Patent Application
20060254327
1. Field of the Invention
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.
2. Description of the Background
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 customer's home or business facility through a metered socket box, various designs for which are well known.
A meter box is generally used by electric utility companies, however the invention herein may be used with other utility service enclosures in the gas, water, cable, TV utility industries or in other industries as well.
An example of one previously known meter box consists of two sets of electrical posts, with a provider's transmission lines being connected to one set of posts, and the customer's service lines to the other set. In order to measure the amount of electricity a customer uses, the meter box is configured to accept a watthour meter or another electricity usage measurement device which, when plugged into the socket box, permits transmission of electricity from the provider to the customer and allows the amount of transmitted electricity to be accurately measured, so that the provider can charge the customer for power usage at an appropriate rate.
Various designs and uses for watthour meters are also well known, and all such designs and uses are incorporated by reference into the teachings of the present invention. The present invention is also applicable in situations where the customer's service lines are routed from the meter box to a breaker box so that electricity can be distributed to multiple service locations using additional sets of electrical lines or wires.
Presently, there are two common types of meter socket boxes, each distinguished by the manner in which the meter is secured in place once it has been plugged into an electrical socket disposed in the meter box. For example, a ringed type meter box fitted with a flanged front cover is known, within which a watthour meter is disposed so that a head portion of the meter passes out through a flanged opening in the front cover. In this configuration, the meter is generally held in place using an annular, lockable sealing ring.
Also known is a ringless type meter box, in which the box cover secures the meter in place. For example, a ringless type meter box may include a box cover and a box base. Formed around an opening in a central portion of meter box cover is a flange. 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.
The meter box cover 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. The meter box cover is used to secure the meter to the electrical socket (not shown), so that completion of an electrical circuit is ensured, and the meter is reliably prevented from falling out of the meter box socket.
The meter box cover also prevents unauthorized persons from tampering with the meter. For example, some customers have attempted to bypass the meter, so that unmeasured electricity could be used free of charge. Also, service providers are sometimes forced to disconnect service to customers, for example, due to non-payment of monthly bills. In this event, a locked meter box cover helps prevent a customer from entering the meter box and reconnecting electrical service. 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.
There are presently only a few commonly used security devices for securing meter box covers to socket boxes. One type requires an installer to drill or punch a hole in the meter box prior to installation of a fastening device. 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. Also, drilling takes additional time and adds more steps to the installation, each of which could be avoided if drilling were not required.
To overcome these shortcomings, there are also locks that can be installed on ringless meter socket boxes that do not require drilling or punching a hole in the meter box. Several examples of patents which disclose attempts to solve some of the above problems are set forth as follows.
The Inner-Tite Jiffy Lock™ or “IT Lock,” shown in U.S. Pat. No. D-463,248, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,691 to Rafferty, entitled “Meter Box Lock Assembly,” is directed to lock assembly for use in combination with an electric meter box or other like enclosure having a bottom, a side wall, and a cover which may be opened to gain access to the interior of the box, and which when closed, overlaps an upper edge of the side wall. The lock assembly includes a bracket having first and second mutually spaced flanges integrally joined by an intermediate web. A jaw is mechanically interengaged with and carried by the bracket for movement between its flanges. The bracket is configured for removable mounting on the side wall, with its intermediate web interposed between the cover and the upper edge of the side wall, and with the first flange and the jaw respectively located adjacent exterior and interior surfaces of the side wall. The jaw is urged towards the first flange to clamp the side wall therebetween, and a cap is secured to the bracket. The cap has a lip configured and dimensioned to overlap and maintain the cover in a closed position.
The McGard Intimidator Sidewinder-Lock™ shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,365 to Sullivan et al, entitled “Ringless Meter Lock,” sets forth a locking mechanism for securing the cover of a thin-walled box to the box frame. The locking mechanism includes a clip bracket adapted to engage a wall of the box frame, a lock body adapted to latch to the clip bracket and engage the box cover, a locking member carried by the clip bracket and adapted to clamp the clip bracket to the box wall when the locking member is in a clamping position, and a pivotable actuating lever adapted to actuate the locking member into the clamping position. The locking member and the actuating lever can be implemented as a two-piece system comprising first and second pivoting members. Alternatively, the locking member and the actuating lever can be integrally formed as a one-piece system. The locking mechanism is capable of multiple mounting positions on the box without drilling, and uses a spring-loaded plunger assembly that allows for quick, keyless, slam installation.
