Protector for electric circuits

Claim 2

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, and a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material to have the outer ends thereof engageable with spaced-apart components of an electric circuit to be protected by said electric fuse, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 3

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material to have the outer ends thereof engageable with spaced-apart components of an electric circuit to be protected by said electric fuse, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit, the first said terminal having said inner end thereof engaging and holding said one end of said support and having said outer end thereof extending outwardly beyond said one end of said support, said second terminal having said inner end thereof engaging and holding said other end of said support and having said outer end thereof extending outwardly beyond said other end of said support, said outer end of said first said terminal being offset from said inner end of said first said terminal to enable said outer end of said first said terminal to be generally coaxial with said support although said inner end of said first said terminal is displaced laterally from the axis of said support, and said outer end of said second terminal being offset from said inner end of said second terminal to enable said outer end of said second terminal to be generally coaxial with said support although said inner end of said second terminal is displaced laterally from said axis of said support.

Claim 4

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material to have the outer ends thereof engageable with spaced-apart components of an electric circuit to be protected by said electric fuse, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit, the first said terminal having said inner end thereof engaging and holding said one end of said support and having said outer end thereof extending outwardly beyond said one end of said support, said second terminal having said inner end thereof engaging and holding said other end of said support and having said outer end thereof extending outwardly beyond said other end of said support, said outer end of said first said terminal being offset from said inner end of said first said terminal to enable said outer end of said first said terminal to be generally coaxial with said support although said inner end of said first said terminal is displaced laterally from the axis of said support, and said outer end of said second terminal being offset from said inner end of said second terminal to enable said outer end of said second terminal to be generally coaxial with said support although said inner end of said second terminal is displaced laterally from said axis of said support.

Claim 5

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material to have the outer ends thereof engageable with spaced-apart components of an electric circuit to be protected by said electric fuse, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit, the first said terminal having an inner end that engages said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly beyond said support, said second terminal having an inner end that engages said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly beyond said support, said inner end of said first said terminal being planished to provide a large area of engagement between said inner end of said first said terminal and said one end of said support, said inner end of said second terminal being planished to provide a large area of engagement between said inner end of said second terminal and said other end of said support, said planished inner end of said first said terminal being wider but thinner than an outer portion of said first said terminal, and said planished inner end of said second terminal being wider but thinner than an outer portion of said second terminal.

Claim 6

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material to have the outer ends thereof engageable with spaced-apart components of an electric circuit to be protected by said electric fuse, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit, the first said terminal having an inner end that engages said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly beyond said support, said second terminal having an inner end that engages said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly beyond said support, said inner end of said first said terminal being planished to provide a large area of engagement between said inner end of said first said terminal and said one end of said support, said inner end of said second terminal being planished to provide a large area of engagement between said inner end of said second terminal and said other end of said support, said planished inner end of said first said terminal being wider but thinner than an outer portion of said first said terminal, and said planished inner end of said second terminal being wider but thinner than an outer portion of said second terminal.

Claim 7

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart axially of said support a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said prEdetermined distance by which said inner ends of said terminals are spaced apart being substantially equal to said effective length of said fusible element, a portion of said inner end of said first said terminal extending laterally outwardly of one end of said fusible element to hold the corresponding portion of the inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material laterally outwardly of said one end of said fusible element, and a portion of said inner end of said second terminal extending laterally outwardly of the other end of said fusible element to hold the corresponding portion of said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material laterally outwardly of said other end of said fusible element, and said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 8

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart axially of said support a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said prEdetermined distance by which said inner ends of said terminals are spaced apart being substantially equal to said effective length of said fusible element, a portion of said inner end of said first said terminal extending laterally outwardly of one end of said fusible element to hold the corresponding portion of the inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material laterally outwardly of said one end of said fusible element, and a portion of said inner end of said second terminal extending laterally outwardly of the other end of said fusible element to hold the corresponding portion of said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material laterally outwardly of said other end of said fusible element, and said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 9

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart axially of said support a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal extending laterally outwardly of one end of said fusible element, a portion of said inner end of said second terminal extending laterally outwardly of the other end of said fusible element, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals extending laterally outwardly of said ends of said fusible element far enough to hold said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material out of engagement with said effective length of said fusible element, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 10

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart axially of said support a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal extending laterally outwardly of one end of said fusible element, a portion of said inner end of said second terminal extending laterally outwardly of the other end of said fusible element, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals extending laterally outwardly of said ends of said fusible element far enough to hold said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material out of engagement with said effective length of said fusible element, said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 11

An electric fuse which comprises a support, said support having a metallic surface adjacent one end thereof, said support having a second metallic surface adjacent the other end thereof, a terminal adjacent said one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent said other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal being in register with the first said metallic surface but one end of said fusible element being interposed between said first said metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said first said terminal, and a portion of said inner end of said second terminal being in register with said second metallic surface but the other end of said fusible element being interposed between said second metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said second terminal, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals being disposed between said ends of said fusible element and the inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material and acting to hold said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material out of engagement with said ends of said fusible element, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit.

Claim 12

An electric fuse which comprises a support, said support having a metallic surface adjacent one end thereof, said support having a second metallic surface adjacent the other end thereof, a terminal adjacent said one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent said other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal being in register with the first said metallic surface but one end of said fusible element being interposed between said first said metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said first said terminal, and a portion of said inner end of said second terminal being in register with said second metallic surface but the other end of said fusible element being interposed between said second metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said second terminal, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals being disposed between said ends of said fusible element and the inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material and acting to hold said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material out of engagement with said ends of said fusible element, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit.

Claim 13

An electric fuse which comprises a support, said support having a metallic surface adjacent one end thereof, said support having a second metallic surface adjacent the other end thereof, a terminal adjacent said one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent said other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal being in register with the first said metallic surface but one end of said fusible element being interposed between said first said metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said first said terminal, a portion of said inner end of said second terminal being in register with said second metallic surface but the other end of said fusible element being interposed between said second metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said second terminal, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals being disposed between said ends of said fusible element and the inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material and acting to hold said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material out of engagement with said ends of said fusible element, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals holding said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material against movement into an engagement with any portion of said effective length of said fusible element which could apply destructive forces to said effective length of said fusible element, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit.

Claim 14

An electric fuse which comprises a support, said support having a metallic surface adjacent one end thereof, said support having a second metallic surface adjacent the other end thereof, a terminal adjacent said one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent said other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal being in register with the first said metallic surface but one end of said fusible element being interposed between said first said metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said first said terminal, a portion of said inner end of said second terminal being in register with said second metallic surface but the other end of said fusible element being interposed between said second metallic surface and said portion of said inner end of said second terminal, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals being disposed between said ends of said fusible element and the inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material and acting to hold said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material out of engagement with said ends of said fusible element, said portions of said inner ends of said terminals holding said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material against movement into an engagement with any portion of said effective length of said fusible element which could apply destructive forces to said effective length of said fusible element, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit.

Claim 15

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said housing of said readily shrinkable material having the outer ends thereof engaging portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support, said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support having cross sections which are only small fractions of the cross sections of said ends of said support, said support being acircular in cross section, said terminals making said cross sections of said ends of said support irregular, and said portions of said housing of readily shrinkable material closely engaging said portIons of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support and also closely engaging said ends of said support despite the irregularity of said ends of said support and despite the disparity between the cross sections of said ends of said support and the cross sections of said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support, the engagements between said portions of said housing of readily shrinkable material and said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support resisting tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support, and thereby helping said terminals remain in assembled relation with said support.

