Patent Application
20120236472
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to meter technology, and more particularly, to an assembly for a utility meter including a cover and a base plate interlocked together such that the cover cannot be removed or partially pried open from the base plate without rotating and breaking a tamper indicator.
Current designs of utility meter assemblies include a base, with a utility meter thereon, and a cover that is placed over the utility meter and base. However, current designs include a cover that is too flexible and can be pried open with a device like a screwdriver. Since the cover can be pried open without permanent damage, the electrical components of the utility meter can be accessed without a utility company's knowledge. Accessing the utility meter could by-pass the metrological seal, thereby compromising the integrity of the utility meter and allowing someone to tamper with the utility meter.
A utility meter assembly that provides a tamper proof seal for a utility meter is disclosed. The utility meter assembly according to embodiments of this invention includes a base plate adapted for mounting a utility meter thereon, a cover configured to rotationally interlock with the base plate, and a tamper indicator linking the base plate and the cover in the interlocked position. The tamper indicator is configured to indicate tampering in response to a tamper condition, including the cover being rotated with respect to the base, away from the interlocked position, the tamper indicator being removed to unlink the base plate and the cover, and/or the cover being at least partially pried off the base plate. In one embodiment, the tamper indicator comprises a mechanical element adapted for insertion through the base plate and the cover in the interlocked position. The utility meter assembly according to embodiments of this invention ensures that the cover can only be removed from the base plate in the interlocked position by rotating the cover thus breaking the tamper indicator, or removing the tamper indicator then rotating the cover. Either way, the tamper indicator will indicate that the cover has been removed. The assembly further ensures that the cover cannot be partially pried off the base plate to allow access to the utility meter within without at least a portion of the cover or base plate being deformed or broken.
A first aspect of the invention provides an assembly for a utility meter, the assembly comprising: a base plate adapted for mounting a utility meter thereon; a cover configured to rotationally interlock with the base plate; and a tamper indicator adapted for linking the base plate and the cover in the interlocked position, wherein the tamper indicator is configured to indicate tampering in response to a tamper condition.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the invention, in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
Turning to
A first embodiment, shown in
Cover 104 of assembly 100 includes at least one bent tab 108 proximate to an outer edge of cover 104. As best shown in
To rotationally interlock base plate 102 and cover 104, cover 104 is placed on base plate 102 such that each bent tab 108 extends into a corresponding circumferential opening 110 in base plate 102. Then, as cover 104 is rotated by a user, each bent tab 108 is configured to rotationally engage a circumferential groove 106 adjacent to openings 110. In other words, each bent tab 108 is slid into a groove 106 as cover 104 is rotated. In this way, cover 104 will be rotationally interlocked with base plate 102 as each bent tab 108 is rotated into a groove 106.
In one embodiment, a depth of groove 110 can varied, i.e., a bottom surface of groove 110 can be sloped, such that a groove 110 becomes progressively deeper from a first end proximate to opening 110 and a second end opposite the first end. In other words, circumferential groove 110 is deeper at the second end than at the first end. Additionally, a corresponding bent tab 108 can have a variable height, i.e., a surface of second portion 108b can be sloped, to correspond with the sloped surface of the groove 110.
In one embodiment, cover 104 includes three bent tabs 108, spaced evenly around a circumference of the outer edge of cover 104, while base plate 102 includes three corresponding grooves 106 (and openings 110), spaced evenly around a circumference of the outer edge of base plate 102. For example, three bent tabs 108 can be spaced approximately 120 degrees apart from each other around the circumference of the outer edge of cover 104, and three grooves 106 can be spaced approximately 120 degrees apart from each other around the circumference of the outer edge of base plate 102.
As shown in
In one embodiment, mechanical element 113 can be formed of a material that is stiff enough to mechanically be inserted through cover 104 and base plate 102, while also weak enough to be able to be broken by a user, either when mechanical element 113 is removed, or when a user rotates cover 104 with respect to base plate 102, away from the interlocked position, to attempt to remove cover 104. In one embodiment, shown in
In operation, once cover 104 and base plate 102 are interlocked together, i.e., in an interlocked position, and base plate hole(s) 112 and cover hole(s) 114 are substantially lined up, a user can insert mechanical element 113 (second end 120 first) through holes 112, 114. Once mechanical element 113 is through holes 112, 114, the user can bend second end 120 of mechanical element 113 as shown in
It is also understood that while an aluminum bar shaped mechanical element 113 is shown in
In another embodiment, the tamper indicator can comprise tape used to seal the joint between cover 104 and base plate 102 (either the entire joint, or a portion of the joint), thereby linking cover 104 and base plate 102. In this embodiment, tamper evident security tape as known in the art can be used, such that if tape is removed, the tape is either destroyed or tamper evidence is shown, such as leaving words or symbols on assembly 100 or on the security tape itself.
As discussed above, in operation, to secure cover 104 to base plate 102 (with a utility meter thereon), a user places cover 104 on base plate 102 (such that bent tabs 108 extend into openings 110) and then rotates cover 104 with respect to base plate 102, thus sliding bent tabs 108 into grooves 106. In this way, cover 104 is rotationally interlocked with base plate 102. Then, with cover 104 and base plate 102 in an interlocked position, a tamper indicator (e.g., mechanical element 113 or tamper evident tape) is utilized to link base plate 102 and cover 104. The tamper indicator is configured to indicate tampering in response to a tamper condition. This tamper condition can comprise cover 104 being rotated with respect to base plate 102, away from the interlocked position, the tamper indicator being removed, and/or if cover 104 is attempted to be partially pried off base plate 102. In response to any of these conditions, the tamper indicator will indicate tampering.
In one embodiment, once interlocked, base plate hole 112 and cover hole 114 can be lined up, and a user can insert a mechanical element 113 through holes 112, 114, linking cover 104 and base plate 102. Therefore, if a user needs to access the utility meter within assembly 100, a user must rotate cover 104 with respect to base plate 102, thus breaking mechanical element 113, or remove mechanical element 113 (which in turn will break mechanical element 113), and then rotate cover 104 with respect to base plate 102 away from the interlocked position. Either way, it is clear whether anyone has accessed the utility meter, with or without permission, since the broken or tampered-with tamper indicator will alert a user that cover 104 has been removed (or partially removed) from base plate 102.
In addition, the interlocked connection between base plate 102 and cover 104 prevents a user from prying open cover 104. In other words, the interlocked connection prevents separation along a circumference of cover 104 and base plate 102, for example, preventing a user from attempting to create a space between cover 104 and base plate 102 (e.g., by inserting a tool such as a screwdriver or wire) to access the uility meter therein. The interlocked connection ensures that if a user attempts to even partially pry cover 104 off base plate 102, at least one of cover 104 or base plate 102 will be structurally deformed, or broken. Specifically, tabs 108 will be deformed or broken if cover 104 is partially pried off base plate 102, and therefore the broken or deformed tabs 108 would alert a user that the assembly was tampered with. In addition, the tamper indicator can also be configured to indicate tampering if cover 104 is at least partially pried off base plate 102.
In a second embodiment, shown in
In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, tamper indicator comprises a mechanical element 113 (
In one embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, base plate 102, 202 and cover 104, 204 can be rotationally interlocked using threads. In this embodiment, base plate 102, 202 can include threads along its outer edge, and cover 104, 204 can include corresponding threads, such that cover 104, 204 can be screwed on to base plate 102, 202 to rotationally interlock base plate 102, 202 and cover 104, 204. Again, as with previous embodiments, a tamper indicator is used, along with the threads, such that cover 104, 204 cannot be removed without rotating, thereby breaking or removing tamper indicator 113. In other words, tamper indicator (e.g., mechanical element 113 or tamper evident tape) is configured to indicate tampering if cover 104, 204 is unscrewed from base plate 102, 202, or cover 104, 204 is partially pried off base plate 102, 202.
It is also understood that in all embodiments discussed herein and shown in
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It is further understood that the terms “front” and “back” are not intended to be limiting and are intended to be interchangeable where appropriate.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
