Fuse holding apparatus

Claim 2

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with spaced terminals and to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel, the fuse holder assembly including a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same behind an opening in a panel where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, a fuse-receiving compartment in said receptacle which opens onto the front of the receptacle, said receptacle compartment having first terminal means with a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point which is to be located behind said panel and second terminal means including a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point to be located behind said panel, the improvement comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger, a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, said lastmentioned terminal of said shank portion and the first and second terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open front end of said receptacle compartment the other terminal of said fuse is electrically connected to a portion of said first terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle and a portion of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit engages a portion of the second terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle, said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said compartment being contiguous to the front end of said fuse-receiving receptacle so the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, and holding means on said fuse-carrying unit and said fuse-receiVing receptacle which lockingly holds said fuse-carrying member in said compartment of said fuse-receiving receptacle when the fusecarrying unit is fully inserted into said compartment and which results in release and outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when said surface of the head portion thereof is pressed by the end of the user''s finger, said outward movement of said released fuse-carrying unit permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said fuse-receiving receptacle.

Claim 3

The fuse holder assembly of claim 1 wherein there is provided spring means which is compressed when said fuse-carrying unit is inserted into said compartment of said fuse-receiving receptacle, said spring means causing said outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when released from said fuse-carrying receptacle.

Claim 4

The fuse holder assembly of claim 2 wherein said spring means forms part of said first terminal means in said compartment of said fuse-receiving receptacle.

Claim 5

The fuse holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said holding means include interlocking portions respectively of the terminal in said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit and a portion of said second terminal means.

Claim 6

The fuse holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said finger pressed surface of said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit is a transversely extending face thereof of sufficient size to present at least two distinctly different areas to be readily engaged and pressed by the end of the user''s finger, said holding means which lockingly holds said fuse-carrying unit in said compartment of said fuse-receiving receptacle effecting such locking action when one of said areas of said face of the fuse-carrying unit is pressed and effecting the release and outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when said other area thereof is pressed.

Claim 7

The fuse holder assembly of claim 5 wherein said areas of said face of said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit are in different planes.

Claim 8

The fuse holder assembly of claim 5 wherein said other area of said face of said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit is a raised portion.

Claim 9

The fuse holder assembly of claim 5 wherein there is provided spring means in said fuse-receiving receptacle compartment which is tensed as said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said compartment, said holding means releasing said fuse-carrying unit when said other area of said face of said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit is pressed, said spring means then forcing said fuse-carrying unit outward.

Claim 10

The fuse holder assembly of claim 7 wherein said raised portion extends to an outer margin of said face and there is indicia on said face of the head portion of said fuse-carrying unit which states that a portion thereof is to be pressed and there is an arrow on said face leading from said indicia and pointing to and terminating at or near said outer margin of said face.

Claim 11

The fuse holder assembly of claim 5 wherein said other area of said face extends to an outer margin of said face and there is indicia on said face of the head portion of said fuse-carrying unit which states that a portion thereof is to be pressed and there is an arrow on said face leading from said indicia and pointing to and terminating at or near said outer margin of said face.

Claim 12

The fuse holder assembly of claim 7 wherein there is provided spring means in said fuse-receiving receptacle compartment which is tensed as said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said compartment and which applies an outward force against said fuse-carrying unit when held in its locked position, said fuse-carrying unit being rockable about a laterally extending axis when said other area of said face of the head portion of said fuse-carrying unit is pressed, and said holding means comprises a resilient lateral projection on one of the fuse-receiving receptacle and fuse-carrying unit and a laterally facing opening in the other of same, said resilient lateral projectiOn entering said laterally facing opening when the fuse-carrying member is initially fully inserted into said fuse-receiving receptacle compartment and which resilient lateral projection is moved out of said laterally facing opening when the fuse-carrying unit is rocked by the pressing of said other area of said face of the head portion of said fuse-carrying member, whereupon said spring means causes longitudinal outward displacement of said resilient lateral projection from said laterally facing opening.

