Electric meter security lock

Abstract

A known type of contractible sealing ring for an electric watt-hour meter has improved lock assemblies on the ends of the ring. The lock assemblies are designed to receive many different types of known security locking devices, such as snap lock fasteners, barrel lock fasteners and threaded fasteners with wire seals or plastic padlocks, using a universal multiple lock assembly.

1 . A sealing ring for electric meters having multiple means for receiving security locking members, said sealing ring comprising: 
 a substantially circular contractible ring member having adjacent terminating ends, said ring member adapted to seal the electric meter against tampering when said adjacent terminating ends are pulled toward one another,    a first lock assembly attached to one terminating end having a first radially projecting flange member,    a second lock assembly attached to the other terminating end having a second radially projecting flange member,    a first security lock reception passage defined by and extending through the first and second flange members and adapted to receive a first security locking member, and    a second security lock reception passage defined by and extending through the first and second flanges and adapted to receive a second security locking member, said first and second reception passages being spaced from one another so as to serve for either alternate or simultaneous usage of said first and second security locking members.    
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second flange members defines a pair of spaced nut retaining slots therein, and a floating nut insert having opposed tabs extending into said nut retaining slots to prevent rotation of the insert, said insert being disposed in said first security lock reception passage and having an internal thread adapted to receive a said first security locking member.  
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second radially projecting flange members each define a radially inner security lock reception passage and a radially outer security lock reception passage, said radially inner security lock reception passages being aligned to provide said first security lock reception passage, and said radially outer security lock reception passages being aligned to provide said second security lock reception passage.  
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 1 , said first and second first and second radially projecting flange members further including spaced sidewalls defining spaced apertures therein on either side of the first security lock reception passage, adapted for passage of an anti-tamper locking device therethrough.  
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 1 , and further including a pair of protective caps arranged to fit over portions of said first and second radially extending flange members so as to cover said second security lock reception passage in said first and second flange members to facilitate manual contraction of said contractible ring member by squeezing the first and second flange members together.  
     
     
         6 . A sealing ring for electric meters having multiple means for receiving security locking members, said sealing ring comprising: 
 a substantially circular contractible ring member having adjacent terminating ends, said ring member adapted to seal the electric meter against tampering when said adjacent terminating ends are pulled toward one another,    a first lock assembly attached to one terminating end having a first radially projecting flange member and a first pair of spaced sidewalls extending substantially perpendicular thereto,    a second lock assembly attached to the other terminating end having a second radially projecting flange member and a second pair of spaced sidewalls extending substantially perpendicular thereto,    a first security lock reception passage defined by and extending through the first and second flange members and between said first and second pair of spaced sidewalls and adapted to receive a first security locking member, and    a second security lock reception passage defined by and extending through the first and second flanges and adapted to receive a second security locking member, said first and second reception passages being radially spaced from one another so as to serve for either alternate or simultaneous usage of said first and second security locking members.    
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said first and second flange members defines a pair of spaced nut retaining slots therein, and a floating nut insert having opposed tabs extending into said nut retaining slots to prevent rotation of the insert, said insert being disposed in said first security lock reception passage and having an internal thread adapted to receive a said first security locking member.  
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one pair of said first and second pairs of spaced sidewalls define spaced apertures therein on either side of the first security lock reception passage, and are aligned for passage of an anti-tamper locking device therethrough.  
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 6 , wherein the second security lock reception passage is radially outward of the first security lock reception passage and further including a pair of protective caps arranged to fit over portions of said first and second radially extending flange members so as to cover said second security lock reception passage in said first and second flange members to facilitate manual contraction of said contractible ring member by squeezing the first and second flange members together.