Abstract:
A bracket system and method to retrofit a subsurface water meter enclosure with a mount so as to provide secure positioning means suitable for components related to a water meter such as water-usage monitoring equipment. The system is only removable from the water meter enclosure via disassembling the water meter enclosure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/445,354 filed on Feb. 22, 2011 and titled MOUNTING BRACKET FOR A REMOTE-READ WATER METER RF TRANSMITTER UNIT, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present inventive concept generally relates to mounting systems for equipment related to utility meters. More specifically, embodiments of the present inventive concept concern a bracket system and method being particularly suitable for retrofitting a subsurface water meter enclosure with a mount so as to provide secure positioning means suitable for components related to a water meter housed in the water meter enclosure such as water-usage monitoring equipment. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Residential and commercial consumers subscribe to various utilities, e.g., electricity, water, and gas, which are monitored by service providers who periodically charge the consumers based on usage. Utility monitoring is generally accomplished using remote-monitoring equipment having radio-frequency (RF) transmission and reception capabilities. 
     A remote-read meter uses an RF transmitter to send water consumption data to a remote-reading device. The remote-read water meter and RF transmitter are typically located at least partially enclosed within a subsurface enclosure to protect the meter and transmitter from damage that may be caused by exposure of the RF transmitter to the elements or inadvertent contact with machinery, e.g., freezing in cold weather or impact with a lawn mower. While some RF transmitters may be installed through the enclosure&#39;s lid, such are subject to the aforementioned damage. 
     Conventional methods for mounting RF transmitters utilize a pipe. The RF transmitter is propped up on one end of the pipe and the other end is stuck in the ground within the subsurface enclosure. Such convention methods are problematic because subsurface enclosures occasionally fill with water, which may cause the RF transmitter to float off or otherwise become detached from the pipe. Additionally, such conventional methods are difficult to install because subsurface enclosures do not have a uniform depth. Thus, the pipe must be cut to size for each installation in a subsurface enclosure. 
     Presently, there are no readily-available systems for securely positioning water-usage monitoring equipment in a subsurface enclosure. In view of the aforementioned problems, there is a need for a mounting system that is operable to be retrofitted to a subsurface enclosure of a water meter, is operable to safely and securely position related components, such as water-usage monitoring and signal-transmitting equipment, within the subsurface enclosure, is easily and economically manufactured, is easily installed, and does not materially interfere with the underlying purpose of the water-usage and signal-transmitting monitoring equipment and facilitates reliable operation thereof. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following summary is provided to indicate the nature of the subject matter disclosed herein. While certain aspects of the present inventive concept are described below, the summary is not intended to limit the scope of the present inventive concept. 
     Embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a bracket system and method for retrofitting a subsurface water meter enclosure with a mount so as to provide secure positioning means suitable for components related to a water meter housed in the water meter enclosure such as water-usage monitoring equipments. Additionally, the present inventive concept is easily and economically manufactured and easily installed. 
     The present inventive concept provides, in its simplest form, a frame having an interior bar network and/or screen configured to be permanently mounted over a grouping of taillight units and to an adjacent-mounting surface via a welding process. In this manner, the frame is only removable from the mounting surface via destroying weld marks produced during the welding process. 
     The aforementioned aspects may be achieved in one aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a water meter mounting bracket system. The system may include a frame and an interior component depending therefrom. The frame may define a planar void on an interior thereof. The frame may have an abutment surface operable to engage a surface of a water-meter enclosure having a lid. The interior component may be secured to the frame and at least partially spans the void. The interior component may have at least one receiver operable to (i) position a water-meter device within the water-meter enclosure, and/or (ii) prevent vertical displacement of the water-meter device when the lid is fitted to the water-meter enclosure. 
     The abutment surface of the frame may be annular in shape so that a surface of the frame is operable to be uniformly supported about an entire perimeter thereof when trapped between the surface of the water-meter enclosure and the lid of the water-meter enclosure. The interior component may include a vertical sidewall portion having an abutment surface operable to face a portion of the water-meter enclosure and/or prevent horizontal displacement of the frame relative to the water-meter enclosure when the lid is fitted to the water-meter enclosure. The at least one receiver of the interior component may be provided through a horizontal receiver portion of the interior component that extends perpendicular from the vertical sidewall portion of the interior component. 
     The system may further include a mounting assembly operable to secure the water-meter device to the at least one receiver of the interior component. The mounting assembly may include upper and lower abutment elements operable to be received on a threaded member of the water-meter device so that the upper and lower abutment elements are secured on opposing sides of interior component when the water-meter device is secured to the water meter mounting bracket. The upper abutment element may include a tool-receiving means that is exposed through the void of the frame when the water-meter device is secured to the water meter mounting bracket. 
     The interior component may span less than 50% of the void, and preferably spans approximately 33% of the void. The interior component may include a horizontal receiver portion having innermost and outermost edges, and/or a plurality of receivers spaced about the outermost edge of the horizontal receiver portion. The outermost edge of the horizontal receiver portion may have a radius substantially equal to a radius of the innermost edge of the horizontal receiver portion. 
     The aforementioned aspects may be achieved in another aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a method of manufacturing a water meter mounting bracket system. The method may include the step of forming a frame having an abutment surface operable to engage a surface of a water-meter enclosure having a lid. The method may further include the step forming an interior component that depends from the frame and/or at least partially spans the void. The interior component may have at least one receiver operable to (i) position a water-meter device within the water-meter enclosure, and/or (ii) prevent vertical displacement of the water-meter device when the lid is fitted to the water-meter enclosure. 
     The abutment surface of the frame may be annular with an engagement surface that corresponds to and is operable to be received by, in its entirety, a portion of a water meter enclosure so that the frame is provided with uniform support when trapped between the surface of the water-meter enclosure and the lid of the water-meter enclosure. The interior component may include a vertical sidewall portion having an abutment surface operable to face a portion of the water-meter enclosure and prevent horizontal displacement of the frame relative to the water-meter enclosure when the lid is fitted to the water-meter enclosure. The at least one receiver of the interior component may be provided through a horizontal receiver portion of the interior component that extends perpendicular from the vertical sidewall portion of the interior component. 
     The aforementioned aspects may be achieved in another aspect of the present inventive concept by providing a method of mounting a component of a water meter to a bracket system. The method may include the step of securing a frame to a water-meter enclosure having a lid. The frame may have a planar void on an interior thereof and opposing abutment surfaces operable to engage surfaces of the water-meter enclosure and the lid. The method may further include the step of securing a water-meter device to an interior component that depends from the frame and/or at least partially spans the void. The interior component may have at least one receiver operable to (i) position the water-meter device within the water-meter enclosure, and/or (ii) prevent vertical displacement of the water-meter device when the lid is fitted to the water-meter enclosure. 
     The abutment surface of the frame may be annular and operable to provide uniform support to the frame when trapped between the water-meter enclosure and the lid. The interior component may include a vertical sidewall portion having an abutment surface operable to face a portion of the water-meter enclosure and prevent horizontal displacement of the frame relative to the water-meter enclosure when the lid is fitted to the water-meter enclosure. The at least one receiver of the interior component may be provided through a horizontal receiver portion of the interior component that extends perpendicular from the vertical sidewall portion of the interior component. The water-meter device may be secured to the at least one receiver of the interior component via a mounting assembly. 
     The mounting assembly may include upper and lower abutment elements operable to be received on a threaded member of the water-meter device so that the upper and lower abutment elements are secured on opposing sides of interior component when the water-meter device is secured to the water meter mounting bracket. The upper abutment element may include a tool-receiving means that is exposed through the void of the frame when the water-meter device is secured to the water meter mounting bracket. The interior component may include a plurality of receivers positioned about an outermost circumference of a horizontal receiver portion. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present inventive concept will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Embodiments of the present inventive concept are described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a water meter mounting bracket system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, illustrating the system in use in a subsurface enclosure of a water meter and having an RF transmitter mounted thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is a magnified upper perspective view of the water meter mounting bracket system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a magnified lower perspective view of the water meter mounting bracket system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the water meter mounting bracket system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a magnified, exploded partial view of the water meter mounting bracket system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a magnified upper perspective view of the water meter mounting bracket system illustrated in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the system in use with another component; and 
         FIG. 7  is a magnified lower perspective view of the water meter mounting bracket system illustrated in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the system in use with another component. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present inventive concept is susceptible of embodiment in many forms. While the drawings illustrate, and the specification describes, certain embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. The principles of the present inventive concept are not limited to the particular disclosed embodiments. 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a water meter mounting bracket system  20  is generally illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in use a water meter  22  that is installed in a water meter enclosure  24 . The water meter  22  is installed along a length of a water pipe  26 . The water meter  22  has a cap  28  that conceals a meter display operable to monitor a volume of water passing through the water meter  22 , that is, water consumed by an end user via the water pipe  26 . The water meter enclosure  24  has a below ground portion  34  that extends into the ground and an above ground portion  36  of the water meter enclosure  24  that extends to define an annular rim  38  that is at least level with and preferably slightly above the ground. 
