US4342977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printed circuit fuse assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-05-28
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Granted: 1982-08-03
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Expires: 2001-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A circuit fuse assembly comprising a plurality of fuse elements which are simultaneously formed using printed circuit or through hole plating techniques and including means for easily substituting a different one of the plural fuse elements when the in-circuit fuse element burns out due to an overload current condition. In the preferred embodiment, the fuse assembly is (a) integrally formed with the printed circuit of the fused electrical apparatus and (b) formed with a common electrical connection such that a single electrical bridge of solder or other means enables substitution of a replacement fuse element. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a restorable printed circuit fuse for use in standard fuse holders, in-line plug connectors, conventional three prong plug connectors, edison bases, and plug-in triple outlets.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. McGalliard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/68; H01H; H01H85/00; H01H85/02; H01H85/04; H01H85/041; H01H85/046; H01H85/26; H01H85/263; H01H2085/266; H01H85/24; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0263; H05K1/0286
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
13 words
A fuse patch assembly for a printed circuit board and the like comprising:
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fuse patch assembly for a printed circuit board and the like comprising:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
a substrate; first and second thin foil buses extending from the ends of said substrate; a plurality of fuse elements integral with said first bus; said second bus integral with at least one of said fuse elements, and closely juxtaposed the other of said fuse elements to form a narrow gap therebetween; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
a substrate; first and second thin foil buses extending from the ends of said substrate; a plurality of fuse elements integral with said first bus; said second bus integral with at least one of said fuse elements, and closely juxtaposed the other of said fuse elements to form a narrow gap therebetween; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
a cover forming an insulating layer over said substrate, said fuse elements and all but said extending portions of said first and second buses, said insulating layer having a small cut-out portion over each of said narrow gaps so that a substitute fuse is placed in circuit by applying solder to form a conductive bridge across the exposed gaps corresponding with said fuse element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
a cover forming an insulating layer over said substrate, said fuse elements and all but said extending portions of said first and second buses, said insulating layer having a small cut-out portion over each of said narrow gaps so that a substitute fuse is placed in circuit by applying solder to form a conductive bridge across the exposed gaps corresponding with said fuse element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
In an Edison base outlet having a threaded aperture to receive an electrical load, and a pair of electrical terminals, a fuse assembly comprising: a substrate for direct insertion within said threaded aperture; a printed circuit formed on said substrate and comprising a plurality of thin foil fuse elements, at least one of said fuse elements providing a gap between portions of said printed circuit and oriented such that application of solder to form a conductive bridge across said gap is all that is required to electrically connect said printed circuit portions to place said one of said fuse elements into said printed circuit; and contact means positioned on said substrate to electrically connect said printed circuit to one terminal of said Edison base, each of said fuse elements melting when a predetermined magnitude of electrical current passes therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
In an Edison base outlet having a threaded aperture to receive an electrical load, and a pair of electrical terminals, a fuse assembly comprising: a substrate for direct insertion within said threaded aperture; a printed circuit formed on said substrate and comprising a plurality of thin foil fuse elements, at least one of said fuse elements providing a gap between portions of said printed circuit and oriented such that application of solder to form a conductive bridge across said gap is all that is required to electrically connect said printed circuit portions to place said one of said fuse elements into said printed circuit; and contact means positioned on said substrate to electrically connect said printed circuit to one terminal of said Edison base, each of said fuse elements melting when a predetermined magnitude of electrical current passes therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A circuit fuse assembly comprising: an electrical insulating planar substrate which may be flexed into a tubular configuration; a plurality of thin foil fuse elements bonded to said substrate and positioned in a substantially parallel orientation, each of said fuse elements melting when a predetermined magnitude of electrical current passes therethrough; a first electrical conductor providing a common electrical connection to each of said fuse elements; a second electrical conductor, spaced from at least one of said fuse elements to provide a gap therebetween, so that application of solder to form a conductive bridge across said gap is all that is required for replacing a burnt-out fuse element; and means for retaining said substrate in a tubular configuration, said means being selectively removable to allow said substrate to flex back to its unstressed planar configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
