Pluggable touch-safe fuse module with built-in removal handle

A touch-safe fuse module comprising:

• a housing having an exterior surface including opposing longitudinal side walls and opposing lateral side walls interconnecting and arranged orthogonally with the longitudinal side walls;
• first and second terminal blades projecting perpendicularly from a bottom wall of the housing, wherein at least the first terminal blade extends in a plane that is spaced from but generally parallel to one of the opposing lateral side walls;
• at least one fuse element connected between the first and second terminal blades;
• and
• a built-in removal handle attached to the exterior surface of the housing in at least two locations, wherein the built-in removal handle is slidably movable relative to the exterior surface at the at least two locations between a first position lying on the housing and a second position establishing a clearance from the housing;
• wherein the housing exterior or the built-in removal handle defines a slot at each the first location and second location;
• wherein the housing exterior or the built-in removal handle defines a projection at each of the first location and second location;
• and
• wherein the projection and slot at the first location and second location is mechanically interlocked when the built-in removal handle is in the second position to assist with generating a fuse removal force.

A touch-safe fuse module comprising:

• a housing having an exterior surface including opposing longitudinal side walls and opposing lateral side walls interconnecting and arranged orthogonally with the longitudinal side walls, first and second terminal blades extending in spaced relation but generally parallel to one of the opposing longitudinal side walls and opposing lateral side walls and a fuse element connected between the first and second terminal blades;
• and
• a built-in removal handle slidably movable relative to the exterior surface in at least two locations and selectively positionable between a retracted position and an extended position establishing a clearance from the exterior surface of the housing;
• wherein at the first of the at least two locations, the exterior surface or the built-in removal handle defines a slot;
• wherein at the second of the at least two locations, the exterior surface or the built-in removal handle defines a projection;
• and
• wherein at each of the at least two locations the projection and the slot is mechanically interlocked when the built-in removal handle is in the extended position to assist with generating a fuse removal force.

A touch-safe fuse module comprising:

• a single housing having a bottom wall, opposing longitudinal side walls, and opposing lateral side walls interconnecting and arranged orthogonally with the longitudinal side walls, the longitudinal side walls and the lateral side walls collectively defining an exterior surface;
• first and second terminal blades projecting perpendicularly from the bottom wall of the single housing, the first and second terminal blades having a longitudinal axis;
• at least one fuse element connected between the first and second terminal blades;
• and
• a built-in removal handle attached to the exterior surface of the single housing at a plurality of locations and slidably movable upon the exterior surface at the plurality of locations along a single axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first and second terminal blades, the built-in removal handle positionable relative to the exterior surface in a first position and a second position assisting with removal of the touch-safe fuse module from a base housing assembly that engages the first and second terminal blades, the built-in removal handle comprising a grip portion and first and second legs depending from the grip portion and respectively attaching to the exterior surface of the single housing at one of the plurality of locations;
• wherein at each of the plurality of locations the exterior surface of the single housing defines an elongated slot, and the built-in removal handle defines an elongated projection;
• and
• wherein at each of the plurality of locations the elongated projection is received in the elongated slot, thereby providing guided motion of the built-in removal handle along the single axis.

A touch-safe fuse module comprising:

• a single housing having a top cover, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending between the top cover and the bottom wall, the plurality of side walls collectively defining an exterior surface;
• first and second terminal blades projecting from the bottom wall of the single housing, the first and second terminal blades having a longitudinal axis;
• at least one fuse element connected between the first and second terminal blades;
• and
• a built-in removal handle comprising:
• a grip portion overlying the top cover and including first and second ends;
• and
• a first leg depending from the grip portion at the first end;
• a second leg depending from the grip portion at the second end;
• and
• a third and fourth legs respectively depending from the first and second ends of the grip portion;
• each of the first and second legs extending parallel to a portion of the exterior surface and being slidably attached thereto, and the third and fourth legs overlying a portion of the exterior surface and being slidably attached thereto;
• wherein the first second, third and fourth legs are movable upon the exterior surface along a single axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first and second terminal blades to extend the built-in removal handle to a pulling position wherein the grip portion is spaced from the top cover.