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.