Claim 13

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals on the opposite ends thereof, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel, the fuse holder assembly including a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same behind an opening in a panel where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, a fuse-receiving compartment in said receptacle which opens onto the front of the receptacle, said receptacle compartment having first terminal means located at least in part in the rear end portion thereof which first terminal means has a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point which is to be located behind said panel, and second terminal means located at least in part in the front portion of said compartment and including a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point to be located behind said panel, the improvement comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger, and a hollow shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages the terminal at the adjacent end of the fuse when the fuse is positioned therein, said last-mentioned terminal and the terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open front end of said receptacle compartment the terminal at the other end of said fuse engages a portion of said first terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle and a portion of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit engages the portion of the second terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle which is at the front portion of said receptacle, said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said compartment being contiguous to the front end of said fuse-receiving receptacle so the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, and holding means on said fuse-carrying unit and said fuse-receiving receptacle which lockingly holds said fuse-carrying unit in said fuse-receiving receptacle compartment when the fuse-carrying member is fully inserted into the compartment and which effects release and outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when said surface of the head portion thereof is engaged and pressed by the end of the user''s finger, said outward movement of said released fuse-carrying unit permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said fuse-receiving receptacle.

Claim 14

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals on the opposite ends thereof, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel, the fuse holder assembly including a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same behind an opening in a panel where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, a fuse-receiving compartment in said receptacle which opens onto the front of the receptacle, said receptacle compartment having first terminal means located at least in part in the rear end portion thereof which first terminal means has a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point which is to be located behind said panel, and second terminal means located at least in part in the front portion of said compartment and including a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point to be located behind said panel, the improvement comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger, and a hollow shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages the terminal at the adjacent end of the fuse when the fuse is positioned therein, said last-mentioned terminal and the terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open front end of said receptacle compartment the terminal at the other end of said fuse engages a portion of said first terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle and a portion of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit engages the portion of the second terminal means of said fuse-receiving receptacle which is at the front portion of said receptacle, said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said compartment being contiguous to the front end of said fuse-receiving receptacle so the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, and holding means on said fuse-carrying unit and said fuse-receiving receptacle which lockingly holds said fuse-carrying unit in said fuse-receiving receptacle compartment when the fuse-carrying member is fully inserted into the compartment and which effects release and outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when said surface of the head portion thereof is engaged and pressed by the end of the user''s finger, said outward movement of said released fuse-carrying unit permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said fuse-receiving receptacle.

Claim 15

A fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with spaced terminals on the opposite ends thereof, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel, the fuse holder assembly comprising: a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same behind an opening in a panel where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, a fuse-receiving compartment in said receptacle which opens onto the front of the receptacle, said receptacle compartment containing a first terminal-forming member having an external circuit connecting portion exposed to the outside of said receptacle at a point thereof which is to be located behind said panel and a resilient connector terminAl-forming means which is located at the rear end portion of said compartment, a second terminal-forming member in said compartment having an external circuit connecting portion exposed to the outside of said receptacle at a point thereof which is to be located behind said panel and having a connector terminal-forming portion positioned at the front end portion of said compartment; and a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger, and a hollow shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, said last-mentioned terminal and the resilient connector terminal-forming means and said connector terminal-forming portion of said first and second terminal-forming members being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open end of said receptacle compartment the terminal at the other end of said fuse engages said resilient connector terminal-forming means of said first terminal-forming member to deflect the same longitudinally inwardly, and a portion of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit engages and interlocks with the connector terminal-forming portion of said second terminal-forming member under the outward force of said resilient connector terminal-forming means of said first terminal-forming member, said fuse-carrying unit when fully inserted into said receptacle compartment being pivotable in a direction which unlocks the interlocking portions of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit and the connector terminal-forming portion of said second terminal-forming member, said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle compartment being contiguous to the front end of said fuse-receiving receptacle so that the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, a portion of said surface on the head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when depressed by the user''s finger effecting said rocking of the fuse-carrying unit to release the same under the force of said resilient connector terminal-forming means which causes outward movement of the released fuse-carrying unit, permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said fuse-receiving receptacle.

