Patents Assigned to Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8149119
    Abstract: A method includes activating a tamper monitoring circuit of a security seal configured to securely lock a utility meter. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting an identification data and/or an integrity information associated with the security seal and/or the utility meter to the external transceiver upon activating the tamper monitoring circuit or being queried by the external transceiver through a transceiver of the tamper monitoring circuit. The transceiver of the tamper monitoring circuit and the external transceiver are configured to securely communicate with each other through a secure protocol. Further, the method includes detecting a tamper condition associated with tampering of the security seal through the tamper monitoring circuit, and wirelessly transmitting data associated with the tamper condition to the external transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey John Hanft
  • Patent number: 8149114
    Abstract: A method includes activating a tamper monitoring circuit of a security seal configured to securely lock a utility meter. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting an identification data and/or an integrity information associated with the security seal and/or the utility meter to the external transceiver upon activating the tamper monitoring circuit or being queried by the external transceiver through a transceiver of the tamper monitoring circuit. The transceiver of the tamper monitoring circuit and the external transceiver are configured to securely communicate with each other through a secure protocol. Further, the method includes detecting a tamper condition associated with tampering of the security seal through the tamper monitoring circuit, and wirelessly transmitting data associated with the tamper condition to the external transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey John Hanft
  • Patent number: 8002578
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter has housing formed of snap together rear and front housings. The front housing surrounds but allows access to jaw contacts and terminals mounted in the rear housing by a watthour meter and electric power conductors. An aperture in the front housing engages a socket adapter mounting fastener extendible through the aperture to attach the socket adapter to a mounting surface. The fastener and aperture resist separation of the front housing from the rear housing when a watthour meter is removed from the socket adapter. A clip extends from the front housing through an aperture in a terminal cover attachable to the front housing and receives a seal lock member. Another clip on the front housing extends through the terminal cover and is engaged by an expandable ring lock clip. A meter surge guard is removably mountable to the rear housing and exteriorly of the front housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20110179833
    Abstract: A lock apparatus includes a lock body which is slidably mountable over the legs of the shackle. At least one push nut is mounted within a recess carried in the lock body to allow easy insertion of the legs of the shackle through the bores in the lock sections and the at least one push nut, but exerts a substantial force resisting separation of the lock body from the shackle in an opposite direction. The lock body is formed of a unitary one-piece body, or a pair of identical lock sections which are reoriented with respect to each other and inter-engaged to form bores at one edge which receive the legs of the shackle. A method of installing the lock apparatus includes mounting at least one push nut in a lock body and then inserting the legs of the shackle through bores in the lock body and the at least one push nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: EKSTROM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20100267277
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter has housing formed of snap together rear and front housings. The front housing surrounds but allows access to jaw contacts and terminals mounted in the rear housing by a watthour meter and electric power conductors. An aperture in the front housing engages a socket adapter mounting fastener extendible through the aperture to attach the socket adapter to a mounting surface. The fastener and aperture resist separation of the front housing from the rear housing when a watthour meter is removed from the socket adapter. A clip extends from the front housing through an aperture in a terminal cover attachable to the front housing and receives a seal lock member. Another clip on the front housing extends through the terminal cover and is engaged by an expandable ring lock clip. A meter surge guard is removably mountable to the rear housing and exteriorly of the front housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: EKSTROM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Allen Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20100043507
    Abstract: A lock apparatus for a utility service enclosure with a cover mountable over a sidewall includes an attachment member having a pair of spaced legs and aligned apertures formed in the legs. A fastener is extensible through the aperture in the one leg disposed interiorly of the enclosure when the attachment member is mounted over the sidewall of the enclosure and deforms the sidewall into engagement with the aperture in the other leg. A flange extending from the attachment member interengages a body having a lip overlaying the cover to inhibit removal of the cover from the enclosure. A lock is engageble with the body and the flange to lock the body to the attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: EKSTROM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard C. Dreisbach, Robert F. Debrody, Carlos M. Pinho
  • Patent number: 7650767
    Abstract: A lock ring for use in mounting a watthour meter, meter socket enclosure cover or a watthour meter socket adapter to each other. The lock ring includes a ring member and a housing carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. The housing may be separate housings carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. A lock is insertable into mated first and second housing members in one of a plurality of variably selectable positions that vary the circumference of the ring member to accommodate varied circumferences of watthour meters, meter socket adapters and meter socket enclosure cover mounting rings. Finger grips are formed on the housing members to facilitate closure of the housing. A plurality of axially spaced grooves are formed in one of the members for receiving lock members carried by the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson
  • Patent number: 7458846
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes a housing having internal jaw contacts and external blade terminals. A power switch is electrically connected between the jaw contacts and the blade terminals. A rocker member on the power switch faces a side of the housing. An actuator is mounted in the housing and has a first end coupled to the rocker member for simultaneous movement of the rocker member and the actuator. A second end of the actuator extends through an aperture in the side of the housing allowing external manipulation of the actuator and the rocker member to indicate and/or manipulate the on and off state of the power switch. An electrically insulating safety shield may be mounted over the exposed portions of the jaw contacts and the conducting elements in the housing. Optional lock features may be provided to lock the actuator in the “on” or “off” positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Loehr, Darrell Robinson, Allen Pruehs
