US1579471A - Meter bill - Google Patents

Description

' -ivhich may be'arranged so. thattlie amount l Patented Apr. 6', 1926. I

UNITED STATESA ALFREDCOPONY, or MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

PATENT Norqrlcii.

METER BILIL.

Application led November 12.,` 1923.' Se'riaLNo. 674,297.

To all whom, 25 may concern i, y

Be it knownV that I, ALrnnDCoroNr, a citizen of theUnited Statesof America, resid-V.

ing at Mount Clemens, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigamhave invented certain `new and useful Improvements in Meter Bills, of which the .following f a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings ,This invention relates to printed matter and refers more particularly toform sheets'f and the like'that are designed for use by.

companies dealingV in commodities that are i. measured by meters located on the customers premises.

An object of the invention is to provide a form sheet that is adaptedA to be used a meter readerof the company for rendering a billydirectlyvvto Lthe customer at'the time lthe meter is read so that the clerical worin and yexpense incident tothe usuall method of entering themeter reading zat thev main f office iand subsequent delivery of the billrto the customer is Obviated.vv A y YAnotherobjectfis to provide a form sheet that preferably consists of several sections of money. due the company, both with and without discount, and the discount date may, be recorded automatically when the meter reader designates the amount of the comiv modity used and the date of the meter reading.

- Another object is to provide a form sheetY 'i having placeson one section that may-'be punched or marked by the meter readerv by f designating automatically on the other secfV i tions the house rating, anA error or overcharge and that the bill coversaperiod of..v

two months because the meter was inaccessible the preceding month. 1 yt Another object is to provide a form sheet having sections which v through suitable sorting machinesafterbe# Y ing received by the main office of the' comf-y pany for ascertaining thel total amount of ldie commodity used by all its customers, the total amount of money in payment therefor,

etc. 1 e Y e Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of'eertain. novel `features 'of construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more fully demay 'be *passedy .scribed and particularlypointed Vout inthe appendedclaims. g f

In the accompanying drawings; K e Figure 1 is a plan view of ya form sheet embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view thereof when folded;

Figure 3j is a sectional view of the folded form sheet;

F igure'4`isaplan view of slightly modi?,

fied form .Figures 5 and 6 are plan viewsv of another modification; e Figure 7 is a plan view of arthird modi`r lic-ation.

Referringnow to the drawingsin which like characters of reference designatecorrespending` partsathroughout the several VVviews, the numeral ldesignates a sheet that is preti. erably divided by spaced lines 2 and 3 respectively into three sections 4, 5 and 6 i'e-` spectively. Y. f i l 'Iheusection lis preferably provided at the upper left hand corner withfa space 7 inwhiclris ypreferably printed the .words and 4Uaddress. Between ,the spaces 'Tand 8' is a space Qthat is suitably lined and marked Afor recording the successive. meter readings vand the v,difference between the same,l the latter representing the quantity of the com- A Inspectors Checlrr, the name ofthe com-Q f pany, and numerals@representing the .cur-f rent-year, while .at the upper'right shandg corneris a space 8 for thecustomers name. *f

modity consumed Located below the spaces 7, 8 and9 respectively is a table'lO that is` in small spaces 11 that are-formed by'rinter- These formed by intersecting lines 15.l The spacesl 14 are preferably'arranged in rows that are spaced apart to provide small areas 16 in which thenamesof the months are printed.v` 1 The name of each month in the calendar is preferably printed twice, once below four numerals representing vdays of that month and again below two numerals representing the remaining days of th'atmonth. Y The first ies two numerals anc 30 in the top row 17 of the calendar represent days in the month of August, while the remainingl numerals o, 10, 15 and 20, respectively represent days in the month of September.

The section 5 is preferably provided at the lower left hand corner with a space 18 in which is preferably printed the word Voucher, the name of the company and numerals representing the current year. To

the riht of this srace are twdsiaccs 19- scribed time, l preferably divide the spaces 22 by printed lines 24. The numerals in the spaces above the lines 24 represent the gross price to be paid, while the numerals in the spaces 26 below the lines 24 represent the net amount, the latter being preferably a ten per cent reduction of the gross price. Suitable instructions are preferablyprinted' above the table 21, while at the right of the table is a calendar 27 containing numerals in multiples of fives representing` daysV of several months; numerals are preferably arranged inv spaced rows 2S with the names of the months immediately above the same. The words Biscount date are preferably printed above the calendar to indicate the numerals representing the limit date for payment of the net price.

The section 6 is adapted to be folded on top of the section 5 and is provided at the upper left hand corner with a space 29 in which is printed the words @ustomers' bill, the name of the companybandf numerals representing` the current year. ln the upper rrghtv hand corner of this section is a space 30111 which is printed the following: Base prices.

House rating in l. W, H. or less, 12e l. K., W. H., net price is gross; balance, 4c Pi K. 7. H., price less 10%; minimum, charge 50 gross, 45 net.

A table 31 and acalendar are printed on the sectionV G below the spaces and and contain the same indications asthe table 21 and calendar 27 respectively. However, this printing is in reverse order so that when the section 6 isv folded the printing thereon will register with the printing on the section 5.V

rEhe tables 21 and` 31 and the. calendars 2? and4 32 are preferably spaced' the same distance from the line 3, while the tables 10 rllhese and 21 and the calendars 13 and 27 are pref erably spaced the same distance from thc line 2, consequently, proper registration of the printing on the sections when folded is assured.

ln use, the meter reader of the company punches the folded sections of the sheet to indicate simultaneously the proper amount, dates, etc., on each section. ln order that none of the printing on the three sections will be destroyed by the punching, l preferably provide a series of circles 38 that are printed on the section 4 at one end' of the spaces 11 containing the numerals of the table 10 and that indicate the points to be punched. It will also be observed that the numerals of the tables 21 and 31 are preferably printed at the left end of the spacesso that the opposite endr thereof will? be left blank toA receive the punch holes.

Located at the right ofy the calendar l-' on the section 4 is a space 34 that is preferably divided by printed lines into small. areas in which is preferably printed Punch here andI date when meter is inaccessible and a circle 34 indicating the point to be punched; Punch excess bill here; and a circle 535- indicating the point to be punched, Punch here; and a ma-rk 36 4i-ndi'cating the point to be punched, At the topof this area is a small area 36 in which maybe written the amount of money due the company when an error has been made on the stub or whenever the numbers in the table 1()E are inadequate to' record the totalv amount of the commodity consumed by the customer.

Tre section fr' is provided with a space 37 which is also located at therig t ofthe calendar 2'? and whichv is divided by printed' lines 3S' intov small areas into which is printedf, 2 month bills are punched here, Vc"irvhen punched here pay amount below, and House rating. This last area is preferably di-videdbelow the sheet by printed lines Si) into small spaces into which isV printed the numerals 1S, 15, 12 and 9 respectively,,while at the lower end ofthe space 8'? is a small area 40 correspond-ing tothe area 86 onA the section 4.

The. section 6 is also provided with a space 41 that islocated at the right o-f the calendar 32 and that is proif'iced with printingjcorrespondingto Vthe printingin the space 3T on the section 5 except that it is ink reverse order. Thus, whenthe sections aife-.nldct the printed mattei' in the spaces 41, 3'? and 34 will register.

lt is customary for companies dealing in commodities that are measured by meters to decide upon what is termed a house rating for the premises of its customers. This rat ing is usually determined by the con'ipa-n',v when the meter is installed and is used by the company in computineA all bills rendered to the customer. With the form sheet illuslib? liu

and has been designated on the inspector-s check by a printedspotvi that fills the circle in the space in which theenunieral- 12'- of thistable is printed. In orderl that the house rating designated as 12 inthe table on the inspectors check will be designated onthe voucher and customers bill, the circle 36 is located at a particular point in the Aspace 34 so that when the folded sections are punched, punchz holes will be made in the spaces in which the number-12 isprinted opposite-to the woi'dsfI-Iouse rating on the sections 5 and 6 respectively. y y v The company preferably fills in the name and address of the customer and the last vmeter ieading before the formsheet is handed to the inspector so that when the meteil is read the inspector writes the present meter reading in the space 9,011 the inspectors check and subtracts the last reading therefrom to obtain the amount of the commodity consumed by the customer for that month.

