Watthour meter mounting apparatus with improved electrical connections

Claim 2

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing in a co-planar, non-overlapped arrangement, the electrical conductors being in the form of rigid, polygonal-shaped bus bars, each having a first pair of opposed exterior surfaces of a first length, and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces angularly disposed from the first pair of exterior surfaces and having a length no greater than the first length of the first pair of exterior surfaces, one electrical contact mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces, the first pair of exterior surfaces of each electrical conductor being co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the housing.

Claim 3

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load, at least one of the electrical terminals including: a collar formed as a one-piece unitary member having axially opposed ends; a first through bore extending axially between the opposed ends of the one-piece member sized to receive an external electrical conductor therein; means for securing an external electrical conductor in the first bore; and a second through bore extending axially between the opposed ends of the one-piece member for slidably receiving a first end of one of the electrical conductors, the second bore disposed parallel to and communicating with the first bore between the opposed ends of the collar to enable contact between an external electrical conductor disposed in the first bore and the first end of one of the electrical conductors disposed in the second bore; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing, the electrical conductors being in the form of rigid, polygonal-shaped bus bars, each having a first pair of opposed exterior surfaces of a first length, and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces angularly disposed from the first pair of exterior surfaces and having a length no greater than the first length of the first pair of exterior surfaces, one electrical contact mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces the first pair of exterior surfaces of each electrical conductor being co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the housing.

Claim 4

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load, at least one of the electrical terminals including: a collar formed as a one-piece unitary member having axially opposed ends; a first through bore extending axially between the opposed ends of the one-piece member sized to receive an external electrical conductor therein; means for securing an external electrical conductor in the first bore; and a second through bore extending axially between the opposed ends of the one-piece member for slidably receiving a first end of one of the electrical conductors, the second bore disposed parallel to and communicating with the first bore between the opposed ends of the collar to enable contact between an external electrical conductor disposed in the first bore and the first end of one of the electrical conductors disposed in the second bore; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing, the electrical conductors being in the form of rigid, polygonal-shaped bus bars, each having a first pair of opposed exterior surfaces of a first length, and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces angularly disposed from the first pair of exterior surfaces and having a length no greater than the first length of the first pair of exterior surfaces, one electrical contact mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces the first pair of exterior surfaces of each electrical conductor being co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the housing.

Claim 5

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein the securing means comprises: an aperture formed in the collar and communicating with the first bore in the collar; the fastener threadingly extendible through the aperture into engagement with an external conductor inserted into the first bore in the collar.

Claim 6

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 2 wherein at least one electrical conductor has a first step spaced from one end and engageable with one end of the collar to limit the length of insertion of one electrical conductor into the second bore of the collar.

Claim 7

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 4 wherein at least one electrical conductor has a second step spaced from the one end of the electrical conductor, the second step extending laterally with respect to an end of the first bore in the collar when the electrical conductor is mounted in the collar to limit the length of insertion of an external electrical conductor into the first bore in the collar.

Claim 8

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection, at least one of the electrical contacts including: first and second, separate, spaced contact clips fixedly joined to the first pair of exterior surfaces, respectively, of each electrical conductor; and biasing means, engageable with an exterior surface of each of the first and second contact clips, for biasing an end of each of the first and second contact clips toward each other; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing, the electrical conductors being in the form of rigid, polygonal-shaped bus bars, each having a first pair of opposed exterior surfaces of a first length, and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces angularly disposed from the first pair of exterior surfaces and having a length no greater than the first length of the first pair of exterior surfaces, one electrical contact mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces, the first pair of exterior surfaces of each electrical conductor being co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the housing.

