US3934326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric meter installing device
Assignee: Southwest Electric Co
•
Filing: 1974-10-02
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Granted: 1976-01-27
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Expires: 1994-10-02
Abstract
Abstract An electric meter installing device which includes an annular shield plate having detachably secured thereto, a generally cylindrical housing. A pair of handles project from opposite sides of the housing and are spaced from the shield plate. A suction cup is mounted in the opposite side of the housing from that which is adjacent, and detachably connected to, the shield plate. A backup ring is secured to the inside of the housing and extends concentrically around the suction cup. The backup ring functions as a stop or abutment contacting one side of an electrical meter housing during installation with the device of the invention. A protuberant finger extends from one edge of the suction cup through the housing to permit the suction cup to be released from engagement with the housing of the electric meter to be installed.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Owen
- 👤 Richard D. Pooler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D11/00; G01D11/30; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53909; Y10T29/53943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow transparent housing having an opening at one side thereof; handles on opposite sides of the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; meter engaging means within the housing at the side thereof opposite said opening and secured thereto for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow transparent housing having an opening at one side thereof; handles on opposite sides of the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; meter engaging means within the housing at the side thereof opposite said opening and secured thereto for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including shield means detachably secured to said housing
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said shield means is a transparent synthetic resin and an electrical
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow transparent housing having an opening at one side thereof; handle means on the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; a suction cup within the housing and secured thereto for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow transparent housing having an opening at one side thereof; handle means on the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; a suction cup within the housing and secured thereto for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 5 and further characterized as including a rigid backup ring concentrically surrounding said suction cup and adapted to bear against an electric meter pressed
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 5 and wherein said releasing means includes a releasing finger extending from said suction cup through said housing and facilitating the release of said
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 5 wherein said suction cup is mounted on the inside of said housing at a location opposite the opening at one side thereof and includes an annular gripping edge, and wherein said handle means includes a pair of handles extending from opposite sides of said housing in substantially the same plane as
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow, cylindrical, transparent housing having an open end; handle means on the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; meter engaging means within the housing and secured to the opposite end of said housing from said open end for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow, cylindrical, transparent housing having an open end; handle means on the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; meter engaging means within the housing and secured to the opposite end of said housing from said open end for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 9 wherein said
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 9 wherein said meter engaging means comprises means for engaging the cylindrical housing of an electric meter to hold the meter housing concentrically within said
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow transparent housing having an opening at one side thereof; handle means on the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; meter engaging means within the housing and secured thereto for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed; and shield means detachably secured to said housing around the opening therein; female lugs carried on said shield means; and male tabs carried on said housing and engaging said female lugs when said housing is rotated relative to said shield means to effect said detachable
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a hollow transparent housing having an opening at one side thereof; handle means on the housing facilitating the lifting, handling and guidance of the housing; meter engaging means within the housing and secured thereto for engaging an electric meter to be installed while a portion of the meter projects through said opening; releasing means accessible from outside the housing and cooperating with said meter engaging means to facilitate disengagement of an electric meter from the meter engaging means after the electric meter has been installed; and shield means detachably secured to said housing around the opening therein; female lugs carried on said shield means; and male tabs carried on said housing and engaging said female lugs when said housing is rotated relative to said shield means to effect said detachable
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 12 and further characterized as including: ribs carried on said shield means; and protuberances carried on said housing and frictionally engaging said ribs
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 13 wherein said shield means is an annular, flat transparent plate, and is an electrical
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 14 wherein said hollow transparent housing is an open ended cylinder having said annular
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 15 wherein said meter engaging means is secured to the opposite end of said housing from
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 16 wherein said
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 17 and further characterized as including a rigid backup ring concentrically surrounding said suction cup and adapted to bear against an electric meter pressed
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 17 and wherein said releasing means includes a releasing finger extending from said suction cup through said housing and facilitating the release of said
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 19 and further characterized as including a rigid backup ring concentrically surrounding said suction cup and adapted to bear against an electric meter pressed
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 20 wherein said suction cup includes an annular gripping edge, and said handle means includes a pair of handles extending from opposite sides of said housing
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electric meter installing device as defined in claim 21 wherein said releasing finger and suction cup are an integral unit of elastomeric
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a shield plate having an opening therethrough; a hollow, open sided housing secured to said shield plate with the open side thereof aligned with the opening through said shield plate; handle means on said housing; a suction cup secured to the opposite side of said housing from the open side thereof; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing for disengaging an
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: a shield plate having an opening therethrough; a hollow, open sided housing secured to said shield plate with the open side thereof aligned with the opening through said shield plate; handle means on said housing; a suction cup secured to the opposite side of said housing from the open side thereof; and releasing means accessible from outside the housing for disengaging an
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: an annular, transparent shield plate having a central opening therethrough; a hollow, open sided housing detachably secured to said shield plate with the open side thereof aligned with the opening through said shield plate; handle means on said housing; meter engaging means in said housing for engaging an electric meter to be installed with said installing device; and releasing means carried by said housing and facilitating release of an electric meter from engagement with said meter engaging means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electric meter installing device comprising: an annular, transparent shield plate having a central opening therethrough; a hollow, open sided housing detachably secured to said shield plate with the open side thereof aligned with the opening through said shield plate; handle means on said housing; meter engaging means in said housing for engaging an electric meter to be installed with said installing device; and releasing means carried by said housing and facilitating release of an electric meter from engagement with said meter engaging means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-26 | 1979-07-28 | 1980-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-26 | 1983-07-28 | 1984-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-26 | 1987-07-28 | 1988-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |