Ringless meter lock

A locking mechanism for securing the cover of a thin-walled box to a box frame, comprising:

• a clip bracket adapted to engage a wall of said box frame;
• a lock body adapted to latch to said clip bracket and engage said box cover;
• a spring-loaded plunger lock assembly seated in said lock body at a desired installation torque;
• a head portion on said spring-loaded plunger lock assembly having a face;
• a curvilinear groove on said face, said curvilinear groove having a pattern shape and groove width adapted to receive a mating key and to prevent devices other than said key from engaging said groove with sufficient force to unseat said spring-loaded plunger lock assembly from said lock body by overcoming said installation torque;
• a locking member carried by said clip bracket and adapted to clamp said clip bracket to said box wall when said locking member is in a clamping position;
• and
• a pivotable actuating lever adapted to actuate said locking member into said clamping position.

A locking mechanism for securing the cover of a thin-walled box to a box frame, comprising:

• a clip bracket adapted to engage a wall of said box frame;
• a lock body adapted to latch to said clip bracket and engage said box cover, said lock body having angled and radiused surfaces adapted to minimize purchase points and restrict gripping and hammering of said lock body;
• a locking member carried by said clip bracket and adapted to clamp said clip bracket to said box wall when said locking member is in a clamping position;
• and
• a pivotable actuating lever adapted to actuate said locking member into said clamping position.

A method for securing the cover of a thin-walled box to a box frame, comprising:

• placing a clip bracket on a wall of said box frame, said clip bracket having a latch portion disposed outside of said box frame and a carrying portion disposed inside of said box frame carrying a locking member and a pivotable actuating lever;
• pivoting said actuating lever to actuate said locking member into clamping engagement with said box wall to secure said clip bracket to said box frame;
• closing said cover;
• and
• securing said cover by attaching a lock body to said clip bracket latch portion with said lock body in engagement with said cover.