Claim 9

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection, at least one of the electrical contacts including: first and second, separate, spaced contact clips fixedly joined to the first pair of exterior surfaces, respectively, of each electrical conductor; and biasing means, engageable with an exterior surface of each of the first and second contact clips, for biasing an end of each of the first and second contact clips toward each other; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing, the electrical conductors being in the form of rigid, polygonal-shaped bus bars, each having a first pair of opposed exterior surfaces of a first length, and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces angularly disposed from the first pair of exterior surfaces and having a length no greater than the first length of the first pair of exterior surfaces, one electrical contact mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces, the first pair of exterior surfaces of each electrical conductor being co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the housing.

Claim 10

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 6 wherein: each of the first and second contact clips comprises: a first, planar end portion; and a second jaw portion integral and continuous with the first end portion and bending in a first direction from the first end portion and then in a second direction toward a plane containing the first end portion.

Claim 11

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 6 wherein the first and second contact clips each comprise: a plate-like member having a planar first end portion, an intermediate portion extending at a predetermined angle from the plane containing the first end portion; and a second end portion extending at a predetermined angle from an end of the intermediate portion.

Claim 12

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 8 wherein: a conductor contacting edge is formed at the juncture of an end of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 13

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 8 wherein: the second end portion extends at an angle less than or equal to substantially 15° from a plane extending parallel to a plane containing the first end portion and through the juncture of the end of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 14

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 6 wherein the biasing means comprises: first and second separate spring clips, respectively disposed in registry with the exterior surface of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 15

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 11 wherein the first and second spring clips each comprise: a plate-like member having: a planar central portion; a first end portion extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the central portion; an intermediate portion extending at a predetermined angle from an opposite end of the central portion in the same direction away from a plane containing the central portion as the first end portion; and a second end portion extending at a predetermined angle from an end of the intermediate portion toward the plane containing the central portion.

Claim 16

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 12 wherein the first end portion is at a substantially 15° angle with respect to the central portion.

Claim 17

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 13 wherein the intermediate portion is at a substantially 15° angle from the central portion.

Claim 18

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 14 wherein the second end portion is at a substantially 30° angle from the end of the intermediate portion.

Claim 19

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 11 wherein: a slot is formed in each of the first and second spring clips extending from the second end portion to the central portion and dividing the second end and the intermediate portions into two spaced portions.

Claim 20

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 12 further comprising means for joining the first and second contacts clips and the first and second spring clips to each electrical conductor, the joining means including: aligned apertures formed in an opposed end of the electrical conductor, the first and second spring clips, and the first and second contact clips; rivets fixedly mounted in the aligned apertures to force the central portion and the first end portion of the first and second spring clips into substantial registry with the first and second contact clips, respectively, and the first and second contact clips into registry with opposed surfaces of the end of the electrical conductor to forcibly bias the first and second spring clips into engagement with the first and second contact clips, respectively, and to urge the second end portions of the first and second contact clips toward each other.

Claim 21

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 11 further comprising: means for joining the first and second spring clips and the first and second contact clips, respectively, to the one end of each conductor the joining means comprising: aligned apertures formed in an opposed end of the at least one electrical conductor, the first and second spring clips, and the first and second contact clips; fastener means, mounted in the aligned apertures, for forcing the central portion and the first end portion of the first and second spring clips into substantial registry with the first and second contact clips, respectively, and the first and second contact clips into registry with opposed surfaces of the end of the at least one electrical conductor to forcibly bias the first and second spring clips into engagement with the first and second contact clips, respectively, and to urge the second end portions of the first and second contact clips toward each other.

