초록 ▼

An assembly for enclosing and protecting a plurality of meters for storage or transportation purposes and carrier and pallet for use therein are provided. The assembly includes a plurality of carriers. Each of the carriers includes a base unit having upper and lower surfaces for receiving and retain

An assembly for enclosing and protecting a plurality of meters for storage or transportation purposes and carrier and pallet for use therein are provided. The assembly includes a plurality of carriers. Each of the carriers includes a base unit having upper and lower surfaces for receiving and retaining a plurality of meters in a predetermined spaced relationship thereon and a cover unit movable between a closed position for enclosing, protecting and immobilizing the meters within the base unit and an open position to allow storage or retrieval of one or more meters to or from the base unit, respectively. The assembly also includes a pallet having a load-bearing, upper surface and a tine-engaging, lower surface and an array of apertures extending between the load-bearing, upper surface and tine-engaging, lower surface for receiving and retaining lower portions of the meters in the predetermined spaced relationship thereon when the carriers are supported on the load-bearing, upper surface of the pallet.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An assembly for enclosing and protecting a plurality of meters for storage or transportation purposes, the assembly comprising:a plurality of carriers, each of the carriers including a base unit having upper and lower surfaces for receiving and retaining a plurality of meters in a predetermined s

1. An assembly for enclosing and protecting a plurality of meters for storage or transportation purposes, the assembly comprising:a plurality of carriers, each of the carriers including a base unit having upper and lower surfaces for receiving and retaining a plurality of meters in a predetermined spaced relationship thereon and a cover unit and a connector that connects the cover unit to the base unit for movement between a closed position for enclosing, protecting and immobilizing the meters within the base unit and an open position to allow storage or retrieval of one or more meters to or from the base unit, respectively; anda pallet having a load-bearing, upper surface and a tine-engaging, lower surface and an array of apertures extending between the load-bearing, upper surface and tine-engaging, lower surface for receiving and retaining lower portions of the meters in the predetermined spaced relationship thereon when the carriers are supported on the load-bearing, upper surface of the pallet. 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base unit is a composite base unit of the sandwich-type having a cellular core. 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cover unit is a composite cover unit of the sandwich-type having a cellular core and wherein the base and cover units have a common skin of reinforced thermoplastics material. 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the connector includes a hinge for hingedly connecting the cover unit to the base unit wherein a portion of the common skin forms the hinge. 5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base unit includes an array of holes extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the base unit and wherein the meters are received and retained within the holes so that lower portions of the meters are suspended below the lower surface of the base unit. 6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the array of holes and the array of apertures are aligned when the carriers are supported on the load-bearing, upper surface of the pallet. 7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pallet is of the sandwich-type having a cellular core. 8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of spaced, holding devices extending upwardly from the load-bearing, upper surface for holding the plurality of carriers on the load-bearing, upper surface. 9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the meters are utility meters. 10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the utility meters are electric utility meters. 11. A carrier for carrying a plurality of meters therein, the carrier comprising:a base unit having upper and lower surfaces for receiving and retaining a plurality of meters in a predetermined spaced relationship thereon;a cover unit and a connector that connects the cover unit to the base unit for movement between a closed position for enclosing, protecting and immobilizing the meters within the base unit and an open position to allow storage or retrieval of one or more meters to or from the base unit, respectively; anda mechanism for alternatively fastening or unfastening the cover unit to or from the base unit, respectively. 12. The carrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the base unit is a composite base unit of the sandwich-type having a cellular core. 13. The carrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cover unit is a composite cover unit of the sandwich-type having a cellular core and wherein the base and cover units have a common skin of reinforced thermoplastics material. 14. The carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein the connector includes a hinge for hingedly connecting the cover unit to the base unit wherein a portion of the common skin forms the hinge. 15. The carrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein one of the base unit and the cover unit provides an integrally-formed carrying handle. 16. The carrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the base unit includes an array of holes extending between the upper and lower surfaces wherein the meters are received and retained within the holes so that lower portions of the meters are suspended below the lower surface of the base unit. 17. A pallet of the sandwich-type having a cellular core, the pallet comprising:a substantially flat deck having upper and lower surfaces and front, back and side edges and including:a load-bearing skin made of reinforced thermoplastics material;at least one grid of reinforcing slats;a cellular core made of a thermoplastics material; anda tine-engaging skin made of a reinforced thermoplastics material; the at least one grid of reinforcing slats being positioned at predetermined places against at least one skin; andat least one support for supporting the deck so that tines can lift and support the pallet at the tine-engaging skin wherein the deck further includes an array of apertures extending between the upper and lower surfaces and configured to receive and retain lower portions of the meters in a predetermined spaced relationship therein. 18. The pallet as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a plurality of spaced, holding devices extending upwardly from the upper surface of the deck for holding a plurality of meter-carrying carriers supported on the upper surface of the deck. 19. The pallet as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pallet is nestable. 20. The pallet as claimed in claim 17 wherein the deck includes upper and lower grids of reinforcing slats positioned symmetrically with respect to a plane formed by the cellular core at predetermined places against the skins and the cellular core.