US6101079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current and transient voltage protector
Assignee: Siemon Co
•
Filing: 1998-12-10
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Granted: 2000-08-08
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Expires: 2018-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A current and transient voltage protector. The protector module for a wiring block having at least one wiring strip includes an insulative housing having opposed ends, at least four electrically conductive contacts defining a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, and a fourth contact partially disposed in the housing. The first contact and second contact extend through one of the ends and the third contact and fourth contact extend through the other end. The first contact and the third contact are aligned and the second contact and the fourth contact are aligned and adjacent to the first contact and the third contact. A first fuse is disposed in the housing and is electrically connected between the first contact and the third contact while a second fuse, also disposed in the housing, is electrically connected between the second contact and the fourth contact. In an alternative embodiment, two voltage surge suppressors are disposed in the housing with a first voltage surge suppressor being electrically connected to said third contact and a second voltage surge suppressor being electrically connected to said fourth contact. A ground contact is provided and is electrically connected to the first voltage surge suppressor and the second voltage surge suppressor.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Viklund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C7/00; H01C7/10; H01C7/12; H01H; H01H85/00; H01H85/02; H01H85/20; H01T; H01T4/00; H01T4/06; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/11; H04Q1/116; H01H85/202; H01H85/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A protector module for a wiring block having at least one wiring strip comprising: an insulative housing having opposed ends, said housing comprising a plurality of test holes; at least four electrically conductive contacts defining a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, and a fourth contact, said contacts being partially disposed in said housing, said first contact and said second contact extending through one of said ends, said third contact and said fourth contact extending through the other of said ends, said first contact and said third contact being aligned, said second contact and said fourth contact being aligned and adjacent to said first contact and said third contact; a first fuse in said housing, said first fuse being electrically connected between said first contact and said third contact, and wherein said first fuse is accessible through a first pair of said test holes; and a second fuse in said housing, said second fuse being electrically connected between said second contact and said fourth contact, and wherein said second fuse is accessible through a second pair of said test holes; wherein said wiring block is a 110 type wiring block having two rows of connector blocks, said first contact and said second contact being matable with a connector block in a first row and said third contact and said fourth contact being matable with a connector block in a second row.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A protector module for a wiring block having at least one wiring strip comprising: an insulative housing having opposed ends, said housing comprising a plurality of test holes; at least four electrically conductive contacts defining a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, and a fourth contact, said contacts being partially disposed in said housing, said first contact and said second contact extending through one of said ends, said third contact and said fourth contact extending through the other of said ends, said first contact and said third contact being aligned, said second contact and said fourth contact being aligned and adjacent to said first contact and said third contact; a first fuse in said housing, said first fuse being electrically connected between said first contact and said third contact, and wherein said first fuse is accessible through a first pair of said test holes; and a second fuse in said housing, said second fuse being electrically connected between said second contact and said fourth contact, and wherein said second fuse is accessible through a second pair of said test holes; wherein said wiring block is a 110 type wiring block having two rows of connector blocks, said first contact and said second contact being matable with a connector block in a first row and said third contact and said fourth contact being matable with a connector block in a second row.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A protector module according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a bottom; and further comprising: a first voltage surge suppressor electrically connected to said third contact and a second voltage surge suppressor being electrically connected to said fourth contact; and a ground contact, said ground contact being electrically connected to said first voltage surge suppressor and said second voltage surge suppressor, said ground contact having a distal end extending through said bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A protector module according to claim 2, further comprising: opposed resilient tabs, said tabs outwardly extending from said ground contact; one of said tabs urging said first voltage surge suppressor against said third contact, and the other of said tabs urging said second voltage surge suppressor against said fourth contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A protector module according to claim 1, wherein: said first contact and said third contact are parallel to said second contact and said fourth contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A protector module according to claim 1, wherein: said housing includes four slots, two of said slots being disposed on one of said ends and receiving said first and said second contacts, the other two of said slots being disposed on the other of said ends and receiving said third and said fourth contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A protector module according to claim 1, wherein: said housing comprises an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion; said lower housing portion includes opposed upwardly extending resilient arms, each of said arms having a latching surface thereon; and said upper housing portion includes opposed recessed surfaces for defeatably engaging said latching surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A protector according to claim 1, wherein: said housing further includes an extending portion depending from each end, one of said extending portions retaining said first contact and said second contact in spaced apart and parallel relationship, the other of said extending portions retaining said third contact and said fourth contact in spaced apart and parallel relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A protector according to claim 1, wherein: said housing further includes two holes, one of said holes being aligned with said first and said third contacts, the other said hole being aligned with said second and said fourth contacts, whereby said first fuse and said second fuse may be removably inserted into said housing through said holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
