US 5,270,639 A · Time of use register for use with a utility meter

Abstract

A time of use register for use in an electronic watthour meter is formed of a three piece interlocking construction without the use of separate fasteners or the use of tools for assembly. The TOU register includes a front cover, a rear cover and a resilient clip, each of these components having various features to provide firm containment of a PC board and an LCD within the register. The front cover includes a window within which the LCD is positioned and a connector slot within which a resilient electrical conductor strip is situated. The electrical conductor strip provides communication between the PC board, which has a contact array at one edge of the board, and the LCD array, which also has a complementary contact array at its upper edge. The rear cover encloses the rear and part of the sides of the TOU register and includes a number of stops for providing uniform pressure against the PC board to hold it in position. The front and rear covers include a number of catches upon which the resilient clip, and particularly a number of notches on the resilient clip, is snapped. When the resilient clip is snapped onto the notches of the front and rear covers, a specific amount of pressure is exerted against the components contained within the TOU register. The pressure is calibrated to provide a uniform compression of the resilient connector strip to insure a gas-tight electrical connection between the PC board and the LCD array.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A register for use with an electric meter having a meter disc for registering electrical energy usage, comprising:

a circuit board having electronic circuitry for registering electrical energy usage;
a display;
a compressible electrical conductor between said circuit board and said display for operation of said display;
and
a resilient clamping mechanism operable in a clamping position to clamp said display, said circuit board and said electrical conductor together while compressing said electrical conductor in electrical contact between said display and said circuit board, and in an unclamped position to release said electrical conductor from electrical contact with said display and said circuit board to permit ready removal of said display from the register.

2 more elements

A register for use with an electric meter for registering electrical energy usage, the electric meter having a meter disc, and the register being adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled without the use of separate fasteners, comprising:

a circuit board having electronic circuitry for registering electrical energy usage;
a display;
an electrical conductor;
a housing including;
a front cover having means for supporting said display;
a back cover slidably interengagable with said front cover;
complementary portions on said front cover and said back cover configured to support said circuit board therebetween and to restrain said circuit board against movement within said housing;
and
a resilient clamping mechanism operable to releasably clamp said front cover and said back cover together and said electrical conductor in electrical contact between said circuit board and said display for operation of said display.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Time of use register for use with a utility meter

Life of this patent

Time of use register for use with a utility meter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12