Granted Patent B2

US 12,372,392 · App. 18/169,305 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Inventor: Robert W. Huddleston (Twelve Mile, IN)

Assignee: The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.

G01F15/185F16K27/067

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A meter box comprising:

a first coupling;

wherein the first coupling extends from interior to exterior of the meter box; and

a second coupling;

wherein the second coupling extends from the interior to the exterior of the meter box opposite the first coupling;

wherein ends of each of the first coupling and the second coupling form a space there between within the meter box configured and sized sufficient to receive a fluid meter;

wherein the first coupling includes a coupling body that is in fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the meter box;

wherein the first coupling includes an extension assembly;

wherein the extension assembly includes a neck that is in fluid communication with the coupling body;

wherein the neck of the extension assembly is linearly movable with respect to the coupling body and configured to selectively create a space between the extension assembly and the fluid meter; and

wherein the space is sufficient to allow the fluid meter to be installed or removed between the first coupling and the second coupling.

2. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the extension assembly includes a collar, a portion of which is spaced apart from the neck with a slot located therebetween, wherein a portion of the coupling body is located within the slot.

3. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the extension assembly includes a flange located at an end of the neck and extending transverse to the neck, wherein the flange is sized and configured to abut a corresponding flange on the fluid meter.

4. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the extension assembly includes a collar, a portion of which is spaced apart from the neck with a slot located therebetween, wherein a portion of the coupling body is located within the slot, wherein an O-ring is located about an outer surface of the neck, and wherein the O-ring is sandwiched between the outer surface of the neck and an inner surface of the coupling body.

5. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the extension assembly includes a collar, a portion of which is spaced apart from the neck with a slot located therebetween, wherein a portion of the coupling body is located within the slot, a snap ring extending from the collar to engage the portion of the coupling body located within the slot to limit movement of the extension assembly a predetermined distance.

6. The meter box of claim 5 , wherein the portion of the coupling body located within the slot includes a tab that engages the snap ring when the predetermined distance has been reached.

7. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the coupling body includes a stop surface that limits movement of the neck.

8. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling includes a coupling body that is in fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the meter box, wherein the second coupling includes an extension assembly, wherein the extension assembly of the second coupling includes a neck that is in fluid communication with the coupling body of the second coupling, wherein the neck of the second coupling is linearly movable with respect to the coupling body of the second coupling and configured to selectively create a space.

9. The meter box of claim 8 , wherein the extension assembly of the second coupling includes a collar, a portion of which is spaced apart from the neck with a slot located therebetween, wherein a portion of the coupling body of the second coupling is located within the slot.

10. The meter box of claim 4 , wherein a slot is located about the outer surface of the neck, and wherein the O-ring is located within that slot and engages the inner surface of the coupling body.

11. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling includes a valve assembly.

12. The meter box of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling includes a valve assembly.

13. A meter box comprising:

a first coupling;

wherein the first coupling is located adjacent the meter box; and

a second coupling;

wherein the second coupling is located adjacent the meter box;

wherein the first coupling includes a coupling body;

wherein the first coupling includes an extension assembly;

wherein the extension assembly includes a neck that is in fluid communication with the coupling body;

wherein the neck of the extension assembly is movable with respect to the coupling body and configured to selectively create a space; and

wherein the space is sufficient to allow a fluid meter to be installed or removed between the first coupling and the second coupling.

14. The meter box of claim 13 , wherein the second coupling extends from interior to exterior of the meter box opposite the first coupling.

15. The meter box of claim 13 , wherein the first coupling extends from interior to exterior of the meter box.

16. The meter box of claim 15 , wherein ends of each of the first coupling and the second coupling form the space therebetween within the meter box configured and sized sufficient to receive the fluid meter.

17. The meter box of claim 13 , wherein the extension assembly includes a collar, a portion of which is spaced apart from the neck with a slot located therebetween, and wherein a portion of the coupling body is located within the slot.

18. The meter box of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the coupling body located within the slot includes a tab that engages a snap ring when a predetermined distance has been reached.

19. A meter box comprising:

a first coupling;

wherein the first coupling is located adjacent the meter box;

wherein the first coupling includes a coupling body;

wherein the first coupling includes an extension assembly;

wherein the extension assembly includes a neck that is in fluid communication with the coupling body;

wherein the neck of the extension assembly is movable with respect to the coupling body and configured to selectively create a space;

wherein the extension assembly includes a collar, a portion of which is spaced apart from the neck with a slot located therebetween, wherein a portion of the coupling body is located within the slot; and

wherein the space is sufficient to allow a fluid meter to be installed or removed between the first coupling and the second coupling.

20. The meter box of claim 19 , further comprising a second coupling located adjacent the meter box.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (23)