Electrical energy meter with snap fit interlocking parts
First Claim
1. An electrical energy meter with snap fit interlocking parts for ease in assembly comprising a current sensor assembly comprising an annular current sensor having a central opening, a plurality of current conductors extending through the central opening in said current sensor, and a plurality of meter blades attached to the ends of said current conductors, each of said meter blades having notches on opposite edges thereof;
- a thermoplastic meter base having a plurality of keyhole slots therethrough corresponding to the plurality of meter blades, each of said slots having a first section shaped to receive a meter blade and an adjacent narrow section shaped to receive the spaced notches on the meter blades to prevent the meter blades from moving axially of the base;
a thermoplastic retainer having a plurality of meter blade lock keys shaped to fit within the first sections of said plurality of slots through said meter base, two pairs of thermoplastic snap posts projecting from said retainer and positioned between opposed pairs of meter blade lock keys, each of said retainer snap posts having hook shaped ends adapted to snap fit within corresponding openings in said meter base to lock said retainer and said meter base together, an insulation blade post projecting from a central portion of said retainer for extension through said current sensor and between said current conductors to provide electrical insulation between said current conductors, said meter base having a plurality of integral posts projecting therefrom and extending through corresponding openings in said retainer, said base posts having first and second level snap structure adjacent the outer ends thereof, said first level snap structure shaped to support a circuit board of said electrical energy meter and said second level snap structure shaped to support a name plate, a circuit board supported on said first level snap structure, a name plate supported on said second level snap structure, a pair of spaced notches on the periphery of said circuit board, and a radio communications antenna having openings in the opposite ends thereof for attachment to said notches on the periphery of said circuit board.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical energy meter is provided with snap fit interlocking parts that eliminate the need for screws or fasteners. The current sensor, located within the meter, has a plurality of current conductors and a notched blade attached to each current conductor that functions as an interlocking component to the meter base without the need for additional fasteners. A circuit board used by the meter is attached to a plurality of integral posts projecting from the base and the periphery of the circuit board has a pair of spaced notches for connection to the ends of a radial communications antenna without the requirement for additional hardware.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electrical energy meter with snap fit interlocking parts for ease in assembly comprising a current sensor assembly comprising an annular current sensor having a central opening, a plurality of current conductors extending through the central opening in said current sensor, and a plurality of meter blades attached to the ends of said current conductors, each of said meter blades having notches on opposite edges thereof;
- a thermoplastic meter base having a plurality of keyhole slots therethrough corresponding to the plurality of meter blades, each of said slots having a first section shaped to receive a meter blade and an adjacent narrow section shaped to receive the spaced notches on the meter blades to prevent the meter blades from moving axially of the base;
a thermoplastic retainer having a plurality of meter blade lock keys shaped to fit within the first sections of said plurality of slots through said meter base, two pairs of thermoplastic snap posts projecting from said retainer and positioned between opposed pairs of meter blade lock keys, each of said retainer snap posts having hook shaped ends adapted to snap fit within corresponding openings in said meter base to lock said retainer and said meter base together, an insulation blade post projecting from a central portion of said retainer for extension through said current sensor and between said current conductors to provide electrical insulation between said current conductors, said meter base having a plurality of integral posts projecting therefrom and extending through corresponding openings in said retainer, said base posts having first and second level snap structure adjacent the outer ends thereof, said first level snap structure shaped to support a circuit board of said electrical energy meter and said second level snap structure shaped to support a name plate, a circuit board supported on said first level snap structure, a name plate supported on said second level snap structure, a pair of spaced notches on the periphery of said circuit board, and a radio communications antenna having openings in the opposite ends thereof for attachment to said notches on the periphery of said circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- a thermoplastic meter base having a plurality of keyhole slots therethrough corresponding to the plurality of meter blades, each of said slots having a first section shaped to receive a meter blade and an adjacent narrow section shaped to receive the spaced notches on the meter blades to prevent the meter blades from moving axially of the base;
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8. An electrical energy meter with snap fit interlocking parts for ease in assembly comprising a current sensor assembly comprising at least one annular current sensor having a central opening, a plurality of current conductors, at least one current conductor extending through the central opening in said current sensor, and a plurality of meter blades attached to said current conductors, each of said meter blades having notches on opposite edges thereof;
- a thermoplastic meter base having a plurality of keyhole slots therethrough corresponding to the plurality of meter blades, each of said slots having a first section shaped to receive a meter blade and an adjacent narrow section shaped to receive the spaced notches on the meter blades to prevent the meter blades from moving axially of the base;
said meter base having a plurality of integral posts projecting therefrom, said base posts having snap structure adjacent the outer ends thereof, said snap structure shaped to support a circuit board of said electrical energy meter, a circuit board supported on said snap structure, a pair of spaced notches on the periphery of said circuit board, and a radio communications antenna having openings in the opposite ends thereof for attachment to said notches on the periphery of said circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a thermoplastic meter base having a plurality of keyhole slots therethrough corresponding to the plurality of meter blades, each of said slots having a first section shaped to receive a meter blade and an adjacent narrow section shaped to receive the spaced notches on the meter blades to prevent the meter blades from moving axially of the base;
Specification