US5436609A — Electrical device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 108 words

A circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which has a resistance at 23° C. of 0.001 to 100 ohms and which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer which has a resistivity at 23° C. of 0.01 to 100 Ohm-cm, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 108 words

A circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which has a resistance at 23° C. of 0.001 to 100 ohms and which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer which has a resistivity at 23° C. of 0.01 to 100 Ohm-cm, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

A device according to claim 1 which includes a second terminal which comprises a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to the opposite face of the PTC element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A device according to claim 2 wherein the second terminal comprises a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) further improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein the surface area of the shaped portion of the terminal exposed to the atmosphere is at least 1.5 times the area of the laminar portion secured to the PTC element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

A device according to claim 4 wherein the surface area of the shaped portion of the terminal exposed to the atmosphere is at least 2 times the area of the laminar portion secured to the PTC element.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

A device according to claim 5 wherein the surface area of the shaped portion of the terminal exposed to the atmosphere is at least 4 times the area of the laminar portion secured to the PTC element.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

A device according to claim 1 wherein the non-laminar shaped portion comprises at least one fin which extends outwards away from the PTC element within the periphery thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A device according to claim 7 wherein there are at least two fins and the fins are connected to each other only by the laminar portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 115 words

A circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery, (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device, and (iii) comprises at least two fins which extend outwards away from the PTC element within the periphery thereof and at least two fins which are connected to each other by a cross-member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 115 words

A circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery, (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device, and (iii) comprises at least two fins which extend outwards away from the PTC element within the periphery thereof and at least two fins which are connected to each other by a cross-member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

A device according to claim 1 which includes a laminar conductive element which (a) is secured to a face of the resistive element, and (b) has a second periphery which does not extend beyond the first periphery.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 12 words

A device according to claim 10 wherein the conductive element comprises solder.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

A device according to claim 10 which includes a laminar electrode which (a) lies between the resistive element and the conductive element and is secured to the resistive element and the conductive element, and (b) has a fourth periphery.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

A device according to claim 12 wherein the laminar electrode is a metal foil electrode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A device according to claim 13 wherein the laminar electrode has an electrodeposited metal surface, which surface is in contact with the resistive element.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 123 words

An assembly which comprises (A) a circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which has a resistance at 23° C. of 0.001 to 100 ohms and which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer which has a resistivity at 23° C. of 0.01 to 100 ohm-cm, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device, and (B) a substrate to which the device is attached.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 123 words

An assembly which comprises (A) a circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which has a resistance at 23° C. of 0.001 to 100 ohms and which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer which has a resistivity at 23° C. of 0.01 to 100 ohm-cm, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device, and (B) a substrate to which the device is attached.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 51 words

An assembly according to claim 15 wherein (a) the substrate is substantially horizontal, and (b) the plane of the PTC resistive element is substantially parallel to the substrate and the shaped portion of the terminal comprises fins which extend from the face of the PTC resistive element remote from the substrate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

An assembly according to claim 15 wherein (a) the substrate is substantially horizontal, and (b) the plane of the PTC resistive element is substantially at right angles to the plane of the substrate.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 12 words

An assembly according to claim 15 wherein the substrate is substantially vertical.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 123 words

A circuit which comprises (A) a circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which has a resistance at 23° C. of 0.001 to 100 ohms and which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer which has a resistivity at 23° C. of 0.01 to 100 ohm-cm, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device, and (B) a power source, and (C) and electrical load.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 123 words

A circuit which comprises (A) a circuit protection device which comprises (1) a laminar resistive PTC element which has a resistance at 23° C. of 0.001 to 100 ohms and which (a) is composed of a PTC conductive polymer which has a resistivity at 23° C. of 0.01 to 100 ohm-cm, and (b) has a first periphery; and (2) a conductive terminal comprising (a) a laminar portion which is secured directly or indirectly to a first face of the resistive PTC element, and (b) a non-laminar shaped portion which (i) lies within a projection of the first periphery and (ii) improves thermal transfer between the PTC element and the atmosphere surrounding the device, and (B) a power source, and (C) and electrical load.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 43 words

A circuit according to claim 19 wherein the non-laminar shaped portion of the circuit protection device comprises at least two fins which extend outwards away from the PTC element within the periphery thereof and which are connected to each other by a cross-member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-07-24	1999-01-23	1999-07-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-07-24	2003-01-23	2003-07-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-07-24	2007-01-23	2007-07-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical device

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag