i.e. drills), but frequently damages the vault door  208 , bracket plates  228 ,  230  and other pieces of the lock on the door. In that case, repair and replacement of these additional parts becomes necessary when, initially, only the lock cylinder was broken.  
   Another problem occurs once the retainer is pulled off and the lock cylinder is free to rotate and move. In that case, if the lock cam  220  moves outward (i.e. away from the vault door  208 ) so that it disengages from the bolt pins  224 , the lock cylinder  212 , along with the lock cam  220 , will fall into the interior of the vault  204 . It is frequently cumbersome and time consuming to retrieve the lock cylinder and cam from inside the vault.   
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   In one aspect of the present invention, the problems mentioned above are solved by a quick lock release system for a parking meter with a tamper-resistant enclosure, such as a parking meter vault that has a vault housing and a vault door removably covering a main opening and having a back facing an interior of the housing. A lock assembly includes a lock cylinder disposed on the door and has a usually stationary body and a usually movable portion designed to move relative to the body. A bolting mechanism is operatively connected to the movable portion of the lock cylinder for selectively providing a locked position. A support structure is disposed on the back of the door and holds the bolting mechanism on the back of the door. A removable retainer engages the body of the lock cylinder for preventing motion of the body that interferes with operation of the movable portion and for preventing sufficient motion of the body to operate the bolting mechanism when the movable portion is not moving relative to the body, such as when the lock cylinder is broken or jammed.  
   The support structure is configured for releasably maintaining the retainer on the body and prevents motion of the retainer in a direction other than a direction defined by release of the retainer. The vault housing defines a tool hole providing access to the interior of the housing for insertion of a disengagement tool through the tool hole. The retainer has a portion configured for connecting to the disengagement tool. Thus, the retainer is configured so that retracting the disengagement tool connected to the retainer, when the movable portion will not move relative to the body, provides enough disengagement from the body to permit motion of the body to operate the bolting mechanism.   
   One aspect of the present invention is the lock cylinder retainer itself. The retainer includes a retainer body with a first end configured for engaging the lock cylinder for preventing movement of the lock cylinder body relative to the support structure and the door. Sides of the retainer engage the support structure to prevent movement of the retainer. An upper end of the retainer is configured for engaging a disengagement tool. Retracting the disengagement tool, once it is engaged with the retainer, disengages the retainer from the lock cylinder body to permit the lock cylinder body to move to unlock the vault door.  
   Another aspect of the invention, is a disengagement tool for disengaging the lock cylinder retainer from a lock cylinder on a back of a vault door of a parking meter vault. The retainer includes an elongated body with first and second ends, where the body is configured for insertion through a hole formed on a vault housing of a parking meter vault. A handle is disposed at the first end configured for inserting and retracting the body from the vault housing. A hook is formed at the second end, and is configured for engaging the retainer and maintaining the engagement while retracting the body from the vault housing.  
   In a further aspect of the present invention, a tamper-resistant locked enclosure has a lock assembly mounted on the door and has a first, usually stationary portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. Preselected movement of the second portion causes the door to be unlocked from the opening, and the preselected movement is actuated by a key applied to the lock assembly from the exterior. Preselected movement of the first portion causes the door to be unlocked from the opening. A retainer is movable between first and second positions. The retainer in the first position engages the first portion of  the lock assembly to prevent the preselected movement of the first portion. When the retainer is in the second position, it permits the preselected movement of the first portion of the lock assembly.  
   The retainer also has a disengagement tool connection portion, while the enclosure defines a tool hole communicating the exterior to the interior so that an end of a disengagement tool can be inserted into the tool hole and connected to the disengagement tool portion of the retainer. The disengagement tool is actuable to move the retainer to the second position so as to permit the first portion of the lock assembly to be moved, thereby opening the door.  
   Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to a tamper-resistant enclosure and a method of unlocking such an enclosure, or more specifically, a closed parking meter vault. This includes the steps of disengaging a retainer engaged on a lock cylinder body disposed on a back of a vault door of the vault while the door is closed and locked on the vault. In addition, the method includes moving the lock cylinder body to unlock said door, said disengaging being performed without damaging said door and said vault.  
   These aspects of the invention permit the opening of a locked and closed vault door with a broken lock by rotating the lock cylinder on the door. This reduces damage in repairing the vault in a way that is safer to the person opening the vault.   

