AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For an Innovation Patent Invention title: "Meter Box" Applicant: Neaterbox Pty Ltd Associated provisional applications: Application number 2014902524 filed 1 July 2014 The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "Meter Box" Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to a meter box. Background to the Invention [002] Meter boxes for housing electrical or gas components in buildings generally comprise a metal box having a pivoting door. The box is installed to the outer wall of the building. As such equipment is installed during the building process, the meter box must be installed well before completion of the building. During the remainder of the building process however, the meter box can often be damaged by trades working in the vicinity. When the building is completed, the meter box may therefore already have dents and scratches. As the meter box is often visible from the front of the house, this can detract from the appearance of the house. [003] The present invention relates to a meter box having a construction provided to allow ease of installation and protection of the outer surface of the meter box during construction of the building. Summary of the Invention [004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a meter box comprising: a first housing portion securable to a wall of a building having an internal chamber, the first housing portion comprises a first outer wall having a first side securable to the building and a narrowed portion around a second side thereof; a second housing portion comprising a second outer wall of a complementary shape to the narrowed portion such that the narrowed portion of the first outer wall can be received into a first side of the second outer wall; and 3 one or more hinged doors provided on the second housing portion to seal across the internal chamber of the meter box; wherein the first and second outer walls each comprise first and second side walls and first and second end walls and the doors are pivotally secured to one of the side or end walls of second outer wall. [005] Preferably the narrowed portion is defined by a shoulder portion extending around the first and second side walls and the first and second end walls of the first outer wall between the first and second sides thereof. [006] Preferably the narrowed portion of the first outer wall located adjacent the second side thereof includes rounded corners and the portion of the first outer wall between the shoulder portion and the first side includes angular corners. [007] In one embodiment, there are provided two doors pivotally secured to the first side wall of the second outer wall such that a first of the doors covers across the end of the second outer wall adjacent the first end wall and a second of the doors covers across the end of the second outer wall adjacent the second end wall. [008] Preferably the doors include apertures for providing ventilation to the internal chamber. Brief Description of the Drawings [009] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: [010] Figure 1 a is an upper perspective view of a meter box in accordance with the present invention with the door closed; [011] Figure 1 b is an upper perspective view of the meter box of Figure 1a with the door open; [012] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the meter box; [013] Figure 3a is a side view of the meter box of Figure 1; [014] Figure 3b is a front view of the meter box of Figure 1; 4 [015] Figure 4a is a top view of the meter box of Figure 1; and [016] Figure 4b is a bottom view of the meter box of Figure 1. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [017] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a meter box 10 into which electrical or gas components of a building may be installed. [018] The meter box 10 comprises a first housing portion 12 and a second housing portion 14. The first housing portion 12 comprises a first outer wall 16 defining an internal chamber 17 in which the components such as electrical fittings are mounted. The first outer wall 16 is generally rectangular in shape such that the first outer wall 16 comprises first and second parallel side walls 18 and 19 and first and second end walls 20 and 21. [019] The first outer wall 16 of the first housing portion 16 is provided to be mounted to a wall of a building. The first outer wall 16 includes a first side 22 to be secured adjacent the wall, or within the wall, and a second side 23 to be located remote from the wall. The second side 23 of the first outer wall 16 includes a narrowed portion 24 defined by a shoulder portion 26 located between the first and second sides thereof. The shoulder portion 26 extends around the first and second side walls 18 and 19 and the first and second end walls 20 and 21 between the first and second sides 22 and 23 thereof. [020] The narrowed portion 24 of the first outer wall 16 located adjacent the second side 23 thereof in the embodiment shown includes rounded corners, while the portion of the first outer wall 16 between the shoulder portion 26 and the first side 22 includes angular corners. [021] The second housing portion 14 comprises a second outer wall 28. The second outer wall 28 is also generally rectangular in shape, defined by first and second parallel side walls 30 and 31 and first and second parallel end walls 32 and 33.
5 [022] The second outer wall 28 of the second housing portion 14 defines an opening into which the narrowed portion 24 of the first housing portion 12 can be received. The second outer wall 28 is of a complementary shape to the narrowed portion 24 of the first outer wall 16 and therefore includes also rounded corners. In use, the narrowed portion 24 of the first outer wall 16 is received into a first side 34 of the second outer wall 28 until the second outer wall 28 abuts the shoulder portion 26. The second housing portion 14 is securable to the first housing portion 12 with suitable securing means, such as screws or rivets. [023] The second outer wall 28 includes one or more doors 36 secured to a second side 38 thereof. In the embodiment shown, there are provided two doors 38 pivotally secured to the first side wall 30 of the second outer wall 28. The doors 36 are provided such that a first of the doors 36 covers across the end of the second outer wall 28 adjacent the first end wall 32 and a second of the doors 36 covers across the end of the second outer wall 28 adjacent the second end wall 33. The doors 36 include apertures 40 therein for providing ventilation to the internal chamber. [024] The first housing portion 12 is provided also with a shelf 42 in the embodiment shown. The shelf 42 extends across between the first and second side walls 18 and 19 generally midway between the first and second end walls 20 and 21. [025] In use, the first housing portion 12 may be secured within the wall of the building during construction. Electrical or gas components may be installed within the first housing portion 12 as required and the second housing portion 14 may be kept in a location where it cannot be damaged. When the building process has been completed to a particular stage, the second housing portion 14 may be connected to the first housing portion 12 by receiving the narrowed portion 24 of the first outer wall 16 within the second outer wall 28. [026] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing 6 embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.