COVER ACCESS NOTIFICATION DEVICE

• US 20140077950A1
• Filed: 09/17/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E J Brooks Company
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey John Hanft
• Inventors: Rudaitis, Erick, Hanft, Jeffrey John
• Application Number:
  US13/621,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077950A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A cover access notification device is employed with a utility meter box having a cover. The device is operable to detect when an impermissible open condition has occurred, for example, if an intruder breaks into a meter box. If a tampered condition is sensed, the device transmits a signal through a smart grid network which can be received by a revenue protection system that in turn monitors tampering of a utility meter.

Claims

1. Security notification device for use in detecting when a cover of a meter box has been tampered with, the security notification device comprising:

A housing having a first portion and a second portion;

A switch positionable relative to one of said portions;

A circuit board located within the housing; and

A power supply positioned within the housing.

2. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a meter box, the housing of the security notification device is operable to be secured to said meter box.

3. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a meter box with a meter node, the security notification device is operable to transmit a signal to the meter node to indicate a condition.

4. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a computer chip mounted to the circuit board, the computer chip including a microcontroller, memory, crystal, or an antenna.

5. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wi-fi interface.

6. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a radio transceiver.

7. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a real-time control processor.

8. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an integrated energy management system.

9. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes a connector that is operable to receive said switch.

10. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes a notch that is operable to receive a tab that extends from one of the housings, said tab and notch create a lock.

11. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes an antenna.

12. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch includes a member that can be depressed upon impact.

13. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch includes an alignment member for locating the switch relative to the circuit board in a predetermined position.

14. The security notification device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a deterrent member extending from one of said portions, the deterrent member is operable to limit access to the switch.

15. A meter box assembly for an electrical utility application, comprising:

a meter box;

a test switch;

a meter; and

a cover access notification device secured to said meter box, said notification device is operable to detect a tampered condition.

16. The meter box assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the access notification device includes a transmitter for sending a signal to the meter.

17. The meter box assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the access notification device includes a housing, a sensor, a power source, and a circuit board.

18. The meter box assembly as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a network with a server that has a wireless receiver input, the wireless receiver input is operable to receive signals from the meter box.

19. A method for detecting a tampered condition of an electrical meter box, comprising:

providing a meter box having a cover, a utility meter located relative to the meter box, and a cover access notification device securable to said meter box;

sensing conditions of the cover of the meter box;

sending a signal to the meter once a cover open condition has been detected by the cover access notification device;

gathering data while the cover is in an open state; and

sending a signal to the meter once the cover is in a closed state.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the step of the utility meter sending a signal to a server, the signal being sent to the server is indicative of a condition sensing when the cover of the meter box has been opened.