Claim 16

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said housing of said readily shrinkable material having the outer ends thereof engaging portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support, said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support having cross sections which are only small fractions of the cross sections of said ends of said support, said support being acircular in cross section, said terminals making said cross sections of said ends of said support irregular, and said portions of said housing of readily shrinkable material closely engaging said portIons of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support and also closely engaging said ends of said support despite the irregularity of said ends of said support and despite the disparity between the cross sections of said ends of said support and the cross sections of said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support, the engagements between said portions of said housing of readily shrinkable material and said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to but which extend outwardly from said ends of said support resisting tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support, and thereby helping said terminals remain in assembled relation with said support.

Claim 17

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, a portion of said side of said support which is intermediate said terminals being relieved by a notch, said effective length of said fusible element spanning said notch of said side of said support and thereby being held out of direct engagement with said side of said support, and said inner ends of said terminals extending laterally outwardly beyond said side of said support to keep said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material from applying destructive forces to said effective length of said fusible element, whereby said effective length of said fusible element is out of engagement with said notch of said side of said support and is not subjected to destructive forces by said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material.

Claim 18

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at the same side of said support, said fusible element having the effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, a portion of said side of said support which is intermediate said terminals being relieved by a notch, said effective length of said fusible element spanning said notch of said side of said support and thereby being held out of direct engagement with said side of said support, and said inner ends of said terminals extending laterally outwardly beyond said side of said support to keep said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material from applying destructive forces to said effective length of said fusible element, whereby said effective length of said fusible element is out of engagement with said notch of said side of said support and is not subjected to destructive forces by said inner surface of said housing of readily shrinkable material.

Claim 19

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material and being adapted to hold said support, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said support having a metallic surface adjacent said one end thereof, said support having a second metallic surface adjacent said other end thereof, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal being planished and being in register with the first said metallic surface, said portion of said inner end of said first said terminal being bonded to said first said metallic surface in electrical conducting relation, a portion of said inner end of said second terminal being planished and being in register with said second metallic surface, said portion of said inner end of said second terminal being bonded to said second metallic surface in electrical conducting relation, said first said metallic surface having a large face-to-face engagement with said one end of said support, said planished portion of said inner end of said first said teRminal having a relatively large face-to-face engagement with said first said metallic surface, said second metallic surface having a large face-to-face engagement with said other end of said support, said planished portion of said inner end of said second terminal having a relatively large face-to-face engagement with said second metallic surface, the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material closely engaging those portions of said terminals which are adjacent to and which extend outwardly beyond said ends of said support, the close engagements between said ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material and said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to and which extend outwardly beyond said ends of said support coacting with said face-to-face engagements between said inner ends of said terminals and said metallic surfaces and also coacting with said face-to-face engagements between said metallic surfaces and said ends of said support to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support, and thereby helping to maintain said terminals in assembled relation with said support.

Claim 20

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals extending outwardly through and beyond the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material and being adapted to hold said support, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said support having a metallic surface adjacent said one end thereof, said support having a second metallic surface adjacent said other end thereof, a portion of said inner end of the first said terminal being planished and being in register with the first said metallic surface, said portion of said inner end of said first said terminal being bonded to said first said metallic surface in electrical conducting relation, a portion of said inner end of said second terminal being planished and being in register with said second metallic surface, said portion of said inner end of said second terminal being bonded to said second metallic surface in electrical conducting relation, said first said metallic surface having a large face-to-face engagement with said one end of said support, said planished portion of said inner end of said first said teRminal having a relatively large face-to-face engagement with said first said metallic surface, said second metallic surface having a large face-to-face engagement with said other end of said support, said planished portion of said inner end of said second terminal having a relatively large face-to-face engagement with said second metallic surface, the ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material closely engaging those portions of said terminals which are adjacent to and which extend outwardly beyond said ends of said support, the close engagements between said ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material and said portions of said terminals which are adjacent to and which extend outwardly beyond said ends of said support coacting with said face-to-face engagements between said inner ends of said terminals and said metallic surfaces and also coacting with said face-to-face engagements between said metallic surfaces and said ends of said support to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support, and thereby helping to maintain said terminals in assembled relation with said support.

