Meter box assembly

• US 20080217339A1
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Arn
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Arn
• Inventors: Arn, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US12/072,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217339A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/484
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/072 Arrangement of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/095 Component holders or housings, e.g. boundary boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/14 Casings, e.g. of special material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/18 Supports or connecting means for meters

Abstract

A meter box assembly having a vault with a top wall, the top wall having a shelf and an opening to receive a removable lid, at least one electronic meter reading transmitter mounted in the shelf of the top wall, such that the lid may be removed from the meter box assembly to provide access to the interior of the vault without removing the at least one electronic meter reading transmitter.

Claims

1. In a meter box comprising a vault surrounding a utility meter, a lid member providing access to the interior of said vault, and transmitter means for transmitting information regarding consumption of a utility, the improvement comprising:

a top wall member connected to said vault, said top wall member comprising a shelf member and an opening to receive said lid member, wherein said transmitter means is mounted to said shelf member such that said lid member is removable from said top wall member without moving said transmitter means.

2. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising a partition member positioned within said vault, said partition member dividing said vault into a first section and a second section, such that said first section is beneath said lid member and said second section is beneath said shelf member.

3. The improvement of claim 1, further comprising a removable panel positioned within said shelf member, and wherein said transmitter means are positioned within said removable panel.

4. The improvement of claim 2, further comprising a removable panel positioned within said shelf member, and wherein said transmitter means are positioned within said removable panel.

5. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

6. The improvement of claim 2, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

7. The improvement of claim 3, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

8. The improvement of claim 4, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

9. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said top wall member and said vault comprise an integral member.

10. A meter box comprising

a vault surrounding a utility meter,

a top wall member connected to said vault, said top wall member comprising a shelf member and an opening to receive a lid member,

a lid member positioned in said opening of said top wall member providing access to the interior of said vault,

transmitter means for transmitting information regarding consumption of a utility, wherein said transmitter means is mounted to said shelf member such that said lid member is removable from said top wall member without moving said transmitter means.

11. The meter box of claim 10, further comprising a partition member positioned within said vault, said partition member dividing said vault into a first section and a second section, such that said first section is beneath said lid member and said second section is beneath said shelf member.

12. The meter box of claim 10, further comprising a removable panel positioned within said shelf member, and wherein said transmitter means are positioned within said removable panel.

13. The meter box of claim 11, further comprising a removable panel positioned within said shelf member, and wherein said transmitter means are positioned within said removable panel.

14. The meter box of claim 10, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

15. The meter box of claim 11, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

16. The meter box of claim 12, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

17. The meter box of claim 13, wherein said top wall member is connected to said vault by a collar member.

18. The meter box of claim 11, wherein said partition member is connected to said vault.

19. The meter box of claim 11, wherein said partition member is connected to said shelf member.

20. The meter box of claim 10, wherein said top wall member and said vault comprise an integral member.