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     The above mentioned and other features of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will be apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front and side isometric view of a parking meter as known in the prior art;  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a back side of a vault door showing the placement of a retainer for the known parking meter;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevation of the back side of the vault door and a cross section through a lock assembly on the vault door as known in the prior art;  
       FIG. 4  is an elevation of the back side of the vault door as known in the prior art;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view elevation of a parking meter according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is front and side isometric view of a parking meter with its vault door open according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is an elevation of the back side of a vault door according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a top view cross section through the vault door as taken substantially along line  8 — 8  on  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a close-up view of a portion of the cross section of  FIG. 8 ;   
       FIG. 10  is a side view cross section through the vault door and vault housing as taken along the line  10 — 10  on  FIG. 12  and showing the placement of a disengagement tool according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a close-up view of a portion of the cross section of  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a front elevation of the parking meter partially cut away to show a cross section of a lock assembly on the back side of the vault door according to the present invention;  
       FIGS. 13 ,  14  are respectively a front elevation view and side elevation view of the retainer for the vault door and an alternative retainer design shown in dashed line according to the present invention;  
       FIGS. 15 ,  16  are respectively a front elevation view and side elevation view of the disengagement tool according to the present invention;  
       FIGS. 17 ,  18  are respectively a top plan view and side elevation view of a holding clip according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 19  is a back and side isometric view of a partially cut away parking meter vault showing the lock assembly on the back side of the vault door according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 20  is a back side isometric view of the vault door and showing the position and motion of the disengagement tool with the retainer in relation to the lock assembly on the vault door according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 21  is a close-up view of the retainer, disengagement tool and stopper on  FIG. 19  according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 22  is side and back isometric view of the parking meter vault with the disengagement tool according to the present invention; and   
       FIG. 23  is a side and back isometric view of the parking meter partially cut away to show the lock assembly and initial engagement of the disengagement tool with the retainer according to the present invention.   
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
   Referring to  FIGS. 5–6 , a parking meter  10  has a collection and timer housing  12  positioned above a separate tamper-resistant enclosure or vault  14  that has a vault housing  16 . The vault housing  16  has a front wall  18  that defines a doorway or main opening  20 . A vault door  22  removably covers the main opening  20  for opening and closing the vault, and the front or exterior side  24  of the door  22  has an aperture  26  for providing exterior key access to a key hole  28 . A coin box (not shown) is placed in, and taken out of, the interior of the vault housing  16  through main opening  20 .  
   Referring to  FIGS. 7–11 , the vault door  22  has a back or interior side  30  facing the interior of the vault  14 . The door  22  also provides a chamber  32  communicating with aperture  26  and the exterior  11 . A of the vault as shown in  FIGS. 8–11 . A lock assembly  34  disposed on the back  30  of the door  22  has a lock cylinder  36  disposed in the chamber  32 . The lock cylinder  32  can be any similar lock to that described here, such as Duncan DE Lock, Lori Lock, Illinois Lock, Abloy Lock, Kaba Lock, and Medeco Lock to name a few examples.  
   The lock cylinder  36  has a keyhole end  38  defining a key hole  26 , an exterior surface or body  40  that loosely fits within chamber  30  and is usually stationary as described herein, and a movable portion or rotatable shaft (locking end)  42  preferably extending out of chamber  32  on the back  30  of the door  22 , to operatively attach to a bolting mechanism. A lock cam  44  made of a flat plate is secured to the shaft  42  through a hole  48  formed at the center of the cam for this purpose. An E-clip  46  fastens the cam  44  to the shaft  42 .   
   The lock cam  44  is attached to the bolting mechanism by two opposing, generally circumferentially extending slots  50 ,  52  (best seen in  FIG. 7 ) that respectively receive bolt pins  54 ,  56  respectively extending from bolts  58 ,  60 . The bolt pins  54 ,  56  are free to slide within the slots  50 ,  52 . The lock assembly  34  also has a support structure  62  made of a first, back bracket plate  64  (also referred to herein as simply a bracket or plate) directly connected to the back  30  of the door  22 , and a second or front bracket  66 . The bolts  58 ,  60  are secured between raised portions  68  of the front bracket  66  and the back bracket  64 , but permit the bolts to slide back and forth horizontally. Two upper screws or bolts  70  secure the front bracket  64  to the back bracket  62  and to the back  30  of the door  22 , and two lower screws or bolts  72  secure the lower end of the back bracket  64  to the door  22 .  
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , this configuration forms a lower slot or opening  74  near the middle of the back bracket  64  for receiving a lock cylinder retainer plate or retainer  78 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , slot  74  is behind cam  44  and is partially defined by a surface  76  of the back  30  of the door  22  abutting the retainer  78 . The retainer  78  straddles the lock cylinder body  40  of the lock cylinder  36 . An upper slot  75  is formed between a recessed portion  77  of the back bracket  64  (shown in see-through on  FIG. 12 ) and the front bracket  66  (best seen in  FIG. 11 ).  
