US1055797A

US1055797A - Box-cover fastener.

Info

Publication number: US1055797A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rufus M Redding
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1912-10-03
Filing date: 1912-10-03
Publication date: 1913-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1930-03-11

Description

R. M. BEDDING. BOX COVER FASTBNER. APPLICATION FILED 001a, 1912.

1,055,797, Patented Mar. 11,1913.

aim

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. RUFUS M. BEDDING, or MACON, GEORGIA.

BOX-COVER FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma r.1 1,'1913.

Application aie'a October 3,1012. Serial no. 728,759.

This invention relates to. improvements in 1 locking attachments for meter housings.

The object in view is the provision of simple and efficientmeans for positivelylocking the cover plate of a meter housing in position, which means shall be slusce'pti ble of release by means capable, in itscontinu'o'us movement subsequent to the release, of moving the cover plate from the closed position. I

\Vith this and other objects. in View, as will in part "hereinafter be stated, and in part become apparent, the invention comprises certain -novcl constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as herein specified and claimed.

. In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal "erticalcentral section through a meter housing provided with an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9. is a transverse horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by line 2 2 of Fig. l, and looking upwardly. Fig. 3 is a vertical sect on taken on the plane indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction inklic-at-cd by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2, of a fragment of a modified embodiment of the present invention. 'Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical central sectiont-hrough a'modified embodiment. Fig.

'6 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the planes indicated by line 6 6 of Fig. 5, parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a meter housing having an open end normally. closed by a cover plate 2, the cover plate having an inwardly extending flange 3. substantially fitting about the Walls of the housing 1. known type of hinged connection for the cover plate 2 with the housing may be provided, as for instance the interlocking flanges shown. The wall of housing 1 is formed with an inwardly extending keeper (3. in operation adapted to be engaged by the hooks of

latches

7, 7. each of said latches being pivot-ally sustained by a shaft 8, and being normally disposed pendent therefrom. A laterally extending amt 9 is fixed to the Rename,

Any preferred or well upper end portion of each latch i the arms 9 being spaced aparta distance sufficient to accommodate therebetween the shank of a key. 1'0, which key is provided with bits 11, 11 projecting from opposite sides of the shank in position for being disposed beneath the arms 9 for enabling elevationof said arms with the resultant'movement of the hooks of latches 7 out of locking engage-- ment with the keeper '6, that is, 'to the position indicated in dotted'lines in Fig. 1.

The shaft-8 is journaled or otherwise mounted in

brackets

12, 12 fixed" to and pendent from the cover plate 2, and the cover plate informed with a keyhole l3 disposed in the longitudinal vertical planes of the housing between the adjacent-edges of the arms 9, so that the key 10 may beginse'rted through the hole 13, and dropped down past the atni's '9,'the-bits' llbeingdisposedsubstanti'ally parallel 'to'the arms 9, and thus free to pass between said arms. After the key 1'0 has been dropped to this position, the operator turns the key to the position indicated in .-.full lines in Fig. l, whereupon the bits 11 extend transversely of and are thus-overhung by the arms 9. The operator then merely elevates the key until the bits strike the arms 9, and, swinging the same upwardly, release the hoo'ks of latches 7 from keeper 6, and the operator, by continuing this upward movement elevates the-cover plate 2 andswings it back upon its hinged or locking flange connection with the housing, and the cover plate may then be bodilyrlifted oil' of the housing 1. Y