There remains a need for a meter box security device that can be easily and quickly installed, which reliably ensures that the box cover cannot be shut once the support assembly is hung on a wall, unless the clamping member is properly secured to a meter box wall. There is also a need for a meter box security apparatus that offers greater security for preventing unauthorized entry into a meter box than is known in the prior art. There is also a need for a meter box security device having a reduced number of parts, so as to limit system complexity and hold down manufacturing costs.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate the present invention which addresses the above needs and other significant needs the solution to which are discussed hereinafter.
An object of the present invention is to provide additional security to a watthour meter box.
Another object of the present invention is to secure the watthour meter box lid to the meter box base
Another object of the present invention is to provide a watthour meter box security apparatus that helps prevent unauthorized watthour meter box lid removal from the watthour meter box base
Another object of the present invention is to provide a watthour meter box security apparatus that can be installed without any tools.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a watthour meter box security apparatus that can be attached to the wall of watthour meter box base.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a watthour meter box security apparatus that will not interfere with dangerous components inside the meter box.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a watthour meter security apparatus that will not interfere with the normal operation of the lid.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings, the descriptions given herein, and the appended claims. However, it will be understood that the above-listed objectives and/or advantages of the invention are intended only as an aid in quickly understanding aspects of the invention, are not intended to limit the invention in any way, and therefore do not form a comprehensive or restrictive list of objectives, and/or features, and/or advantages. Accordingly the present invention provides an apparatus for securing a box cover to a watthour meter socket box so as to address the needs as described above.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to secure the lid of a watthour meter box to the base of a watthour meter box.
One example embodiment of the present invention includes at least a locking bracket and a lock housing. The locking bracket includes at least a clamping member, fastening lever, and compression member. In an alternative embodiment, the locking bracket further includes at least a flexural member.
The lock housing generally includes at least a lock body or member incorporating a flange. The flange preferably has a generally perpendicular orientation with respect the lock housing. In one example embodiment, the lock housing has a unitary configuration. The locking bracket is adapted to be attached to a portion of a wall of the watthour meter box and to receive the lock housing after the lid of the watthour meter box is in place.
An example embodiment includes at least a shaft-style locking device cooperatively configured for securing the lock housing to the locking bracket so as to prevent removal of the meter box lid from the meter box base. In an alternative embodiment, the lock housing may be configured for use with any locking device suitable for securing the lock housing to the locking bracket so as to prevent removal of the meter box lid.
In an alternate embodiment, a locking device for securing the lid of a watthour meter box to a watthour meter box base includes at least: a latch assembly and a lock housing member, said latch assembly adapted to affix to a wall of a watthour meter box base, said latch assembly comprising a bracket member and a lever member, a first bracket portion disposed on said bracket member adapted to pivotably carry said lever member allowing rotational motion of said lever member about an axis located generally perpendicular to the planar face of said first bracket portion, a portion of said lever member adapted to bear against a wall of said meter box base thus trapping said wall between a second bracket portion disposed on said bracket member, a third bracket portion disposed on said bracket member adapted to be received by and affixed to said lock housing member, a flange disposed on said lock housing member adapted to secure a meter box lid to a meter box base.
In one example embodiment, a method for securing a lid to a watthour meter box having an interior is provided. The method includes at least: attaching a locking bracket to a wall of the watthour meter box; installing the lid over at least a portion of the bracket; and securing a locking housing to the bracket to prevent removal of the lid. In one example embodiment, the step of attaching the locking bracket to the wall of the watthour meter box is performed from a position substantially outside the interior of the watthour meter box. In this way, the bracket is substantially manipulable without needing to place any portion of one's hand or an object in the interior of the watthour meter box.
