In-line breakaway fuse holder

Claim 2

A holder for an electric fuse comprising: (a) a first body portion having a recess therein for receiving one end of an electric fuse; (b) a nut having an internally threaded section; (c) interacting surfaces on said first body portion and on said nut to permit said nut to be assembled with said first body portion in a manner allowing relative rotational movement therebetween, said interacting surfaces substantially axially fixing said first body portion and said nut with respect to one another; said interacting surfaces further allowing separation of said nut from said first body portion when a predetermined axial separating force is imparted therebetween, without damage to either; (d) a second body portion having a recess therein, for receiving the other end of the electric fuse, and, an external threaded portion that is adapted to threadably engage the threads on said internally threaded nut to draw said second body portion, and, said assembly of said first body portion and said nut together, in assembled relation, to enclose and confine the electric fuse in the fuse receiving recesses of said first and second body portions.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interacting surface on said first body portion comprises a large outwardly directed annular shoulder on the exterior thereof, intermediate the ends thereof, and, an outwardly directed small annular shoulder on the exterior thereof axially spaced, in the direction of said fuse receiving recess, a short distance from said large annular shoulder; said large annular shoulder and said small annular shoulder defining an annular groove therebetween; and wherein said interacting surface on said nut comprises a body engaging section, extending axially from said threaded section, having a bore therein for telescopically receiving said first body portion therein; said bore being defined by a plurality of resiliently radially deflectable arcuate fingers, said arcuate fingers defining a primary bore diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said first body portion, and, said fingers having on the interior thereof, at their outermost ends, an inwardly directed annular shoulder means which define a bore having a diameter less than the diameter of said small annular shoulder, and, greater than the diameter of said annular groove; whereby said body engaging section of said nut may be telescopically engaged with said first body portion and an axial force upon said nut, urging said nut toward said body, will result in said arcuate fingers engaging said small annular shoulder, and, the ends thereof will deflect radially outwardly allowing said inwardly directed shoulder means to pass axially over said small annular shoulder and into said annular groove.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both said first and second body portions have a terminal that is fixedly secured to and carried by said body portion.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said terminals has a hollow shank extending axially outwardly beyond said body portion to accommodate one end of a conductor.