CA2294653A1 - Watthour meter socket adapter with safety shield - Google Patents
Watthour meter socket adapter with safety shield Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2294653A1 CA2294653A1 CA 2294653 CA2294653A CA2294653A1 CA 2294653 A1 CA2294653 A1 CA 2294653A1 CA 2294653 CA2294653 CA 2294653 CA 2294653 A CA2294653 A CA 2294653A CA 2294653 A1 CA2294653 A1 CA 2294653A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- watthour meter
- socket adapter
- shield
- meter socket
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Abstract
A safety shield for a watthour meter socket adapter in the form of an enclosure surrounding the jaw blades of the socket adapter. Latch means are formed on the housing and the enclosure for releasibly mounting the enclosure in the housing in a snap-in connection. A
plurality of legs project from the enclosure and are releasibly engagable through apertures in the housing.
Alternately, spring fingers extend inward from surge ground conductors to engage recesses in the safety shield to fixedly mount the safety shield in the socket adapter.
A coupler receives a separate jaw contact and a separate blade terminal in a unitary construction while isolating the jaw contact from the blade terminal.
plurality of legs project from the enclosure and are releasibly engagable through apertures in the housing.
Alternately, spring fingers extend inward from surge ground conductors to engage recesses in the safety shield to fixedly mount the safety shield in the socket adapter.
A coupler receives a separate jaw contact and a separate blade terminal in a unitary construction while isolating the jaw contact from the blade terminal.
Claims (37)
1. A watthour meter socket adapter having a housing including a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the base wall and releasibly receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter and removably insertable into electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket, the socket adapter comprising:
a shield for covering substantially all of the exposed portions of the electrical contacts within the socket adapter, the shield having at least one aperture alignable with one electrical contact for receiving a blade terminal into engagement with one electrical contact; and means, cooperatively formed on the housing and the shield, for mounting the shield in the housing in a snap-in connection.
a shield for covering substantially all of the exposed portions of the electrical contacts within the socket adapter, the shield having at least one aperture alignable with one electrical contact for receiving a blade terminal into engagement with one electrical contact; and means, cooperatively formed on the housing and the shield, for mounting the shield in the housing in a snap-in connection.
2. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises:
a plurality of apertures formed in the housing;
a plurality of legs projecting from the shield;
and a latch element carried on each leg releasibly engagable in one aperture in the housing.
a plurality of apertures formed in the housing;
a plurality of legs projecting from the shield;
and a latch element carried on each leg releasibly engagable in one aperture in the housing.
3. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein the latch element is a projection has a latch surface disposed at an angle with respect to each leg.
4. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein:
each leg cantilevers from a sidewall of the shield.
each leg cantilevers from a sidewall of the shield.
5. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein the shield further comprises:
a pair of flanges projecting oppositely from a sidewall of the shield; and the legs projecting from each flange.
a pair of flanges projecting oppositely from a sidewall of the shield; and the legs projecting from each flange.
6. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 5 wherein:
each flange extends substantially perpendicularly from a sidewall of the shield; and each leg extends angularly from each flange.
each flange extends substantially perpendicularly from a sidewall of the shield; and each leg extends angularly from each flange.
7. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 6 wherein the apertures are formed in the base wall of the housing.
8. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein:
the shield has four contiguous sidewall portions connected at interjoined corners; and one leg disposed on and projecting from each corner.
the shield has four contiguous sidewall portions connected at interjoined corners; and one leg disposed on and projecting from each corner.
9. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein the apertures are formed along the sidewall of the housing and spaced from the base wall.
10. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 9 further comprising:
at least two apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing, each having a latch projection formed therein; and at least two legs projecting from the shield, the latch element being a latch aperture formed in each of the two legs releasibly engagable with one projection in one aperture in the housing.
at least two apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing, each having a latch projection formed therein; and at least two legs projecting from the shield, the latch element being a latch aperture formed in each of the two legs releasibly engagable with one projection in one aperture in the housing.
11. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 10 wherein the at least two apertures and the at least two legs on the shield comprise:
four apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing and four legs projecting from the shield.
four apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing and four legs projecting from the shield.
12. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 11 wherein the four apertures in the housing and the four legs on the shield are arranged in two diagonally opposed pairs.
13. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 10 further comprising:
an annular mounting flange extending exteriorly of the sidewall of the housing and spaced from the base wall;
a cavity formed between the mounting flange and the sidewall; and the apertures mounted in the sidewall in communication with the cavity.
an annular mounting flange extending exteriorly of the sidewall of the housing and spaced from the base wall;
a cavity formed between the mounting flange and the sidewall; and the apertures mounted in the sidewall in communication with the cavity.
14. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 1 further comprising:
a sidewall of the shield spaced from the adjacent sidewall of the housing; and means, formed in the housing in the internal cavity, for supporting a circuit board in the internal cavity.
a sidewall of the shield spaced from the adjacent sidewall of the housing; and means, formed in the housing in the internal cavity, for supporting a circuit board in the internal cavity.
15. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 14 wherein the supporting means comprises:
a pair of spaced slots formed in the housing for supporting opposite ends of a circuit board.
a pair of spaced slots formed in the housing for supporting opposite ends of a circuit board.
16. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 14 wherein the supporting means comprises:
a plurality of pairs of slots formed in the housing in a plurality of internal cavities formed between the shield and the sidewall of the housing.
a plurality of pairs of slots formed in the housing in a plurality of internal cavities formed between the shield and the sidewall of the housing.
17. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 15 wherein:
the supporting means supports the circuit board in a perpendicular orientation from the base wall of the housing.
the supporting means supports the circuit board in a perpendicular orientation from the base wall of the housing.
18. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 15 further comprising:
the legs of the shield having a slot formed therein, the slot in each leg alignable with one of the pair of slots in the housing for engagement with a circuit board.
the legs of the shield having a slot formed therein, the slot in each leg alignable with one of the pair of slots in the housing for engagement with a circuit board.
19. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 14 wherein:
the shield has a peripheral flange projecting angularly from the sidewall of the shield, the peripheral flange engaging an edge of a circuit board mounted in the supporting means.
the shield has a peripheral flange projecting angularly from the sidewall of the shield, the peripheral flange engaging an edge of a circuit board mounted in the supporting means.
20. A watthour meter socket adapter having a housing including a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the base wall and releasibly receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter and removably insertable into electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket, the socket adapter comprising:
a shield for covering substantially all of the exposed portions of the electrical contacts within the socket adapter, the shield having at least one aperture alignable with one electrical contact for receiving a blade terminal into engagement with one electrical contact; and a raised boss formed on the shield at at least one electrical contact location and surrounding each aperture in the shield; and at least one portion of the raised boss having a freely movable end cantilevered from an opposite end contiguous with the shield, the end being pivotal inwardly toward the shield upon contact with a watthour meter inserted into the watthour meter socket adapter.
a shield for covering substantially all of the exposed portions of the electrical contacts within the socket adapter, the shield having at least one aperture alignable with one electrical contact for receiving a blade terminal into engagement with one electrical contact; and a raised boss formed on the shield at at least one electrical contact location and surrounding each aperture in the shield; and at least one portion of the raised boss having a freely movable end cantilevered from an opposite end contiguous with the shield, the end being pivotal inwardly toward the shield upon contact with a watthour meter inserted into the watthour meter socket adapter.