Claim 22

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical terminals mounted in the terminal portion of the housing; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load; electrical conductors connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing, the electrical conductors being in the form of polygonal-shaped bus bars; the bus bars have a rectangular cross section formed of a first pair of opposed major exterior surfaces co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the adapter and a second pair of opposed major exterior surfaces having a shorter length than the first pair of exterior surfaces; the terminals each including: a collar having first and second portions integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member, the first and second portions extending between axially opposed ends of the collar; the first portion having a first axially extending, through bore extending therethrough sized to receive an external electrical conductor therein; the second portion having a second axially extending, through bore extending therethrough for slidably receiving one end of one of the electrical conductors, the second bore communicating with the first bore to enable contact between an external electrical conductor inserted in the first bore and one of the second pair of exterior surfaces at the first end of one of the electrical conductors inserted in the second bore; means for securing an external electrical conductor and one of the electrical conductors in electrical contact with each other in the collar; each electrical contact including first and second, separate, spaced contact clips disposed in registry with the first pair of exterior surfaces of each conductor; biasing means, engageable with each of the first and second contact clips, for biasing an end of each of the first and second contact clips toward each other; and means for fixedly joining the first and second contact clips and the biasing means to each conductor.

Claim 23

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical terminals mounted in the terminal portion of the housing; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing and receiving one of an external electrical power line conductor and an electrical load conductor connected to an external load; electrical conductors connected to and extending between one contact and one terminal in the housing, the electrical conductors being in the form of polygonal-shaped bus bars; the bus bars have a rectangular cross section formed of a first pair of opposed major exterior surfaces co-planarly aligned with an axial extent of the blade terminals of a watthour meter insertable into the adapter and a second pair of opposed major exterior surfaces having a shorter length than the first pair of exterior surfaces; the terminals each including: a collar having first and second portions integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member, the first and second portions extending between axially opposed ends of the collar; the first portion having a first axially extending, through bore extending therethrough sized to receive an external electrical conductor therein; the second portion having a second axially extending, through bore extending therethrough for slidably receiving one end of one of the electrical conductors, the second bore communicating with the first bore to enable contact between an external electrical conductor inserted in the first bore and one of the second pair of exterior surfaces at the first end of one of the electrical conductors inserted in the second bore; means for securing an external electrical conductor and one of the electrical conductors in electrical contact with each other in the collar; each electrical contact including first and second, separate, spaced contact clips disposed in registry with the first pair of exterior surfaces of each conductor; biasing means, engageable with each of the first and second contact clips, for biasing an end of each of the first and second contact clips toward each other; and means for fixedly joining the first and second contact clips and the biasing means to each conductor.

Claim 24

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 19 wherein the securing means comprises: an aperture formed in the first portion of the collar; the fastener threadingly extendible through the aperture into engagement with an external conductor inserted into the first bore in the first portion of the collar.

Claim 25

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 19 wherein the electrical conductor has a first step spaced from a first end and engageable with the second portion of the collar to limit the length of insertion of the conductor into the second bore of the collar.

Claim 26

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 21 wherein the conductor has a second step spaced from the first end of the conductor, the second step extending laterally with respect to an end of the first through bore in the first portion of the collar when the conductor is mounted in the collar, to limit the length of insertion of an external electrical conductor through the first bore in the collar.

Claim 27

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 19 wherein: each of the first and second contact clips comprises: a first, planar end portion; and a second jaw portion integral and continuous with the first end portion and bending in a first direction from the first end portion and then in a second direction toward a plane containing the first end portion.

Claim 28

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 19 wherein the first and second contact clips each comprise: a plate-like member having a planar first end portion, an intermediate portion extending at a predetermined angle from the plane containing the first end portion; and a second end portion extending at a predetermined angle from an end of the intermediate portion.

Claim 29

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 24 wherein: a conductor contacting edge is formed at the juncture of an end of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 30

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 24 wherein: the second end portion extends at an angle less than or equal to substantially 15° from a plane extending parallel to a plane containing the first end portion and through the juncture of the end of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 31

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 19 wherein the biasing means comprises: first and second spring clips, respectively disposed in registry with the first and second contact clips.

Claim 32

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 27 wherein the first and second spring clips each comprise: a plate-like member having: a planar central portion; a first end portion extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the central portion; an intermediate portion extending at a predetermined angle from an opposite end of the central portion in the same direction away from a plane containing the central portion as the first end portion; and a second end portion extending at a predetermined angle from an end of the intermediate portion toward the plane containing the central portion.

