Watthour meter socket adapter with auxiliary component mounts

• US 6,443,761 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ekstrom Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Robinson, Darrell, Pruehs, Allen V.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/998,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 439/517, 439/508, 361/662, 361/668, 361/667, 361/669, 361/747, 361/756
• US Class Current: 439/517
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/55 characterised by the terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/113 co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A support receives an auxiliary component, like a circuit board, in a non-interferingly manner with electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket adapter housing. In one aspect, the support includes legs carrying conductive elements formed on the circuit board and extending through apertures in the base of the housing for electrical connection external of the socket adapter. In another aspect, a circuit board is provided with contacts along one edge which form spring jaws for receiving a terminal. A conductive tab on the circuit board resiliently completes an electrical circuit between a contact in the housing and a circuit or electrical component on the circuit board.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting auxiliary electrical components in a watthour meter socket adapter having a base wall and a sidewall projecting from the base wall, a plurality of apertures formed in the base wall, the apparatus comprising:

a circuit board carrying an electrical component;

first and second legs projecting from the circuit board;

an electrically conductive element carried on each leg, the electrically conductive element on each leg adapted to be insertable through one of the apertures in the base wall of a watthour meter socket adapter for electrical connection external of the base wall; and

at least one of the electrically conductive elements on the legs electrically connected to the electrical component on the circuit board.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the electrically conductive element on the at least one leg comprises an electrically conductive foil fixedly mounted on the at least one leg.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive member on the leg comprises:

an electrically conductive plate overlaying the one leg.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electrically conductive plate forms the leg projecting from the circuit board.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an open ended notch formed on at least one side of the circuit board; and

a surge ground conductor mounted on the sidewall of the watthour meter socket adapter, the surge ground conductor having a tab movable into engagement with the open ended notch in the circuit board to fixedly mount the circuit board in the watthour meter socket adapter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one leg on the circuit board comprises:

a pair of spaced legs projecting from one edge of the printed circuit board; and

electrically conductive elements carried on each of the pair of legs.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising;

open ended notches formed on opposed edges of the circuit board;

a pair of diametrically opposed surge ground conductors mounted on the sidewall of the watthour meter socket adapter, each surge ground conductor having a tab bendable into engagement with one notch in the circuit board to fixedly mount the circuit board in the watthour meter socket adapter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical contact carried on the circuit board for receiving a terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrical contact comprises:

first and second contact clips fixedly mounted on the circuit board and having spaced ends defining a spring jaw therebetween for receiving a terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrical contact comprises:

an electrical conductive element fixedly carried on the circuit board; and

one contact clip fixedly mounted on the circuit board and having one end spaced from the conductive element to define a spring jaw therebetween for receiving a terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a circuit board carrying an electrically conductive circuit; and

an electrically conductive tab carried on the circuit board and adapted to biasingly engage an electrical contact mounted in the housing to complete an electrical connection between the electrically conductive circuit on the circuit board and the electrical contact in the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the tab is formed of a spring metal.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the tab projects outwardly from the circuit board and is resiliently formed to be biased into contact with an electrical contact mounted in the housing.

14. An apparatus for mounting auxiliary electrical components in a watthour meter socket adapter having a base wall and a sidewall projecting from the base wall, a plurality of apertures formed in the base wall, the apparatus comprising:

a circuit board carrying an electrical component, the circuit board disposed within the socket adapter substantially perpendicular to the base wall;

an open ended notch formed on at least one side of the circuit board; and

a surge ground conductor mounted on the sidewall of the watthour meter socket adapter, the surge ground conductor having a tab disposed at one end bendable into engagement with the open notch in the circuit board to fixedly mount the circuit board in the watthour meter socket adapter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

at least one leg projecting from the circuit board, the at least one leg insertable through one of the apertures in the base wall of the socket adapter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one leg in the circuit board comprises:

a pair of spaced legs projecting from one edge of the printed circuit board; and

electrically conductive elements carried on each of the pair of legs.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

open ended notches formed on opposed edges of the circuit board;

a pair of diametrically opposed surge ground conductors mounted on the sidewall of the watthour meter socket adapter, each surge ground conductor having a tab bendable into engagement with one notch in the circuit board to fixedly mount the circuit board in the watthour meter socket adapter.

18. An apparatus for mounting auxiliary electrical components in a watthour meter socket adapter having a housing including a base wall, a plurality of apertures formed in the base wall for receiving terminals extendable through the base wall, the apparatus comprising:

a circuit board carrying an electrical component, the circuit board disposed within the watthour meter socket adapter housing; and

an electrical contact carried on a circuit board for receiving a blade terminal in a snap-in connection.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a circuit board carrying an electrical component;

first and second legs projecting from the circuit board;

an electrically conductive element carried on each leg, the electrically conductive element on each leg adapted to be insertable through one of the apertures in the base wall of a watthour meter socket adapter for electrical connection external of the base wall; and

at least one of the electrically conductive elements on the legs electrically connected to the electrical component on the circuit board.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the electrical contact comprises:

first and second contact clips fixedly mounted on the circuit board and having spaced ends defining a spring jaw therebetween for receiving a terminal.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the electrical contact comprises:

an electrical conductive element fixedly carried on the circuit board; and

one contact clip fixedly mounted on the circuit board and having one end spaced from the conductive element to define a spring jaw therebetween for receiving a terminal.

22. An apparatus for mounting auxiliary electrical components in a watthour meter socket adapter having a housing including a base wall, a plurality of apertures formed in the base wall for receiving terminals extendable through the base wall, the apparatus comprising:

the circuit board mounted within the housing; and

an electrically conductive tab carried on the circuit board and adapted to biasingly engage an electrical contact mounted in the housing to complete an electrical connection between the electrically conductive circuit on the circuit board and the electrical contact in the housing.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the tab is formed of a spring metal.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

the tab projects outwardly from the circuit board and is resiliently formed to be biased into contact with an electrical contact mounted in the housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

at least one leg projecting from the circuit board externally of the housing.