Blown fuse indicator

• US 5,739,737 A
• Filed: 04/29/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ken W. Hatton
• Original Assignee: Ken W. Hatton
• Inventors: Hatton, Ken W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sparks, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANDHI, JAYPRAKASH N
• Application Number:
  US08/639,899
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 337/142, 337/186, 337/198, 337/206, 337/4, 337/241, 340/638, 340/639
• US Class Current: 337/206
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/26 Magazine arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device

Abstract

A fuse box is provided with LED'"'"'s interconnected with all fuses carried by the fuse box for identifying a blown fuse. The LED'"'"'s are interconnected with the fuses between the positive (current in) input and ground. When a fuse is blown, the fuse results in an open circuit and the flow of electricity is rerouted through the LED to illuminate the LED. Also provided is a liner which fits over an existing fuse box and includes receptacles for fuses with corresponding LEDs associated with each receptacle for indicating a blown fuse. Also provided are individual liners for individual fuses. The individual liner is sized and configured to accept a fuse therein on a first side, and to extend into a fuse box on a second side thereof. The individual liner includes a LED interconnected therewith for indicating a blown fuse. Also provided is a remote indicator having a plurality of indicators positioned away from a fuse box. Additionally provided is a remote fuse box.

Claims

1. A liner for a fuse box comprising:

an upper side having a plurality of fuse receptacles for receiving fuses therein;

a lower side having a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the plurality of fuse receptacles, the protrusions sized and configured to extend into fuse box receptacles on a fuse box;

a plurality of contacts extending from the exterior of the protrusions to the interior of the fuse receptacles to communicate a fuse positioned within the fuse receptacle with the fuse box; and

an indicator positioned on the liner and interconnected with one or more of the fuses for indicating a blown fuse.

2. The liner of claim 1, wherein a plurality of indicators are positioned on the liner, each indicator corresponding to one of the plurality of fuse receptacles for indicating a blown fuse.

3. The liner of claim 2, wherein each indicator is connected between one of the plurality of electrical contacts at one end and to ground at the other end.

4. The liner of claim 3, wherein each indicator comprises an LED which is electrically connected to a fuse and which is illuminated to indicate a blown fuse.

5. The liner of claim 4, wherein each indicator is interconnected with a ground strip formed on the lower side of the liner for grounding the indicators.

6. The liner of claim 5, wherein the protrusions are sized to be received by the fuse box receptacles in a press-fit relationship for securing the liner to a fuse box.

7. The liner of claim 5 further comprising means for attaching the liner to a fuse box.

8. The liner of claim 1 further comprising a speaker electrically interconnected with the indicator for providing an audible alarm indicating a blown fuse.

9. The liner of claim 7 further comprising a switch electrically interconnected between the indicator and the speaker for activating and deactivating the audio alarm.

10. The liner of claim 1 further comprising a test switch electrically interconnected with the indicators for testing the indicators.

11. A sleeve for a fuse comprising:

a receptacle defined by four sides and a bottom for receiving a fuse therein;

a protrusion formed on the bottom for engagement with a fuse box;

contacts within the receptacle for engaging contacts on a fuse, the contacts extending through the sleeve to the protrusion for electrical engagement with a fuse box;

an indicator formed on the sleeve for indicating a blown fuse, the indicator connected between the contacts.

12. The sleeve of claim 11, wherein each indicator is connected between an electrical contact corresponding to a protrusion at one end and to ground at the other end.

13. The sleeve of claim 12, wherein each indicator comprises an LED which is electrically connected to a fuse and which is illuminated after the fuse is blown.

14. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the protrusions are sized to be received by the fuse box receptacles in a press fit relationship for securing the liner to a fuse box.