Patents Assigned to Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
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Patent number: 5423695Abstract: A hardened metallic ring is mounted over the exterior sidewall of the shell portion of a watthour meter socket adapter. The ring has overlapped ends which are welded together to form a circular ring with a diameter approximate the diameter of the shell. In another embodiment, a radially outward flange is formed on one annular edge of the ring to cover a peripheral edge flange of the base of the socket adapter.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1993Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, John T. Shincovich, Michael E. Lewis
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Patent number: 5385486Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes at least one additional jaw terminal for receiving one blade terminal of a plurality of blade terminals of a watthour meter, which blade terminals are provided in a greater number than the available jaw terminals in a watthour meter socket which normally receive the line and load blade terminals of the watthour meter. The additional blade terminal extends through and outward from the watthour meter socket adapter housing. An electrical connector is mounted on the additional blade terminal externally of the watthour meter socket adapter housing for electrically receiving an electrical conductor in the socket adapter not normally connected to the line and load jaw and blade terminals in the socket adapter. A jumper is disposed within the watthour meter socket adapter housing and extends between selected additional jaw and blade terminals in the watthour meter socket adapter.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1994Date of Patent: January 31, 1995Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Michael E. Lewis, Karl R. Loehr, Allen V. Pruchs
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Patent number: 5361026Abstract: A load indicating socket tester includes a base and an annular sidewall. A plurality of pairs of line and load terminals are mounted in and extend outward from the base for removable insertion into electrical contact with jaw terminals in a watthour meter socket. A cover closes an open end of the side wall of the housing and has fuses, lamps, an amp meter, and a lamp test switch mounted thereon. The fuses and lamps are preferably provided in pairs and electrically connected with the lamp test switch such that the switch, when in a first position, connects each lamp in parallel with one of the fuses and, when in a second position, electrically connects each lamp in series with one of the fuses to test the operation of each lamp. A current transformer is mounted within the housing and detects the current drawn by a load when the socket tester is mounted in a watthour meter socket.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1992Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Allen V. Pruehs, Darrell A. Robinson
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Patent number: 5207595Abstract: A terminal cover removably mountable on a watthour meter socket adapter includes an arm having an outwardly extending flange which is disposed in proximity with a sealing ring when the sealing ring is disposed about the mating mounting flange of a watthour meter and the rim of the socket adapter to lockingly mount the terminal cover on the socket adapter via the lock device carried by the sealing ring. In one embodiment, the flange on the arm has a predetermined length to engage a notch in the sealing ring to prevent rotation of the sealing ring. In another embodiment, the length of the flange on the arm is selected such that the flange lies between the sealing ring and the socket adapter housing to lockingly retain the terminal cover on the socket adapter housing when the sealing ring is locked about the mounting flange of the watthour meter and the rim of the socket adapter.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1992Date of Patent: May 4, 1993Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert O. Learmont, Darrell A. Robinson, Albert K. Langdon, Allen V. Pruehs, Robert Goozen
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Patent number: 5033973Abstract: A service disconnect adapter mounted between a plug-in meter socket and a watthour meter. The service disconnect adapter has blades mounted on a base which engage terminals in the socket. Watthour blade receiving fingers are formed in the service disconnect adapter to receive and frictionally engage watthour meter blades. The service disconnect adapter electrically isolates the socket load terminals from the watthour meter blades to disconnect the watthour meter from the load side terminals of the socket. The blades are angularly offset from the watthour meter blade receiving fingers in the adapter to mount the watthour meter at an angle from its normal mounting position.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1990Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Allen V. Pruehs, Darrell Robinson, Robert O. Learmont, Robert Goozen, Michael Lewis
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Patent number: 5006076Abstract: A cover for an electric meter socket has a planar base and a plurality of blades extending from one surface of the base for releasable engagement with the jaw terminals in the meter socket. Ribs are connected between the base and the blades to support the blades from sideways movement. One rib on at least one and, preferably, all of the blades has an extendable height so as to contact a jaw terminal in the meter socket when the cover is mounted in the meter socket to prevent deflection and movement of the cover with respect to the meter socket.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1990Date of Patent: April 9, 1991Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, John T. Shincovich