Claim 33

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 28 wherein the first end portion is at a substantially 15° angle with respect to the central portion.

Claim 34

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 29 wherein the intermediate portion is at a substantially 15° angle from the central portion.

Claim 35

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 30 wherein the second end portion is at a substantially 30° angle from the end of the intermediate portion.

Claim 36

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 27 wherein the joining means comprises: aligned apertures formed in the second end of the electrical conductor, the first and second spring clips and the first and second contact clips; rivets fixedly mounted in the aligned apertures to force the central portion and the first end portion of the first and second spring clips into substantial registry with the first and second contact clips, respectively, and the first and second contact clips into registry with opposed surfaces of the second end of the electrical conductor to forcibly bias the first and second spring clips into engagement with the first and second contact clips, respectively, to urge the second end portions of the first and second contact clips toward each other.

Claim 37

In an electrical apparatus having a housing receiving electrical connections to a first external electrical circuit and for receiving a separate electrical device in a plug-in electrical connection to the electrical connections to the first external electrical circuit, the improvement comprising: a plurality of electrical conductors disposed on a wall in the housing, each electrical conductor formed of a rectangular-shaped bus bar having first and second ends and formed of a first pair of major opposed exterior surfaces extending perpendicularly from the wall in the housing and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces having a length smaller than a length of the first pair of exterior surfaces; electrical terminal means, mounted on the first end of each conductor, for electrically connecting each conductor to a first external electrical circuit; and electrical contact means, mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces at the second end of each electrical conductor, for receiving an electrical device in a plug-in electrical connection; and wherein the electrical conductors extend in a coplanar, non-overlapped arrangement in the housing between the electrical terminal means and the electrical contact means.

Claim 38

In an electrical apparatus having a housing receiving electrical connections to a first external electrical circuit and for receiving a separate electrical device in a plug-in electrical connection to the electrical connections to the first external electrical circuit, the improvement comprising: a plurality of electrical conductors disposed on a wall in the housing, each electrical conductor formed of a rectangular-shaped bus bar having first and second ends and formed of a first pair of major opposed exterior surfaces extending perpendicularly from the wall in the housing and a second pair of opposed exterior surfaces having a length smaller than a length of the first pair of exterior surfaces; electrical terminal means, mounted on the first end of each conductor, for electrically connecting each conductor to a first external electrical circuit; and electrical contact means, mounted on the first pair of exterior surfaces at the second end of each electrical conductor, for receiving an electrical device in a plug-in electrical connection; and wherein the electrical conductors extend in a coplanar, non-overlapped arrangement in the housing between the electrical terminal means and the electrical contact means.

Claim 39

The improvement of claim 33 wherein the bus bars are rigid.

Claim 40

The improvement of claim 33 wherein the terminals comprise: a collar having first and second portions integrally formed as a one-piece unitary member, the first and second portions extending between axially opposed ends of the collar; the first portion having a first axially extending, through bore extending therethrough sized to receive an external electrical conductor therein; means for securing an external electrical conductor in the first bore of the collar; and the second portion having a second, axially extending, through bore extending therethrough for slidably receiving a first end of the electrical conductor, the second bore disposed parallel to and communicating with the first bore to enable contact between an external electrical conductor inserted in the first bore and one of the second pair of exterior surfaces at the first end of one of the electrical conductors inserted in the second bore.

Claim 41

The improvement of claim 35 wherein the securing means comprises: an aperture formed in the first portion of the collar; the fastener threadingly extendible through the aperture into engagement with an external conductor inserted into the first bore in the first portion of the collar.

Claim 42

The improvement of claim 35 wherein the electrical conductor has a first step spaced from the first end and engageable with the second portion of the collar to limit the length of insertion of the conductor into the second bore of the collar.

Claim 43

The improvement of claim 37 wherein the conductor has a second step spaced from the first end of the conductor, the second step extending laterally with respect to an end of the first through bore in the first portion of the collar when the conductor is mounted in the collar, to limit the length of insertion of an external electrical conductor through the first bore in the collar.

Claim 44

The improvement of claim 33 wherein each contact comprises: first and second, separate, spaced contact clips disposed in registry with the first pair of exterior surfaces of the conductor; biasing means, engageable with each of the first and second contact clips, for biasing an end of each of the first and second contact clips toward each other; and means for fixedly joining the first and second contact clips and the biasing means to the conductors.

Claim 45

The improvement of claim 39 wherein: each of the first and second contact clips comprises: a first, planar end portion; and a second jaw portion integral and continuous with the first end portion and bending in a first direction from the first end portion and then in a second direction toward a plane containing the first end portion.

Claim 46

The improvement of claim 39 wherein the first and second contact clips each comprise: a plate-like member having a planar first end portion, an intermediate portion extending at a predetermined angle from the plane containing the first end portion; and a second end portion extending at a predetermined angle from an end of the intermediate portion.

Claim 47

The improvement of claim 41 wherein: a conductor contacting edge is formed at the juncture of an end of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 48

The improvement of claim 41 wherein: the second end portion extends at an angle less than or equal to substantially 15° from a plane extending parallel to a plane containing the first end portion and through the juncture of the end of the intermediate portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second contact clips.

Claim 49

The improvement of claim 39 wherein the biasing means comprises: first and second separate spring clips, respectively disposed in registry with the first and second contact clips.

Claim 50

The improvement of claim 44 wherein the first and second spring clips each comprise: a plate-like member having: a planar central portion; a first end portion extending at a predetermined angle from one end of the central portion; an intermediate portion extending at a predetermined angle from an opposite end of the central portion in the same direction away from a plane containing the central portion as the first end portion; and a second end portion extending at a predetermined angle from an end of the intermediate portion toward the plane containing the central portion.

Claim 51

The improvement of claim 45 wherein the first end portion is at a substantially 15° angle with respect to the central portion.

Claim 52

The improvement of claim 46 wherein the intermediate portion is at a substantially 15° angle from the central portion.

Claim 53

The improvement of claim 47 wherein the second end portion is at a substantially 30° angle from the end of the intermediate portion.

Claim 54

The improvement of claim 44 wherein: a slot is formed in each of the first and second spring clips extending from the second end portion to the central portion and dividing the second end and the intermediate portions into two spaced portions.

Claim 55

The improvement of claim 44 wherein the joining means comprises: aligned apertures formed in the second end of the electrical conductor, the first and second spring clips and the first and second contact clips; rivets fixedly mounted in the aligned apertures to force the central portion and the first end portion of the first and second spring clips into substantial registry with the first and second contact clips, respectively, and the first and second contact clips into registry with opposed surfaces of the second end of the electrical conductor to forcibly bias the first and second spring clips into engagement with the first and second contact clips, respectively, to urge the second end portions of the first and second contact clips toward each other.

Claim 56

The improvement of claim 44 further comprising: means for joining the first and second spring clips and the first and second contact clips, respectively, to the second end of each conductor.

Claim 57

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing, each receiving one of an external line and load conductor; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one electrical contact and one electrical terminal in the housing; the electrical contacts comprising: a collar receiving an end of one of the electrical conductors in a fixed connection; a planar end portion integrally formed with the collar; first and second spaced, substantially coplanar, angularly bent jaws extending from the end portion; and a third angularly bent jaw extending from the end portion and disposed between the first and second jaws, an outer end of the third jaw spaced from aligned outer ends of the first and second jaws to define a watthour meter blade receiving slot between the first second jaws, and the third jaw.