A circuit fuse assembly comprising: an electrical insulating planar substrate which may be flexed into a tubular configuration; a plurality of thin foil fuse elements bonded to said substrate and positioned in a substantially parallel orientation, each of said fuse elements melting when a predetermined magnitude of electrical current passes therethrough; a first electrical conductor providing a common electrical connection to each of said fuse elements; a second electrical conductor, spaced from at least one of said fuse elements to provide a gap therebetween, so that application of solder to form a conductive bridge across said gap is all that is required for replacing a burnt-out fuse element; and means for retaining said substrate in a tubular configuration, said means being selectively removable to allow said substrate to flex back to its unstressed planar configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit assembly of claim 3 wherein said substrate includes a pair of tabs adjacent opposite ends thereof, said tabs insertable within a quick connect plug connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit fuse assembly of claim 4 wherein said means for retaining said tubular configuration comprises an insulating collar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
A fuse assembly for protecting an electrical circuit from abnormally high currents, said fuse assembly comprising: a non-conductive substrate; first and second foil buses formed on said substrate; a first fuse element, formed on said substrate and interconnecting said buses to limit current through said electrical circuit to protect said electrical circuit from abnormally high currents, said first fuse element having a predetermined current capacity lower than the current capacity of said buses; and a second fuse element formed on said substrate, connected to said first bus and spaced from said second bus to form a small gap therebetween, said gap sufficiently large to electrically isolate said second fuse element from said second bus, but sufficiently small to permit molten solder to be applied as a jumper to form a conductive bridge connecting said second fuse element to said second bus, said second fuse element being in parallel circuit connection to said first fuse element when said solder is applied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
160 words
A fuse assembly for protecting an electrical circuit from abnormally high currents, said fuse assembly comprising: a non-conductive substrate; first and second foil buses formed on said substrate; a first fuse element, formed on said substrate and interconnecting said buses to limit current through said electrical circuit to protect said electrical circuit from abnormally high currents, said first fuse element having a predetermined current capacity lower than the current capacity of said buses; and a second fuse element formed on said substrate, connected to said first bus and spaced from said second bus to form a small gap therebetween, said gap sufficiently large to electrically isolate said second fuse element from said second bus, but sufficiently small to permit molten solder to be applied as a jumper to form a conductive bridge connecting said second fuse element to said second bus, said second fuse element being in parallel circuit connection to said first fuse element when said solder is applied.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 6, wherein said substrate is sized for insertion into the threaded aperture of an Edison base outlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 7, wherein said Edison base outlet has a pair of terminals, and said fuse assembly additionally comprises means for selectrically connecting one of said buses to one of said terminals of said outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 8, wherein both of said buses are circular.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 6, wherein said substrate is adapted for mounting on a standard plug connector, and said fuse assembly additionally comprises a foil circuit, formed on said substrate, for connecting one of said buses to one of the spade terminals of said plug connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 10, wherein the other of said buses is adapted for connection to one of the wires of a multi-wire conductor, said fuse assembly additionally comprising a second foil circuit, formed on said substrate, for connecting a second spade terminal to a second one of said wires of said multi-wire conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 6, wherein said buses extend from said substrate to form terminals for connection to a printed circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 12, additionally comprising a cover of insulating material, attached to said substrate to sandwich said fuse elements therebetween, said cover including an opening to expose said small gap between said second fuse element and said second bus to permit said solder to be applied to form said conductive bridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 6, wherein a portion of said substrate is sized to receive a "fast-on" plug connector, and wherein one of said buses extends onto said substrate portion to permit said plug connector to be electrically connected to said one of said buses when said plug connector is received by said substrate portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 6, wherein said substrate is formed of a flexible material to permit said substrate to be selectively flexed into either a tubular configuration or a planar configuration, said fuse assembly additionally comprising: means for retaining said substrate in a tubular configuration, said retaining means releasable to permit said substrate to be flexed back to a planar configuration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
A fuse assembly, as defined in claim 15, wherein one end of said substrate is contoured to provide an elongated portion, sized to receive a quick connect plug, and one of said buses extends onto said elongated portion to permit said plug to be electrically connected to said one of said buses when said plug is received by said elongated portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2874248A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-02 | 1986-02-01 | 1986-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-02 | 1990-02-01 | 1990-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-02 | 1994-02-01 | 1994-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |