Fuse pulling device having safety blockout and fuse holder features

• US 5,797,298 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald A. Grevel
• Original Assignee: Gerald A. Grevel
• Inventors: Grevel, Gerald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meislin, D. S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANGANAN, JONI BALDOS
• Application Number:
  US08/774,518
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 7/107, 81/3.8, 81/278, 81/280, 81/758, 29/764, 29/698, 29/831, 29/148, 439/491, 439/833, 361/835, 337/211, 294/99.2
• US Class Current: 81/3.8
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/02 for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same B25D1/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/02 without sliding or pivotal connections, e.g. tweezers, onepiece tongs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0208 Tools for inserting and removing fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/24 Means for preventing insertion of incorrect fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs

Abstract

A one-piece molded plastic fuse handling tool includes a pair of spring arms that diverge outwardly from a base portion to free ends defining a constantly widening gap between the arms. A pair of opposed fuse-gripping jaws are provided across the gap adjacent the free ends of the arms and another set of opposed fuse retaining seats are provided a location intermediate the jaws and the base portion. The jaws are closeable about a fuse by pinching the arms together enabling the fuse to be removed from its spring clip. Once removed, the fuse is secured to the tool by sliding it into the narrowing gap into position between the retaining seats. A block-out portion projects from the base portion and is configured for installation within the vacant fuse clip so as to disable the fuse clip to prevent inadvertent reinstallation of the fuse therein, while storing the fuse in adjacent proximity to the fuse clip.

Claims

1. A one-piece fuse handling tool comprising:

a base portion;

a pair of laterally spaced resilient spring arms extending from said base portion to free ends thereof;

fuse gripping jaws provided adjacent said free ends and closable about a fuse removably installed in a retainer clip of a fuse block by extending said free ends over the fuse and bodily forcing said arms laterally inwardly the body so as to capture the fuse between said jaws enabling subsequent removal of the fuse from the retainer clip by exerting a bodily pulling force on said tool outwardly of the fuse block;

laterally opposed fuse retaining seats provided on said arms intermediate said base portion and said gripping jaws to receive and self-retain the removed fuse between said seats in response to bodily forcing the removed fuse along said arms into position between said retaining seats; and

a fuse clip block-out portion installable within the vacant fuse clip from which the fuse was removed to support the removed fuse in close proximity to the corresponding fuse clip while temporarily disabling the fuse clip to prevent inadvertent reinstallation of the fuse said block-out portion comprising a pair of aligned cylindrical projections extending from said base portion.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said arms define a longitudinal gap therebetween that widens in the direction from said base to said free ends.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said gripping jaws are spaced laterally by a distance greater than that of said retaining seats.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said gripping jaws and said retaining seats comprise laterally opposed sets of arcuate detents.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said arms are constantly biased laterally inwardly when the fuse is received between said retaining seats to self-secure the fuse releasably in position between said seats.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein said tool includes a warning tag attachment portion for supporting a warning tag when said tool is installed in the fuse clip.

7. The tool of claim 6 wherein said warning tag attachment portion comprises at least one aperture formed in said arms adjacent said free ends thereof.

8. The tool of claim 1 wherein said tool is symmetrical.

9. The tool of claim 1 wherein said tool is fabricated of non-conductive molded plastics material.

10. A one-piece fuse handling tool comprising:

a base portion;

a pair of resilient spring arms extending from said base in outwardly diverging relation to one another to free ends thereof defining a longitudinal gap between said arms that is constantly widening from a narrowest point adjacent said base to a widest point adjacent said free ends;

a pair of arcuate jaws formed in said arms adjacent said free ends in laterally opposed relation across said gap providing a detent between said arms having a lateral spacing when said arms are unstressed that is generally greater than the diameter of a fuse to be handled by said tool, said jaws being closable about a fuse removably installed in a retainer clip of a fuse block by extending said free ends over the fuse and bodily flexing said arms laterally inwardly so as to capture the fuse between said jaws enabling subsequent removal of the fuse from the retainer clip by exerting a bodily pulling force on said tool outwardly of the fuse block;

a pair of arcuate retaining seats formed in said arms across said gap at a location intermediate said jaws and said base portion, said retaining seats being spaced laterally closer to one another than that of said jaws, said arms being deflectable laterally outwardly in response to sliding the removed fuse along said gap from said jaws toward said base and returning inwardly upon aligning the fuse with said retaining seats to bias said retaining seats constantly inwardly against the fuse to self-retain the fuse securely but releasably in position between said retaining seat; and

a fuse clip block-out portion projecting from said base portion configured for installation within the vacant fuse clip from which the fuse was removed for supporting the removed fuse in adjacent proximity to its associated fuse clip while disabling the fuse clip to prevent inadvertent reinstallation of the fuse within the fuse clip said block-out portion comprising a pair of aligned cylindrical projections extending from said base portion.

11. The tool of claim 10 wherein said tool is molded non-conductive plastics material.

12. The tool of claim 10 including a warning tag attachment portion for supporting a warning tag adjacent the vacant fuse clip when said tooled is installed in the fuse clip.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said warning tag attachment portion comprises at least one aperture formed in said arms adjacent said free ends thereof.

14. The tool of claim 10 wherein said tool is longitudinally symmetrical.

15. A method of handling a fuse installed in a fuse clip of a fuse block using a one-piece tool, said method comprising:

grasping the fuse with the tool and pulling the fuse free of the fuse clip;

securing the removed fuse releasably to the tool; and

extending a block-out portion of the tool into the vacant fuse clip from which the fuse was removed to support the fuse in adjacent proximity to the associated fuse clip while disabling the fuse clip to prevent inadvertent reinstallation of the fuse.