The inspector' then folds the sections andy punches the circle 33 opposite to the figure in the table 10 corresponding to the amount ofl the commodity- 'consumed so that the amount of money due the company will be designated lby punch holes the tables 21 and 31 respectively on the sections v5 and 6. The inspector. also punches the mark 36` so that the vproper houserating will'be desigf-V nated on the sections 5 and l6 and punches the-proper numeral in the calendar-13 Vsothat the date ofthe meter reading willzbe ,properly recorded on'theinspectors check and so that the discountdate willbe recorded infthe calendar 27 and 32 respectively onthe sec- Lic i A the proper remittance to the company.

tions 5 andv A6. The inspector retains the section 4 andhands the sections 5 and 6 to the customer.- 'The section 6 yis preferably retained bythe customer for future reference, while thesection 5 is forwarded with If the meter was inaccessible when the inspector called 'the preceding month the customers premises, the circle 34 on the sec.-

tion l tis punc'hedby the meter reader to.

designate onthe sections and 6fthat-the present bill covers a period of two mont-hs'. Such a bill is made by the meter reader at the second visit who records in thespace 9 onthe inspectors check the total amount of the commodity consumed for the two months and punches the circle 33 opposite to the numerals which indicate the total amount of the commodity consumed. This punching records on the sections 5 and 6 the proper amount of money to bepaid to the company. If `desired this amountmay be written in the areas 36, 40and 43 respectively onthe sections 4, 5, and 6, The meter reader also punches the proper numeral in the calendar 13 'on the inspectors checkto designate the date of the meter reading.` This punching will also simultaneously designate the proper discountfdate on the voucher" 5 and customcrs bill 6. 'Infadditioin the meter reader*- puiiches the circle 36 on the section 4 so that t-lie proper house rating will be designated on the sections' and 6.

. VVlieIiever an error is made by the meter reader Yonr'tlie sheet or when 'the numbers in the tables 10 are'inadequateY to recoid the.

total amount of the commodity consumed by the customer, the circle 35 on the inspectorsv check punched by the meter reader to indicate that thev customer should pay the vamount of money that is Vwritten in the areas L1-.0 and 43 respectively on the voucher and customers bill.` `This amount. isalso written inthe area 36 on the inspcctors check` for use by the company.

In theniodiiication illustrated inl Figure 4- the form Vsheet 5() is preferably provided with an inspectors check 51, a voucher 52' connectedA to the lower edge'of thecustomersv bill 53 and that corresponds to the voucher V52. This voucher 54 is adapted to be folded below the customers bill 53 so that it will be punched simultaneously with the rother sections ofthe sheet. rl`hevvoucher lltogether with the inspectors 'check o1 Vare .retained by the meter reader for use by the company, l

While the voucher 52 and customers bill53Y are handed by the meter reader to the customer at-thetime the meter is read. Thus,

should thev customer lose or "misplace thev voucher '52 and bill 53`fthe company will havefa lcomplete record thereof at 'their Oces'w y A In the modification illustrated in Figures 5and'6, I have shown a form sheet that is provided on oney face thereof with an in spectors 'check 60, avoucher 61 and a cus-v ioo Y tomers bill 62 corresponding tothe section 4, voucher 5fand bill 6 of the form sheet illustrated inFigiire land that-is also provided onthe rear face thereof with a voucher 63 containing :the same `indications as. the voucher 61. However, the printing on the voucher 63 is in reverse order to the printing on Uthe voucher 61 and is preferably arranged' on the rear face of the inspectors check 6()vr so that when the latter' is punched a duplicate of Vthe bill handed to the customer will.