Claim 58

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing, each receiving one of an external line and load conductor; and a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one electrical contact and one electrical terminal in the housing; the electrical contacts comprising: a collar receiving an end of one of the electrical conductors in a fixed connection; a planar end portion integrally formed with the collar; first and second spaced, substantially coplanar, angularly bent jaws extending from the end portion; and a third angularly bent jaw extending from the end portion and disposed between the first and second jaws, an outer end of the third jaw spaced from aligned outer ends of the first and second jaws to define a watthour meter blade receiving slot between the first second jaws, and the third jaw.

Claim 59

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 52 wherein: the outer ends of the first and second jaws extend away from a first side of the planar end portion; the third jaw includes a first portion extending from the planar end portion and terminating in an outer end; the outer end of the third jaw integrally formed with the first portion and extending from an end of the first portion at a predetermined angle from an opposed second side of the planar end portion; and the integral end of the first portion and the outer end of the third jaw forming a raised detent extending toward the first and second jaws, the detent adapted to releasibly engage an aperture in a blade terminal of a watthour meter inserted therein to resist removal of the blade terminal.

Claim 60

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 53 wherein: the outer end of the third jaw extends at an angle of substantially 15° from the plane formed by the planar end portion.

Claim 61

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 53 wherein: the first portion of the third jaw has an arcuate shape extending from one side of the plane of the planar end portion away from the first and second jaws and curving to the end thereof, with the detent portion disposed substantially in line with the plane formed by the planar end portion.

Claim 62

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 53 wherein: the third jaw is formed with greater resiliency than the resiliency of the first and second jaws.

Claim 63

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 56 wherein: the third jaw has a smaller width between opposed side edges than a corresponding width of the first and second jaws.

Claim 64

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 52 wherein: the third jaw is formed with greater resiliency than the resiliency of the first and second jaws.

Claim 65

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 58 wherein: the third jaw has a smaller width between opposed side edges than a corresponding width of the first and second jaws.

Claim 66

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, certain of the blade terminals provided for measuring line potential, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing; a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one electrical contact and one electrical terminal in the housing; a plurality of potential terminals mounted in the housing; a plurality of potential contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each potential contact including: an end wall; a conductor receiving collar mounted on the end wall and receiving one end of a potential conductor, the other end being connected to one of the potential terminals; a pair of spaced side walls extending from the end wall; and first and second jaws formed on and extending from the pair of side walls.

Claim 67

A watthour meter socket adapter for use with a watthour meter having a plurality of blade terminals, certain of the blade terminals provided for measuring line potential, the socket adapter comprising: a housing, the housing including: a watthour meter receiving portion; and a terminal portion spaced from the watthour meter receiving portion; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each contact receiving one blade terminal of a watthour meter in a snap-in connection; a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal portion of the housing; a plurality of electrical conductors, each connected to and extending between one electrical contact and one electrical terminal in the housing; a plurality of potential terminals mounted in the housing; a plurality of potential contacts mounted in the watthour meter receiving portion of the housing, each potential contact including: an end wall; a conductor receiving collar mounted on the end wall and receiving one end of a potential conductor, the other end being connected to one of the potential terminals; a pair of spaced side walls extending from the end wall; and first and second jaws formed on and extending from the pair of side walls.

Claim 68

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 60 further comprising: a slot formed in each of the first and second jaws and dividing each of the first and second jaws into spaced, aligned, first and second jaw fingers.

Claim 69

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 61 wherein: the first and second jaw fingers have sharp edges which wipe the surface of a blade terminal of a watthour meter inserted therein.

Claim 70

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 60 further comprising: a tab extending from the end wall, the tab providing an electrical conductor connection to the potential contact.

Claim 71

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 11 wherein: each of the first and second spring clips has a planar portion adapted to register with one of the first and second contact clips, and a first end portion normally angularly disposed from the planar portion, the first end portion deformed into substantial co-extensive planar alignment with the planar portion when the fixedly joining means joins the first end portion of each of the first and second spring clips to the first and second contact clips.

Claim 72

The watthour meter socket adapter of claim 18 wherein the fastener means comprises rivets fixedly mounted in the aligned apertures.