Meter box with removable hinged door

Claim 2

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a pair of opposite spaced side walls, said pivotal mounting means being in part carried by each of said side walls and in part by said doors, and said pivotal mounting means part carried by each of said side walls being welded to an interior surface of an associated side wall thereby being concealed from exterior view by said side walls.

Claim 3

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said slidable assembling and disassembling means includes pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body and hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body.

Claim 4

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot mounting means includes a generally horizontal axis, and said pivotal mounting means horizontal axis is positioned in a plane above a plane of said door when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 5

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotal mounting means includes a generally horizontal axis, and said pivotal mounting means horizontal axis is positioned in a plane above a contact plane between said supporting means and said door when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 6

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 7

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet body includes a rear wall opposite said opening, and said supporting means is disposed between said rear wall and said pivot means.

Claim 8

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said slidable assembling and disassembling means includes pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, and said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means.

Claim 9

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet body includes a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means includes pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, and said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 10

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet body includes a rear wall opposite said opening and a bottom wall generally transverse to said rear wall, said slidable assembling and disassembling means includes pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, and said throat means opens in a direction toward said bottom wall when said door is in the first generally vertically disposed position thereof.

Claim 11

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said slidable assembling and disassembling means includes pivot means carried by cabinet body, and hook means carried by said door.

Claim 12

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said cabinet body includes a rear wall opposite said opening and a pair of said walls in transverse relationship to said rear wall; and said slidable assembling and disassembling means includes pivot means carried by one of said door and a pair of side walls and hook means carried by the other of said door and pair of side walls.

Claim 13

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis.

Claim 14

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat, each open throat includes an entrance slot and a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, and said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door.

Claim 15

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat including a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, and said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door.

Claim 16

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat including a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door, and said pivots common axis is positioned in a plane above a plane of said door when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 17

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat including a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door, and said pivots common axis is positioned in a plane above a contact plane between said supporting means and said door when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 18

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat including a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door, and means are provided for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 19

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat including a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door, said cabinet body includes a rear wall opposite said opening, and said supporting means is disposed between said rear wall and said pivot means.

Claim 20

The cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means are a pair of spaced pivots having a generally common axis, said hook means are a pair of spaced hooks, each hook has an open throat including a journalling surface, said journalling surfaces have a generally common axis, said axes are generally coincident in the first and second positions of said door, means are provided for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, and said disassembly preventing means includes stop means carried by said door for abuttingly engaging said support means when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 21

A meter box comprising a cabinet body, said cabinet body including spaced top and bottom walls, spaced side walls and a rear wall collectively defining an interior chamber having an open opposite said rear wall; a door for accessing said interior chamber, means for pivotally mounting said door for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, said door having upper and lower end portions, said pivotal mounting means being located at said lower end portion whereby a major portion of said work surface projects outwardly of said interior chamber in said second position, said pivotal mounting means being accessible only from the interior chamber, said pivotal mounting means includes a pair of pivot pins having a generally common axis and a pair of hooks each having an open throat, said pivot pins being carried one each by said wide walls in projecting opposing relationship to each other, said pair of hooks being carried by said door with an open throat of each hook pivotally embracing an associated pivot pin, said open throats open toward said bottom wall and said rear wall when said door is in the respective first vertical and second horizontal positions thereof, and means for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 22

A meter box comprising a cabinet body, said cabinet body including spaced top and bottom walls, spaced side walls and a rear wall collectively defining an interior chamber having an open opposite said rear wall; a door for accessing said interior chamber, means for pivotally mounting said door for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, said door having upper and lower end portions, said pivotal mounting means being located at said lower end portion whereby a major portion of said work surface projects outwardly of said interior chamber in said second position, said pivotal mounting means being accessible only from the interior chamber, said pivotal mounting means includes a pair of pivot pins having a generally common axis and a pair of hooks each having an open throat, said pivot pins being carried one each by said wide walls in projecting opposing relationship to each other, said pair of hooks being carried by said door with an open throat of each hook pivotally embracing an associated pivot pin, said open throats open toward said bottom wall and said rear wall when said door is in the respective first vertical and second horizontal positions thereof, and means for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 23

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, means for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, and said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 24

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, means for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, and said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 25

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, and means for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 26

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, and means for preventing disassembly of said door and cabinet body by a force applied to said door in a direction outwardly of said interior chamber and opening when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof.

Claim 27

The cabinet as defined in claim 22 wherein said throat means opens in a direction toward said bottom wall when said door is the first generally vertically disposed position thereof.

Claim 28

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, said cabinet body includes a pair of opposite spaced side walls, said pivot means being carried by one of said door and side walls, said hook means being carried by the other of said door and side walls, and one of said pivot means and hook means being welded to an interior surface of an associated side wall thereby being concealed from exterior view by said side walls.

Claim 29

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, said cabinet body includes a pair of opposite spaced side walls, said pivot means being carried by one of said door and side walls, said hook means being carried by the other of said door and side walls, and one of said pivot means and hook means being welded to an interior surface of an associated side wall thereby being concealed from exterior view by said side walls.

Claim 30

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, said cabinet body includes a pair of opposite spaced side walls, said pivot means being carried by said side walls, said hook means being carried by said door, and said pivot means being welded to an interior surface of an associated side wall thereby being concealed from exterior view by said side walls.

Claim 31

A cabinet housing components which must be accessed for replacement or repair comprising a cabinet body defining an interior chamber adapted to house replaceable or repairable components, a door accessing said interior chamber through an associated opening, means for pivotally mounting said door relative to said cabinet body for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis between a first generally vertically disposed position and a second generally horizontally disposed position, means for releasably locking said door in said first position, means for slidably assembling and dissembling said pivotal means whereby said door and cabinet body can be relatively respectively assembled and disassembled, means for supporting said door in said second position whereby said door functions as a stable horizontal work surface during the replacement or repair of components adapted to be housed within said interior chamber, said cabinet body including a rear wall opposite said opening, said slidable assembling and disassembling means including pivot means carried by one of said door and cabinet body, hook means carried by the other of said door and cabinet body, said hook means includes open throat means for slidably embracing said pivot means, said throat means opens in a direction toward said rear wall when said door is in the second generally horizontally disposed position thereof, said cabinet body includes a pair of opposite spaced side walls, said pivot means being carried by said side walls, said hook means being carried by said door, and said pivot means being welded to an interior surface of an associated side wall thereby being concealed from exterior view by said side walls.