     A cover  40  is secured to the above ground portion  36  of the water meter enclosure  24  so that the water meter enclosure  24  is fully closed. The cover  40  has an annular rim  42  that is sized and shaped to abut the annular rim  38  of the above ground portion  36 . The rims  38 ,  42  may be sealed via welding or the like to prevent debris or other contaminates from entering the water meter enclosure  24 . 
     The cover  40  includes a lid  46  that is removably secured to an elevated portion  48  of the cover  38  and more particularly, secured to a rim  50  of the elevated portion  48  of the cover  38 . The elevated portion  48  spaces the lid  46  from the rims  38 ,  42  to deter the likelihood of debris or other contaminates from entering the water meter enclosure  24 . The lid  46  provides selective access to the water meter enclosure  24  and is secured to the cover  40  via a locking means  49 , which requires a key and/or tool to permit separation of the lid  46  from the cover  40 . It is foreseen, however, that the lid  46  may be secured to the cover  40  via other means such as, but not limited to, gravity. Removal of the lid  46  from the cover  40  exposes the water meter mounting bracket system  20  and permits maintenance and/or repair operations for the water meter  22  and/or related components. 
     The water meter mounting bracket system  20  includes an annular frame  56  having upper and lower abutment surfaces  58 ,  60 , as illustrated by  FIGS. 2-4 . The frame  56  is sized and shaped to at least partially extend and be trapped between the cover  40  and the lid  46 . More particularly, the upper and lower abutment surfaces  58 ,  60  of the frame  56  are sized and shaped to respectively abut an entire outer portion of the lid  46  and the entirety of the rim  50  of the cover  40  so that the frame  56  is trapped therebetween when the lid  46  is fitted to the cover  46 . In this manner, the frame  56  is uniformly supported by the inner portion of the cover  40  and trapped thereon by the lid  46 . 
     The frame  56  includes inner and outer opposing perimeter edges  66 ,  68 . The inner perimeter edge  66  defines a planar void  70  within and through an interior of the frame  56 . An interior component  72  includes a vertical sidewall portion  76  that depends from the inner perimeter edge  66  of the frame  56  and extends perpendicularly from planes defined by the upper and lower abutments surfaces  58 ,  60  of the frame  56 , and a horizontal receiver portion  78  that extends perpendicularly from the vertical sidewall portion  76  into the void  70 . The portions  76 ,  78  are divided by a transition portion  80  having a degree of curvature defined by the frame  56  and is generally shaped like an “L.” 
     The vertical sidewall portion  76  includes opposing rear abutment and front surfaces  86 ,  88  having a common edge  90 . The rear abutment surface  86  faces and abuts a portion of the water meter enclosure  24 , e.g., a sidewall of the water meter enclosure  24 , when fitted thereto. In this manner, the rear abutment surface  86  prevents horizontal displacement of the frame  56  relative to the water meter enclosure  24  when the frame  56  is fitted to the water meter enclosure  24  and/or the lid  46  is fitted to the cover  40 . 
     The horizontal receiver portion  78  has a plurality of apertures or receivers  94  extending therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, the receivers  94  have circular and oval shapes of varying circumferences with one of the receivers  94  being circular and positioned centrally relative to the horizontal receiver portion  78  and a plurality of the receivers  94  being circular and oval positioned about the one of the receivers  94  and about a perimeter of the horizontal receiver portion  78 . It is foreseen, however, that any number of the receivers  94  could be provided  94  of any size and/or shape without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. For example, the plurality of receivers  94  could include a single receiver  94 . 
     The horizontal receiver portion  78  includes an innermost edge, defined by the vertical sidewall portion  76 , and an outermost edge  100  that are convex relative to each other with radiuses that are substantially identical to each other. In the exemplary embodiment, the horizontal receiver portion  78  preferably extends into less than 50% of the void  70 , and more preferably into approximately 33% of the void. In this manner, the horizontal receiver portion  78  does not entirely conceal or otherwise restrict access to the water meter  22  and/or related components when the water meter mounting bracket system  20  is installed in the water meter enclosure  24 . 
