Force-resistant locking devices

A locking device adapted for combination with electric meter boxes or the like of the type having a bottom, a back wall, side walls, and a front wall and a cover hingedly or otherwise attached to the back wall and pivotal to a closed position, the locking device comprising:

• (A) a stud member mounted to one of the walls other than the back wall of the electric meter box, the stud member comprising a cylindrical stud extending perpendicularly outwardly from the wall to which it is mounted, the cylindrical stud defining a portion of a lock-receiving opening disposed generally perpendicular to the closed cover of the electric metor box;
• and
• (B) a flange member comprising an L-shaped angle iron one leg thereof comprising a flange overlaying a marginal portion of the cover and a rectangular portion of metal stock welded to the other leg thereof to form a flange body, the flange body defining a stud-receiving opening generally parallel to the flange and passing through the depending leg of the angle iron and the metal stock welded thereto, the metal stock of the flange body further defining the remaining portion of the lock-receiving opening disposed generally perpendicular to the closed cover of the electric meter box the portions of the lock-receiving openings defined by the stud and the flange member being aligned to form the complete lock-receiving opening when the flange member is received on the stud member, the lock-receiving opening accommodating a utility lock of the type having a head, a shank and locking balls expansible outwardly from the shank to engage a shoulder of the lock-receiving opening and thereby retain the utility lock therein, the lock being fully enclosed and protected by the locking device and retaining the flange and stud members of the locking device together by its shear strength.

A locking device adapted for combination with electric meter boxes or the like of the type having a bottom, a back wall, side walls and a front wall and a cover hingedly or otherwise attached to the back wall and pivotal to a closed position, the locking device comprising a stud member mounted to one of the walls other than the back wall of the electric meter box and extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, the stud member comprising a rectangular base positioned adjacent the wall of the electric meter box and a cylindrical stud extending outwardly therefrom, the stud defining a portion of a lock-receiving opening, and a flange member defining an opening in which the stud is received, whereby the flange member is removably received on the stud member in an interengaging relationship, the flange member including a flange which overlaps a marginal portion of the cover adjacent one of its free edges, the flange member defining the remaining portion of the lock-receiving opening which aligns with the portion of the lock-receiving opening defined by the stud member and the flange member are assembled together, the lock-receiving opening defined by the flange member and stud member being generally perpendicular to the closed cover and intersecting the stud-receiving opening defined in the flange member, the respective portions of the lock-receiving opening together receiving and protectively enclosing a utility lock of the type having a head, shank and locking balls which are expansible from the shank to engage a shoulder of the lock-receiving opening and thereby retain the utility lock in the lock-receiving opening, whereby the shear strength of the utility lock in the lock-receiving opening prevents separation of the flange member and stud member and thereby secures the stud member and flange member together to maintain the electric meter box in its closed condition.