Automatic secured document meter reading apparatus

• US 5,016,025 A
• Filed: 05/25/1990
• Issued: 05/14/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John R. Wyss
• Original Assignee: John R. Wyss
• Inventors: Wyss, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathews, A. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOH, JAE
• Application Number:
  US07/533,104
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 346/107 MP, 346/14 MR, 354/76, 354/75, 354/86
• US Class Current: 346/14.0MR
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/42 Recording indications of measuring instruments by photographic means, e.g. of counters
• 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 mounting adaptor is provided for use with a standard electric utility meter base, or the like, upon which a typical instant-picture camera is mounted and focused upon a meter to be read. The instant-picture camera is set up with triggerable activation means to automatically produce a photograph of said meter to be read. A timer is in communication with the camera activation means, and at given intervals will trigger the instant-picture camera to photograph the meter to be read, thereby producing a photographic document of the reading, and then automatically deposit the finished document into a security compartment of the mounting adaptor apparatus, after which the document may then be collected at a convenient time by one authorized to access said compartment.

Claims

1. Meter reading and documenting apparatus comprising a rigid framework which is the mounting adaptor which connects to the meter base, a meter base, a meter to be read, an instant-picture camera with built-in picture ejection means, activation means of the camera, a timer in communication with activation means of the camera, a security compartment, and instant-picture photographic film which is to be exposed at whatever interval readings are desired, such that said timer triggers, at said given interval, said activation means and upon said triggering unexposed instant-picture film is exposed to the face of the meter such that a successful photographic representation of the meter reading is made within the camera upon the film and thenceforth production of a photographic document is automatically completed by the built-in actions of the instant-picture camera, which also automatically ejects the recently exposed document into the security compartment where the photographic documentation of the reading is then safely stored until its eventual disposition by one authorized to access the secured compartment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a camera flash means is included which coincides with said activation means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a clock showing date and time appears in the sight of the camera, and thereby in the photograph of the reading.

4. The apparatus of claim wherein the apparatus is substantially contained within an enclosure as protection to the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein access is permitted to said security compartment without removal of the overall enclosure by exposing said access to the outside.