Claim 16

A fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with spaced terminals on the opposite ends thereof, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel, the fuse holder assembly comprising: a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same behind an opening in a panel where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, a fuse-receiving compartment in said receptacle which opens onto the front of the receptacle, said receptacle compartment containing a first terminal-forming member having an external circuit connecting portion exposed to the outside of said receptacle at a point thereof which is to be located behind said panel and a resilient connector terminAl-forming means which is located at the rear end portion of said compartment, a second terminal-forming member in said compartment having an external circuit connecting portion exposed to the outside of said receptacle at a point thereof which is to be located behind said panel and having a connector terminal-forming portion positioned at the front end portion of said compartment; and a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger, and a hollow shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, said last-mentioned terminal and the resilient connector terminal-forming means and said connector terminal-forming portion of said first and second terminal-forming members being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open end of said receptacle compartment the terminal at the other end of said fuse engages said resilient connector terminal-forming means of said first terminal-forming member to deflect the same longitudinally inwardly, and a portion of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit engages and interlocks with the connector terminal-forming portion of said second terminal-forming member under the outward force of said resilient connector terminal-forming means of said first terminal-forming member, said fuse-carrying unit when fully inserted into said receptacle compartment being pivotable in a direction which unlocks the interlocking portions of said terminal in the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit and the connector terminal-forming portion of said second terminal-forming member, said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle compartment being contiguous to the front end of said fuse-receiving receptacle so that the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, a portion of said surface on the head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when depressed by the user''s finger effecting said rocking of the fuse-carrying unit to release the same under the force of said resilient connector terminal-forming means which causes outward movement of the released fuse-carrying unit, permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said fuse-receiving receptacle.

Claim 17

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and including a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a pair of laterally confronting receptacle body-forming parts defining therebetween a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel, said pair of terminal-forming members respectively having connector terminal-forming portions posItioned respectively at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement through said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle, and means for holding at least the front end portions of said confronting receptacle-forming parts together comprising a bezel-forming unit slidable along said confronting receptacle-forming parts to a position at the front of the receptacle where it interlocks therewith, the bezel-forming unit providing a frame around an opening in the panel in which the fuse holder receptacle is to be mounted.

Claim 18

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and including a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a pair of laterally confronting receptacle body-forming parts defining therebetween a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel, said pair of terminal-forming members respectively having connector terminal-forming portions posItioned respectively at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement through said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle, and means for holding at least the front end portions of said confronting receptacle-forming parts together comprising a bezel-forming unit slidable along said confronting receptacle-forming parts to a position at the front of the receptacle where it interlocks therewith, the bezel-forming unit providing a frame around an opening in the panel in which the fuse holder receptacle is to be mounted.

Claim 19

The fuse holder assembly of claim 14 wherein said bezel-forming unit includes outwardly expanding contractable resilient wings which, when the receptacle is pushed through a panel opening from the front thereof, first contract and then spring outwardly to lock the fuse holder receptacle in place on the panel when the receptacle has been fully inserted into the panel opening.

Claim 20

The fuse holder assembly of claim 15 wherein said confronting receptacle-forming parts have oppositely facing longitudinally extending side walls in which are formed longitudinally extending grooves opening onto the rear ends of the receptacle-forming parts, said wings extending from said bezel-forming unit have rearwardly and outwardly inclining front portions intersecting rearwardly and inwardly inclining rear portions to form respective apexes which are normally spaced apart a distance greater than the corresponding width of the opening of the panel in which the fuse holder receptacle is to be mounted and which when flexed inwardly can clear said opening, and said wings of the bezel-forming unit slidably fit within said longitudinally extending grooves in said side walls, said apexes of said wings normally projecting beyond the side margins of the receptacle.

Claim 21

The fuse holder assembly of claim 14 wherein said receptacle and fuse-carrying unit have a rectangular shape.

