US 4,404,521 AGranted

Pilfer proofing system and method for electric utility meter box

OwnerRobert B. Fennellinventor

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Abstract

A pilfer proofing system and method for electric meter boxes having a meter base box, which carries a plug-in terminal block set and a meter box cover having an opening through which a plug-in-meter passes to engage contact jaws or sockets the terminal block set. An anchoring bar is secured to the meter stops and a conventional meter locking collar is secured to the cover and the bridge of the locking collar is secured to the anchoring bar. Metal extension adaptors are secured to the meter blades for entering into the contact jaws or sockets of the terminal block set and a conventional locking ring is utilized to lock the meter in place on the added meter collar thereby providing a substantial obstacle to easy pilfering of electricity. A safety device constituted by a handle, a flexible insulating sheet and a set of nonconductive blades is inserted in the socket blades of the terminal block set and retained therein by friction covering up the hot or live terminals of the terminal block set with the flexible insulating sheet, and it is removed by grasping the handle and removing same.

Claims7

Dependent claims

Pilfer proofing apparatus for a plug-in utility meter and box of the type having a meter base box, a plug-in electric meter having a glass meter cover, rearwardly projecting male connectors and an annular flange, a plug-in terminal block set and a meter box cover having an opening therein through which said glass meter cover of said electric meter passes to plug and engage said rearwardly projecting male connectors in said terminal block set to pilfer proof same without electrically disconnecting the meter base box and terminal block set from the electrical power line, comprising,

(a) a locking ring member constituted by a meter box cover engaging member and in integral annular locking ring projection projecting outwardly from the plane of said meter box cover engaging member and through said opening in said meter box cover,
(b) anchor means adapted to be secured to said meter base box,
(c) means securing said locking ring member to said anchor means,
(d) removable insulated blade members releasably retained in said terminal block set during the installation of elements (a), (b) and (c), and
(e) an annular locking ring means engaging said annular flange on the base of said meter and said locking ring projection for securing said meter to said locking ring member and meter base box whereby said projecting male connectors are prevented from being unplugged from said contact terminal block set and said meter base box without removing said annular locking ring.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.