Miniature socketed fuse for a decorative string of series-connected miniature incandescent lamps

Claim 1

In a decorative string set of incandescent lamps including (A) a plurality of molded miniature plastic lamp sockets, (B) elongated flexible conductor means interconnecting said sockets and forming a string of series-connected sockets, (C) a plurality of shunted miniature lamps each having a molded miniature plastic lamp base mounted in a respective lamp socket, and (D) an electrical power plug electrically connected to said conductor means for supplying electrical power to said sockets and said lamps to cause the latter to operate as a decorative light display, an improved electrical fuse for protecting said string set in the event of a current overload, said improved fuse comprising: (a) a fuse socket having fire-resistant and electrically-insulating wall portions bounding an elongated interior compartment which has an open end, and a pair of electrical contacts mounted in spaced-apart relationship within said compartment, (i) said contacts being electrically connected to said conductor means in series with said lamp sockets; (b) an elongated fuse body insertable with frictional engagement into said compartment through said open end thereof, said fuse body having fire-resistant and electrically insulating wall portions bounding a bore which has a base wall and an open end at one axial end region of said fuse body, and bounding a pair of interior passageways which extend from said base wall in direction lengthwise of said fuse body to the other opposite axial end region thereof; (c) a bendable, electrically-conductive metallic fuse wire of uniform diameter on said fuse body, said fuse wire having a central wire portion located in said bore adjacent said base wall thereof, a pair of intermediate wire portions each located in and extending through a respective passageway, and a pair of end wire portions each bent generally rearwardly in a direction from said other axial end region of said fuse body towards said one axial end region thereof, (i) each bent end wire portion overlying the outer surface of said fuse body and engaging the respective contacts in said sockets to thereby establish an electromechanical connection therewith when said fuse body is inserted into said compartment of said socket; (d) keying means on said fuse socket and said fuse body for properly locating the latter in the former; and (e) a fuse plug insertable with frictional engagement into said bore through said open end of said fuse body, said fuse plug being of fire-resistant and electrically-insulating material and overlying said central wire portion of said fuse wire to thereby enclose the latter in an environment which is resistant to heat and fire, whereby said string set and objects in the circumambient region of said string set are protected from high heat in the event that said fuse wire melts due to a current overload.