Claim 22

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a pair of laterally confronting receptacle body-forming parts defining therebetween a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel and connector terminal-forming portions positioned respectively at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle, a terminal-forming member in said receptacle having wings projecting into openings in the rear portions of said receptacle-forming parts and bent to form retaining tabs which hold the rear ends of said receptacle-forming parts together, and means for holding the front parts together comprising a bezel-forming unit slidable along said confronTing receptacle-forming parts to a position at the front of the receptacle where it interlocks therewith, the bezel-forming unit providing a frame around an opening in the panel in which the fuse holder receptacle is to be mounted, and means for retaining said fuse-carrying unit in said receptacle compartment at least when said unit is fully inserted therein.

Claim 23

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a pair of laterally confronting receptacle body-forming parts defining therebetween a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel and connector terminal-forming portions positioned respectively at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle, a terminal-forming member in said receptacle having wings projecting into openings in the rear portions of said receptacle-forming parts and bent to form retaining tabs which hold the rear ends of said receptacle-forming parts together, and means for holding the front parts together comprising a bezel-forming unit slidable along said confronTing receptacle-forming parts to a position at the front of the receptacle where it interlocks therewith, the bezel-forming unit providing a frame around an opening in the panel in which the fuse holder receptacle is to be mounted, and means for retaining said fuse-carrying unit in said receptacle compartment at least when said unit is fully inserted therein.

Claim 24

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a hollow shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a pair of laterally confronting receptacle body-forming parts defining therebetween a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel and connector terminal-forming portions positioned respectively at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle, one of said terminal-forming members in said receptacle comprising a longitudinally extending blade supported in longitudinal channels formed in at least one of the receptacle-forming parts, the other terminal-forming member in said receptacle fitting into a channel in at least one of said receptacle-forming parts and having wings projecting into openings in both of said receptacle-forming parts and bent to form retaining tabs which hold said receptacle-forming parts together, and means for retaining said fuse-carrying unit in said receptacle compartment at least when said unit is fully inserted therein.

Claim 25

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and comprising: a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a hollow shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of said fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming a terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a pair of laterally confronting receptacle body-forming parts defining therebetween a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel and connector terminal-forming portions positioned respectively at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle, one of said terminal-forming members in said receptacle comprising a longitudinally extending blade supported in longitudinal channels formed in at least one of the receptacle-forming parts, the other terminal-forming member in said receptacle fitting into a channel in at least one of said receptacle-forming parts and having wings projecting into openings in both of said receptacle-forming parts and bent to form retaining tabs which hold said receptacle-forming parts together, and means for retaining said fuse-carrying unit in said receptacle compartment at least when said unit is fully inserted therein.

Claim 26

In a fuse holder assembly for holding a fuse with terminals, the fuse holder assembly to be mounted in or behind an opening in a panel and comprising a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion adapted to be engaged by the user''s fingers and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive one end of the fuse, and means for removably retaining said fuse in said opening and forming at least one terminal which engages one of said fuse terminals when the fuse is positioned therein, the fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein respectively presenting front and rear terminals for electrically connecting the fuse terminals to an external circuit, the improvement in a fuse-receiving receptacle for removably receiving said fuse-carrying unit and making electrical contact respectively with said front and rear terminals of said assembled fuse and fuse-carrying unit when said fuse-carrying unit and fuse carried thereby is inserted therein, said receptacle comprising: a receptacle body defining a compartment which opens onto the front of said receptacle to receive the shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit, said compartment having a pair of terminal-forming members therein having respective external circuit connecting portions exposed to the outside of the receptacle at points to be located rearwardly of said panel and connector terminal-forming portions positioned respectIvely at the front and rear portions of said compartment to make electrical engagement with said front and rear terminals of said fuse-carrying unit with the fuse mounted therein when the unit is fully inserted into said receptacle body, the connector terminal-forming portion of one of said terminal-forming members of said receptacle body is located at the front end portion of the receptacle body and has a laterally facing aperture, and the front terminal of said fuse-carrying unit having a resilient lateral latch-forming projection which passes into said aperture when the fuse-carrying member is fully inserted into said receptacle body. 21. The fuse holder assembly of claim 20 wherein there is provided spring means in said receptacle compartment which is tensed as said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said compartment and which applies an outward force against said fuse-carrying unit when held in its locked position, said fuse-carrying unit being rockable about a laterally extending axis when said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit is pressed, said resilient lateral latch-forming projection moving out of said laterally facing aperture in said terminal-forming member when the fuse-carrying unit is rocked by the pressing of said head portion of said fuse-carrying member, whereupon said spring means causes longitudinal outward displacement of said resilient lateral latch-forming projection from said laterally facing aperture.

Claim 27

In combination, a panel containing a number of spaced openings for receiving fuse holder assemblies containing a fuse holder assembly for each opening comprising: a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same within the associated panel opening where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, each receptacle having a fuse-receiving compartment opening onto the front of the panel, the compartment of each receptacle having a first terminal with a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point located behind said panel and a second terminal having a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point to be located behind said panel, a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive a fuse and means for removably retaining the fuse in said opening, fuse connecting terminal means for connecting said fuse to said first and second terminals of said receptacle and being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open front end of said receptacle compartment said fuse connecting terminal means engage a portion of said first and second terminals of said fuse-receiving receptacle, said surface of said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said compartment being contiguous to the front of said panel so the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, and means on said fuse-carrying unit and receptacle of each fuse holder assembly which lockingly hold said fuse-carrying unit in said compartment of said receptacle when the fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said compartment thereof from the front of said panel and which effects release and outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when a portion of said surface of the head portion thereof is engaged and pressed by the end of the user''s finger, said outward movement of said released fuse-carrying unit permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said receptacle, and said head portions of the various fuse-carrying units of the fuse holder assemblies mounted on the receptacles thereof having varying colors to identify different portions of the circuit or circuits in which the fuses are located.

Claim 28

In combination, a panel containing a number of spaced openings for receiving fuse holder assemblies containing a fuse holder assembly for each opening comprising: a fuse-receiving receptacle including means for mounting the same within the associated panel opening where the receptacle, for the most part, is physically located behind the panel, each receptacle having a fuse-receiving compartment opening onto the front of the panel, the compartment of each receptacle having a first terminal with a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point located behind said panel and a second terminal having a portion accessible from the outside of the receptacle at a point to be located behind said panel, a fuse-carrying unit with a head portion at the front thereof presenting a surface to be pressed by a user''s finger and a shank portion having an opening adapted to receive a fuse and means for removably retaining the fuse in said opening, fuse connecting terminal means for connecting said fuse to said first and second terminals of said receptacle and being so positioned that when said shank portion of said fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said open front end of said receptacle compartment said fuse connecting terminal means engage a portion of said first and second terminals of said fuse-receiving receptacle, said surface of said head portion of said fuse-carrying unit when the unit is fully inserted into said compartment being contiguous to the front of said panel so the head portion thereof does not present any convenient shoulder for grasping and pulling the same from the fuse-receiving receptacle, and means on said fuse-carrying unit and receptacle of each fuse holder assembly which lockingly hold said fuse-carrying unit in said compartment of said receptacle when the fuse-carrying unit is fully inserted into said compartment thereof from the front of said panel and which effects release and outward movement of said fuse-carrying unit when a portion of said surface of the head portion thereof is engaged and pressed by the end of the user''s finger, said outward movement of said released fuse-carrying unit permitting the same readily to be grasped and completely removed from said receptacle, and said head portions of the various fuse-carrying units of the fuse holder assemblies mounted on the receptacles thereof having varying colors to identify different portions of the circuit or circuits in which the fuses are located.

Claim 29

The fuse holder of claim 22 wherein said receptacle of each fuse Holder assembly has a bezel frame on the front thereof located on the front of the panel and extending beyond the margins of the head portion of the associated fuse-carrying unit to frame the same and there are different combinations of colors for the head portions of said fuse-carrying units and the bezel frames of the various fuse holder receptacles to provide a variety of color codes identifying the portions of the circuit or circuits in which the fuses of the various fuse holder assemblies are located.