Thermal and electromagnetic shield for power meter

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A power meter having a base, an electronic meter mechanism mounted on the base to be connected in an electrical circuit for metering power used in the circuit, a transparent housing part having a top and having an open bottom fitted over the meter mechanism cooperating with the base for enclosing the meter mechanism, and mounting means adapted to be electrically grounded extending up from the base into the transparent housing part, characterized in that a thermal and electromagentic interference shield is secured to the mounting means to extend around the meter mechanism within the transparent housing part for shielding the power meter from ambient environmental conditions, the shield comprising a length of a composite metal-organic laminate having layers of white and black organic materials bonded to respective opposite outer side surfaces of an electrically conductive metal foil, the shield being arranged to extend around the meter mechanism with the black and white organic materials of the laminate facing respectively toward and away from the meter mechanism for thermally shielding the power meter, the laminate having portions of the metal foil free of the organic material in the laminate electrically connected to the mounting means extending up from the base for electrically grounding the metal foil of the laminate to electromagnetically shield the power meter , the layer of black organic material in the laminate being less than fully coextensive with the metal foil leaving a portion of the metal foil exposed adjacent a top edge of the laminate, the layers of white and black organic materials extending from the metal foil and being bonded to each other along a bottom edge of the laminate for electrically insulating an edge of the foil at the bottom of the laminate, ground and mounting tabs integral with the laminate are provided in the exposed portion of the metal foil, the length of the laminate is formed into a generally cylindrical configuration with white organic material disposed on the outer surface of the cylinder and opposite ends of the laminate length are secured together, and the tabs are secured in electrically conductive engagement with the mounting means for disposing and electrically grounding the shield around the meter mechanism within the transparent housing part