Nonconductive holster for electrical meter

• US 5,829,651 A
• Filed: 03/05/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fluke Electronics Corporation (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Core Industries Incorporated (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Luchka, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US08/811,921
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 224/930, 224/267, 224/219, 224/676, 206/305, 73/431, 324/127, 324/117 R, 324/156, 324/157, 324/129, 324/149, 200/304, 200/305, 174/46, 174/135, 174/5 R, 174/5 SB, 16/114 R, D10/46, D 3/218
• US Class Current: 224/267
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A nonconductive holster for use with an electrical meter is disclosed. The nonconductive holster comprises a protective guard for preventing a person who is using the electrical meter from coming into contact with any exposed power sources being measured with the electrical meter. The nonconductive holster is fabricated of a nonconductive resilient material which provides the electrical meter with a protective coating in the event that the electrical meter is accidentally dropped or inadvertently struck.

Claims

1. A holster for allowing a user to hold an electrical meter in an upright handheld operating position, the holster consisting essentially of an elongated sheath of nonconductive material configured to generally surround the electrical meter in the operating position, the sheath being substantially closed at the bottom end to retain the electrical meter in the operating position, the sheath being open at the top end to allow an upper part of the electrical meter to extend upwardly from the sheath in the operating position, the sheath having a projection at the top end configured to prevent the user'"'"'s hand from sliding beyond the upper end in the operating position, the sheath also having an open section away from the open end, the open section being positioned and dimensioned to enable the user to access a lower part of the electrical meter in the operating position.

2. A holster according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is substantially rectangular in cross section.

3. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheath is fabricated of rubber.

4. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheath is fabricated of a resilient material.

5. The holster as defined in claim 4, wherein the sheath is fabricated of rubber.

6. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheath is a homogeneous construction.

7. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheath has a second open section adjacent to the upper end configured for providing access to a trigger and a hold switch of the electrical meter in the operating position.

8. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom end of the sheath has a small opening for allowing a carrying strap of the electrical meter to be threaded therethrough.

9. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the sheath has a second open section for allowing a slotted screw to secure the electrical meter within the sheath.

10. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the sheath has markings formed therein which relate to the workings and identification of the electrical meter.

11. The holster as defined in claim 1, wherein the open end of the sheath is shaped to allow the electrical meter to be inserted into and removed from the sheath.

12. A holster for allowing a user to hold an electrical meter in an upright handheld operating position, the holster consisting essentially of an elongated sheath of nonconductive material shaped in substantially rectangular cross section to generally surround the electrical meter in the operating position, the sheath being closed at the bottom end except for a small opening through which a carrying strap of the electrical meter is threaded when the electrical meter is retained in the operating position, the sheath being open at the top end to allow an upper part of the electrical meter to extend upwardly from the sheath in the operating position, the sheath having a projection at the top end configured to prevent the user'"'"'s hand from sliding beyond the upper end in the operating position, the sheath having a first open section adjacent to the bottom end to enable the user to access a lower part of the electrical meter in the operating position, the sheath having a second open section adjacent to the upper end to provide access to a trigger and a hold switch of the electrical meter in the operating position.