It is to be noted that the keeper 6 outstands from'the wall a distance sullicic nt to extend beyond the vertical plane of the axis of the pivot of latches 7, whereby the outstanding arm t) of each latch tends to con stantl y maintain the respective latch in engagement with the keeper througlhgravitm tion. This. tendency is sufiicient to cause the latches to swing beyond the line of the pivot, if permitted to do so, and in order to maintain the latches, when the cover Z is elevated, in position for readily engaging the keeper, each latchv is formed with a shoulder or extension 14 which projects upwardly and forwardly from the pivot to a position for engaging the under face of cover plate 2 when the respective latch 7 is in proper position for being caused to engage the keeper by lowering of the cover 2 to its closed position. The lower end of each latch 7 is preferably beveled oil' and 7 corresponds with the upper bevel of keeper (3 so as to direct each of the latches 7 in \vardly as the cover 2 is descending to its closed position, each latch swinging-again outwardly as soon. as the hook portion of the latch arrives below the plane of the keeper 6. -An important advantage of" the present invention resides in the fact that the operator has to perform but one continuous movement to accomplish the unlocking and, the removal of the cover plate. Anotheradvantagein the employment of a plurality of latches 7 resides in the fact that the arms 9' may be disposed at different elevations when the hooks of, the latches engage the keeper, and by this arrangement an unauthorized person might readily be confused as to just how he ought to dispose the key 10 to effect a release. In taking advantage of this feature. the construction would be slightly modified from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and preferably assume an embodiment such as is illustrated in Fig. 4:, wherein the latches 7 are pivotally sustained by shaft 8', and the arm 9' of one latch extends laterally at one inclination and the arm 9' of the other latch extends at another inclination and is, therefore, disposed beneath the first arm so that an unauthorizedpperator in introducing the'key 10 could by turning the key at the wrong point engage the upperfarm 9 and release the latch, but the cover plate would still remain locked. An authorized operator would simplv introduce the key and passit downwardly 'until he was sure the bits. of the key were beyond the lowermost arm. and the operation-would be accomplished after the manner above described.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a further modified embodiment in which an annular housing 15 is provided witha detachable cover plate 16, the cover plate being merely dis osed to rest on an annularshouh' der formed from the material of the housmg. the plate not being pivotally connected to the housing. When this type of cover plate is employed. referably diametricallyopposite keepers 17 are provided and engaged bv

latches

18, 1 8 pivotally' sustained as at 19. 19 by the cover plate 16; each latch 18, ha ving an inwardly extending arm 20. and the arms-2O being relatively long and of sufiicient length to have their inner end portions lapping. The lapping portions'of the arms 20 are spaced laterally apart for accommodating a key similar to key 10, the cover plate 16 being formed with the requisite keyhole 21. It is amiarent that the operation is substantially the same with respect to this modified embodiment as above set forth. the operator simply introducing the key through the hole 21, and

lowering it with the bits parallel to the arms 20 until the bits pass below said arms, and thereupon the operator turns the key to a. position with the hits at right angles to their former position'so that the bits are disposed beneath the arms 20. The operator may then elevate the key with the result that he will 'elevate'the arms 20,-and

release the latches 17, and the upward' movement of the key may be continued .for

lifting the coverplate 16 bodily from the housing 15.

Having thus described the-invention, what is claimed as new is: 1

1.'The combination with a-"ho'using, (it a' cover plate therefor. a keeper o'nithe housing, a plurality of latches engaging the keeper for locking the cover plate in posi' tion, each latch having a laterally extending arm, the arms beingsp'aced apart, and they I cover plate being formed "with a keyhole disposed substantially in linewith the space between said armsfor enablingtheintro duction of a double-bitted key between the arms enabling simultaneous elevation oil-the arms and also enabling elevation of the cover plate by continued movement of, the operation of elevating the key. 1

2. The combination, with a housinit. of'a cover plate therefor, axke'eper on the housine. a latch pivotal'ly's ustained bv'thecover plate and engagingfthekeep'erfor locking the cover plate in position, said'latch.having'- a laterallv extendingnarmi th'ehover plate being formed witha keyhole -disposed at one side of the arm adapt ed-to .permit. the

admission of .a key whose bit' is adapted to, pass beneath the arm andto'engage thetarm. f with an unwardmovement "of the key for releasing thelatch. the continued upward movement of the-key after the release of the latch serving to remove the cover-plate from its closed posit.ion.

3. The combination with a housing and a cover late therefor. of a pivot-ally mounted latch adapted to'lock the cover-plate in a closed position. an operating arm connected RUFUS M. REDDING. Witnesses:

L. A. MAGRAW, S. W. HATFIELD.