     A water meter component  104  is mounted to the water meter mounting bracket system  20  in a vertically-spaced orientation from the water meter  22 , for instance, to provide a better position for transmitting a signal, that is, a position that is closer to a surface of the ground. Thus, the water meter component  104  may be a transmitter or the like that is wired to the water meter  22  via a wire  106 . 
     To mount a water-meter component  104  to the water meter mounting bracket system  20 , a mounting assembly  110  is provided. The mounting assembly  110  includes upper and lower abutment elements  112 ,  114  that are each sized and shaped to be received on an elongated threaded member  118  of the component  104 . It is foreseen that that threaded member  118  may be manufactured with the component  104  or retrofitted to the component  104  thereafter to enable use of the component  104  with the water meter mounting bracket system  20  without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. It is also foreseen that the threaded member  118  may have a smooth, ribbed, and/or threaded surface to enable secure mating between the upper and lower abutment elements  112 ,  114  without deviating from the scope of the present inventive concept. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , the component  104  is mounted to the water meter mounting bracket system  20  by fitting the lower abutment element  114  onto the threaded member  118  via rotation or threading. More particularly, one or more internal ribs or threads about an internal circumference of the lower abutment element  114  are threaded onto external threads about an external circumference of the threaded member  118 . A textured and/or notched gripping surface is provided about an outer circumference of the lower abutment element  114  to facilitate gripping and threading of the lower abutment element  114 . 
     With the lower abutment element  114  secured to and along the threaded member  118 , an end  130  of the component  104  is extended at least partially through one of the plurality of receivers  94 . In the exemplary embodiment, the end  130  is extended partially through a central one of the plurality of receivers  94 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . With the end  130  extended through the central one of the plurality of receivers  94 , the upper abutment element  112  is fitted onto the threaded member  118  via rotation or threading. Similar to the fitting process of the lower abutment element  114 , one or more internal ribs or threads about an internal circumference of the upper abutment element  112  are threaded onto the external threads about the external circumference of the threaded member  118 . A tool receiver  134  is provided on the upper abutment element  112  to facilitate threading of the upper abutment element  112 . In this manner, the upper and lower abutment elements  112 ,  114  respectively abut upper and lower surfaces  138 ,  140  of the horizontal receiver portion  78 , thereby trapping the horizontal receiver portion  78  therebetween with the threaded member  118  and component  104  secured thereto. 
     The upper abutment element  112  includes tool-receiving means  134  is exposed through the void  70  when the water meter mounting bracket system  20  is secured to the water meter enclosure  24 . With the component  104  secured to the frame  56 , the frame  56  is placed on the rim  50  of the cover  40  and held in place via gravity. The vertical sidewall portion  78  orients the component  104  so that it slightly extends into and is housed within the water meter enclosure  24 . The lid  46  is then placed on the frame  56  and/or cover  40  so that the frame  56  is trapped between the cover  40  and lid  46 . In this manner, the lid  46  seals or closes the water meter enclosure  24  so that the component  104  is securely housed therein, thereby preventing vertical displacement of the frame  56  relative to the water meter enclosure  24  and also decreasing the likelihood of damage to the component  104 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrated another water meter component  140  secured to the horizontal receiver portion  78  via another one of the receivers  94 . The another water meter component  140  is secured via a plurality of elastic members  142  that are secured to and trap an elongated portion  144  of the another water meter component  140  within the another one of the receivers  94 . The plurality of elastic members  142  are made of an elastic material such as, but not limited to, rubber or the like, thereby providing a friction-fit engagement along the elongated portion  144  of the another water meter component  140 . 
     The water meter mounting bracket system  20  may be manufactured using plastic and/or metal or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the frame  56  is thermoformed using a durable material that is not brittle, provides low water absorption, good dimensional stability, high abrasion resistance, and with good electrical properties, such as, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene plastic or acrylonitrily-butadiene-styrene plastic. In other words, the frame  56  and the interior component  72  are formed from a single sheet of plastic that is heated and then deformed to form the interior component  72 , and then cut, via a c-n-c machine or the like, to form the plurality of receivers  94  and the edges  66 ,  68 ,  90 ,  100 . 
     The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be used in a limiting sense to interpret the scope of the present inventive concept. Modifications to the exemplary embodiments, set forth above, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. 
     The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present inventive concept as it pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.