Resettable automotive circuit protection device with female terminals and PTC element

A circuit protection device to be connected into a circuit presenting a given load resistance, the circuit protection device comprising:

• first and second terminals, each terminal comprising a current-carrying extension, a terminal blade, and a female-style terminal extension;
• flexible current-feeding arms cantilevered and projecting in opposite directions from the current-carrying extensions of the terminals, respectively;
• a PTC element electrically connected between the current-feeding arms so that the PTC element carries current flowing between the terminals, when a normal current passes between the terminals, the PTC element has a low resistance and, when heated by the passage of a higher trip current passing between the terminals, the PTC element will expand to flex the current-feeding arms, permitting the PTC element to have a large resistance and limit current flow in the circuit;
• and,
• a housing having an opening to allow access to the female-style terminal extensions.

A circuit protection device to be connected into a circuit presenting a given load resistance, the circuit protection device comprising:

• first and second terminals, each terminal comprising a current-carrying extension, a terminal blade, and a female-style terminal extension;
• flexible current-feeding arms having inner and outer end portions, the inner end portion of the current-feeding arms respectively being electrically connected to the current-carrying extensions;
• a plurality of PTC elements positioned between the current-feeding arms, at least two of the PTC elements connected in parallel to one another;
• and,
• the first and second terminals, the flexible current-feeding arms and the plurality of PTC elements contained within a housing, and wherein there is located, between the plurality of PTC elements, a heat sink-forming body in electrical and thermal contact with one of the current-feeding arms.

A circuit protection device to be connected into a circuit presenting a given load resistance, the circuit protection device comprising:

• first and second terminals, each terminal comprising a current-carrying extension, a terminal blade, and a female-style terminal extension;
• a pair of flexible skived electrodes having inner and outer end portions, the inner end portions thereof being electrically connected respectively to the current-carrying extensions of the terminals, the outer end portions of the flexible skived electrodes being cantilevered and flexible with respect to the inner end portions thereof;
• wherein the flexible skived electrodes have a microgrooved inner surface, and
• a PTC element sandwiched between and in electrical contact with the flexible skived electrodes so that the PTC element carries current between the flexible skived electrodes, the PTC element conducting a given range of currents presenting a given low resistance and when current flow therethrough reaches a given trip level the resistance thereof increases to a high resistance value to limit current in the circuit.