Sneak current protector with fuse

Claim 2

A terminal bridging device for mounting on a terminal block, the terminal block having a plurality of outwardly extending terminals, comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; at least two aligned slots defining a first slot and a second slot and extending through at least a portion of said block, each of said slots terminating at said lower surface at a pair of first openings; at least one bore through at least a portion of said block terminating at said first end surface at a second opening, said bore communicating between said two aligned slots; electrically conductive component means in said bore, said component means having conductive first and second end terminations wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with said first slot and said second conductive end termination communicates with said second slot; and said first and second slots each having a preselected size for receiving a terminal extending from a terminal block and said first and second slots each defining an open void for allowing the received terminal to electrically mate along a terminal portion located within the void with one of said first and second end terminations of said electrically conductive component means.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein: said electrically conductive component means comprises fuse means.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein: said electrically conductive component means comprises a metal rod.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 including: handle means on said upper surface of said insulative block.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein: said first and second slots terminate at said upper surface of said block at a pair of third openings.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 including: at least one longitudinal rib in each of said slots for frictionally engaging the received terminal.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein: said slots are substantially rectangular.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein: said first openings include ramped sections.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1 wherein: said bore terminates at said second end surface at a fourth opening.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein: said second opening is sized for receiving said electrically conductive component means and said fourth opening is sized to retain said electrically conductive component means.

Claim 12

The device of claim 1 including: at least one longitudinal ridge along at least a portion of the length of said bore for frictionally retaining said component means.

Claim 13

The device of claim 1 wherein: said bore is cylindrical.

Claim 14

The device of claim 2 wherein: said fuse means is cylindrical.

Claim 15

The device of claim 13 wherein: said bore is cylindrical.

Claim 16

The device of claim 3 wherein: said metal rod is cylindrical.

Claim 17

The device of claim 15 wherein: said bore is cylindrical.

Claim 18

The device of claim 1 including: means on said lower surface of said block for spacing said block away from a surface.

Claim 19

The device of claim 1 wherein: said block is plastic and is one piece.

Claim 20

A terminal bridging device for mounting on a terminal block, the terminal block having a plurality of outwardly extending terminals, comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; four slots through at least a portion of said block, said slots terminating at said lower surface at four first openings, said slots being arranged in two mutually aligned pairs defining a first slot pair and a second slot pair; first and second spaced bores through at least a portion of said block, said bores terminating at said first end surface of said block at a pair of second openings, said first bore communicating between said slots of said first slot pair and said second bore communicating between said slots of said second slot pair; electrically conductive component means in at least one of said first and second bores, said component means having a conductive first end termination and a conductive second end termination wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with one of said slots in said first and second slot pairs and said second conductive end termination communicates with the other of said slots in said first and second slot pairs; and said four slots each having a preselected size for receiving a terminal extending from a terminal block and said four slots each defining an open void for allowing the received terminal to electrically mate along a terminal portion located within the void with one of said first and second end terminations of said electrically conductive component means.

Claim 21

A terminal bridging device for mounting on a terminal block, the terminal block having a plurality of outwardly extending terminals, comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; four slots through at least a portion of said block, said slots terminating at said lower surface at four first openings, said slots being arranged in two mutually aligned pairs defining a first slot pair and a second slot pair; first and second spaced bores through at least a portion of said block, said bores terminating at said first end surface of said block at a pair of second openings, said first bore communicating between said slots of said first slot pair and said second bore communicating between said slots of said second slot pair; electrically conductive component means in at least one of said first and second bores, said component means having a conductive first end termination and a conductive second end termination wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with one of said slots in said first and second slot pairs and said second conductive end termination communicates with the other of said slots in said first and second slot pairs; and said four slots each having a preselected size for receiving a terminal extending from a terminal block and said four slots each defining an open void for allowing the received terminal to electrically mate along a terminal portion located within the void with one of said first and second end terminations of said electrically conductive component means.

Claim 22

The device of claim 19 wherein: said electrically conductive component means comprises fuse means.