  • Publication number: 20080266761
    Abstract: A lock ring for use in mounting a watthour meter, meter socket enclosure cover or a watthour meter socket adapter to each other. The lock ring includes a ring member and a housing carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. The housing may be separate housings carried on the first and second ends of the ring member. A lock is insertable into mated first and second housing members in one of a plurality of variably selectable positions that vary the circumference of the ring member to accommodate varied circumferences of watthour meters, meter socket adapters and meter socket enclosure cover mounting rings. Finger grips are formed on the housing members to facilitate closure of the housing. A plurality of axially spaced grooves are formed in one of the members for receiving lock members carried by the lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: EKSTROM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson
  • Publication number: 20080180885
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter includes a housing having internal jaw contacts and external blade terminals. A power switch is electrically connected between the jaw contacts and the blade terminals. A rocker member on the power switch faces a side of the housing. An actuator is mounted in the housing and has a first end coupled to the rocker member for simultaneous movement of the rocker member and the actuator. A second end of the actuator extends through an aperture in the side of the housing allowing external manipulation of the actuator and the rocker member to indicate and/or manipulate the on and off state of the power switch. An electrically insulating safety shield may be mounted over the exposed portions of the jaw contacts and the conducting elements in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: EKSTROM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Karl Loehr, Darrell Robinson, Allen Pruehs
  • Patent number: 7315442
    Abstract: An external wire coupler is attachable to a housing of an electrical service apparatus mountable in a watthour meter socket by a slide-in or snap-in connection. An access control member is carried within the coupler for controlling access through the coupler to the interior of the socket adapter. A cover may be releasibly attached to an open end of the coupler to close access to the interior of the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson
  • Patent number: 7232335
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter carries rigid conductors extending from a connection to jaw contacts in a housing, the conductors mounting the socket adapter between the lower load mounting connections and the upper line mounting connections in a meter fitting to define an in-service metering position where the socket adapter and the watthour meter are disposed in the normal out-of-service, non-metering position in the meter fitting. The socket adapter housing is spaced from a ground terminal insulating block mounted over a ground terminal in the meter fitting. In another aspect, a plurality of current transformers are carried on a plate which mounts in an existing K-series meter fitting line and load terminal connections footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen V. Preuhs, Darrell Robinson, Christophor D. Napier, Gregory L. Zook
  • Patent number: 7189109
    Abstract: A watthour meter has, in one aspect, a flexible seal with a locking head carried on the meter base and a strap extending from the head and disposable in a loop around and through apertures in juxtaposed mounting flanges of the meter base and the meter dome to lockably join the dome and base. A tamper detector is carried on a blade moveably extending through the base. Movement of the blade during separation of the meter from the meter socket jaw contacts triggers the tamper detector. A connecting pin extends through aligned openings in the base and the dome to non-separably join the base and the dome. The pin engages a tamper signaling switch to provide an indication of a change of in pin state during a tamper event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson
  • Patent number: 7153157
    Abstract: An electrically insulated body carries one of more jaw members which are mountable over threaded terminals in a meter socket to provide a bypass connection between line and load socket terminals to enable a watthour meter to be removed and reinstalled relative to the socket. In another aspect, the jaw members are coupled to an electrically conductive member. A handle extends from the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Karl R. Loehr
  • Publication number: 20060258204
    Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter carries rigid conductors extending from a connection to jaw contacts in a housing, the conductors mounting the socket adapter between the lower load mounting connections and the upper line mounting connections in a meter fitting to define an in-service metering position where the socket adapter and the watthour meter are disposed in the normal out-of-service, non-metering position in the meter fitting. The socket adapter housing is spaced from a ground terminal insulating block mounted over a ground terminal in the meter fitting. In another aspect, a plurality of current transformers are carried on a plate which mounts in an existing K-series meter fitting line and load terminal connections footprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Preuhs, Darrell Robinson, Christophor Napier, Gregory Zook
  • Publication number: 20060160413
    Abstract: An electrically insulated body carries one of more jaw members which are mountable over threaded terminals in a meter socket to provide a bypass connection between line and load socket terminals to enable a watthour meter to be removed and reinstalled relative to the socket. In another aspect, the jaw members are coupled to an electrically conductive member. A handle extends from the conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Robinson, Karl Loehr
  • Publication number: 20060082955
    Abstract: An external wire coupler is attachable to a housing of an electrical service apparatus mountable in a watthour meter socket by a slide-in or snap-in connection. An access control member is carried within the coupler for controlling access through the coupler to the interior of the socket adapter. A cover may be releasibly attached to an open end of the coupler to close access to the interior of the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20050122094
    Abstract: A watthour meter has, in one aspect, a flexible seal with a locking head carried on the meter base and a strap extending from the head and disposable in a loop around and through apertures in juxtaposed mounting flanges of the meter base and the meter dome to lockably join the dome and base. A tamper detector is carried on a blade moveably extending through the base. Movement of the blade during separation of the meter from the meter socket jaw contacts triggers the tamper detector. A connecting pin extends through aligned openings in the base and the dome to non-separably join the base and the dome. The pin engages a tamper signaling switch to provide an indication of a change of in pin state during a tamper event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson
  • Patent number: D642536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Ekstrom Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Robinson