Fuse holder having an integrated connecting line for status indicators

• US 6,549,137 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Klaus Bruchmann
• Original Assignee: Klaus Bruchmann
• Inventors: Bruchmann, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/600,097
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 340/638, 340/639, 340/648, 340/662, 361/160, 361/104, 361/206, 361/626, 361/88, 361/93.1, 361/833, 361/837, 324/550, 324/507, 324/133, 174/52.5, 174/52.6, 174/58, 174/60, 174/64
• US Class Current: 340/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuse holder for a fuse-link in which a fuse status indicator having a printed circuit board and a glow lamp is fitted. The necessary connecting lines are made of conductive plastic from the top and base contacts of the fuse-link to the printed circuit board of the status indicator. The conductive plastic is injected in channels which are provided therefor and are situated in the housing of the fuse holder.

Claims

1. A fuseholder having a housing;

and having a fuse status indicator with a board and a glow lamp;

said housing configured to receive therein a fuse having a head contact and a foot contact; and

said housing having at least one connecting line arranged to electrically connect the board of the fuse status indicator to at least one of the head contact and the foot contact of the fuse;

wherein

the housing of the fuseholder is produced from insulating plastic, and the housing has at least one channel for the connecting line between the board of the fuse status indicator and at least one of the head contact and the foot contact of the fuse;

wherein said channel is filled with an at least partially conductive plastic to form said connecting line.

2. A fuseholder according to claim 1, wherein the channel for the connecting line has predetermined dimensions such that the channel length and the channel cross section result in a particular resistance when the conductive plastic of the connecting line has a given conductivity.

3. A fuseholder according to claim 1, wherein the connecting line is directly connected to the head contact and the foot contact of the fuse.

4. A fuseholder according to claim 1, wherein the connecting line is connected via a holding and connecting element of the fuseholder to the head contact and the foot contact of the fuse.

5. A fuseholder according to claim 1, wherein the fuseholder has a coding tongue which rests against the foot contact of the fuse, with the connecting line running through the coding tongue.

6. A fuseholder according to claim 1, comprising two connecting lines and two contact pieces, each contact piece located between a connecting line and the broad which make the contact between the connecting lines and the broad when the board is inserted into the fuseholder.

7. A fuseholder according to claim 1, wherein said connecting line comprises an injection molded conductive plastic.

8. A method for producing a fuseholder wherein the fuseholder comprises

a housing, and a fuse status indicator with a broad and a glow lamp;

said housing configured to receive therein a fuse having a head contact and a foot contact; and

said fuseholder having at least one connecting line arranged to electrically connect the board of the fuse status indicator to the head contact and foot contact of the fuse when the board is inserted into the housing;

comprising the steps of;

injection molding the housing of the fuseholder from insulating plastic, and forming a channel for the connecting line during injection molding; and

depositing conductive plastic into the channel, in order to form the connecting line.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the housing and the connecting line are formed by two-component injection molding.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein said conductive plastic is deposited into said channel by injection molding.

11. A fuseholder and fuse combination, comprising:

a replaceable fuse having a cylindrical casing surrounding a melting conductor, the melting conductor connected on opposite ends to a head contact and a foot contact;

a housing;

a fuse status indicator with a broad and a glow lamp;

said housing configured to receive said fuse therein, and said housing having at least one connecting line arranged to electrically connect the board of the fuse status indicator to at least one of the head contact and the foot contact of the fuse when inserted into the housing;

wherein said housing is substantially composed of insulating plastic, and the housing has at least one channel extending substantially between the board of the fuse status indicator and at least one of the head contact and the foot contact of the fuse; and

said connecting line is located at least partially within said channel, and the connecting line is at least partially composed of a conductive plastic.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein said connecting line consists essentially of an injection molded conductive plastic.

13. The combination according to claim 11, wherein said at least one connecting line comprises a first connecting line arranged to make electrical contact with the fuse foot contact and a second connecting line arranged to make electrical contact with the head contact, both said first and second connecting lines being at least partially composed of conductive plastic;

and

said at least one channel comprises a first channel extending substantially between said board and said foot contact, said first connecting line located at least partially within said first channel, and a second channel extending substantially between said board and said head contact, said second connecting line located at least partially within said second channel.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein both said first and second connecting lines consist essentially of an injection molded conductive plastic.