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Patent number: 4977482Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes a housing with electrical contacts which receive the terminals of a watthour meter and terminals which are insertable into the contacts of an electrical watthour meter socket. First and second seal connectors sealingly connect the adapter housing to the socket and a watthour meter to the adapter housing to control access to the socket, adapter and watthour meter. The interface connection includes an electrical connector mounted in an enclosure and connected to the contacts in the adapter housing to provide electrical power to an external interface. A third seal is connected and attached to the enclosure to control access to the electrical connections housed therein. In one embodiment, the enclosure is separate from and mounted on the adapter housing. In another embodiment, the enclosure is in the form of a sleeve mounted internally within the adapter housing with an open end allowing connection to an external electrical device.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1989Date of Patent: December 11, 1990Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Albert K. Langdon, Robert O. Learmont, Darrell Robinson, Robert Goozen, Michael Lewis, John Williams, Allen V. Pruehs, John T. Shincovich
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Patent number: 4772213Abstract: A socket adapter for converting a conventional bottom connected watthour meter housing to a socket-type watthour meter housing. The adapter includes a housing having a watthour meter receiving portion including a plurality of electrical contacts which removably receive the blade terminals of a watthour meter. The contacts are connected via electrical conductors to terminals mounted in an integral terminal portion of the housing. A cover member is removably mountable over the terminal portion of the housing to provide access to the terminals. The terminal portion and the cover cooperate to form guide surfaces which direct the building conductors into engagement with the terminals within the adapter. A surge protector in the form of a pair of wires embedded within the peripheral surface of the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing are connectable through a connector mounted on the back wall of the housing to earth ground.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1987Date of Patent: September 20, 1988Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Bell, William Keopfgen
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Patent number: 4323294Abstract: A meter socket jumper assembly comprising a plastic disc having a diameter and an edge thickness substantially the same dimensions as a meter of the type designed for assembly in said socket. Said disc is provided with a series of integrally molded pockets shaped and dimensioned to receive a fastener such as a self tapping screw from the rear side to retain a jumper bar on said rear side. Said pockets are so designed that the self tapping screw assembled therein is not exposed on the front face of the disc. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the pockets protrude from the front of the disc and intersect stiffening ribs molded into the face of the cover, to strengthen the pocket walls against the expansive force of the fasteners inserted therein from the rear side.A plurality of pockets are provided, suitably spaced to allow the assembly of jumpers in several different predetermined positions to accomodate different types of meter sockets.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1979Date of Patent: April 6, 1982Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventor: Darrell Robinson
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Patent number: 4311354Abstract: A meter disconnect adaptor for assembly into a residential electric meter socket. The adaptor has a base with a peripheral configuration which allows it to be used with either a ringless type of meter box, or in a ring type of mounting, and has blade simulating members extending from one side of the base and resilient fingers extending from the other side of the base for receiving contact blades of the electric meter. In one embodiment of the invention the adaptor has a group of resilient fingers arranged to allow assembly of the meter therein in any one of a number of orientations.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1980Date of Patent: January 19, 1982Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Robinson, John C. Bell
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Patent number: RE34531Abstract: A socket adapter for converting a conventional bottom connected watthour meter housing to a socket-type watthour meter housing. The adapter includes a housing having a watthour meter receiving portion including a plurality of electrical contacts which removably receive the blade terminals of a watthour meter. The contacts are connected via electrical conductors to terminals mounted in an integral terminal portion of the housing. A cover member is removably mountable over the terminal portion of the housing to provide access to the terminals. The terminal portion and the cover cooperate to form guide surfaces which direct the building conductors into engagement with the terminals within the adapter. A surge protector in the form of a pair of wires embedded within the peripheral surface of the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing are connectable through a connector mounted on the back wall of the housing to earth ground.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1992Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: John Bell, William Keopfgen
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Patent number: D349686Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1992Date of Patent: August 16, 1994Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.Inventors: Darrell A. Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs