Method and Apparatus for Securing a Watthour Meter Box

a technology for watthour meters and locking structures, applied in the direction of threaded fasteners, electrical apparatus casings/cabinets/drawers, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of service providers sometimes being forced to disconnect service to customers, meter cannot be easily removed from the electrical socket, and sometimes undesirable drilling or punching a starter hole in the box

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-04-02
DEWALCH TECH INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution provides enhanced security for meter boxes by preventing unauthorized access and simplifying the installation process, eliminating the need for drilling and reducing system complexity while maintaining operational integrity.

Problems solved by technology

A complementary flange is disposed on the meter such that when meter box cover is installed over and around the head of meter, then the meter complementary flange is encased by meter box cover flange, so that the meter cannot be easily removed from the electrical socket unless the cover is first removed from the meter box base.
Also, service providers are sometimes forced to disconnect service to customers, for example, due to non-payment of monthly bills.
However, in instances where the small latch assembly on the meter box fails to provide sufficient security for preventing unauthorized access to the meter and meter box socket, a sturdier, more tamper resistant solution is required.
However, some installers are independent contractors rather than employees of the companies that own the meter boxes, and thus drilling or punching a starter hole in the box is sometimes undesirable.

Method used

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  • Method and Apparatus for Securing a Watthour Meter Box
  • Method and Apparatus for Securing a Watthour Meter Box
  • Method and Apparatus for Securing a Watthour Meter Box

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Embodiment Construction

[0067]Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the attached figures illustrate an apparatus for securing a watthour meter box.

[0068]Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a ringless type meter box 27 that includes a box cover 20, and a box base 19. Formed around an opening in a central portion of meter box cover 20 is a flange 29. A complementary flange is disposed on meter 28 such that, when meter box cover 20 is installed over and around the head of meter 28, the meter complementary flange is encased by meter box cover flange 29, so that the meter cannot be easily removed from the electrical socket unless the cover 20 is first removed from the meter box base 19.

[0069]The meter box cover 20 is typically secured in place by means of a small latch assembly, which functions in structural cooperation with a complementary latch-receiving member disposed on the meter box base 19. The meter box ...

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Abstract

A locking bracket and a lock housing wherein the locking bracket generally comprises a clamping member and a fastening lever that attaches to a wall of a meter box base. The lock housing generally comprises a unitary member with a perpendicular flange. The meter box lid is secured to the meter box base when the locking bracket is secured to the side wall and used in combination with the lock housing and a locking shaft.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 60 / 681,200, filed May 16, 2005, and No. 60 / 793,104, filed Apr. 19, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to locking structures, and more specifically, it relates to a locking structure for securing the lid of a utility service enclosure such as, for example, a watthour meter box.[0004]2. Description of the Background[0005]Electrical service providers generally deliver electricity to their customers via power lines buried underground or distributed along poles or towers overhead. The provider's power lines are usually distributed from a power generation station to numerous sets of customer lines, so that customers can then use the power to satisfy their various electrical needs. To measure delivered power so that customers can be billed in proportion to their usage, service providers typically terminate their power lines at a cus...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B65D55/14
CPCF16B21/165F16B41/005G01R11/04Y10T29/49826H05K5/0221Y10T29/49947G01R11/24Y10T70/5566Y10T292/1043Y10T292/1052Y10T292/1059Y10T70/5558H05K5/0208H02B1/03H02B1/063
InventorSTACHOWIAK, JR., JOHN EDWARD
OwnerDEWALCH TECH INC