In another example embodiment, attaching means may be used for mounting the bracket to the wall of the watthour meter box without having to reach into the interior of the box. A latch member may be lever-type structure and a member engageable with a meter box wall. Various locking means may be used to secure the lid to the watthour meter box.
In another example embodiment the locking bracket includes at least a body and only one moveable member. In another embodiment, the moveable member is pivotable with respect to the body. In another embodiment, the moveable member preferably further includes at least a compression member.
In an example embodiment, the moveable member includes at least an actuating lever which is moveable (or for example, pivotable) in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the wall to which the locking bracket is being attached. The actuating lever ideally is configured with a compression member at a distal end of the actuating lever such that the compression makes arcuate (or sweeping rotational) engagement with the wall when force is applied to the actuating lever. The actuating lever is ideally configured with at least one elongated member which serves as a moment arm to facilitate engagement.
In another example embodiment, the locking bracket includes at least a reversible design configuration. That is, the locking bracket may be manufactured in a first design configuration such that the actuating lever may be rotated in a functional clockwise direction to attach the bracket or in a second design configuration such that the actuating lever may be rotated in a functional counter-clockwise direction to attach the bracket. The first or second design configuration may be employed as desired for use in situations where there are limited locations for attaching the locking bracket or to foster ease of use by a right- or left-handed person.
Another example embodiment of the present invention includes at least a locking bracket for use with a lock housing. The locking bracket includes at least a clamping member, fastening lever, and compression member. The locking bracket is configured for mounting a lock housing to capture at least a portion of the lid of a watthour meter box. A locking shaft is adapted to be installed in the lock housing so as to secure the lid in place on the watthour meter box.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus the lever end is in functional cooperation with a portion of a lock housing mounted to a portion of the clamping member such that the lock prevents rotation of the lever to an open position.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus the lever end is in functional cooperation with a portion of a meter box lid such that the lid prevents rotation of the lever to an open position.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus the lever end is at least partially outside the interior of the meter box in a mounting position and at least partially inside the interior of the meter box in a locked position.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus further comprises the meter box.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus further comprises a locking structure adapted for functional cooperation with said clamping member for securing a meter box lid to a meter box base.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter.
In this respect, before explaining at least one example embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
While the present invention will be described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit of the invention and as defined in the appended claims.
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.
Referring now to
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 cover 20 is used to secure the meter 28 to the electrical socket (not shown), so that completion of an electrical circuit is ensured, and the meter is reliably prevented from falling out of the meter box socket. The meter box cover 20 also prevents unauthorized persons from tampering with the meter 28. As shown in
Referring now to
The clamping member 2 is generally comprised of multiple flanges 6, 10, 5 with one of the flanges 6 containing a preferably circular aperture 24 and a fastening shelf 4 that also contains a preferably circular aperture 7. Additional flanges may be added or fewer flanges may be used to accomplish the function as described henceforth.
A locking bracket 1 as shown enlarged in
As shown in the exploded view of the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
The directly subsequent discussion of assembly and operation of locking bracket 1 onto base 19 of watthour meter box 27 is made using the example of compression member 30, but resilient compression members such as flexural member 13, or other resilient compression members discussed hereinafter, or compression members such as lobe 34 which may or may not be resilient, may be utilized to provide a secure fit of locking bracket 1 onto base 19. Compression members may be used with or without each other.
Referring to
Now referring to
However, axis of rotation 44 could be angled away from wall 23 e.g., by providing that axis of rotation 44 is at an angle with respect to the z-axis and the x-axis while still perpendicular to the y-axis such as by bending flange 6 inwardly toward the interior of meter box base 19. In this case, axis of rotation 44 may still be perpendicular with respect to an axial direction x. In this case, when fastening lever 3 is rotated, then terminate end engagement surface 40A does not come into contact with wall 23 until near the end of rotation, which occurs when stop surface 41A engages the underside of front flange 21. Thus, in this embodiment, at least one axial direction of axis of rotation 44 is perpendicular to the y-axis and/or wall 23.
