US3846677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic watthour meter cover having an indexed and protected front face
Assignee: ABB Inc USA
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Filing: 1973-07-09
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract An improved watthour meter cover is made of a molded plastic material and has a series of index lugs at the front thereof for registering and attaching the cover to a base assembly by a locking means carried on the rear of the cover.
Inventors
- 👤 J Keever
- 👤 G Finnen
- 👤 J Ramsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:28
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/015; H02B1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
A watthour meter enclosure comprising the combination of a molded plastic cup-shaped cover extending along a center longitudinal axis and a vertically mountable base assembly having a center vertical axis; said base assembly detachably carrying said cover on three equally circumferentially spaced arcuate lugs having a predetermined orientation relative to said vertical axis; said cover including a forward closed end, a side surface extending rearwardly with a circular cross section from said closed end to a rear open end, a radial mounting flange extending around the open end, said flange including three circumferentially spaced locking tabs positioned along three equidistant radial axes extending from said longitudinal axis at sAid open end in rotational engagement with said arcuate lugs, a transparent circular front face area having an outer circumference in said closed end for viewing the dial plate of a meter movement mountable on said base assembly; three forward end projections extending from said closed end forward of any other front most part of said closed end, said three forward end projections being radially positioned outside said front face area at the outer circumference of said front face area to terminate said closed end beyond said front face area, and said three forward end projections being positioned equally circumferentially spaced relationship along three equidistant radial axes extending from said longitudinal axis at said closed end with the last named axes being displaced about said longitudinal axis at equal predetermined arcuate distances from said radial axes at said open end such that each of the end projections is arcuately displaced at a predetermined arcuate distance relative to a separate one of the locking tab positions so that one of said end projections is positioned along a vertical axis longitudinally coinciding with the center vertical axis of said base assembly said cover is attached by said locking tabs in the final rotated mounting position on said arcuate lugs of said base assembly. said circular
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
A watthour meter enclosure comprising the combination of a molded plastic cup-shaped cover extending along a center longitudinal axis and a vertically mountable base assembly having a center vertical axis; said base assembly detachably carrying said cover on three equally circumferentially spaced arcuate lugs having a predetermined orientation relative to said vertical axis; said cover including a forward closed end, a side surface extending rearwardly with a circular cross section from said closed end to a rear open end, a radial mounting flange extending around the open end, said flange including three circumferentially spaced locking tabs positioned along three equidistant radial axes extending from said longitudinal axis at sAid open end in rotational engagement with said arcuate lugs, a transparent circular front face area having an outer circumference in said closed end for viewing the dial plate of a meter movement mountable on said base assembly; three forward end projections extending from said closed end forward of any other front most part of said closed end, said three forward end projections being radially positioned outside said front face area at the outer circumference of said front face area to terminate said closed end beyond said front face area, and said three forward end projections being positioned equally circumferentially spaced relationship along three equidistant radial axes extending from said longitudinal axis at said closed end with the last named axes being displaced about said longitudinal axis at equal predetermined arcuate distances from said radial axes at said open end such that each of the end projections is arcuately displaced at a predetermined arcuate distance relative to a separate one of the locking tab positions so that one of said end projections is positioned along a vertical axis longitudinally coinciding with the center vertical axis of said base assembly said cover is attached by said locking tabs in the final rotated mounting position on said arcuate lugs of said base assembly. said circular
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
279 words
A molded plastic cup-shaped cover for an enclosure of a watthour meter in which a vertically mountable base assembly having a center vertical axis detachably carries said cover on three equally circumferentially spaced arcuate lugs, said cover comprising: a forward closed end; a side surface extending from said closed end to a rear open end; a radial mounting flange extending around said open end, said flange carrying circumferentially spaced locking tabs engageable with said arcuate lugs so as to removably attach said cover to said base assembly; a front face in said closed end for viewing the dial plate of a meter movement mountable on said base assembly; a circular rib projecting forward and circumscribing said front face; a symmetrical series of index lugs extending radially outwardly from said c ircular rib and formed by raised surfaces disposed around the corner between said closed end and said side surface such that each of the index lugs is arcuately spaced at a predetermined circumferential index location relative to a separate one of said locking tabs and anyone of said index lugs is positional in coalignment with the center vertical axis of said base assembly when said cover is attached in a final mounting position on said base assembly, each of said index lugs further including a raised projection extending forward of said circular rib; and a series of knurled lugs, each extending along outwardly raised surfaces rearwardly from said circular rib around the corner between said closed end and said side surface in substantially equally circumferentially spaced relationship with the other knurled lugs and said index lugs, to permit manual grasping therebetween around the forward portion of said side surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
279 words
A molded plastic cup-shaped cover for an enclosure of a watthour meter in which a vertically mountable base assembly having a center vertical axis detachably carries said cover on three equally circumferentially spaced arcuate lugs, said cover comprising: a forward closed end; a side surface extending from said closed end to a rear open end; a radial mounting flange extending around said open end, said flange carrying circumferentially spaced locking tabs engageable with said arcuate lugs so as to removably attach said cover to said base assembly; a front face in said closed end for viewing the dial plate of a meter movement mountable on said base assembly; a circular rib projecting forward and circumscribing said front face; a symmetrical series of index lugs extending radially outwardly from said c ircular rib and formed by raised surfaces disposed around the corner between said closed end and said side surface such that each of the index lugs is arcuately spaced at a predetermined circumferential index location relative to a separate one of said locking tabs and anyone of said index lugs is positional in coalignment with the center vertical axis of said base assembly when said cover is attached in a final mounting position on said base assembly, each of said index lugs further including a raised projection extending forward of said circular rib; and a series of knurled lugs, each extending along outwardly raised surfaces rearwardly from said circular rib around the corner between said closed end and said side surface in substantially equally circumferentially spaced relationship with the other knurled lugs and said index lugs, to permit manual grasping therebetween around the forward portion of said side surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The molded plastic cup-shaped cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein said front face includes a concave surface recessed rearwardly from the circular rib.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3219220A
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US3527372A
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US3628096A
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US3683102A
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US3659457A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |