Fuse holder with adjustable terminals

• US 6,855,008 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Royal Die & Stamping Co., Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Freitag, Henrik, Freitag, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid H.
• Application Number:
  US10/679,732
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 439/621, 439725-729, 439754-756, 439/366, 439/763, 439/764
• US Class Current: 439/620.26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/025 Structural association with a binding post of a storage battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/044 General constructions or structure of low voltage fuses, i.e. below 1000 V, or of fuses where the applicable voltage is not specified H01H85/046 - H01H85/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/184 comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/305 having means for facilitating engagement of conductive member or for holding it in position

Abstract

A fuse holder (10) comprising an enclosure for removably containing an electrical fuse (42). The fuse holder (10) includes at least a first (50) and a second electrically conducting terminal (52), preferably made of copper or a copper alloy. Each of the first (50) and second electrically conducting terminals (52) is in electrical contact with the fuse (42) through one or more electrically conducting elements (64, 66). The first electrically conductive terminal (50) is rotatably movable relative to the second electrically conductive terminal (52). The enclosure is comprised of a first piece (12) and a second piece (14) that is threadably secured to the first piece (12). When the first (12) and second pieces (14) are secured, they hold the fuse (42) snugly within the enclosure. The second piece (14) may include either a polygonal perimeter or a plurality of notches (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78) along the perimeter. In the event that the second piece (14) has a polygonal perimeter, the electrically conducting terminal (50) includes at least a first tab (56) and a second tab (58) abutting against two of the sides of polygonal perimeter. Where the second piece (14) has a perimeter having a plurality of notches (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78), the electrically conducting terminal (50a) includes at least one tongue (80) that is insertable into one of the notches (68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78).

Claims

1. A fuse holder, said fuse holder comprising:

an enclosure for removably containing an electrical fuse;

at least a first and a second electrically conducting terminal, said first electrically conducting terminal being of one piece with a first electrically conducting element, and said second electrically conducting terminal being of one piece with a second electrically conducting element, and each of said first and second electrically conducting terminals being in electrical contact with said fuse through its respective electrically conducting element;

said first electrically conducting terminal being movable relative to said second electrically conducting terminal.

2. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said first terminal and said second terminal are movable relative to each other along a generally horizontal plane.

3. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said first terminal is rotatably movable relative to said second terminal.

4. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said enclosure is comprised of a first piece and a second piece.

5. The fuse holder of claim 4, wherein said first piece is threadably secured to said second piece.

6. The fuse holder of claim 4, wherein said second piece has a polygonal perimeter.

7. The fuse holder of claim 4, wherein said second piece has a hexagonal perimeter.

8. The fuse holder of claim 4, wherein said second piece has an octagonal perimeter.

9. The fuse holder of claim 6, wherein said electrically conducting element includes at least a first tab and a second tab, said first tab abutting against at least a first side of said polygonal perimeter, and said second tab abutting against at least a second side of said polygonal perimeter.

10. The fuse holder of claim 4, wherein said second piece has a perimeter having a plurality of notches formed along said perimeter.

11. The fuse holder of claim 10, wherein said electrically conducting element includes at least one tongue that is insertable into one of said notches.

12. The fuse holder of claim 4, wherein said second terminal is secured by overmolding into said second piece.

13. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said first and second electrically conducting terminals are made from copper.

14. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said first and second electrically conducting terminals are made from a copper alloy.

15. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said electrically conducting element and said first terminal are made of one piece.

16. The fuse holder of claim 1, wherein said second electrically conducting terminal is a battery terminal connector.