Enclosure for meters

An enclosure for multiple utility meter such as normally are installed at the rear of commercial buildings including modular sections partitioned by panels in the front thereof, said panels overlapping so that a wrap-around structure is provided to prevent the entry of water or like substances therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is usual that a single feeder line is used to feed multiple utility 
lines to various commercial establishments in a shopping center and that 
each shop or business in the center have a separate utility meter so that 
the charges for electricity can be properly distributed. These meters are 
usually mounted in enclosures or housings which include a frame which has 
various support panels fastened thereto. If the frame is to be used out of 
doors it must be enclosed in a water tight box with a door to prevent the 
entry of water behind the meter where high voltages may be present. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention eliminates the need for separate exterior housings, 
and eliminates the frame structure previously required by providing a 
"wrap-around" structure which is essentially modular in construction. The 
present invention includes a modular box structure having meter supporting 
panels which close the face thereof. The panels each have a lower 
"overlap" lip to prevent the entry of rain water or other fluids which 
might be present adjacent thereto. The box provides a shield for the top 
and can be adapted to various kinds of meters, fuse panels and the like 
and yet because of its modular construction, it is relatively easy and 
economical to manufacture and purchase. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide more economic means for 
supporting utility meters. 
Another object is to provide a modular utility meter housing which can be 
used either indoors or out. 
Another object is to provide a modular utility housing which is relatively 
rigid yet can be modified easily to increase or reduce the number of 
meters supported thereby. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed 
specification in which is described a preferred embodiment thereof in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOWN EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawing, more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 
in FIG. 1 refers to meter enclosures 10 constructed according to the prior 
art. Typically the prior art enclosures 10 are constructed from a frame 
12, covered by sheet metal about the top 14 and in some instances the 
bottom 15 thereof. The enclosures include cover plates 16, 18 and 20 on 
the front 21 thereof: with cover plate 16 being a dummy plate; cover 
plates 18 having holes 22 for mounting meters therethrough; and plate 20 
having an opening 24 for circuit breakers 26. When used outside, such 
prior art devices require a protective cabinet 28 with some sort of 
opening cover like the door 30 shown, to prevent the elements from passing 
about the plates 16, 18 and 20 and causing problems with the circuits 
behind the plates. 
The enclosure 32 does not require a container for use outside a structure 
and is comprised of one or more modules 34 which include a metal structure 
36 and a plurality of panels: which may be dummy panels 38; panels 40 
having an opening 42 for receiving a utility meter; and a fuse or circuit 
breaker accomodating panel 44, having an opening 46 therethrough over 
which a gasketed cover plate 48 is hingedly mounted by a hinge assembly 50 
including a step shaped bracket. 
It is preferable that the sides 52 and 54 and the back 56 of the structure 
36 be constructed from a single piece of sheet metal bent into the shape 
shown in FIG. 2. It is also possible to construct the structure 36 from 
three separate pieces of sheet metal joined at the corners 58 and 60 
therebetween by suitable means such as welding. The sides 52 and 54 
include upper and lower openings 62 and 64 to provide access between 
adjacent modules 34 when they are positioned and connected together as 
shown in FIG. 2. When the module 34 is the end module, suitably gasketed 
cover plates 66 and 68 are provided to cover the openings 62 and 64 
respectively. The cover plates 66 and 68 can be retained in position by 
any suitable means such as the screws 70 shown. 
The top of the module 34 is enclosed by an overhanging top sheet 72 which 
preferably is attached to the sides 52 and 54 and the back 56 by weld 74. 
The top sheet 72 includes an forwardly extending overhang portion 75 for 
protecting the panels 38, 40, and 44 from the elements. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the front edges of each of the sides 52 and 54 are 
formed into a step shaped flange 76 whose front surface 78 provides the 
attachment points for the panels 38, 40, and 44 which are retained thereto 
by suitable fasteners such as bolts and nuts 80. Similar bolts and nuts 82 
can be used to retain the sides 52 and 54 of adjacent modules 34 together. 
As can be seen in FIG. 4, the panels such as panel 40 are provided with a 
pair of side flanges 84 and 86 which extend rearwardly from the front face 
88 thereof. The distance between the flanges 84 and 86 is chosen to be 
just larger than the distance between the center sections 90 of the step 
shaped flanges 76 of a module 34 so that the panels can nest thereover as 
shown in FIG. 3. Each panel 38, 40 and 44 also includes a skirt 92 which 
flairs outwardly at the bottom 94 thereof. The skirt 92 therefore is 
adapted to fit over the top edge 96 of the lower adjacent panel as shown 
in FIG. 5 to prevent the elements from entering the module 34. 
Thus there has been shown and described a novel modular meter housing which 
fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, 
modifications, uses and applications of the subject invention will become 
apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification 
and the accompanying drawing. All such changes, modifications, alterations 
and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and 
scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is 
limited only by the claims which follow.