207 words
A protector module for a wiring block having at least one wiring strip comprising: an insulative housing having opposed ends; at least four electrically conductive contacts defining a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, and a fourth contact, said contacts being partially disposed in said housing, said first contact and said second contact extending through one of said ends, said third contact and said fourth contact extending through the other of said ends, said first contact and said third contact being aligned, said second contact and said fourth contact being aligned and adjacent to said first contact and said third contact; and wherein further said second and third contacts include C-shaped upper portions; a first fuse in said housing, said first fuse being electrically connected between said first contact and said third contact; and a second fuse in said housing, said second fuse being electrically connected between said second contact and said fourth contact; wherein said wiring block is a 110 type wiring block having two rows of connector blocks, said first contact and said second contact being matable with a connector block in a first row and said third contact and said fourth contact being matable with a connector block in a second row.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
207 words
A protector module for a wiring block having at least one wiring strip comprising: an insulative housing having opposed ends; at least four electrically conductive contacts defining a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, and a fourth contact, said contacts being partially disposed in said housing, said first contact and said second contact extending through one of said ends, said third contact and said fourth contact extending through the other of said ends, said first contact and said third contact being aligned, said second contact and said fourth contact being aligned and adjacent to said first contact and said third contact; and wherein further said second and third contacts include C-shaped upper portions; a first fuse in said housing, said first fuse being electrically connected between said first contact and said third contact; and a second fuse in said housing, said second fuse being electrically connected between said second contact and said fourth contact; wherein said wiring block is a 110 type wiring block having two rows of connector blocks, said first contact and said second contact being matable with a connector block in a first row and said third contact and said fourth contact being matable with a connector block in a second row.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said housing includes a bottom; and further comprising a first voltage surge suppressor electrically connected to said third contact and a second voltage surge suppressor being electrically connected to said fourth contact; and a ground contact, said ground contact being electrically connected to said first voltage surge suppressor and said second voltage surge suppressor, said ground contact having a distal end extending through said bottom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A protector module according to claim 10, further comprising: opposed resilient tabs, said tabs outwardly extending from said ground contact; one of said tabs urging said first voltage surge suppressor against said third contact, and the other of said tabs urging said second voltage surge suppressor against said fourth contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said first contact and said third contact are parallel to said second contact and said fourth contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said housing includes four slots, two of said slots being disposed on one of said ends and receiving said first and said second contacts, the other two of said slots being disposed on the other of said ends and receiving said third and said fourth contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said housing comprises an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion; said lower housing portion includes opposed upwardly extending resilient arms, each of said arms having a latching surface thereon; and said upper housing portion includes opposed recessed surfaces for defeatably engaging said latching surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
The protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said first contact and said fourth contact include U-shaped upper portions facing inward in said housing; wherein said first fuse and said second fuse comprise cylindrically shaped fuse elements having opposed terminal ends; wherein further: one of said terminal ends of said first fuse being retained within said U-shaped upper portion of said first contact and the other of said terminal ends of said first fuse being retained within said C-shaped upper portion of said third contact; and one of said terminal ends of said second fuse being retained within said C-shaped upper portion of said second contact and the other of said terminal ends of said second fuse being retained within said U-shaped upper portion of said fourth contact.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
The protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said first contact and said fourth contact include upper retaining fingers with a space therebetween, said fingers facing longitudinally inward in said housing, wherein said first fuse and said second fuse comprise cylindrically shaped fuse elements having opposed terminal ends; wherein further: one of said terminal ends of said first fuse being retained within said upper retaining fingers of said first contact and the other of said terminal ends of said first fuse being retained within said C-shaped upper portion of said third contact; and one of said terminal ends of said second fuse being retained within said C-shaped upper portion of said second contact and the other of said terminal ends of said second fuse being retained within said upper retaining fingers said fourth contact.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
A protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said housing further includes an extending portion depending from each end, one of said extending portions retaining said first contact and said second contact in spaced apart and parallel relationship, the other of said extending portions retaining said third contact and said fourth contact in spaced apart and parallel relationship.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A protector module according to claim 9, wherein: said housing further includes two holes, one of said holes being aligned with said first and said third contacts, the other said hole being aligned with said second and said fourth contacts, whereby said first fuse and said second fuse may be removably inserted into said housing through said holes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |