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US 8,979,600 B2Granted
Fuse holder and fuse clip assembly with dual directional bias element support
AssigneeCooper Technologies Company
InventorsAlex von zur Muehlen, Mengxi Zhao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fuse holders having a fuse clip assembly configured to support resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to a compression force and also configured to support the resilient fuse clip arms when subject to an expansion force. The bias element is movable relative to the fuse clip arms between first and second positions and prevents deformation of the fuse clip arms.
Claims43
A fuse clip assembly for establishing an electrical connection to an overcurrent protection fuse including a conductive terminal, the fuse clip assembly comprising:
- a pair of resilient fuse clip arms adapted to engage and retain the conductive terminal of the overcurrent protection fuse;
- and
- a bias element including a pair of resilient bias element arms, wherein the pair of resilient bias element arms comprises first and second arms opposed to each other,
- wherein each of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms include a proximal end extending from an anchor portion and a distal end opposing the proximal end,
- each of the opposed first and second arms of the bias element respectively being mechanically coupled to each distal end of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms, and
- the bias element configured to resist deformation of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to a compressive force and configured to support the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to an expansion force, thereby extending the working life of the fuse clip assembly by improving fatigue resistance.
3 more elements
A fuse holder for an electrical fuse having at least one conductive terminal element, the fuse holder comprising:
- a base fabricated from an electrically nonconductive material;
- and
- a fuse clip assembly mounted to the base and configured to establish an electrical connection to the conductive terminal element of the electrical fuse, the fuse clip assembly comprising:
- a pair of resilient fuse clip arms adapted to engage and retain the conductive terminal element of the electrical fuse;
- and
- a bias element coupled to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms, the bias element movable relative to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms to a first position configured to resist deformation of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to a compressive force and moveable relative to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms to a second position configured to support the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to an expansion force, thereby extending the working life of the fuse clip assembly by improving fatigue resistance,
- wherein the bias element comprises a pair of resilient bias element arms, and
- wherein the pair of resilient bias element arms are straight or linear and lack any curvature.
5 more elements
A fuse holder for an electrical fuse having first and second conductive terminal elements and a fuse element therebetween, the fuse holder comprising:
- a base fabricated from an electrically nonconductive material;
- and
- a first fuse clip assembly and a second fuse clip assembly mounted to the base in spaced apart relation to one another, each of the pair of fuse clip assemblies configured to establish an electrical connection to a respective one of the first and second conductive terminal elements of the electrical fuse, at least one of the first and second fuse clip assemblies comprising:
- a pair of resilient fuse clip arms each adapted to engage and retain one of the first and second conductive terminal elements of the electrical fuse, and each of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms including a slot having a first width;
- and
- a bias element coupled to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms, the bias element including a pair of resilient arms having a thickness less than the first width, wherein the pair of resilient arms of the bias element each comprises a straight or linear arm that lacks any curvature, wherein the resilient arms of the bias element respectively pass through the slots in each pair of resilient fuse clip arms and a relative degree of freedom of movement of the resilient arms of the bias element relative to the fuse clip arms is provided in each respective slot,
- whereby the resilient fuse clip arms are movable to a first position to support the fuse clip arms when subjected to a compressive force and whereby the resilient fuse clip arms are movable to a second position to support the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to an expansion force, thereby extending the working life of the fuse clip assembly by improving fatigue resistance.
4 more elements
A fuse holder for an overcurrent protection fuse having at least one conductive terminal element, the fuse holder comprising:
- a base fabricated from an electrically nonconductive material;
- and
- a fuse clip assembly mounted to the base and configured to establish an electrical connection to the at least one conductive terminal element of the overcurrent protection fuse, the fuse clip assembly comprising:
- a pair of resilient fuse clip arms adapted to engage and retain the terminal element of the overcurrent protection fuse;
- and
- a bias element coupled to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms, the bias element movable relative to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms to a first position configured to resist deformation of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to a compressive force and moveable relative to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms to a second position configured to support the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to an expansion force, thereby extending the working life of the fuse clip assembly by improving fatigue resistance;
- wherein the bias element comprises a generally planar section, and upstanding resilient arms extending obliquely from the generally planar section;
- wherein the fuse clip assembly further comprises an elongated anchor portion having a longitudinal axis, and wherein the generally planar section of the bias element is engaged to the anchor portion;
- and
- wherein the fuse clip assembly further comprises circuit connection tabs extending from the anchor portion, and wherein the pair of resilient fuse clip arms are longitudinally spaced from the circuit connection tabs.
7 more elements
A fuse holder for an electrical fuse having first and second conductive terminal elements and a fuse element therebetween, the fuse holder comprising:
- a base fabricated from an electrically nonconductive material;
- and
- a first fuse clip assembly and a second fuse clip assembly mounted to the base in spaced apart relation to one another, each of the pair of fuse clip assemblies configured to establish an electrical connection to a respective one of the first and second terminal elements of the electrical fuse, at least one of the first and second fuse clip assemblies comprising:
- a pair of resilient fuse clip arms each adapted to engage and retain one of the first and second conductive terminal elements of the electrical fuse, and each of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms including a slot having a first width;
- and
- a bias element coupled to the pair of resilient fuse clip arms, the bias element including a pair of resilient arms having a thickness less than the first width, wherein the resilient arms of the bias element respectively pass through the slots in each pair of resilient fuse clip arms and a relative degree of freedom of movement of the resilient arms of the bias element relative to the fuse clip arms is provided in each respective slot,
- whereby the resilient fuse clip arms are movable to a first position to support the fuse clip arms when subjected to a compressive force and whereby the resilient fuse clip arms are movable to a second position to support the pair of resilient fuse clip arms when subjected to an expansion force, thereby extending the working life of the fuse clip assembly by improving fatigue resistance;
- wherein each of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms includes a proximal end extending from an anchor portion and a distal end opposing the proximal end, and wherein the slot in each of the pair of resilient fuse clip arms is located at the distal end;
- wherein the anchor portion is elongated and extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the first and second fuse assemblies further comprises a pair of circuit connection tabs extending from the anchor portion, and wherein the pair of resilient fuse clip arms are longitudinally spaced from the circuit connection tabs.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.