21. A watthour meter socket adapter having a housing including a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the base wall releasibly receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter and removably insertable into electrical contacts in a watthour meter socket, the socket adapter comprising:
a shield for covering substantially all of the exposed portions of the electrical contacts within the socket adapter, the shield having an outer wall with at least one aperture for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter therethrough to engage the blade terminal with the electrical contacts; and at least one surge ground conductor mountable on the sidewall of the watthour meter socket adapter, the surge ground conductor engaging the shield for releasibly mounting the safety in the housing of the watthour meter socket adapter.
a shield for covering substantially all of the exposed portions of the electrical contacts within the socket adapter, the shield having an outer wall with at least one aperture for receiving a blade terminal of a watthour meter therethrough to engage the blade terminal with the electrical contacts; and at least one surge ground conductor mountable on the sidewall of the watthour meter socket adapter, the surge ground conductor engaging the shield for releasibly mounting the safety in the housing of the watthour meter socket adapter.
22. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 21 wherein:
the shield has depending portions disposed adjacent to the base wall of the housing of a watthour meter socket adapter.
the shield has depending portions disposed adjacent to the base wall of the housing of a watthour meter socket adapter.
23. The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 21 wherein:
a receiving portion formed in the shield;
a finger cantilevered from the surge ground conductor and releasibly engagable with the receiving portion to lock the shield in the housing of a watthour meter socket adapter.
a receiving portion formed in the shield;
a finger cantilevered from the surge ground conductor and releasibly engagable with the receiving portion to lock the shield in the housing of a watthour meter socket adapter.
24. The watthour meter socket adapter of claims 21 further comprising:
another surge ground conductor disposed diametrically opposite from the one surge ground conductor on the sidewall of the housing;
another recess formed in the shield and each having a closed end; and at least one resilient finger cantilevered from the another surge ground conductor and releasibly engagable with the another recess to lock the shield in the housing.
another surge ground conductor disposed diametrically opposite from the one surge ground conductor on the sidewall of the housing;
another recess formed in the shield and each having a closed end; and at least one resilient finger cantilevered from the another surge ground conductor and releasibly engagable with the another recess to lock the shield in the housing.
25. In combination, a safety shield and a watthour meter socket adapter having a base and an annular sidewall extending therefrom, the combination comprising:
a plurality of electrical jaw contacts mountable on the base of the watthour meter socket adapter for receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter when the watthour meter is mated with the socket adapter;
each electrical contact having a base, an electrical conductor connector projecting from one end of the base, and three laterally spaced legs projecting from the base to outer ends, the outer end of an intermediate one of the legs projecting oppositely from the outer ends of two outer legs to define a jaw contact therebetween;
a plurality of support members extending from the base, a plurality of wall members extending from the base and spaced from the support members; and one electrical contact fixedly supported between one support member and one wall member.
a plurality of electrical jaw contacts mountable on the base of the watthour meter socket adapter for receiving blade terminals of a watthour meter when the watthour meter is mated with the socket adapter;
each electrical contact having a base, an electrical conductor connector projecting from one end of the base, and three laterally spaced legs projecting from the base to outer ends, the outer end of an intermediate one of the legs projecting oppositely from the outer ends of two outer legs to define a jaw contact therebetween;
a plurality of support members extending from the base, a plurality of wall members extending from the base and spaced from the support members; and one electrical contact fixedly supported between one support member and one wall member.
26. The combination of claim 25 further comprising:
recesses formed in each support member and each wall member for receiving one edge of the base of an electrical contact.
recesses formed in each support member and each wall member for receiving one edge of the base of an electrical contact.
27. The combination of claim 26 further comprising:
a plurality of apertures in the base of the socket adapter, one aperture associated with one electrical contact; and a blade terminal mounted in each aperture for connection to a watthour meter socket electrical contact when the socket adapter is mated to a watthour meter socket.
a plurality of apertures in the base of the socket adapter, one aperture associated with one electrical contact; and a blade terminal mounted in each aperture for connection to a watthour meter socket electrical contact when the socket adapter is mated to a watthour meter socket.