Claim 23

The device of claim 19 wherein: said electrically conductive component means comprises a metal rod.

Claim 24

The device of claim 19 including: handle means on said upper surface of said insulative block.

Claim 25

The device of claim 19 wherein: said slots terminate at said upper surface of said block at third openings.

Claim 26

The device of claim 19 including: at least one longitudinal rib in each of said slots for frictionally engaging the received terminal.

Claim 27

The device of claim 19 wherein: said slots are substantially rectangular.

Claim 28

The device of claim 19 wherein: said first openings include ramped sections.

Claim 29

The device of claim 19 wherein: said bores terminate at said second end surface at fourth openings.

Claim 30

The device of claim 27 wherein: said second opening is sized for receiving said component means and said fourth opening is sized to retain said component means.

Claim 31

The device of claim 19 including: at least one longitudinal ridge along said bores for frictionally retaining said component means.

Claim 32

The device of claim 19 wherein: said bore is cylindrical.

Claim 33

The device of claim 20 wherein: said fuse means is cylindrical.

Claim 34

The device of claim 31 wherein: said bore is cylindrical.

Claim 35

The device of claim 21 wherein: said metal rod is cylindrical.

Claim 36

The device of claim 33 wherein: said bore is cylindrical.

Claim 37

The device of claim 19 including: means on said lower surface of said block for spacing said block away from a surface.

Claim 38

The device of claim 19 wherein: said block is plastic and is one piece.

Claim 39

The device of claim 19 including: component means in each of said first and second bores.

Claim 40

A terminal bridging device comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; at least two aligned slots defining a first slot and a second slot and extending through at least a portion of said block, each of said slots terminating at said lower surface at a pair of first openings; at least one bore through at least a portion of said block terminating at said first end surface at a second opening, said bore communicating between said two aligned slots; electrically conductive component means in said bore, said component means having conductive first and second end terminations wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with said first slot and said second conductive end termination communicates with said second slot; and said first and second slots terminating at said upper surface of said block at a pair of third openings.

Claim 41

A terminal bridging device comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; at least two aligned slots defining a first slot and a second slot and extending through at least a portion of said block, each of said slots terminating at said lower surface at a pair of first openings; at least one bore through at least a portion of said block terminating at said first end surface at a second opening, said bore communicating between said two aligned slots; electrically conductive component means in said bore, said component means having conductive first and second end terminations wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with said first slot and said second conductive end termination communicates with said second slot; and said first and second slots terminating at said upper surface of said block at a pair of third openings.

Claim 42

A terminal bridging device comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; four slots through at least a portion of said block, said slots terminating at said lower surface at four first openings, said slots being arranged in two mutually aligned pairs defining a first slot pair and a second slot pair; first and second spaced bores through at least a portion of said block, said bores terminating at said first end surface of said block at a pair of second openings, said first bore communicating between said slots of said first slot pair and said second bore communicating between said slots of said second slot pair; electrically conductive component means in at least one of said first and second bores, said component means having a conductive first end termination and a conductive second end termination wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with one of said slots in said first and second slot pairs and said second conductive end termination communicates with the other of said slots in said first and second slot pairs; and said first and second slots terminating at said upper surface of said block at a pair of third openings.

Claim 43

A terminal bridging device comprising: an insulative block having opposed upper and lower surfaces and opposed first and second end surfaces; four slots through at least a portion of said block, said slots terminating at said lower surface at four first openings, said slots being arranged in two mutually aligned pairs defining a first slot pair and a second slot pair; first and second spaced bores through at least a portion of said block, said bores terminating at said first end surface of said block at a pair of second openings, said first bore communicating between said slots of said first slot pair and said second bore communicating between said slots of said second slot pair; electrically conductive component means in at least one of said first and second bores, said component means having a conductive first end termination and a conductive second end termination wherein said first conductive end termination communicates with one of said slots in said first and second slot pairs and said second conductive end termination communicates with the other of said slots in said first and second slot pairs; and said first and second slots terminating at said upper surface of said block at a pair of third openings.