Patents by Inventor Allen V. Pruehs

Allen V. Pruehs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10620242
    Abstract: A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: E.J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus
  • Publication number: 20180196093
    Abstract: A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus
  • Publication number: 20180198249
    Abstract: A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus
  • Patent number: 10020627
    Abstract: A watthour meter block having a safety shield is shown. The safety shield surrounds and isolates electrical components, for example watthour meter block jaws and wires in the watthour meter block. The watthour meter block is pre-wired to allow connection between a watthour meter block and a test switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: E.J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus
  • Patent number: 6975504
    Abstract: A safety replacement window for an overall watthour meter enclosure includes a window covering a window aperture of a cover of the enclosure. Mounting clips integrally carried on the cover snap into and fix the window in the cover aperture. In another aspect, the cover is formed of a one-piece molded member having at least a transparent portion overlaying a watthour meter mounted on a plate to which the cover is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6823563
    Abstract: A handle adapted to be mounted on a watthour meter cover facilitates movement of the watthour meter relative to a meter socket. The handle is removably attachable to a handle receiver carried on the cover, with the handle defining a finger grip surface. The receiver is in the form of one or more recesses or projections which are engagable with complimentary portions on the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6739886
    Abstract: A cap mountable over an optical port support and a securing member fixedly engagable through the cap to the optical port support. The seal also includes an indicator for indicating separation of the cap from the support. In one aspect, the cap has a base mountable over the support and a plate with a hook pivotally attached to the base. In another aspect, an extension projects from one portion of the cap and includes an aperture aligned with a threaded bore in the cap. An aperture in the shaft of the fastener is alignable with the aperture in the extension to receive a seal indicator. The fastener is provided with a hardened tip for secure engagement with the optical port support. In one aspect, the legs of the fastener are thin so as to be deformable upon the application of a predetermined amount of threading torque to the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20040040119
    Abstract: A handle adapted to be mounted on a watthour meter cover facilitates movement of the watthour meter relative to a meter socket. The handle is removably attachable to a handle receiver carried on the cover, with the handle defining a finger grip surface. The receiver is in the form of one or more recesses or projections which are engagable with complimentary portions on the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6663422
    Abstract: A coupler for use in a watthour meter socket adapter mechanically connects a jaw contact and a blade terminal. External conductors are separately attachable to the jaw contact and the blade terminal in one aspect. In another aspect, the coupler is an electrical fuse fixed between the jaw contact and the blade terminal. In another aspect, the coupler isolates the jaw contact from the blade terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20030184956
    Abstract: A safety replacement window for an overall watthour meter enclosure includes a window covering a window aperture of a cover of the enclosure. Mounting clips integrally carried on the cover snap into and fix the window in the cover aperture. In another aspect, the cover is formed of a one-piece molded member having at least a transparent portion overlaying a watthour meter mounted on a plate to which the cover is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6592399
    Abstract: A support supports an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In one aspect, access is provided through the socket adapter to an electrical component mounted on the circuit board for external control of the component through the aperture in the socket adapter. The supports also releasably receive flanges on electrical components for direct mounting of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6589072
    Abstract: A support supports an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In one aspect, slots are formed in posts and receive opposed ends of the circuit board. An end support post having an outwardly projecting, downwardly inclined top surface provides a snap connection of the circuit board to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6488535
    Abstract: A meter socket mountable in an enclosure and receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter in electrical contact with jaws mounted in the meter socket has an open end with wire guides to allow electrical conductors connected at one end to each of the jaws in the meter socket to exit the housing of the meter socket for connection to a remotely located meter test switch. Each of the conductors may be uniquely color coded for easy connection to the appropriate meter test switch terminal. In one aspect, the meter socket includes front and rear plates which define an internal cavity for receiving the jaw contacts and the conductors. In this aspect, the wire guides are formed on one end of one of the plates for receiving an intermediate portion of at least one conductor therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6478589
    Abstract: A safety shield for an electrical service apparatus is in the form of an enclosure surrounding in the apparatus jaw contacts. Latch members formed on the shield releasibly engage apertures in the apparatus housing to mount the shield in the housing. The latch members are configured to fill the apertures in the housing to prevent disengagement of the shield from the housing during removal of a watthour meter from the housing. In one aspect, the shield is provided with wire wrap members for winding up lengths of excess cables and conductors extending from a watthour meter. The wire wrap members include a pair of arms arranged about the periphery of the shield or spaced flanges on opposite sides of the shield. The wire wrap members also include a flange having an end extending over an aperture in the shield which acts as a strain relief for a conductor extending through the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6475028
    Abstract: A meter socket mountable in an enclosure and receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter in electrical contact with jaws mounted in the meter socket has an open end allowing electrical conductors connected at one end to each of the jaws in the meter socket to exit the housing of the meter socket for connection to a remotely located meter test switch. The conductors are arranged in a plurality of separate tied bundles. Each of the conductors may be uniquely color coded for easy connection to the appropriate meter test switch terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20020123265
    Abstract: A support supports an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In one aspect, slots are formed in posts and receive opposed ends of the circuit board. An end support post having an outwardly projecting, downwardly inclined top surface provides a snap connection of the circuit board to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6443761
    Abstract: A support receives an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In one aspect, the support includes legs carrying conductive elements formed on the circuit board and extending through apertures in the base of the housing for electrical connection external of the socket adapter. In another aspect, a circuit board is provided with contacts along one edge which form spring jaws for receiving a terminal. A conductive tab on the circuit board resiliently completes an electrical circuit between a contact in the housing and a circuit or electrical component on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: 6428350
    Abstract: A support supports an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In another aspect, a circuit board is provided with contacts along one edge which form spring jaws for receiving a terminal. A conductive tab on the circuit board resiliently completes an electrical circuit between a contact in the housing and a circuit or electrical component on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20020102873
    Abstract: A safety shield for an electrical service apparatus is in the form of an enclosure surrounding in the apparatus jaw contacts. Latch members formed on the shield releasibly engage apertures in the apparatus housing to mount the shield in the housing. The latch members are configured to fill the apertures in the housing to prevent disengagement of the shield from the housing during removal of a watthour meter from the housing. In one aspect, the shield is provided with wire wrap members for winding up lengths of excess cables and conductors extending from a watthour meter. The wire wrap members include a pair of arms arranged about the periphery of the shield or spaced flanges on opposite sides of the shield. The wire wrap members also include a flange having an end extending over an aperture in the shield which acts as a strain relief for a conductor extending through the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen V. Pruehs
  • Patent number: D873689
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: E.J. Brooks Company
    Inventors: Justin A. Olson, Allen V. Pruehs, Jeffrey John Hanft, Derrick G. Titus