Circuit board blade fuse

• US 6,272,000 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Spaunhorst, Vernon R., Hunkins, John E., Green, Curtis R., Rupp, Terry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US09/538,070
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 361/103, 361/104, 439/43-45, 439/78, 439/81, 439/82-84, 439/292, 439/293, 439/295, 439/324, 439/329, 439/345, 439/346, 439/350, 439/352-354, 439/366, 439/620, 439/621, 439/828, 439/830, 439/834, 439/863, 439/870, 439/871, 439/872
• US Class Current: 361/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0412 specially adapted for being mounted on a printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0417 with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/027 comprising means for positioning or holding the parts to be soldered or welded

Abstract

A fuse includes a housing and terminal blades extending therefrom. Each terminal blade includes a stop face, a stop brace, a hold face, and a hold brace. The stop face and stop brace prevent over insertion of the terminal blade through a circuit board and separate the fuse housing from the circuit board. The stop brace and hold brace position the housing relative to the board and prevent dislodging of the blades from the board during soldering operations.

Claims

1. A fuse for a circuit board, the circuit board including a first surface and a plurality of openings therethrough, said fuse comprising:

a housing; and

first and second blades extending from the housing, at least one of said first and second blades comprising a pair of side edges and a flat face extending therebetween, and a first stop portion upwardly sloped from said flat face to prevent insertion of said blade through the opening beyond a predetermined point when said blades are inserted through the openings.

2. A fuse in accordance claim 1 wherein said at least one blade comprises a distal end, said first stop portion extending from said flat face toward said distal end.

3. A fuse in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first stop portion comprises a stop face.

4. A fuse in accordance with claim 3 wherein said stop face is oblique to said flat face.

5. A fuse in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first blade comprises a first face and said second blade comprises a second face opposed to said first face, said first stop portion extending from said first face, said fuse further comprising a second stop portion extending from said second face.

6. A fuse in accordance with claim 2 wherein said at least one blade further comprises a hold portion separated from said first stop portion and configured to engage one of the circuit board openings.

7. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said blades is further configured to prevent said blades from disconnecting with the circuit board after being inserted through the board a predetermined amount.

8. A fuse in accordance claim 7 wherein said at least one blade configured to prevent disconnection comprises a flat portion and a first hold portion.

9. A fuse in accordance with claim 8 wherein each of said first and second blades comprises a first face and an opposed second face, said first hold portion extending from said first face of said first blade, said fuse further comprising a second hold portion extending from said second face of said second blade.

10. A fuse in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first hold portion comprises a hold face, said hold face extending obliquely to said flat portion.

11. A fuse in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first hold portion is configured to prevent said blade from disconnecting with the circuit board after said at least one blade is inserted through the board a predetermined amount.

12. A fuse in accordance with claim 11 wherein said at least one blade configured to prevent disconnection further comprises said first stop portion separated from said first hold portion and preventing insertion of said blade into a circuit board beyond said first stop portion.

13. A circuit board assembly comprising:

a circuit board comprising at least a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of openings therethrough;

a fuse housing; and

a first blade and a second blade extending from said housing, each of said first blade and second blade comprising a distal end and a stop portion upwardly sloped toward said distal end for contacting said first surface of said board and a hold portion engaging said circuit board when said blades are inserted through said openings.

14. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein said stop portion comprises a stop face extending from each said blade, said hold portion comprising a hold face extending from each said blade, said stop face separated from said hold face on each blade.

15. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein each said blade comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface, said stop face of said first blade extending from said first surface, said stop face of said second blade extending from said second surface.

16. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein said stop face and said hold face are substantially parallel to one another.

17. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein said stop portion further comprises a stop brace including a top surface, said hold portion comprises a hold brace including a top surface, said stop brace top surface and said hold face top surface are oblique to said stop face and said hold face.

18. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein said blades further include distal ends, said stop brace top surface extending toward said distal end of said blade.

19. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein said top surface of said stop brace extends to said blade, said stop brace top surface separated from said housing.

20. A circuit board assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein said hold face contacts said second surface when said blades are inserted through said openings.

21. A fuse for a circuit board, the circuit board including a first surface and a plurality of openings therethrough, said fuse comprising:

a housing; and

first and second blades extending from the housing, each of said first and second blades comprising a distal end, first and second lateral sides, and a flat face extending between said lateral sides to said distal end, at least one of said first and second blades comprising a sloped stop portion substantially centered between said lateral sides and configured to contact the first surface of the board and prevent insertion of said blade through the opening beyond a predetermined point when said blades are inserted through the openings.

22. A fuse for a circuit board, the circuit board including a first surface and a plurality of openings therethrough, said fuse comprising:

a housing;

first and second blade terminals extending from said housing, each of first and second blade terminals comprising opposed flat faces extending between lateral sides, at least one of said flat faces comprising a sloped stop portion configured to prevent insertion of said first and second blade terminals through the openings beyond a predetermined point, and at least one of said flat faces comprising a hold portion configured to secure said blade terminal to the opening of the board with an interference fit.