Electrical connectors – With circuit component or comprising connector which fully... – Connector includes or covers additional component
Utility Patent
1999-03-24
2001-01-02
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With circuit component or comprising connector which fully...
Connector includes or covers additional component
C439S620180
Utility Patent
active
06168471
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fuse adapters that allow a plug-in type fuse housing to be removably inserted within a cartridge-type adapter housing, with the adapter housing having a blown fuse indicator therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that there are many different types of fuses available today. For example, older automobiles include a low voltage automotive fuse, typically known as the glass ferrule fuse, or cartridge type fuse, while the newer automobiles include the newer blade-type fuse.
The older ferrule type fuse includes a hollow glass body having a small filament or fuse link that is designed to melt and interrupt the circuit if too much current passes through the fuse. Generally speaking, anyone who has attempted to change a glass ferrule fuse has had a difficult experience. These fuses are difficult to access for several reasons. The fuse box itself may be in a location that is not easily accessible, especially in older cars. In most fuse boxes, the fuses are recessed and difficult to grasp using just the hand.
It is well known that glass is fragile by nature, and a glass ferrule fuse tends to break when incorrectly pried from its socket. A common solution to the problem is the use of a special tool, which can snap onto the body of the fuse and insertion or extraction is obviously facilitated by use of this special tool. However, many car owners do not own this tool, or if they do, they do not carry it in their vehicles, which makes it unavailable if they should need it while on the road.
Other common problems include complaints that the ferrule fuses are not well labeled and that their labels are difficult to read. The applicants have found that some automotive parts stores are discontinuing or are in short supply of the glass ferrule fuses, even in the commonly used amp ratings. So, as a practical matter, the cars that use the older type fuses may outlast the production, or at least the ready supply of the ferrule automotive fuse.
The above problems have necessitated the design of the newer blade-type fuse, which is described in SAE Standard J1284. The automotive blade-type fuse is substantially universal, and the amp rating is printed in bold, easy-to-read letters on the plastic body of the fuse. The blade-type fuse is generally rectangular in shape, having a plastic body and two metal flat prongs or blades protruding from the body which provide the electrical pathway to the fuse filament located within the body of the fuse.
Until the present invention, persons driving older model cars were susceptible to the short supply and rising price of the older glass-type fuse. As nowhere in the prior art did the applicants find an adapter which eliminates the need for the old cartridge type fuse, and which allows a typical blade-type fuse to be functional when combined with the typical ferrule fuse socket. Furthermore, the present adapter not only eliminates the need for a cartridge type fuse, but also provides visual indicating means that notifies the user that the blade-type fuse has blown.
In the past, many attempts have been made to provide identification means to indicate to a user when a fuse has blown. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,535, 4,499,447 and 4,712,081, each provide, a plug-in type fuse housing having a blown fuse indicator therein. However, each are only concerned with the plug-in type fuse housing and none address the cartridge type housing.
It is to be noted that the present applicants have addressed the use of a blown fuse indicator for cartridge type fuses within our U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,884. Wherein, we provide a second barrel-type fuse housing having blown fuse indicating means therein, which is attachable to a prior art type barrel fuse, and we also teach circuitry therefore. Thus, we do not provide or teach the circuitry within this invention, as it is now known and provided within the prior art.
It is to be further noted that the only reference found pertinent to the present invention was U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,600, which teaches an “AUTOMOTIVE BLADE-TO-FERRULE FUSE ADAPTER”. This adapter is only functional for replacing the old cartridge type fuses with the preferred plug-in type fuses, and nowhere do they address or even suggest that the adapter may include a blown fuse indicator therein, as clearly taught within the present invention. Furthermore, this device is limited to use with only the standard sized blade-type fuse, unlike the present invention that is functional and attachable to not only the standard sized blade-type fuse, but also the mini-blade-type fuse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention allows a user to easily install the adapter within a typical ferrule fuse socket, with the adapter being removably attached to a blade-type fuse, and the adapter includes a blown fuse indicator therein. Whereby, when the blade-type fuse has blown, the indicator lights up and simultaneously illuminates the blade-type fuse housing. Thus, a user is visually notified that the fuse has blown and replacement is necessary.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and unusual fuse adapter that is removably attachable to a pre-existing blade-type fuse.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuse adapter that eliminates the need for the old type cartridge fuse.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuse adapter that is functional when installed within the typical ferrule fuse socket.
It is a very important object of the present to provide a fuse adapter that includes a blown fuse indicator therein, such as a light source that illuminates when the blade-type fuse has blown.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuse adapter that is removably attachable to either a standard sized blade-type fuse, or the mini-blade-type fuse.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter which can be made from substantially any suitable material of engineering choice, such as plastic, nylon, hard rubber, wood, or the like.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter which can be manufactured in two parts which can be interconnected, if so desired.
Also, another object of the present invention is to provide a fuse adapter that is economical to manufacture and which is easily marketed.
Other objects and advantages will be seen when taken into consideration with the following specifications and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4815993 (1989-03-01), Falchetti
patent: 5085600 (1992-02-01), Damron
patent: 5324214 (1994-06-01), De Castro
May Galen J.
Santa Cruz Cathy D.
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
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