Printed circuit fuse assembly

• US 4,296,398 A
• Filed: 12/18/1978
• Issued: 10/20/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James D. Mcgalliard
• Original Assignee: James D. Mcgalliard
• Inventors: McGalliard, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, Harold
• Application Number:
  US05/970,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 337/297, 337/401, 337/416, 337/197, 337/198, 337/45, 337/51, 337/230-236, 337/257-258, 337/290, 29/623, 339/147, 174/68.5, 361/400, 361/402, 361/104, 338/215, 336/200
• US Class Current: 337/297
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/266 with replacement of a fuse which is part of a printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/046 Fuses formed as printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/24 Means for preventing insertion of incorrect fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/263 with spare printed circuit fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0263 High current adaptations, e.g. printed high current conductors or using auxiliary non-printed means; Fine and coarse circuit patterns on one circuit board H05K1/0293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0286 Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits by programmable non-printed jumper connections H05K3/222

Abstract

A circuit fuse assembly comprising a plurality of fuse elements which are simultaneously formed using printed circuit or through hole plating techniques and including means for easily substituting a different one of the plural fuse elements when the in-circuit fuse element burns out due to an overload current condition. In the preferred embodiment, the fuse assembly is (a) integrally formed with the printed circuit of the fused electrical apparatus and (b) formed with a common electrical connection such that a single electrical bridge of solder or other means enables substitution of a replacement fuse element. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a restorable printed circuit fuse for use in standard fuse holders, in-line plug connectors, conventional three prong plug connectors, edison bases, and plug-in triple outlets.

Claims

1. A printed circuit, including multiple printed circuit fuse elements, comprising:

a circuit substrate;

a printed circuit formed on said substrate for interconnecting circuit components, said printed circuit including a circuit bus;

a first printed circuit fuse element formed on said substrate, interconnected to limit the current in said printed circuit to protect said printed circuit from abnormally high currents, said first printed circuit fuse element having a predetermined current capacity which is lower than the current capacity of the conductors of said printed circuit which are connected to said first printed circuit fuse element; and

a second printed circuit fuse element on said substrate, having a solder land adjacent said circuit bus, said land separated from said bus sufficiently to electrically isolate said land from said bus, but spaced close enough to said bus to permit molten solder to be applied as a jumper from said land to said bus, said second printed fuse element, when solder is applied connecting said land to said bus, being in parallel circuit connection with said first printed circuit fuse element.