Utility meter and display system
First Claim
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1. A utility meter and display system comprising:
- an encasement having an interior, wherein said encasement is constructed for mounting to an interior wall of a building structure;
a display on said encasement for displaying utility billing information from a microprocessor;
said microprocessor being electrically connected to various utilities such as a water meter, an electric meter, a gas meter, and a telephone for reading a consumption data for each utility;
wherein said consumption data represents each utility s currently recorded consumption;
said microprocessor being electrically connected to said display for disclosing to a user a selected utility'"'"'s billing information for said building structure by calculating said consumption data with a corresponding billing rate, said billing information including a bill amount;
a printer secured in said encasement and electrically connected to said microprocessor for printing out said selected utility'"'"'s billing information onto a printout for said user;
a keypad mounted on said encasement and electrically connected to said microprocessor for allowing said user to manually control said display and said printer and for allowing said user to manually enter said billing rate of each utility as a first manner for establishing a billing rate for calculating said bill amount;
a modem mounted in said encasement, said modem being electrically connected to said microprocessor and electrically connected to an incoming phone cable, wherein said modem is adapted to receive data from a remote terminal of a utility company for supplying said billing rate to said microprocessor as a second manner for establishing a billing rate for calculating said hill amount;
wherein said encasement includes a plurality of utility indicia secured to a front surface of said encasement adjacent to said keypad for identifying said utilities displayable on said display;
wherein said keypad includes a plurality of display switches for allowing manual control of said display and being associated with said plurality of utility indicia, and a plurality of print switches for allowing manual control of said printer and being associated with said plurality of utility indicia;
a connecting phone cable electrically connected between said microprocessor and said incoming phone cable;
a plurality of data cables electrically connected between said microprocessor and said water meter, said electric meter and said gas meter for transferring said consumption data to said microprocessor;
a conduit surrounding said plurality of data cables for protecting said data cables from damage; and
wherein said modem is capable of transferring said billing information to said user in a remote location from said encasement to thereby allow said user to maintain management of said utilities.
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Abstract
A new Utility Meter and Display System for reading and displaying utility usage information within a building structure. The inventive device includes an encasement, a microprocessor within the encasement, a display, a keypad, and a printer within the encasement for printing selected information for the user. The microprocessor is electronically connected to a water meter, an electric meter, a gas meter and a telephone for reading the usage of the various utilities. The printer is electronically connected to the microprocessor for printing out selected screens on the display. The inventive device preferably includes a modem within for receiving billing information from the utility companies for determining the current rates.
51 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A utility meter and display system comprising:
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an encasement having an interior, wherein said encasement is constructed for mounting to an interior wall of a building structure; a display on said encasement for displaying utility billing information from a microprocessor; said microprocessor being electrically connected to various utilities such as a water meter, an electric meter, a gas meter, and a telephone for reading a consumption data for each utility; wherein said consumption data represents each utility s currently recorded consumption; said microprocessor being electrically connected to said display for disclosing to a user a selected utility'"'"'s billing information for said building structure by calculating said consumption data with a corresponding billing rate, said billing information including a bill amount; a printer secured in said encasement and electrically connected to said microprocessor for printing out said selected utility'"'"'s billing information onto a printout for said user; a keypad mounted on said encasement and electrically connected to said microprocessor for allowing said user to manually control said display and said printer and for allowing said user to manually enter said billing rate of each utility as a first manner for establishing a billing rate for calculating said bill amount; a modem mounted in said encasement, said modem being electrically connected to said microprocessor and electrically connected to an incoming phone cable, wherein said modem is adapted to receive data from a remote terminal of a utility company for supplying said billing rate to said microprocessor as a second manner for establishing a billing rate for calculating said hill amount; wherein said encasement includes a plurality of utility indicia secured to a front surface of said encasement adjacent to said keypad for identifying said utilities displayable on said display; wherein said keypad includes a plurality of display switches for allowing manual control of said display and being associated with said plurality of utility indicia, and a plurality of print switches for allowing manual control of said printer and being associated with said plurality of utility indicia; a connecting phone cable electrically connected between said microprocessor and said incoming phone cable; a plurality of data cables electrically connected between said microprocessor and said water meter, said electric meter and said gas meter for transferring said consumption data to said microprocessor; a conduit surrounding said plurality of data cables for protecting said data cables from damage; and wherein said modem is capable of transferring said billing information to said user in a remote location from said encasement to thereby allow said user to maintain management of said utilities.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeSam Lerner
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Original AssigneeSam Lerner
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InventorsLerner, Sam
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Primary Examiner(s)Cosimano, Edward R.
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Application NumberUS08/783,352Time in Patent Office1,181 DaysField of Search324/115, 324/140 R, 324/142, 340/870.02, 702/61, 702/62, 705/400, 705/412US Class Current705/412CPC Class CodesG06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicingG06Q 50/06 Energy or water supplyG07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with m...
