Patent US5645443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5645443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Potential distributor especially for fuse boxes of motor vehicles
Assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Deutschland GmbH
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Filing: 1995-04-18
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Granted: 1997-07-08
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Expires: 2015-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A potential distributor is disclosed which comprises a two-layer, flat base rail having a plurality of flat plug tongues which project from the base rail and are oriented transversely with respect to the course of the rail. The two layers of the base rail are made from two folded limbs of an integral strip which are pressed flat against one another. Catch parts on the outer edges of the two folded limb located in longitudinally staggered relationship are used to produce a third layer of sheet metal material in the base rail. Extensions of the edge parts are bent and produce the flat plug tongues.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Schaller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/02; H01H; H01H85/00; H01H85/02; H01H85/20; H01H85/205; H01H2085/2075; H01H2085/208; H01H85/203; H01H85/2035; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/949
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A potential distributor (10), especially for fuse boxes of motor vehicles, having a two-layer flat base rail (11) of sheet-metal material which has an end piece (13) for an electrical connection, and having a plurality of flat plug tongues (12,12') which project from the base rail (11) and are oriented transversely with respect to the course of the rail, which are stamped and bent out of the sheet-metal material of the two-layer flat base rail and connected in an alternating sequence either to a first layer or to a second layer of the two-layer flat base rail, wherein, the first and second layers of the base rail (11) are made from the two folded limbs (24,24') of a longitudinally folded (40), integral strip (20), having a longitudinal folding line (30) which produces a first longitudinal edge (41) of the base rail (11) between two folded limbs (24,24') which are pressed flat against one another, the strip (20) having on its two mutually opposite strip edges (25,25') profile elements (29,29') which are arranged on alternate sides with respect to one another by means of a longitudinal offset (33), which provide a third layer (edge parts 26,26') made of sheet-metal material in the base rail (11) in certain sections (36,36') by means of further folds (43) of edge parts of the original strip (20) on two parallel folding lines (31,31') which are parallel to the longitudinal folding line (30), the third layer (edge parts 26,26') supporting the flat plug tongues (12,12').
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A potential distributor (10), especially for fuse boxes of motor vehicles, having a two-layer flat base rail (11) of sheet-metal material which has an end piece (13) for an electrical connection, and having a plurality of flat plug tongues (12,12') which project from the base rail (11) and are oriented transversely with respect to the course of the rail, which are stamped and bent out of the sheet-metal material of the two-layer flat base rail and connected in an alternating sequence either to a first layer or to a second layer of the two-layer flat base rail, wherein, the first and second layers of the base rail (11) are made from the two folded limbs (24,24') of a longitudinally folded (40), integral strip (20), having a longitudinal folding line (30) which produces a first longitudinal edge (41) of the base rail (11) between two folded limbs (24,24') which are pressed flat against one another, the strip (20) having on its two mutually opposite strip edges (25,25') profile elements (29,29') which are arranged on alternate sides with respect to one another by means of a longitudinal offset (33), which provide a third layer (edge parts 26,26') made of sheet-metal material in the base rail (11) in certain sections (36,36') by means of further folds (43) of edge parts of the original strip (20) on two parallel folding lines (31,31') which are parallel to the longitudinal folding line (30), the third layer (edge parts 26,26') supporting the flat plug tongues (12,12').
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal folding line (30) is arranged on the longitudinal center of the strip (20), the two parallel folding lines (31,31') are located symmetrically with respect thereto on both sides and, by means of common folding (43) of both strip edges (25,25'), produce a second longitudinal edge (42) in the base strip (20), which second longitudinal edge (42) is opposite the longitudinal folding line (30) in the strip (20) which forms the first longitudinal edge (41).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 1, wherein two adjacent flat plug tongues (12,12') are produced from bends which are made in opposite directions with respect to one another, in axial extensions (27,27') of the edge parts (26,26') on both sides of the strip (20), and the kink lines (37,37') of these bends run transversely with respect to the longitudinal folding line (30).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge parts (26') of the strip (20) which originate from the one folded limb (24') of the base rail (11) press the other folded limb (24) between them and the one folded limb.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end piece (13) has two parts (28,28') disposed in the strip halves (22,22') of the strip (20) which include the two folded limbs (24,24'), and two end piece parts (28,28') are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal folding line (30) (FIG. 6).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two end piece parts (28,28') are constructed in substantially mirror-image form with respect to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the end piece parts (28,28') are kinked jointly, both transversely (45) and longitudinally (50).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the longitudinal kink (50) in the end piece parts (28,28') on both sides is made on two parallel kink lines (47,47') which are arranged at the same distance (52,52') from the central longitudinal folding line (30) in the original strip (20).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the distance (52+52') between the parallel kink lines in the end piece parts (28,28') is greater than the distance (32+32') between the two parallel folding edges (31+31') of the edge parts (25,25') on both sides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein the position of the longitudinal folding line (30) and the positions of the two parallel folding lines (31,31') for the third layer (26,26'), and of the two parallel kink lines (47,47') in the two end piece parts (28,28') are governed by a weak zone in the strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The potential distributor as claimed in one of claim 1 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, characterized in that the positions of the transversely directed kink lines (37,37',44) for the flat plug tongues (12,12') and for the two end piece parts (28,28'), respectively, are governed by a weak zone in the strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The potential distributor as claimed in claim 10, wherein weak zones in the strip (20) are produced by means of cutouts in the strip (20), which cutouts (55) run in the direction of the respective folding line (30).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |