Tamper indicating cover for a gas meter

Abstract

A tamper indicating cover for use on a nut securing a gas supply line pipe to a gas meter is disclosed. The cover is adapted to fit around the nut so that the nut cannot be accessed (for removal) and once it has been placed around the nut and snapped shut cannot be removed without being broken. In one embodiment of the invention the cover is made up of a pair of plastic "C" shaped mating cavity sections sized to fit around the top, sides and bottom of the nut, a hinge section which pivotally connects the lower end of each cavity section together and which is integrally formed with the two cavity sections and a metal clip which is adapted to be snap-locked into an internal slot formed in the upper end of one cavity section and then caused to snap-lock into a corresponding internal slot formed in the upper end of the other cavity section when the two upper ends are brought into engagement with each other. The edges of the lower end of each cavity section are bevelled at a 45.degree. angle so that the two lower ends cannot be easily glued together if the hinge section is broken. A lateral groove is formed inside the upper end of one of the cavity sections defining a hidden line of weakness which breaks if the hinge section is broken and the cavity sections pivoted about their upper ends after the upper ends have been joined to each other by the metal clip. The outer surface of the hinge section is shaped so that it cannot be easily clipped or cut off. The metal clip includes a pair of spring biased locking elements which are directed inward when the clip is locked into the upper ends of the two cavity sections so that the clip cannot be subsequently disengaged from the upper ends by inwardly directed pressure. In another embodiment of the invention the cover is made up of a pair of plastic, "C" shaped, mating cavity sections, a first metal clip for snap-locking the two upper ends of the two cavity sections together and a second metal clip for snap-locking the two lower ends of the two cavity sections together.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.