As the lever 3 is rotated, the compressible member 30, due to the limited space defined by a lower surface of front flange 21 and wall 23 of the watthour meter box base 19 and the terminate end 40A of the flange 8, will compress. The compression of compressible member 30 ensures a “secure feel” and a tighter fit of the locking bracket to the watthour meter box base. The installer continues to rotate the fastening lever 3 until stop surface 41A engages the inside surface of front flange 21. In a preferred embodiment, the flange 9 of the fastening lever 3 is in a generally parallel position to the flange 10 of the clamping member 2 when stop surface 41A engages the inside surface of front flange 21. The front flange 21 of the meter box base 19 is now trapped between the compression member 30 disposed on flange 8 of the fastening lever 3, and the flange 10 of the clamping member 2. As shown in
Referring to
Once the lid 20 is in place, the aperture 22 in the lock housing 14 is aligned with the fastening shelf 4 of the clamping member 2. The lock housing 14 is then slid onto the fastening shelf 4 of the clamping member 2, shown by movement arrow “D” in
The perpendicular flange 15 of the lock housing 14 prevents meter box lid 20 removal; consequently the meter box lid 20 prevents the fastening lever 3 from rotating to the “open position”. The fastening lever 3, the clamping member 2, the connector 12, lock housing 14, the lid 20, and the meter box base 19, interact together to prevent the removal of both the meter box lid 20 and the entire locking apparatus.
Referring back to
In an alternate embodiment, compressible member 30 may or may not be used. In this alternate embodiment, a different compressible member, comprising a different shape, material, or attachment means as shown in the illustrations, may be disposed on the inside of flange 5 of the clamping member 2. In this embodiment, as the fastening lever 3 is rotated to a “closed position” as previously described, the flange 23 of the watthour meter box base 19 becomes trapped between the terminate end of flange 8 disposed on the fastening lever 3, and the compressible member, performing a similar function as previously described.
In another alternate embodiment, one or more compressible members may or may not be used. Assuming a compressible material is not used, in this embodiment, as the fastening lever 3 is rotated to a “closed position” as previously described, the wall 23 of the meter box base 19 becomes trapped between the terminate end 40 of flange 8 disposed on the fastening lever 3, and the flange 5 of the clamping member 2.
In another alternate embodiment, shown in
In another example embodiment of the lever end 9 shown in
In another example embodiment of the apparatus the lever end 9 is in functional cooperation with a portion of a meter box lid 20 such that the lid prevents rotation of the lever to an open position.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus shown in
In another example embodiment of the apparatus further comprises the meter box.
In another example embodiment of the apparatus further comprises a locking structure (e.g., 14 or other types of locking structures adaptable for use with the invention) for functional cooperation with said clamping member 2 for securing a meter box lid to a meter box base.
Various other example embodiments provide an apparatus that may be adapted for use on a utility service enclosure. Such a utility service enclosure is used not only in the electric utility industry (e.g., a meter box) but also in the gas, water, cable, TV utility industries or in other utility industries.
The design described does not limit the scope of the invention; the number of flanges may change, or various components may be added or removed to the above-described concept to aid in improved security and operation.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and variations thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that various changes in the design, organization, order of operation, means of operation, equipment structures and location, methodology, the use of mechanical equivalents, such as different types of fasteners and locking devices than as illustrated whereby different steps may be utilized, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction or combinations of features of the various elements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. As well, the drawings are intended to describe the concepts of the invention so that the presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be plainly disclosed to one of skill in the art but are not intended to be manufacturing level drawings or renditions of final products and may include simplified conceptual views as desired for easier and quicker understanding or explanation of the invention. As well, the relative size and arrangement of the components may be varied from that shown and the invention still operate well within the spirit of the invention as described hereinbefore and in the appended claims. Thus, various changes and alternatives may be used that are contained within the spirit of the invention.
Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that various changes in the ordering of steps, ranges, interferences, spacings, hardware, and/or attributes and parameters, as well as in the details of the illustrations or combinations of features of the methods and system discussed herein, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 60/681,200, filed May 16, 2005, and No. 60/793104, filed Apr. 19, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60681200 | May 2005 | US | |
| 60793104 | Apr 2006 | US |
