Strain-relieved fuse and method of forming a strain-relieved fuse
AssigneeLittelfuse, Inc.
InventorsMichael Schlaak, Julio Urrea
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuse including a fuse body, a fuse element including a first terminal end extending from a first end of the fuse body, and a second terminal extending from a second end of the fuse body, wherein at least one of the first terminal end and the second terminal end extending out of the respective first and second ends of the fuse body include a strain relief feature, and wherein the strain relief feature is configured to flex in response to thermal fluctuation of the fuse or the surrounding components to which it is attached.
Claims21
A fuse, comprising:
- a fuse body;
- a one-piece fuse element disposed through the fuse body including a first terminal end extending from a first end of the fuse body, and a second terminal end extending from a second end of the fuse body;
- wherein at least one of the first terminal end and the second terminal end extending out of the respective first and second ends of the fuse body include a strain relief feature;
- and
- wherein the strain relief feature is configured to flex in response to thermal fluctuation of the fuse or surrounding components to which the fuse is mounted.
(canceled)
The method according to claim 21, wherein the strain relief feature includes one or more crimps, bends, folds, channels, or corrugations.
The method according to claim 21, wherein the strain relief feature includes a plurality of corrugations.
The method according to claim 21, wherein the first terminal end includes a first strain relief feature, and the second terminal end includes a second strain relief feature.
A method for forming a fuse, comprising:
- inserting a one-piece fuse element having opposing terminal ends into a fuse body, a first terminal end extending out of a first end of the fuse body, and a second terminal end extending out of a second end of the fuse body, mounting apertures being formed in the first and second terminal ends;
- joining end caps to the first and second ends of the fuse body, the first and second terminal ends extending through the end caps;
- and
- forming a strain relief feature in at least one of the first terminal end and the second terminal end, the strain relief feature being disposed intermediate a respective one of the mounting apertures and end caps;
- wherein the strain relief feature is configured to flex in response to thermal fluctuation of the fuse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.