Fuse holder clip and clip-type fuse holder for selectively holding different electrical fuses

• US 4,606,590 A
• Filed: 02/06/1985
• Issued: 08/19/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schurter AG (Schurter Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Schurter AG (Schurter Holding AG)
• Inventors: Degen, Jost, Kauffmann, Urs
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/698,825
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 339/32 R, 339/32 M, 339/33, 339/150 F, 339/256 C, 339/258 F, 337/209, 337/211, 337/213, 337/214, 337/215, 337/227-230
• US Class Current: 439/218
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/2065 with base contacts adapted or adaptable to fuses of different lenghts; bases with self-aligning contacts; intermediate adaptation pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/2085 Holders for mounting a fuse on a printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/202 for fuses with ferrule type end contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/24 Means for preventing insertion of incorrect fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/301 by means of a mounting structure H05K3/325 takes precedence

Abstract

The clip-type fuse holder comprises two clips and an electrically insulating plate. Two different electrical fuses can be selectively inserted into the fuse holder. For that purpose each clip comprises two clamping members which are mutually offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the clip. A suitable spacing of the clamping members transverse to the longitudinal axis which may vary between zero and a maximum in height assures that both electrical fuses cannot be simultaneously inserted.

Claims

1. A fuse holder clip formed of an electrically conductive material for selectively accommodating one end cap of the first end caps of a first electrical fuse of a first type and of a second electrical fuse of a second type each having oppositely situated first and second end caps, comprising:

a substantially U-shaped first clip means having two first legs and a connecting web;

said two first legs having related substantially arcuate first clamping regions and substantially conjointly defining a first hypothetical longitudinal axis of said first clip means about which said first clamping regions are substantially concentric;

said two first legs extending in a substantially common direction at related predetermined transverse distances from and on opposite sides of said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

a substantially U-shaped second clip means having two second legs connected by a connecting web;

said two second legs having related substantially arcuate second clamping regions substantially conjointly defining a second hypothetical longitudinal axis of said second clip means about which said second clamping regions are substantially concentric and which second hypothetical longitudinal axis extends in a direction substantially parallel to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said two second legs extending substantially in said substantially common direction of said two first legs and at related predetermined transverse distances from and on opposite sides of said second hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said two first clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the first electrical fuse;

said two second clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the second electrical fuse;

each of said two first legs having a first inner end;

said first inner ends mutually defining a hypothetical plane extending substantially parallel to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

the first end cap of the first electrical fuse having a predetermined first radius;

the first end cap of the second electrical fuse having a predetermined second radius;

said second radius defining a hypothetical cylinder about said second hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said first clip means and said second clip means being mutually electrically and mechanically connected essentially by means of the related connecting webs;

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in a mutually substantially independent and substantially juxtaposed relationship with respect to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis; and

said hypothetical plane being spaced from said hypothetical cylinder defined by said second radius of said first end cap of said second electrical fuse by an amount which does not exceed the value of said predetermined first radius of said first and end cap of said first.

2. The fuse holder clip as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said first radius defines a further hypothetical cylinder about said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

each of said two second legs having a second inner end; and

said further hypothetical cylinder at most touching said second inner ends.

3. The fuse holder clip as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in axial alignement such that said first hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said first legs of said first clip means coincides with said second hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said second legs of said second clip means to form a common hypothetical longitudinal axis.

4. The fuse holder clip as defined in claim 1, further including:

connection means capable of electrically connecting and mechanically mounting the fuse holder clip to a support;

said connecting web of said first clip means and said connecting web of said second clip means being common to both said first and second clip means and being configured in at least approximate mutual alignment;

said common connecting web having a predetermined side remote from said two first legs and said two second legs; and

said connection means being punched out intermediate said first clip means and said second clip means and bent from said common web so as to protrude from said common web toward said predetermined side.

5. The fuse holder clip as defined in claim 1, wherein:

at least said first clip means comprises end stop means for the end caps of the first electrical fuse.

6. The fuse clip as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said first clip means and said second clip means are at least partially mutually spatially separated by related slots defined by said punched out and bent connection means; and

each one of said two first legs and an associated one of said two second legs of said second clip means being at least partially mutually spatially separated by a related one of said slots defined by said punched out and bent connection means in order to thereby provide said mutually substantially independent relationship between said two first legs of said first clip means and said two legs of said second clip means.

7. The fuse holder clip as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said substantially arcuate first clamping regions and said substantially arcuate second clamping regions have mutually different radii of curvature.

8. The fuse holder clip as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the fuse holder clip is made of sheet metal.

14. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 4, wherein:

said connection means likewise constituting electrical connecting means as well as mechanical mounting means for electrically connecting as well as mechanically mounting the fuse holder clip to said support.

16. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means are substantially separated from said two second legs of said second clip means at least by related slots extending from said connected connecting webs in said substantially common direction in which said two first legs and said two second legs extend; and

each said first leg of said first clip means and each said second leg of said second clip means, due to the presence of at least said related slot, constituting a substantially independent clamping half of said fuse holder.

9. A fuse holder clip formed of an electrically conductive material for selectively accommodating one end cap of the first end caps of a first electrical fuse of a first type and of a second electrical fuse of a second type each having oppositely situated first and second end caps, comprising:

a substantially U-shaped first clip means having two first legs and a connecting web;

said two first legs having related substantially arcuate first clamping regions and substantially conjointly defining a first hypothetical longitudinal axis of said first clip means about which said first clamping regions are substantially concentric;

said two first legs extending in a substantially common direction at related predetermined transverse distances from and on opposite sides of said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

a substantially U-shaped second clip means having two second legs connected by a connecting web;

said two second legs having related substantially arcuate second clamping regions substantially conjointly defining a second hypothetical longitudinal axis of said second clip means about which said second clamping regions are substantially concentric and which second hypothetical longitudinal axis extends in a direction substantially parallel to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said first hypothetical longitudinal axis of said first clip means and said second hypothetical longitudinal axis of said second clip means extending at a predetermined spacing from each other;

said two second legs extending substantially in said substantially common direction of said two first legs and at related predetermined transverse distances and on opposite sides of said second hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said two first clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the first electrical fuse;

said two second clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the second electrical fuse;

the first end cap of the first electrical fuse having a predetermined first radius;

the first end cap of the second electrical fuse having a predetermined second radius;

said first clip means and said second clip means being mutually electrically and mechanically connected essentially by means of the related connection webs;

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in a mutually substantially independent and substantially juxtaposed relationship with respect to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis; and

said predetermined spacing between said first hypothetical longitudinal axis and said second hypothetical longitudinal axis being less than the sum of said first radius of said first end cap of said first electrical fuse and said second radius of said first end cap of said second electrical fuse.

17. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 9, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means are substantially separated from said two second legs of said second clip means at least by related slots extending from said connected connecting webs in said substantially common direction in which said two first legs and said two second legs extend; and

each said first leg of said first clip means and each said second leg of said second clip means, due to the presence of at least said related slot, constituting a substantially independent clamping half of said fuse holder.

20. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 9, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in axial alignment such that said first hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said first legs of said first clip means coincides with said second hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said second legs of said second clip means to form a common hypothetical longitudinal axis.

10. A clip-type fuse holder, comprising:

a first fuse holder clip and a second fuse holder clip arranged in mutually opposing substantially mirror-image relationship and in substantially axial alignment and in mutual electrical isolation;

each fuse holder clip of said first fuse holder clip and said second fuse holder clip being formed of an electrically conductive material for selectively accommodating one end cap of the first end caps of a first electrical fuse of a first type and of a second electrical fuse of a second type each having oppositely situated first and second end caps, and each fuse holder clip including;

a substantially U-shaped first clip means having two first legs and a connecting web;

said two first legs having related substantially arcuate first clamping regions and substantially conjointly defining a first hypothetical longitudinal axis of said first clip means about which said first clamping regions are substantially concentric;

said two first legs extending in a substantially common direction at related predetermined transverse distances from and on opposite sides of said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

a substantially U-shaped second clip means having two second legs connected by connecting web;

said two second legs having related substantially arcuate second clamping regions substantially conjointly defining a second hypothetical longitudinal axis of said second clip means about which said second clamping regions are substantially concentric and which second hypothetical longitudinal axis extends in a direction substantially parallel to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said first hypothetical longitudinal axis of said first clip means and said second hypothetical longitudinal axis of said second clip means extending at a predetermined spacing from each other;

said two second legs extending substantially in said substantially common direction of said two first legs;

said two first clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the first electrical fuse;

said two second clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the second electrical fuse;

the first end cap of the first electrical fuse having a predetermined first radius;

the first end cap of the second electrical fuse having a predetermined second radius;

said first clip means and said second clip means being mutually electrically and mechanically connected

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in a mutually substantially independent and substantially juxtaposed relationship with respect to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis; and

said predetermined spacing between said first hypothetical longitudinal axis and said second hypothetical longitudinal axis being less than the sum of said first radius of said first and cap of said first electrical fuse and said second radius of said second end cap of said second electrical fuse.

11. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said first fuse holder clip and said second fuse holder clip are arranged in relation to each other such that said second clip means of said first fuse holder clip confronts said second clip means of said second fuse holder clip and said first clip means of said first fuse holder clip is remote from said first clip means of said second fuse holder clip;

said second clip means of said first fuse holder clip and said second clip means of said second fuse holder clip being configured to accommodate the first and second end caps of the second electrical fuse of the second type only when said first clip means of said first fuse holder clip and said first clip means of said second fuse holder clip are free of the first and second end caps of the first electrical fuse of the first type; and

said first clip means of said first fuse holder clip and said first clip means of said second fuse holder clip being configured to accommodate the first and second end caps of the first electrical fuse of the first type only when said second clip means of said first fuse holder clip and said second clip means of said second fuse holder clip are free of the first and second end caps of the second electrical fuse of the second type.

18. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means are substantially separated from said two second legs of said second clip means at least by related slots extending from said connected connecting webs in said substantially common direction in which said two first legs and said two second legs extend; and

each said first leg of said first clip means and each said second leg of said second clip means, due to the presence of at least said related slot, constituting a substantially independent clamping half of said fuse holder.

21. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in axial alignment such that said first hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said first legs of said first clip means coincides with said second hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said second legs of said second clip means to form a common hypothetical longitudinal axis.

12. A clip-type fuse holder, comprising:

a first fuse holder clip and a second fuse holder clip arranged in mutually opposing substantially mirror-image relationship and in substantially axial alignment and in mutual electrical isolation;

each fuse holder clip of said first fuse holder clip and said second fuse holder clip being formed of an electrically conductive material for selectively accommodating one end cap of the first end caps of a first electrical fuse of a first type and of a second electrical fuse of a second type each having oppositely situated first and second end caps, and each fuse holder clip including;

a substantially U-shaped first clip means having two first legs and a connecting web;

said two first legs having related substantially arcuate first clamping regions and substantially conjointly defining a first hypothetical longitudinal axis of said first clip means about which said first clamping regions are substantially concentric;

said two first legs extending in a substantially common direction at related predetermined transverse distances from and on opposite sides of said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

a substantially U-shaped second clip means having two second legs connected by a connecting web;

said two second legs having related substantially arcuate second clamping regions substantially conjointly defining a second hypothetical longitudinal axis of said second clip means about which said second clamping regions are substantially concentric and which second hypothetical longitudinal axis extends in a direction substantially parallel to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said two second legs extenting substantially in said substantially common direction of said two first legs and at related predetermined transverse distances on opposite sides of said second hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said two first clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the first electrical fuse;

said two second clamping regions being configured to accommodate the first end cap of the second electrical fuse;

each of said two first legs having a first inner end;

said first inner ends mutually defining a hypothetical plane extending substantially parallel to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis;

the first end cap of the first electrical fuse having a predetermined first radius;

the first end cap of the second electrical fuse having a predetermined second radius;

said second radius defining a hypothetical cylinder about said second hypothetical longitudinal axis;

said first clip means and said second clip means being mutually electrically and mechanically connected essentially by means of the related connecting webs;

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in a mutually substantially independent and substantially juxtaposed relationship with respect to said first hypothetical longitudinal axis; and

said hypothetical plane being spaced from said hypothetical cylinder defined by said second radius of said first end cap of said second electrical fuse by an amount not exceeding the value of said predetermined first radius of said first end cap of said first electrical fuse.

13. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 12 wherein:

said second clip means of said two fuse holder clips are arranged closer to one another than said first clip means of said two fuse holder clips;

said second clip means being arranged relative to each other such as to accommodate said second-type electrical fuse;

said first clip means of said two fuse holder clips being more remote from one another than said second clip means of said two fuse holder clips;

said first clip means being arranged relative to each other such as to accommodate said first-type electrical fuse; and

said two fuse holder clips being arranged in a predetermined mutual configuration such that said two first clip means and said two second clip means are capable of accommodating only either one of said first-type electrical fuse and said second-type electrical fuse in the absence of either the second-type of electrical fuse or the first-type electrical fuse, as the case may be.

15. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 13, wherein:

said first-type electrical fuse constitutes a United States standard electrical fuse; and

said second-type electrical fuse constitutes a European standard electrical fuse.

19. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means are substantially separated from said two second legs of said second clip means at least by related slots extending from said connected connecting webs in said substantially common direction in which said two first legs and said two second legs extend; and

each said first leg of said first clip means and each said second leg of said second clip means, due to the presence of at least said related slot, constituting a substantially independent clamping half of said fuse holder.

22. The clip-type fuse holder as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said two first legs of said first clip means and said two second legs of said second clip means being arranged in axial alignment such that said first hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said first legs of said first clip means coincides with said second hypothetical longitudinal axis defined by said second legs of said second clip means to form a common hypothetical longitudinal axis.