Fuse holder with cover

• US 5,816,858 A
• Filed: 04/15/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Akiyoshi, Kazarian, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Eugene G.
• Application Number:
  US08/631,145
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 439/621, 439/622, 439/447, 439/366
• US Class Current: 439/620.26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/208 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2035 for miniature fuses with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2045 Mounting means or insulating parts of the base, e.g. covers, casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/547 with sliding fuse carrier

Abstract

A fuse holder for securely retaining a fuse in a captive, pre-set position relative to a fuse box when the fuse is temporarily removed from electrical connection with a fuse receptacle of the fuse box, the pre-set position keeping the fuse readily available for reinsertion into the fuse receptacle. The fuse holder has a cover that when closed prevents removal of the fuse from the top side of the holder and when open permits removal of the fuse. The fuse holder further has fuse retaining nubs that permit the fuse to be inserted into the holder from below, this feature making the holder compatible with automated assembly of the fuse box.

Claims

1. A fuse holder for mounting a fuse in captive association with a fuse box having at least one fuse receptacle for receiving a fuse of the type having a body and two parallel bayonet-type connectors extending therefrom, the fuse holder comprising a frame defining a hollow interior volume with an open upper side through which the fuse may be inserted to position the fuse body in an essentially fixed position within the interior of the frame and an open lower side which permits the connectors to extend therethrough and be exposed below the frame, and mounting legs extending from the frame at opposite ends thereof for engagement with the fuse box, the fuse holder characterized in that:

grip tabs extend from the frame at opposite ends thereof in a direction substantially opposite from the mounting legs; and

a cover is connected to the frame and is movable into and out of a position closing the upper side of the interior of the frame, the cover disposed between the grip tabs when moved into said position.

2. A fuse holder according to claim 1 wherein the cover is connected to the frame by a living hinge.

3. A fuse holder according to claim 1 further comprising cooperating latch means disposed on the cover and on the frame for securing the cover in the closed position.

4. A fuse holder according to claim 1 further comprising a window in the cover for allowing viewing of the fuse when the fuse is in the essentially fixed position within the frame and the cover is in the closed position.

5. A fuse holder according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the mounting legs has a slot formed therein for engagement with a pin disposed on the fuse box.

6. A fuse holder according to claim 5 wherein the slot comprises:

a substantially oval portion adjacent a first end of the leg adjacent the frame and having a width greater than the diameter of the pin;

a substantially circular portion adjacent a second end of the leg distal from the frame and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the pin; and

a central portion having a first end contiguous with the oval portion and a second end contiguous with the circular portion and a middle disposed therebetween, the central portion having a width at the middle greater than the diameter of the pin and decreasing in width at the first and second ends to form respective first and second neck areas having widths smaller than the diameter of the pin.

7. A fuse holder for mounting a fuse in captive association with a fuse box having at least one fuse receptacle for receiving a fuse of the type having a body and two parallel bayonet-type connectors extending therefrom, said fuse holder comprising a frame defining a hollow interior volume, an open upper side through which the fuse may be inserted to position the fuse body in an essentially fixed position within the interior of the frame and an open lower side which permits the connectors to extend therethrough and be exposed below the frame, the fuse holder characterized in that:

at least one retainer nub extends from the frame into the interior of the frame, the retainer nub having a ramp surface inclined with respect to an axis between the upper and lower sides of the frame to allow the fuse to pass into the fixed position from the lower side of the frame and a stop surface substantially perpendicular to the axis for engaging a cooperating surface on the fuse when the fuse is in the fixed position to substantially prevent movement of the fuse out of the fixed position through the lower side of the frame.

8. A fuse holder according to claim 7 wherein the fuse holder is intended for use with fuses having a main body with first and second parallel sides and a pair of channels formed in each of first and second sides of the body, and wherein four retainer nubs extend into the opening to engage each of the four channels.

9. A fuse holder for maintaining a fuse in movable connection with a fuse block, the fuse of the type having a body with first and second sides and channels formed in the first and second sides forming stop surfaces adjacent an upper end of the fuse, the fuse holder comprising:

a frame having inner surfaces defining a hollow interior volume with an open upper side and an open lower side, the frame adapted to encircle the fuse body and hold the fuse in an essentially fixed position with respect to the fuse holder;

a plurality of retaining nubs disposed on the frame and projecting into the interior volume, the retaining nubs having ramp surfaces inclined with respect to the inner surfaces of the frame to permit movement of the fuse into the fixed position through the lower side of the frame and end surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the inner surfaces of the frame for engaging the stop surfaces of the fuse to block movement of the fuse from the fixed position through the lower side of the frame;

a pair of parallel mounting legs extending from the first side of the frame, the mounting legs having means for engaging the fuse block to retain the fuse holder in movable connection therewith; and

a cover connected to the frame and movable between a closed position wherein the cover at least partially blocks the upper side of the frame to block movement of the fuse away from the fixed position toward the upper side, and an open position wherein the cover does not significantly block movement of the fuse.

10. An automotive fuse box assembly comprising:

a fuse box having a plurality of fuse receptacles for receiving in electrical association therewith respective fuses having bayonet-type connectors;

a fuse holder having a frame with inner surfaces defining a hollow interior volume with an open upper side and an open lower side, the frame adapted to encircle the fuse body and hold the fuse in an essentially fixed position relative to the fuse holder, a plurality of retaining nubs disposed on the frame and projecting into the interior volume, the retaining nubs having ramp surfaces inclined with respect to the inner surfaces of the frame to permit movement of the fuse into the fixed position through the lower side of the frame and end surfaces substantially perpendicular to the inner surfaces of the frame for engaging the fuse to block movement of the fuse from the fixed position through the lower side of the frame;

a cover connected to the frame and movable between a closed position wherein the cover at least partially blocks the upper side of the frame to block movement of the fuse away from the fixed position toward the upper side, and an open position wherein the cover does not significantly block movement of the fuse; and

means for mounting the fuse holder on the fuse box for displacement relative thereto between a first position wherein the fuses are retained in the respective fuse receptacles and a second position wherein the fuses are disconnected from the respective fuse receptacles.

11. A fuse holder for mounting a fuse in captive association with a fuse box having at least one fuse receptacle for receiving a fuse of the type having a body and two parallel bayonet-type connectors extending therefrom, the fuse holder comprising a frame defining a hollow interior volume with an open upper side through which the fuse may be inserted to position the fuse body in an essentially fixed position within the interior of the frame and an open lower side which permits the connectors to extend therethrough and be exposed below the frame, and first and second mounting legs extending downwardly from the frame at opposite ends thereof for engagement with the fuse box, at least one of the mounting legs having a slot formed therein for engagement with a pin disposed on the fuse box, the slot comprising:

a substantially oval portion adjacent a first end of the leg adjacent the frame and having a width greater than the diameter of the pin;

a substantially circular portion adjacent a second end of the leg distal from the frame and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the pin; and

a central portion having a first end contiguous with the oval portion and a second end contiguous with the circular portion and a middle disposed therebetween, the central portion having a width at the middle greater than the diameter of the pin and decreasing in width at the first and second ends to form respective first and second neck areas having widths smaller than the diameter of the pin.