28. An electrical contact for a watthour meter socket adapter having a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall and a plurality of slots in the base wall for mounting individual electrical contacts therein, the electrical contact comprising:
an elongated substantially planar member having first and second opposed ends;
three laterally spaced legs projecting from the first end of the planar member to individual outer ends, the outer end of the intermediate one of the legs projecting oppositely from the planar terminal from the outer ends of the two laterally outer legs to define a jaw contact therebetween; and the second end of the planar member defining a blade terminal for electrical connection externally of the socket adapter.
an elongated substantially planar member having first and second opposed ends;
three laterally spaced legs projecting from the first end of the planar member to individual outer ends, the outer end of the intermediate one of the legs projecting oppositely from the planar terminal from the outer ends of the two laterally outer legs to define a jaw contact therebetween; and the second end of the planar member defining a blade terminal for electrical connection externally of the socket adapter.
29. In a watthour meter socket adapter having a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, an apertures in the base wall for receiving electrical contacts, the improvement comprising:
one separate jaw contact for receiving a blade terminal of an electrical apparatus;
one separate blade terminal for mounting through the one aperture in the base wall of the socket adapter; and a coupler receiving the one jaw contact and the one blade terminal in a unitary, isolated, relationship.
one separate jaw contact for receiving a blade terminal of an electrical apparatus;
one separate blade terminal for mounting through the one aperture in the base wall of the socket adapter; and a coupler receiving the one jaw contact and the one blade terminal in a unitary, isolated, relationship.
30. The improvement of claim 29 wherein the coupler electrically isolates the jaw contact from the blade terminal.
31. The improvement of claim 30 wherein:
the coupler is formed of a one-piece member of an electrically insulating material.
the coupler is formed of a one-piece member of an electrically insulating material.
32. The improvement of claim 29 wherein the coupler comprises:
a first end portion for receiving the jaw contact and a second end portion for receiving the blade terminal.
a first end portion for receiving the jaw contact and a second end portion for receiving the blade terminal.
33. The improvement of claim 32 further comprising:
an engagement member carried on the first portion of the coupler for releasibly engaging the jaw contact when the jaw contact is mounted in the first end portion of the coupler.
an engagement member carried on the first portion of the coupler for releasibly engaging the jaw contact when the jaw contact is mounted in the first end portion of the coupler.
34. A coupler for use with a watthour meter socket adapter having a housing including a base wall and an annular sidewall extending from the base wall, and a plurality of apertures in the base wall for receiving individual electrical contacts, the electrical contacts being in the form of at least one separate jaw contact and at least one separate blade terminal mountable in one aperture in the base wall, the coupler comprising:
a one piece body receiving the one jaw contact and the one blade terminal in a unitary, electrically isolated relationship.
a one piece body receiving the one jaw contact and the one blade terminal in a unitary, electrically isolated relationship.
35. The coupler of claim 34 wherein the coupler is formed of an electrically insulating material.
36. The coupler of claim 34 further comprising:
a first end portion for receiving the jaw contact and a second end portion for receiving the blade terminal.
a first end portion for receiving the jaw contact and a second end portion for receiving the blade terminal.
37. The coupler of claim 36 further comprising:
an engagement member carried on the first end portion of the coupler for releasibly engaging the jaw contact when the jaw contact is mounted in the first end portion of the coupler.
an engagement member carried on the first end portion of the coupler for releasibly engaging the jaw contact when the jaw contact is mounted in the first end portion of the coupler.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US09/291,885 | 1999-04-14 | ||
| US09/291,885 US6325666B1 (en) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-04-14 | Watthour meter socket adapter with safety shield |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2294653A1 true CA2294653A1 (en) | 2000-10-14 |
| CA2294653C CA2294653C (en) | 2011-06-07 |
Family
ID=31887937
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2294653 Expired - Lifetime CA2294653C (en) | 1999-04-14 | 2000-01-07 | Watthour meter socket adapter with safety shield |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2294653C (en) |
-
2000
- 2000-01-07 CA CA 2294653 patent/CA2294653C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2294653C (en) | 2011-06-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20200107 |