   Referring to  FIGS. 9–14 , the retainer  78  is preferably formed from a generally flat cold rolled steel plate  79  with downwardly extending spaced legs  80 ,  82  with inner facing flats  84  that engage the sides or side walls  86  of the lock cylinder body  40  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The retainer  78  also has an upper flat  88  for engaging a top surface  90  of the lock cylinder body  40  as shown in  FIG. 11 . This  provides a very snug fit on the lock cylinder  36  requiring a relatively forceful jerk or yank to pull the retainer  78  off of the lock cylinder body. This tight fit secures the lock cylinder both horizontally (x and y directions) and vertically (z direction) relative to the retainer. Slots  74  and  75  holding the retainer also provide a tight fit so that the retainer cannot rotate, twist or lean. The retainer legs  80 ,  82  also abut a shoulder  92  of the lock cylinder  36 , which is flush with surface  76  of the back  30  of the door  22 . This serves to trap and maintain the lock cylinder  36  against the back  30  of the door  22 .  
   The front of the retainer  40  has a hole  94  used for prying the retainer out of the support structure  62  when the door  22  is already open, and two raised portions or dimples  96  that engages the front bracket  66  to provide a tight friction or interference fit within slots  74  and  75  between the bracket  66  in front of the retainer and the bracket  64  and the surface  76  behind the retainer (as best seen in  FIG. 11 ).  
   Referring to  FIGS. 13–14 , the retainer  78  also has an extension  98  normal to the plane generally defined by the plate  79 . The extension also has a lip  100  extending downwardly from the extension  98  and generally parallel to the plate  79 . In cross section, and at sides  102 ,  104 , the retainer  78  generally forms an inverted J-shape and defines an inverted pocket  106  for receiving and engaging a disengagement tool  108  (shown in  FIGS. 15–16 ). The sides  102 ,  104  define a plane (a “side plane” P) that the disengagement tool  108  passes through in order to rest within the pocket  106 . This configuration allows the tool  108  to engage the retainer  78  with a simple sideways movement of the tool (i.e. parallel to the  front wall of the vault) in order to avoid any structure that could entangle with, or hamper the movement of, the tool  108 .  
   While the preferred configuration uses the inverted J-shape, many other configurations for the retainer also fall within the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in dashed line on  FIGS. 7 ,  13 – 14 , the retainer  78  can be extended upward, and an aperture  110  can be provided that is clear and above the support structure  62  on the back  30  of the vault door  22 . However, the extension and hole  110  must be small enough to provide enough vertical clearance for the retainer  78  to disengage from the lock cylinder  36 . Although it is more difficult to avoid other structure within the vault housing  16  with this structure (since the retainer is up against the brackets  64 ,  66 ), the tool  108  still can be used to hook into aperture  110  to remove the retainer  78 . It will be appreciated that the hole can be placed anywhere on the plate  79 , and need not be centered and enlarged in an extension, as long as the hole  110  avoids the structure of the lock assembly  34  and enough clearance is provided to engage the tool  108  and raise the retainer  78  to disengage it from the lock cylinder  36 . Many other structures for the retainer  78  are possible as long as it has a portion configured to engage the disengagement tool while the vault door  22  is closed and locked while permitting the retainer to disengage.  
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  15 – 16  and  19 , the disengagement tool  108  has a handle  112  connected to the end of a shaft or rod  114  and ending in a hook  116 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hook  116  has two generally linear sections  118 ,  120  for passing through plane P and entering pocket  106  to engage the retainer   78 . The entire disengagement tool  108  is preferably made from a continuous bent length of steel or other metals.  
   A top wall  122  of the vault housing  16  has a tool hole or slot  124  for receiving the disengagement tool and permitting access to the interior of the vault to engage the retainer  78  therein. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 19 , it will be evident that the upper collection and timer housing  12  must first be removed or separated from the vault  14  in order to uncover and gain access to the tool hole  124 .  
   Referring to FIGS.  7  and  17 – 18 , the lock assembly  34  also has a spring clip  126  secured at one end to one of the lower bolts  72  and a free end  128  abutting lock cam  44 . The free end  128  applies just enough pressure to hold the cam  44  and lock cylinder  36  against the back  30  of the door  22  and prevents the cam  44  from disengaging from bolt pins  54 ,  56 . The pressure from the clip  126  against the cam  44 , however, is light enough to permit the cam to rotate and slide against the clip  126 . Complete disengagement of the retainer  78  from the lock cylinder body  40  is then possible without the cam  44  and lock cylinder  36  falling into the interior of the vault housing  14 .  
   As shown in  FIGS. 17–18 , the spring clip  126  in the illustrated embodiment is preferably a flat plate  128  made of blued spring steel or other metal with a hole  130  on the fixed end. The plate  128  is bent to bias the clip  126  against the cam  44  once the clip is disposed on the lock assembly  34 .  
