Miniature plug-in fuse

Claim 2

A plug-in fuse element comprising a one-piece coplanar platelike body of fuse metal which body comprises a pair of juxtaposed laterally spaced generally parallel terminal-forming blade portions to be received by pressure clip terminals in a mounting panel, the terminal-forming blade portions having currentcarrying extensions at the inner end portions thEreof which are interconnected by a transversely extending fuse-forming link portion of much smaller cross-sectional area than said terminalforming blade portions and the current-carrying extensions thereof, said terminal-forming blade portions, current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof and transversely extending fuse-forming link portion being substantially all in the same plane parallel to the outer faces of the plate-like body forming the same.

Claim 3

The plug-in fuse element of claim 1 wherein said fuse-forming link portion of said coplanar plate-like body is both narrower in width and thinner in thickness than the terminal-forming blade portions and current-carrying extension thereof.

Claim 4

The plug-in fuse element of claim 1 wherein said current-carrying extensions of said terminal-forming blade portions have apertures for receiving interlocking projections of a housing into which the plug-in fuse element can be inserted.

Claim 5

The plug-in fuse element of claim 3 combined with a housing into which the plug-in fuse element is inserted and is immovably held by portions thereof extending into said aperture of said plug-in fuse element, said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and a shield for spewing blown fuse metal of said fuse-forming link portion of the plug-in fuse element when the current rating thereof is exceeded.

Claim 6

The plug-in fuse element of claim 1 wherein said terminal-forming blade portions have wings projecting transversely away from the rest of the terminal-forming blade portions to identify a relatively large current-carrying capacity of the fuse element.

Claim 7

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 2 wherein said fuse link portion has a width many times greater than the thickness thereof.

Claim 8

A plug-in fuse assembly consisting solely of a housing made of insulating material and a plug-in fuse element secured within said housing, said housing being a synthetic plastic member which is open at the inwardly facing side thereof for the full width of the plug-in fuse element so as initially to receive said plug-in fuse element when it is assembled therewith, said housing and plug-in fuse element having interlocking means for securing the plug-in fuse element within the housing, said plug-in fuse element being made entirely of a fuse metal and comprising a one-piece element having a pair of terminal-forming blade portions to be received by pressure clip terminals in a mounting panel, the terminal-forming blade portions having current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof which are interconnected by a fuse-forming link portion of much smaller cross-sectional area than said terminal-forming blade portions and said current-carrying extensions, said terminal-forming blade portion of said plug-in fuse element being exposed on the outside of said housing, and said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and a shield for spewing blown fuse metal of said fuse-forming link portion of the plug-in fuse element when the current rating thereof is exceeded.

Claim 9

A plug-in fuse assembly consisting solely of a housing made of insulating material and a plug-in fuse element secured within said housing, said housing being a synthetic plastic member which is open at the inwardly facing side thereof for the full width of the plug-in fuse element so as initially to receive said plug-in fuse element when it is assembled therewith, said housing and plug-in fuse element having interlocking means for securing the plug-in fuse element within the housing, said plug-in fuse element being made entirely of a fuse metal and comprising a one-piece element having a pair of terminal-forming blade portions to be received by pressure clip terminals in a mounting panel, the terminal-forming blade portions having current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof which are interconnected by a fuse-forming link portion of much smaller cross-sectional area than said terminal-forming blade portions and said current-carrying extensions, said terminal-forming blade portion of said plug-in fuse element being exposed on the outside of said housing, and said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and a shield for spewing blown fuse metal of said fuse-forming link portion of the plug-in fuse element when the current rating thereof is exceeded.

Claim 10

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 7 wherein the plug-in fuse element is a one-piece sheet metal stamping from a sheet of fuse metal.

Claim 11

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 7 wherein said terminal-forming blade portions of the plug-in fuse element extend generally in spaced parallel coplanar relation with one another, said current-carrying extension there of and said fuse-forming link portion; and the housing has an outer wall positioned opposite the fuse-forming link portion of the plug-in fuse element and facing in the opposite direction from the direction in which said terminal-forming blade portions of the plug-in fuse element extend, said outer wall forming at least part of a shield preventing the outward spewing of fuse metal under fuse blowing current conditions.

Claim 12

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 9 wherein said outer shield-forming wall is transparent at least at the portion where it is contiguous to the portion of the fuse-forming link portion which will blow under fuse blowing current conditions.

Claim 13

A plug-in fuse assembly comprising a housing made of insulating material forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly; a pair of conductive plug-in terminals on the outside of the housing having extensions thereof in the housing, a fuse link made of a fuse metal extending between the terminal extensions in the housing, said housing having terminal access openings which expose said terminal extensions, and said housing providing shield wall means for preventing the spewing of blown fuse metal outside of the housing when fuse blowing current flows through said fuse link, the defining walls of said access openings having skirt portions extending inwardly therefrom which, in conjunction with other wall portions of the housing, act as said shield wall means to prevent blown fuse material from spewing outside of the housing.

Claim 14

A plug-in fuse assembly comprising a housing made of insulating material forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly; a pair of conductive plug-in terminals on the outside of the housing having extensions thereof in the housing, a fuse link made of a fuse metal extending between the terminal extensions in the housing, said housing having terminal access openings which expose said terminal extensions, and said housing providing shield wall means for preventing the spewing of blown fuse metal outside of the housing when fuse blowing current flows through said fuse link, the defining walls of said access openings having skirt portions extending inwardly therefrom which, in conjunction with other wall portions of the housing, act as said shield wall means to prevent blown fuse material from spewing outside of the housing.

Claim 15

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 11 wherein said access openings have inwardly tapering walls to guide resistance measuring test probes into continuity measuring positions within the housing.

Claim 16

The plug-in assembly of claim 11 wherein said plug-in terminals of the fuse assembly project in the same direction from one side of the housing thereof, said housing having an outer wall facing in the opposite direction from the direction in which said terminals project, and said terminal access openings are in said outer wall of the housing.

Claim 17

A plug-in fuse assembly consisting solely of a housing made of insulating material and a plug-in fuse element secured within said housing, said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and being defined by closely spaced side walls, end walls bridging the end portions of the side walls and an outer wall bridging the outer margins of the side walls, at least a part of said housing being made of substantially transparent material permitting visibility of a part of the interior of the housing at this point; and a plug-in fuse unit mounted in said housing and consisting of a one piece plate-like body made of fuse metal and including a pair of spaced juxtaposed generally parallel terminal portions to be received by female pressure clip terminals or the like in a mounting panel and projecting inwardly from opposite end portions of the housing and a fuse link extending transversely between coplanar extensions of said terminal portions within said housing and visible in said transparent portion of said housing, said terminal-forming blade portions, current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof and transversely extending fuse-forming link portion being substantially all in the same plane parallel to the outer faces of the plate-like body forming the same, said outer housing wall terminating at the ends of the housing in outwardly projecting finger gripping portions permitting the housing to be gripped between fingers extending over the opposite longitudinal end portions of the housing.

Claim 18

A plug-in fuse assembly consisting solely of a housing made of insulating material and a plug-in fuse element secured within said housing, said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and being defined by closely spaced side walls, end walls bridging the end portions of the side walls and an outer wall bridging the outer margins of the side walls, at least a part of said housing being made of substantially transparent material permitting visibility of a part of the interior of the housing at this point; and a plug-in fuse unit mounted in said housing and consisting of a one piece plate-like body made of fuse metal and including a pair of spaced juxtaposed generally parallel terminal portions to be received by female pressure clip terminals or the like in a mounting panel and projecting inwardly from opposite end portions of the housing and a fuse link extending transversely between coplanar extensions of said terminal portions within said housing and visible in said transparent portion of said housing, said terminal-forming blade portions, current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof and transversely extending fuse-forming link portion being substantially all in the same plane parallel to the outer faces of the plate-like body forming the same, said outer housing wall terminating at the ends of the housing in outwardly projecting finger gripping portions permitting the housing to be gripped between fingers extending over the opposite longitudinal end portions of the housing.

Claim 19

A plug-in fuse assembly comprising a housing made of insulating material forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and defined by closely spaced side walls, end walls bridging the end portions of the side walls and an outer wall bridging the outer margins of the side walls, at least an intermediate portion of said outer wall being made of substantially transparent material permitting visibility of the interior of the housing at this point; and a plug-in fuse unit mounted in said housing and consisting of a pair of spaced parallel terminal portions to be received by female pressure clip terminals or the like in a mounting panel and projecting inwardly from opposite end portions of the housing, and a fuse link extending transversely between coplanar extensions of said terminal portions within said housing and visible in said transparent portion of said outer wall of the housing, said outer wall of the housing beIng provided with terminal access openings opposite the extensions of said terminal portions of said plug-in fuse unit which extend adjacent to said outer wall from the inner side of the housing, said terminal access openings being adapted to receive continuity test probes to make engagement with the extensions of said terminal portions of the plug-in fuse unit, and said outer housing wall terminating at the ends of the housing in outwardly projecting finger gripping portions permitting the housing to be gripped between fingers extending over the opposite longitudinal end portions of the housing, whereby a number of fuse assemblies can be closely spaced on a support panel with the fuse links therein visible through the outer wall thereof and be readily inserted into or removed from sockets despite the very close spacing between the lateral sides of similar fuse assemblies to be received by female pressure clip terminals or the like in a mounting panel.

Claim 20

A plug-in fuse assembly comprising a housing made of insulating material forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and defined by closely spaced side walls, end walls bridging the end portions of the side walls and an outer wall bridging the outer margins of the side walls, at least an intermediate portion of said outer wall being made of substantially transparent material permitting visibility of the interior of the housing at this point; and a plug-in fuse unit mounted in said housing and consisting of a pair of spaced parallel terminal portions to be received by female pressure clip terminals or the like in a mounting panel and projecting inwardly from opposite end portions of the housing, and a fuse link extending transversely between coplanar extensions of said terminal portions within said housing and visible in said transparent portion of said outer wall of the housing, said outer wall of the housing beIng provided with terminal access openings opposite the extensions of said terminal portions of said plug-in fuse unit which extend adjacent to said outer wall from the inner side of the housing, said terminal access openings being adapted to receive continuity test probes to make engagement with the extensions of said terminal portions of the plug-in fuse unit, and said outer housing wall terminating at the ends of the housing in outwardly projecting finger gripping portions permitting the housing to be gripped between fingers extending over the opposite longitudinal end portions of the housing, whereby a number of fuse assemblies can be closely spaced on a support panel with the fuse links therein visible through the outer wall thereof and be readily inserted into or removed from sockets despite the very close spacing between the lateral sides of similar fuse assemblies to be received by female pressure clip terminals or the like in a mounting panel.

Claim 21

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 15 wherein there is a single large opening on the bottom side of said housing into which opening said plug-in fuse unit was initially inserted, and said housing and plug-in fuse unit having means for interlocking the same for securely holding the plug-in fuse unit in the housing.

Claim 22

The plug-in fuse assembly of claim 14 wherein said terminal and fuse link-forming portions of said plug-in fuse unit forms a one-piece stamping from a sheet of fuse metal.

Claim 23

A plug-in fuse assembly consisting solely of a housing made of insulating material and an all metal plug-in fuse element secured within said housing, said housing being a synthetic plastic member defined by closely spaced side walls, end walls bridging the end portions of the side walls and an outer wall bridging the outer margins of the side walls, said housing and plug-in fuse element having interlocking means for securing the plug-in fuse element within the housing, said plug-in fuse element having a pair of terminal forming blade portions to be received by pressure clip terminals in a mounting panel and projecting in laterally spaced parallel relation from said housing on the side thereof opposite to that containing said outer wall, the terminal-forming blade portions having current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof which are interconnected by a fuse-forming link portion, said terminal-forming blade portions of the plug-in fuse element being in substantially coplanar relation with one another, said current-carrying extensions thereof and said fuse-forming link portion, and said housing providing a narrow space which closely receives the current carrying extensions of said plug-in fuse element and a relatively wide space adjacent the fuse-forming link portion, and said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and a shield for spewing blown fuse metal of said fuse-forming link portion of the plug-in fuse element when the current rating thereof is exceeded.

Claim 24

A plug-in fuse assembly consisting solely of a housing made of insulating material and an all metal plug-in fuse element secured within said housing, said housing being a synthetic plastic member defined by closely spaced side walls, end walls bridging the end portions of the side walls and an outer wall bridging the outer margins of the side walls, said housing and plug-in fuse element having interlocking means for securing the plug-in fuse element within the housing, said plug-in fuse element having a pair of terminal forming blade portions to be received by pressure clip terminals in a mounting panel and projecting in laterally spaced parallel relation from said housing on the side thereof opposite to that containing said outer wall, the terminal-forming blade portions having current-carrying extensions at the inner end portions thereof which are interconnected by a fuse-forming link portion, said terminal-forming blade portions of the plug-in fuse element being in substantially coplanar relation with one another, said current-carrying extensions thereof and said fuse-forming link portion, and said housing providing a narrow space which closely receives the current carrying extensions of said plug-in fuse element and a relatively wide space adjacent the fuse-forming link portion, and said housing forming an insulated gripping body for the plug-in fuse assembly and a shield for spewing blown fuse metal of said fuse-forming link portion of the plug-in fuse element when the current rating thereof is exceeded.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 18 wherein said housing is a one-piece molded synthetic plastic member which is open at the inwardly facing side thereof for the full width of the plug-in fuse element so as initially to receive said plug-in fuse element when it is assembled therewith.