Claim 21

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, the first said terminal having an inner portion that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said one end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said one end of said support and beyond one end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be adapted to hold said one end of said support, said second terminal having an inner portion that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said other end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said other end of said support and beyond the other end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be adapted to hold said other end of said support, said housing of readily shrinkable material engaging said inner portions of said terminals, and said ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material extending outwardly beyond said ends of said support to enclose and intimately engage a part of each of said outer portions of said terminals, the intimate engagement between said ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material and said parts of said outer portions of said terminals enabling said housing of readily shrinkable material to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support and thereby helping prevent separation of said terminals from said support.

Claim 22

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, the first said terminal having an inner portion that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said one end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said one end of said support and beyond one end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be adapted to hold said one end of said support, said second terminal having an inner portion that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said other end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said other end of said support and beyond the other end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be adapted to hold said other end of said support, said housing of readily shrinkable material engaging said inner portions of said terminals, and said ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material extending outwardly beyond said ends of said support to enclose and intimately engage a part of each of said outer portions of said terminals, the intimate engagement between said ends of said housing of readily shrinkable material and said parts of said outer portions of said terminals enabling said housing of readily shrinkable material to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support and thereby helping prevent separation of said terminals from said support.

Claim 23

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart axially of said support a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said predetermined distance by which said inner ends of said terminals are spaced apart being substantially equal to the effective length of said fusible eLement, the cross section of said fusible element being just a small fraction of the cross section of said inner end of either of said terminals, whereby said inner ends of said terminals have sufficient mass to cool any arc which forms as said fusible element fuses to open the circuit, and said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 24

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said terminals having said inner ends thereof spaced apart axially of said support a predetermined distance, said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit, said predetermined distance by which said inner ends of said terminals are spaced apart being substantially equal to the effective length of said fusible eLement, the cross section of said fusible element being just a small fraction of the cross section of said inner end of either of said terminals, whereby said inner ends of said terminals have sufficient mass to cool any arc which forms as said fusible element fuses to open the circuit, and said spacing apart of said inner ends of said terminals acting to minimize or prevent burning of said inner ends of said terminals when said fusible element fuses to open said electric circuit.

Claim 25

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, the first said terminal having an inner end that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said one end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said one end of said support and beyond one end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to an electric circuit, said second terminal having an inner end that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said other end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said other end of said support and beyond the other end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to said electric circuit, a shoulder in said first said terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said first said terminal, a shoulder in said second terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said second terminal, and said housing of readily shrinkable material intimately engaging said inner ends and said shoulders of said terminals plus parts of said terminals which are outward of but which are immediately adjacent said ends of said support, the intimate engagements between said housing of readily shrinkable material and said inner ends and said shoulders and said parts of said terminals enabling said housing of readily shrinkable material to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support and thereby helping prevent separation of said terminals from said support.

Claim 26

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, the first said terminal having an inner end that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said one end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said one end of said support and beyond one end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to an electric circuit, said second terminal having an inner end that is in register with and is fixedly secured to said other end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said other end of said support and beyond the other end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to said electric circuit, a shoulder in said first said terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said first said terminal, a shoulder in said second terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said second terminal, and said housing of readily shrinkable material intimately engaging said inner ends and said shoulders of said terminals plus parts of said terminals which are outward of but which are immediately adjacent said ends of said support, the intimate engagements between said housing of readily shrinkable material and said inner ends and said shoulders and said parts of said terminals enabling said housing of readily shrinkable material to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support and thereby helping prevent separation of said terminals from said support.