   Referring to FIGS.  12  and  19 – 23 , in order to unlock and open the vault door  22  when the lock cylinder is jammed, as mentioned previously, the collection and timer housing  12  must be separated from the vault  14  to uncover the tool hole  124 . Once the tool hole  124  is exposed, the disengagement tool  108   is inserted into the tool hole. The tool hole  124  is preferably located on the top wall  122  of the vault housing  16  so that the tool  108  need only be lowered straight down to the vicinity of the retainer  78  while maintaining the hook  116  of the tool  108  generally parallel to the front wall  18  of the housing  16  and pointing toward the center line (CL) (shown in  FIG. 19 ) of the housing where the retainer  78  is located. Then the tool  108  need only be adjusted slightly sideways and toward centerline CL so that it passes through plane P of the retainer  78  and enters the inverted pocket  106  to engage the retainer  78  as shown in  FIG. 20 .  
   As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 23 , retracting the disengagement tool from the tool hole  124  pulls the retainer  78  upward and away from the lock cylinder  36 . Due to the tight fit between the lock cylinder body  40  and the retainer  78 , a hard or forceful upward pull or jerk of the tool  108  may be necessary to disengage the retainer  78  from an engaged position  78   a  (on  FIG. 12 ) to a disengaged position  78   b  (on  FIG. 12 ).  
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  12 ,  21  and  23 , as the retainer  78  is pulled away from the lock cylinder  36  and through the support structure  62 , the top surface  132  of the retainer  78  engages a stopper  134  extending from the top wall  122  of the vault housing  16  (shown best in  FIG. 23 ). The stopper  134  is positioned to prevent over extension of the retainer  78  to where it will interfere with the opening of the vault door  22  by engaging the front wall  18  of the housing  16 , and block further opening of the vault door. As shown best in  FIG. 10 , the distal end  136  of the stopper  134  should be the same height or lower than the height of the top edge  138  of the main opening  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper  is a cylindrical pin welded through a hole onto the top wall  122  of the housing  16 , and is preferably made of steel.  
   Once the retainer  78  abuts the stopper  134 , an instrument (not shown) such as a screw driver can be inserted into the key hole  28  of the lock cylinder  36  and turned or rotated to rotate the lock cylinder body  40 . Since the lock cylinder  40  is jammed, its shaft  42  will also rotate with the rotation of the lock cylinder body  40 . The rotation of the shaft  42  will rotate the cam  44 , and in turn slide the bolts  58 ,  60  to unlock the door  22 .  
   Once the door  22  is unlocked, it can be swung open slightly to ensure that it does not reclose while the disengagement tool  108  is being removed from the retainer  78 , which prevents any further opening of the door  22 . As long as the door  22  is ajar, it does not matter if the retainer slides back down in the support structure  62  after the tool  108  is released from the retainer  78 . At this point, the vault door  22  can be fully open and the disengagement tool  108  can be removed from the tool hole  124 . Since no other work is done to the door  22  to unlock the jammed lock, no damage to any other part of the door  22  and lock assembly  34  occurs, saving much expense.  
   It will be appreciated that full disengagement of the retainer  78  from the lock cylinder body  40  is not necessary as long as enough disengagement occurs to permit the lock cylinder body (or usually stationary portion)  40  to be rotated.  
   It will also be appreciated that the top wall can be provided with other holes to see into the vault housing  16  so that the engagement of the disengagement tool on the retainer can be accomplished by eye rather than just merely feel. However, this is not preferred since it may provide a means of  access or a view of the lock assembly  34  to persons not authorized to open the vault  14 .  
   The advantages of the present parking meter  10  and vault  14  are now apparent. The parking meter vault  14  has a retainer  78  with a portion configured for engaging a disengagement tool  108  so that the retainer  78  can be disengaged from a lock cylinder  36  on the back  30  of a vault door  22  even though the vault door is closed and locked. A spring clip  126  prevents the lock cylinder  36  from falling into the vault interior once the retainer  78  is disengaged. A stopper  134  prevents over extension of the retainer  78  where it can block the opening of the vault door  22 .  
   While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a parking meter vault, it has application to any similar enclosure which is designed to be located in a public place and which therefore is subject to unauthorized attempts to open it. Such enclosures include coin boxes for pay telephones and vending machines, pad-mounted transformers, telephone distribution boxes, ATMs and similar enclosures protecting property otherwise amenable to theft or tampering.  
   Therefore, any locked enclosure with a retainer holding a lock cylinder may fall within the scope of the invention.  
   While various embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that other modifications and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims.