Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A thermal cut-off device comprising a housing, a pair of radial leads each having a thermal head which extends into said housing, a relatively thin spring contact which has its outer ends in contact with the thermal ends of the leads and a center portion, a coiled bias spring engaging said center portion of said spring contact to bias it away from said leads, a force-applying member in contact with said center portion of said spring contact and a temperature-sensing pellet comprising a temperature sensing material which melts at a predetermined temperature to be sensed, said pellet being positioned between said housing and said force-applying member, said pellet having a shape such that all of the space between said force-applying member and said housing is not occupied by said pellet, so that when said temperature-sensing material melts, said bias means will force said spring contact away from said heads of said leads thereby breaking the electrical connection therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A thermal cut-off device comprising a housing, a pair of radial leads each having a thermal head which extends into said housing, a relatively thin spring contact which has its outer ends in contact with the thermal ends of the leads and a center portion, a coiled bias spring engaging said center portion of said spring contact to bias it away from said leads, a force-applying member in contact with said center portion of said spring contact and a temperature-sensing pellet comprising a temperature sensing material which melts at a predetermined temperature to be sensed, said pellet being positioned between said housing and said force-applying member, said pellet having a shape such that all of the space between said force-applying member and said housing is not occupied by said pellet, so that when said temperature-sensing material melts, said bias means will force said spring contact away from said heads of said leads thereby breaking the electrical connection therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A thermal cut-off device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring contact is a bimetallic member comprised of a metal having good spring properties and a metal having good electrical conductive properties, and said spring layer and said conductive layer are positioned such that the contact pressure of said heads of said leads by said spring member is maintained as the ambient temperature increases toward the predetermined temperature to be sensed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermal cut-off device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said center portion of said spring contact is bowed away from said heads to form an arcuately shaped contact member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A thermal cut-off device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spring contact is a bimetallic member comprised of a metal having good spring properties and a metal having good electrical conductive properties, and said spring layer and said conductive layer are positioned such that the contact pressure of said heads of said leads by said spring member is maintained as the ambient temperature increases toward the predetermined temperature to be sensed.