Watthour meter socket adapter with auxiliary component mounts

• US 6,589,072 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• 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:
  US09/998,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 439/517, 439/508, 361/662, 361/667, 361/668, 361/741, 361/756, 361/663, 361/669
• 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 supports 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, slots are formed in posts and receive opposed ends of the circuit board. An end support post having an outwardly projecting, downwardly inclined top surface provides a snap connection of the circuit board to the housing.

Claims

1. A watthour meter socket adapter comprising;

a housing having a base wall and a one-piece sidewall extending from the base wall, a opening formed by the sidewall opposed from the base wall;

a circuit board; and

at least one support carried on the base wall and projecting therefrom, the support having spaced, opposed portions adapted to receive a portion of the circuit board inserted through the opening in the sidewall to support the circuit board in a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the base wall.

2. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 1 wherein the support comprises:

two pairs of supports carried on and projecting from the base wall, each pair of supports formed of first and second support members spaced apart and adapted to receive a portion of a circuit board therebetween.

3. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein:

each of the first and second support members are unitarily formed as a one piece part of the housing.

4. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one support is unitary with the base wall of the housing.

5. A watthour meter socket adapter including a housing having a base wall and a sidewall extending from the base wall, the socket adapter comprising:

a support carried in the housing for supporting a circuit board in the housing, the support including;

two pairs of tubular members carried on the base wall and projecting therefrom, each pair of tubular members having first and second tubular members adapted to receive a portion of a circuit board therebetween to support the circuit board in a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the base wall.

6. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 5 wherein the tubular member defines a post having an end spaced from the base wall of the housing.

7. A watthour meter socket adapter including a housing having a base wall and a sidewall extending from the base wall, the socket adapter comprising:

a support carried in the housing for supporting a circuit board in the housing, the support including;

two pairs of supports carried on the base wall and projecting therefrom, each pair of supports having first and second support members adapted to receive a portion of a circuit board therebetween to support the circuit board in a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the base wall; and

an end support member disposed adjacent each of the first and second support members, the end support member adapted to engage an end edge of a circuit board.

8. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 7 wherein the end support member comprises:

an elongated post projecting from the base wall of the housing;

a top surface of the post inclined from a first outermost end contiguous with the post to an inner end projecting outward from the post to define a recess between an inner end of the top surface and the post; and

the top surface adapted to engage an end edge of a circuit board in a snap-together connection.

9. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 8 further comprising:

a slot formed in the top surface of the end support member and having an open end contiguous with the inner end of the top surface, the slot adapted to receive an end portion of a circuit board.

10. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 7 wherein:

the end support member is adapted to engage an end edge of a circuit board in a snap together connection.

11. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 7 wherein:

the end support member is adapted to engage a notch formed in a side edge of a circuit board to fixedly mount the circuit board on the base wall in a snap together, releasable connection.

12. A watthour meter socket adapter including a housing having a base wall and a sidewall extending from the base wall, the socket adapter comprising:

a support carried in the housing for supporting a circuit board in the housing, the support including;

four pairs of supports carried on the base wall and projecting therefrom, each pair of supports formed of a first innermost and a second outermost support members spaced apart on the base wall and arranged in a polygonal configuration adapted to receive a portion of a circuit board therebetween to support the circuit board in a substantially perpendicular orientation with respect to the base wall;

the first innermost support member of each pair of supports having an outer end spaced from the base wall a shorter distance than an outer end of the second outermost support member of the respective pair of supports; and

a circuit board supported on the outer end of each of the first innermost support members in a generally parallel orientation with respect to the base wall of the housing.

13. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 12 further comprising:

an end support member disposed adjacent each of the pairs of supports, the end support member engaging an end edge of a circuit board supported between the pair of support members.

14. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 13 further comprising:

the recess in the end support member receiving one edge of a circuit board.

15. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 14 wherein the end support member comprises:

an elongated post projecting from the base wall of the housing;

a top surface of the post inclined from a first outermost end contiguous with the post to an inner end projecting outward from the post to define a recess between the inner end of the top surface and the post; and

the top surface engaged with an end edge of a circuit board in a snap-together connection.

16. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 14 wherein:

the first and second support members and the end support member cooperate to non-movably mount a circuit board in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the base wall of the housing.