Junction box with improved fuse access

Details Junction box with improved fuse access Junction box with improved fuse access

1998-08-20

2001-01-16

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With circuit component or comprising connector which fully...

Connector includes or covers additional component

Reexamination Certificate

active

06174204

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fuse holding structure for retaining and protecting fuses while permitting a user to manually access the fuses.
Fuse holding structures, such as junction boxes, typically include several rows of fuse sockets adapted to receive fuses. The fuse sockets are generally recessed into a top surface of the junction box and at a depth sufficient to permit the fuses to be fully received therein. Thus, the fuse sockets are defined by walls which extend upwardly at a height equal to, or greater than, the fuses. Because the fuses are fully recessed within the fuse sockets, the walls surrounding each socket protect the fuses from damage in the event a foreign object strikes the top surface of the junction box.
The sockets have a diameter only slightly larger than the fuses to enable the sockets to securely retain each fuse. Unfortunately, because the fuses are closely surrounded by the sockets, it is very difficult for users to manually grasp the fuses with their fingers to remove the fuses from the junction box. This is particularly true for the mini-fuses used in many automotive applications. Thus, removing the fuses often requires pliers or another removal tool which makes the removal process unnecessarily complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a fuse holding structure including a housing having at least one fuse socket recessed within the housing. A wall extends upwardly from the housing adjacent the fuse socket and partially surrounds the fuse socket without fully surrounding the fuse socket. In this manner, the wall protects the fuse from damage while providing access for a user to manually grasp the fuse.
In other features of this invention, the wall is integrally molded with the housing and extends upwardly from the housing at least as far as the height of the fuse. Further, the wall can extend between first and second rows of fuse sockets on the housing and include recesses on opposing sides of the wall which are adapted to partially surround fuses disposed in the first and second row of fuse sockets.
In another feature of the present invention, a method is provided for manufacturing a fuse holding structure including providing a housing and forming at least one fuse socket recessed within the housing. The method also includes forming a wall extending upwardly from the housing adjacent the fuse socket to partially surround without fully surrounding the fuse socket. In this manner, the fuse holding structure can protect the fuse from damage while providing access for a user to manually grasp the fuse.
In another feature of this invention, the fuse holding structure comprises a junction box adapted to hold several fuses.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings. The following is a brief description of the drawings in this application.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4221455 (1980-09-01), Cairns et al.
patent: 5215479 (1993-06-01), Araki et al.
patent: 5285011 (1994-02-01), Shimochi
patent: 5662496 (1997-09-01), Kanamori
patent: 41 25 394 A1 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 41 30 222 A1 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 2019133 (1979-10-01), None
International Search Report, Dec. 6, 1999.

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