yposite'V to 18.,ii'nthe table 71,Aconsecpiently,y

the circle 7 5 on Vthe inspectors check indieating the point to be Vpunched for designating the house rating 1S on the voucher 7 U and the customers bill 77 respectively, is located at a lower point. Thus, when the sections of the s heet are folded in superposed relation and the number 152 in the table 71 is punched, the amount of money due the company designated on the sections 7G and 77 will include the proper amount of money for the house rating in kilowatt hours at 12 cents per kilowatt hour For example, the gross charge, $7.52 for 152 units, includes $2.16 to cover the house rating 1S at 12 cents per kilowatt hour and to cover' the balance 15341 to a cents per kilowatt hour.

.Vith the form sheets described, the conipany may readily obtain the total amount of the commodity consumed by all its customers by merely passing the separate sections of the form sheets through a suitable sorting machine. For instance, the inspectors checks could be passed through a` inachine having means for engaging the punch holes therein to sort the checks according to the indications designated such. as the house rating, the amount of commodity used, etc. Likewise, the vouchers could be sorted to obtain the total amount of money due or received by the company.

that l claim as my invention is:

1. A form sheet of the class described comprising a-series of sections adapted to be folded in siiperposed relation, each section having a table thereon, said sections being adapted to be punched when folded to designate certain numerals in each of said tables, and means on one section for indicating points thereof to be punched wherebythe punch holes formed in the other -sections will be spaced from the numerals designated.

2. A forni sheet of the class described comprising a series of sections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, each seetion havingsuitable indicia thereon for designating'the amount of commodity consumed and the amount of money due the company therefor, said sections being adapted to be punched when folded for designating simultaneously the proper indicia on all sections land one of said sections having punch hole locations accurately indicated thereon, whereby when said sections are sepan rated the punch holes therein may be engaged by mechanical. means for classifying said sections.

S. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sections adapted to be folded in super-posed relation, one section lia-ving suitable indicia for indicating the amount of the commodity consumed and the date of the meter reading, and the other sections having suitable indica for indicating the amountof money due the company for the commodity consumed and the discount date, and adapted to be simultaneously designated when the amount of the coinmodity consumed andthe date of the meter reading is designated.

4. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, one section having a table representing amounts of the commodity consumed, the other sections havingl tables representing amounts of money due the company for the commodity consumed, said sections bein-g adapted to be punched for indicating the proper amounts in said tables, and means on said sections for registering amounts exceeding the tables'.

5. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sections adapted te be folded in superposed relation, one section having suitable indicia representing amounts of the commodity consumed, the othei` sections having suitable indicia representing amounts of money due the company for the commodity consumed, means on one section for i' 'stering' the inaccessibility of the meter, and means on the other sections for designating a two months bill when the inaccessibility of the meter is designated.

6. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, each section having suitable indicia thereon for designating the amount of commodity consumed and the amount of money due the company therefor, said sections being adapted to be punched when folded for designating simultaneously the proper indicia on all sections, and means for designating on one section the points to be punched so that indicia on none of the sections will be destroyed.

7. A form sheet of the class described comprising a pluraltiy of sections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, one section having a table provided with quantity indications, certain of said indi-cations representing house ratings, means for designating a particular house rating on said section, the other section having cost indications and house rating indications, and means on the first section designating the point to be punched for indicating the proper house rating on the second section, the cost indications being arranged on the second section t0 register with the quantity indications on tlie first section when said sections are folded whereby punching of a particular quantity will simultaneously punch the proper cost indication.

8. A .form sheet of the class described con'iprising a series of sections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, one section having quantity indications thereon and mea-ns for designating a house rating, the other sections having cost indications and house rating indications thereon, said secH tions being adapted to he punched by the i quantity indications whereby punching of one section for designating the point to be meter reader when folded to designate cera particular quantity` on one section will tain of the indications thereon, and means on designate by punch holes the proper cost in- 10 dications on the other sections.

' punched for designating the properhouse Y In testimony whereof I aHX my signarating on the other section, the cost indicaturef tion being arranged to register With'sa'id ALFRED COPONY.

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