Failsafe surge protector having reduced part count

A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:

• a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
• a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
• a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element;
• and
• a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts;
• a conductive second protection element electrically connected to the line terminal and the failsafe ground, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide a second electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts;
• and
• a spring having a first end electrically connected to the line terminal and a second end;
• wherein the first protection element and the fusible element are disposed between the first end of the spring and the failsafe ground;
• and
• wherein the second protection element is disposed between the failsafe ground and the second end of the spring.

A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:

• a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
• a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
• a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element;
• and
• a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts;
• a conductive second protection element electrically connected to the line terminal and the failsafe ground, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide a second electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts;
• and
• a spring having a first end electrically connected to the line terminal and a second end;
• wherein the first protection element is disposed between the first end of the spring and the failsafe ground;
• and
• wherein the second protection element and the fusible element are disposed between the failsafe ground and the second end of the spring.

A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:

• a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
• a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
• a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element;
• and
• a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts;
• and
• a conductive second protection element electrically connected to the line terminal and the failsafe ground, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide a second electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts;
• wherein the failsafe ground comprises a spring having a first end electrically connected to the line terminal and a second end;
• and
• wherein the first protection element, the fusible element, and the second protection element are disposed between the first end of the spring and the second end of the spring.