Lock ring for a watthour meter application

• US 7,650,767 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E J Brooks Company
• Original Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A
• Application Number:
  US11/739,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 701/64, 704/61, 70/34, 703/86, 292/256.6, 292/256.61, 292/256.63, 292/256.65, 292/256.67, 292/256.69, 292/DIG.60, 292/DIG.63
• US Class Current: 70/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/60 Adjustment provisions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/205 Ring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/443 Single stem or shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7751 With ball or roller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8838 Adjustment provisions

Abstract

A lock ring for use in mounting a watthour meter, meter socket enclosure cover or a watthour meter socket adapter to each other. The lock ring includes a ring member and a housing carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. The housing may be separate housings carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. A lock is insertable into mated first and second housing members in one of a plurality of variably selectable positions that vary the circumference of the ring member to accommodate varied circumferences of watthour meters, meter socket adapters and meter socket enclosure cover mounting rings. Finger grips are formed on the housing members to facilitate closure of the housing. A plurality of axially spaced grooves are formed in one of the members for receiving lock members carried by the lock.

Claims

1. A watthour meter mounting apparatus comprising:

a barrel lock including a head, a shank, and at least one moveable lock member carried on the shank;

a lock ring having first and second circumferentially movable ends for varying the circumference of the lock ring to accommodate varying circumference watthour meter mounting flanges;

a lock housing including first and second members on the first and second ends, respectively, of the lock ring, the members being separate from the lock ring and attached on an outer circular surface portion of the lock ring; and

a plurality of axially spaced, distinct lock engagement surfaces formed in the second member selectively lockingly engageable with the at least one lock member on the barrel lock when the barrel lock is inserted through the first member into the second member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the lock engagement surfaces are recessed grooves.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a finger grip surface formed on at least one of the first and second members.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a finger grip surface formed on each of the first and second members, the finger grip surfaces being axially spaced from each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the finger grip surface includes a wall having a finger grip surface profile; and

a rib extending between the wall and the first member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an exterior gripping surface formed on at least one of the first and second members to facilitate separation of the first and second members.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the first and second members encompass the barrel lock when the barrel lock is in the locked position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the barrel lock is a key operated lock.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein one of the first and second members is slidable over the other of the first and second members when the first and second members are in a locked position by the barrel lock to substantially encompass opposed facing ends of the first and second members.