Meter tool with safety shield

Abstract

A tool for installing and removing an electrical power meter including a sleeve member defining a cavity therein with an opening to the cavity defined in the sleeve member's first end. An adjustment mechanism on the sleeve member is movable between a first position where the opening is enlarged to permit entry of a portion of the meter into the cavity; and a second position where the opening is reduced. An engagement assembly at the first end of the sleeve member grippingly engages the meter when the adjustment assembly is in the second position. The engagement assembly includes a pair of locking lips which each receive part of a peripheral edge of the meter's base therein. Gaps are defined between the locking lips to enable venting of any electrical discharge therethrough. A removable shield may be secured to the second end of the sleeve member.

1 . A meter tool comprising:
 a sleeve member having a first end opposite a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;   a cavity defined by the sleeve member;   an opening to the cavity defined in the first end of the sleeve member; wherein the cavity is sized to receive a portion of an electrical meter therein through the opening;   a blast shield connected to the sleeve member adapted to protect an operator from an electrical blast when an electrical meter is removed from a meter mount;   a first handle coupled with the sleeve member; and   a second handle attached to the blast shield offset from the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second handle is entirely offset from the longitudinal axis and a portion of the first handle intersects the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first height of the first handle relative to the blast shield;   a second height of the second handle relative to the blast shield; and   wherein the first and second heights are equal.   
     
     
         4 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second handle is oriented parallel to the first handle. 
     
     
         5 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a blast shield area that is at least 50% larger than a sleeve member area when viewed from the second end; wherein the blast shield is centered about the longitudinal axis and the blast shield extends radially outward a greater distance than the sleeve member relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , wherein the blast shield is connected to the sleeve member closer to the second end than the first end. 
     
     
         7 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , wherein the blast shield defines an aperture extending fully therethrough intermediate the first and second handles. 
     
     
         8 . The meter tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second handle is a C-shaped unibody member. 
     
     
         9 . An electrical blast shield for connection with a meter tool, the blast shield comprising:
 a first surface opposite a second surface, wherein the first surface diameter is in a range from 18 inches to 24 inches;   a central first opening extending completely through the blast shield from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the central first opening is adapted to receive a component of the meter tool therethrough for gripping with a dominant hand of an operator;   a shield handle connected to the first surface offset from the central first opening adapted to be grasped by a nondominant hand of an operator; and   wherein the blast shield is formed from a transparent material.   
     
     
         10 . In combination;
 an electrical power meter including a base with a front and back surface, and a dome extending outwardly from the front surface of the base; wherein the meter is adapted to engage one or more stabs mounts on a meter mount;   a meter tool selectively engageable with the meter to detach the same from the meter mount; wherein the meter tool comprises:
 a sleeve member having a first end opposite a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; 
 a cavity defined by the sleeve member; 
 an opening to the cavity defined in the first end of the sleeve member; 
   wherein the cavity is sized to receive a portion of the meter therein through the opening;
 an adjustment mechanism provided on the sleeve member; wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to change the size of the opening to the cavity; and wherein the adjustment mechanism is movable between a first position where the opening is enlarged to permit entry of the meter into the cavity; and a second position where the opening is reduced; and 
 an engagement assembly provided at the first end of the sleeve member; said engagement assembly being adapted to engage a portion of the meter when the adjustment mechanism is moved into the second position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The combination as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve member comprises:
 a first sleeve portion and a second sleeve portion that are disposed in side-by-side relationship; and wherein the cavity is bound and defined by the first and second sleeve portions; and wherein the adjustment assembly includes an articulating mechanism which engages the first and second sleeve portions and is configured to move a region of the first sleeve portion and a region of the second sleeve portion one of toward and away from each other as the adjustment assembly is operated.   
     
     
         12 . The combination as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the engagement assembly comprises:
 a first locking lip provided on the first sleeve portion at the first end of the sleeve member; and   a second locking lip provided on the second sleeve portion at the first end of the sleeve member; and wherein the first and second locking lips are configured to grippingly engage the portion of the meter between them.   
     
     
         13 . The combination as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first gap defined between a first side edge of the first locking lip and a first side edge of the second locking lip; and   a second gap defined between a second side edge of the first locking lip and a second side edge of the second locking lip; and wherein the first and second gaps are adapted to permit venting of any accidental electrical discharge therethrough.   
     
     
         14 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the sleeve member has a circumference; and wherein each of the first and second locking lips is of a first circumferential length; and each of the first and second gaps is of a second circumferential length; and the first circumferential length is less than one quarter of the circumference of the first end of the sleeve member; and the second circumferential length is greater than one quarter of the circumference of the first end of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         15 . The combination as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a blast shield removably attached to the sleeve member;   a meter removing movement from an electrically connected first position to a disconnected second position relative to the meter mount;   an electrical blast released from adjacent the meter mount when the meter is moved from the connected first position to the disconnected second position; and   wherein the blast shield protects an operator manually removing the meter.   
     
     
         16 . The combination as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising a first grasping member extending outwardly from the blast shield. 
     
     
         17 . The combination as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising a second grasping member extending outwardly from the blast shield in a direction similar to that of the first grasping member. 
     
     
         18 . The combination as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the first grasping member is a shield handle attached to the blast shield and entirely offset from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The combination as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second grasping members are oriented parallel to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The combination as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an equal height of the first and second grasping members relative to the blast shield.