LID PLUG AND BRACKET

• US 20110006182A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Meter Box Company Inc The
• Original Assignee: Ford Meter Box Company Inc The
• Inventors: Anderson, Mark E., Hockema, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/224.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/00 Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas arrangements for varying orientation of directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2233 used in consumption-meter devices, e.g. electricity, gas or water meters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/00 Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly configured to suspend a transmitter plug inside a meter pit is provide. The meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly includes a plug and a bracket. The plug includes a head and a stem that extends from the head. The stem is also configured to extend through a hole in a meter pit having a top surface. The head is sized to rest on the top surface of the meter pit lid and is configured to hold the stem in the hole. The bracket is configured to hold the transmitter plug inside the meter pit. The stem is selectively engageable with the base so that when the stem is connected with the base, both the plug and bracket are configured to hold and suspend the transmitter plug inside the meter box.

Claims

1. A meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly configured to suspend a transmitter plug inside a meter pit, the meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly comprising:

a plug having a head and stem extending from the head;

wherein the stem is configured to extend through a hole in a meter pit having a top surface;

wherein the head is sized to rest on the top surface of the meter pit lid and configured to hold the stem in the hole; and

a bracket configured to hold the transmitter plug inside the meter pit;

wherein the bracket includes a base that is selectively fastenable to the stem;

wherein the bracket includes first and second arms that both extend and depend from opposing sides of the base;

wherein the bracket further includes a plate coupled to the first and second arms forming a space between the plate, arms and base;

wherein the space is sized to receive a first portion of the transmitter plug;

wherein the plate includes a surface and a slot;

wherein the slot is sized to selectively receive a second portion of the transmitter plug such that the surface of the plate surrounding the slot is sized to support the first portion of the transmitter plug

wherein the stem is selectively engageable with the base so that when the stem is connected with the base, both the plug and bracket are configured to hold and suspend the transmitter plug inside the meter box.

2. The meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug head and bracket base are configured to sandwich the meter pit lid in between when the plug stem selectively fastens to the base.

3. The meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the notch has an open end configured to receive the second portion of the transmitter plug by sliding the transmitter plug into the notch to rest on the plate surrounding the notch.

4. The meter pit lid plug and bracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug stem is threaded and the bracket base has a threaded hole disposed there through;

and wherein the threaded stem is selectively engageable with the threaded hole of the base to fasten the plug and bracket together.