Circuit breaking device

• US 6,196,858 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Mitsuhiro, Deno, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/360,638
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 439/354, 439/358, 439/357, 335/132, 200/293-308
• US Class Current: 439/354
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/108 Building a sliding and/or a removable bridging connector for batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/085 contact separation effected by removing contact carrying element
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/68 with built-in fuse

Abstract

The circuit breaking device 10 includes a plug box 20 including circuit terminals 21 and 22 respectively connected to the respective open ends of two electric circuits, and a plug main body 30 including short-circuit terminals 31, 32 and disposed in such a manner that it can be shifted by a given amount with respect to the plug box 20; in particular, the plug main body 30 is structured such that not only it can bring the short-circuit terminals 31 and 32 into fit with the circuit terminals 21 and 22 of the plug box 20 to thereby close the two electric circuits, but also it can remove the short-circuit terminals 31 and 32 from the circuit terminals 21 and 22 to thereby open the two electric circuits and thus cut off the circuit currents thereof. The plug main body 30 is allowed to shift with respect to the plug box 20 between the actually securing position where the short-circuit terminals 31, 32 can be fitted with the circuit terminals 21, 22 and the temporarily securing position where the short-circuit terminals 31, 32 can be removed from the circuit terminals 21, 22.

Claims

1. A circuit breaking device comprising:

a plug box including a circuit terminal connected to the open end of an electric circuit; and

a plug main body including a short-circuit terminal, disposed in such a manner that said plug main body is shifted within a predetermined amount with respect to said plug box, said plug main body being not only to bring said short-circuit terminal into fit with said circuit terminal of said plug box to close said electric circuit but also to remove said short-circuit terminal from said circuit terminal to open said electric circuit and thus cut off a circuit current thereof,

wherein said plug main body is allowed to shift with respect to said plug box between an actually securing position, where said short-circuit terminal can be fitted with said circuit terminal, and a temporarily securing position where said short-circuit terminal can be removed from said circuit terminal, and

wherein said plug box includes protective peripheral side walls which cooperate with said plug main body at said temporarily securing position so as to cover said circuit terminal.

2. A circuit breaking device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plug main body is prevented, at said temporarily securing position, from shifting further away from said plug box by a plug main body removal preventive device disposed in said plug box.

3. A circuit breaking device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said plug main body is projectingly provided with a pair of arm protective walls, and said pair of arm protective walls are opposed to each other with a flexible locking arm between them so as to protect said flexible locking arm.

4. A circuit breaking device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible locking arm formed in said plug main body,

wherein said plug main body is held at said temporarily securing position in such a manner that a temporarily securing projection provided on said flexible locking arm is engaged with a portion to be secured on said plug box, and to shift said plug main body from said temporarily securing position to said actually securing position, said flexible locking arm is flexed while said plug main body is shifted to thereby remove the engagement between said temporarily securing projection and said portion to be secured.

5. A circuit breaking device as set forth in claim 4, wherein a tapered surface is formed between said temporarily securing projection and said portion to be secured, when shifting said plug main body from said temporarily securing position to said actually securing position, said tapered surface flex said locking arm in an engagement removing direction to thereby remove the engagement of said temporarily securing projection with respect to said portion to be secured.

6. A circuit breaking device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said plug main body is projectingly provided with a pair of arm protective walls, and said pair of arm protective walls are opposed to each other with said flexible locking arm between them so as to protect said flexible locking arm.

7. A circuit breaking device, comprising:

a plug box having a rectangular shape and a circuit terminal connected to an open end of an electric circuit;

a plug main body for engaging with said plug box in a secured position or a temporary position, said plug main body having a short-circuit terminal which fits with said circuit terminal when said plug main body is engaged with said plug box in said secured position;

a pair of peripheral side walls on said plug box so that said circuit terminal is disposed between said pair of peripheral side walls, wherein said pair of peripheral side walls protect said circuit terminal when said plug main body is engaged with said plug box in said temporary position;

a pair of securing portions on said plug box so that said circuit terminal is disposed between said pair of securing portions, wherein said pair of securing portions engage with a plurality of temporary securing projections on said plug main body to hold said plug main body in said temporary position; and

a plurality of securing springs on said plug box which engage with said plug main body to hold said plug main body in said secured position,

wherein said pair of peripheral side walls, said pair of securing portions and said plurality of securing springs are each separate elements and are disposed along a rectangular perimeter around said circuit terminal for engaging with said plug main body so that said plug main body is limited to movement between said temporary position and said secured position.