Watthour meter socket adapter with auxiliary component mounts

• US 6,592,399 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• 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:
  US09/998,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 439/517, 439/508, 361/662, 361/667, 361/668, 361/669, 361/741, 361/756, 361/663
• 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, access is provided through the socket adapter to an electrical component mounted on the circuit board for external control of the component through the aperture in the socket adapter. The supports also releasably receive flanges on electrical components for direct mounting of the components.

Claims

1. A watthour meter socket adapter comprising:

a housing having a base wall and a one-piece unitary sidewall extending from the base wall defining an opening at an end opposed from the base;

at least one support carried in the housing, the support defining an open-ended slot;

a circuit board, an electrical component mounted on the circuit board,

means, carryingly cooperating with the circuit board, for mounting the circuit board through the opening in the housing in releasable engagement with the slot in the at least one support; and

an aperture formed in one of the base wall and the sidewall of the housing exposing the electrical component for external manipulation through the aperture.

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

the electrical component is a timer carried on the circuit board, the timer having exteriorly accessible time adjustment switches; and

wherein

the timer is mounted on the circuit board to allow access to time adjustment switches on the timer through the aperture in the housing of the watthour meter socket adapter when the circuit board is mounted in the support.

3. A watthour meter socket adapter comprising:

a housing having a base wall and a one-piece, unitary side wall extending from the base wall, the side wall defining an opening at an end opposed from the base wall;

at least one support carried in the housing, the support defining an open ended slot;

an electrical component mounted in the housing; and

means, carryingly cooperating with the electrical component, for supporting the component through the opening in the housing in releasable engagement with the slot in the at least one support.