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Electrical energy meter with snap fit interlocking parts

  • US 5,966,010 A
  • Filed: 02/09/1998
  • Issued: 10/12/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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.

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