Claim 27

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, the first said terminal having an inner end that is in register with and overlaps and is fixedly secured to said one end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said one end of said support and beyond one end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to an electric circuit, said second terminal having an inner end that is in register with and overlaps and is fixedly secured to said other end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said other end of said support and beyond the other end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to said electric circuit, said inner end of said first said terminal being planished to provide a large area of securement between said inner end of said first said terminal and said one end of said support, said inner end of said second terminal being planished to provide a large area of securement between said inner end of said second terminal and said other end of said support, a shoulder in said first said terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said first said terminal, a shoulder in said second terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said second terminal, said shoulder in said first said terminal abutting said one end of said support to limit the extent to which said planished inner end of said first said terminal overlaps said one end of said support, said shoulder in said second terminal abutting said other end of said support to limit the extent to which said planished inner end of said second terminal overlaps said other end of said support, and said housing of readily shrinkable material intimately engaging said inner ends and said shoulders of said terminals plus parts of said terminals which are outward of but which are immediately adjacent said ends of said support, the intimate engagement between said housing of readily shrinkable material and said inner ends and said shoulders and said parts of said terminals enabling said housing of readly shrinkable material to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support and thereby helping prevent separation of said terminals from said support.

Claim 28

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, the first said terminal having an inner end that is in register with and overlaps and is fixedly secured to said one end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said one end of said support and beyond one end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to an electric circuit, said second terminal having an inner end that is in register with and overlaps and is fixedly secured to said other end of said support and having an outer portion that extends outwardly through said housing of readily shrinkable material and beyond said other end of said support and beyond the other end of said housing of readily shrinkable material to be connectable to said electric circuit, said inner end of said first said terminal being planished to provide a large area of securement between said inner end of said first said terminal and said one end of said support, said inner end of said second terminal being planished to provide a large area of securement between said inner end of said second terminal and said other end of said support, a shoulder in said first said terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said first said terminal, a shoulder in said second terminal which is intermediate said inner end and said outer portion of said second terminal, said shoulder in said first said terminal abutting said one end of said support to limit the extent to which said planished inner end of said first said terminal overlaps said one end of said support, said shoulder in said second terminal abutting said other end of said support to limit the extent to which said planished inner end of said second terminal overlaps said other end of said support, and said housing of readily shrinkable material intimately engaging said inner ends and said shoulders of said terminals plus parts of said terminals which are outward of but which are immediately adjacent said ends of said support, the intimate engagement between said housing of readily shrinkable material and said inner ends and said shoulders and said parts of said terminals enabling said housing of readly shrinkable material to resist tilting of said terminals relative to the axis of said support and thereby helping prevent separation of said terminals from said support.

Claim 29

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a notch in one side of said support which is spaced inwardly from said ends of said support and which is in register with the effective length of said fusible element, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at said side of said support, said fusible element having said effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, said inner ends of said terminals acting to hold the inner surface of said housing of shrinkable material out of engagement with said ends of said fusible element, said inner ends of said terminals also holding said inner surface of said housing of shrinkable material against movement into and engagement with any portion of said effective length of said fusible element which could apply destructive forces to said effective length of said fusible element, said notch being arcuate in side elevation, the deepest portion of said notch being adjacent the longitudinal center of said effective length of said fusible element, and said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit.

Claim 30

An electric fuse which comprises a support, a terminal adjacent one end of said support, a second terminal adjacent the other end of said support, a fusible element electrically connecting said terminals, a notch in one side of said support which is spaced inwardly from said ends of said support and which is in register with the effective length of said fusible element, a housing of readily shrinkable material which encloses and protects said fusible element, said housing of readily shrinkable material having portions thereof shrunk into engagement with and enclosing portions of said support and portions of the inner ends of said terminals, said terminals being connectable to an electric circuit, said inner ends of said terminals being exposed at said side of said support, said fusible element having said effective length thereof disposed at said side of said support, said inner ends of said terminals acting to hold the inner surface of said housing of shrinkable material out of engagement with said ends of said fusible element, said inner ends of said terminals also holding said inner surface of said housing of shrinkable material against movement into and engagement with any portion of said effective length of said fusible element which could apply destructive forces to said effective length of said fusible element, said notch being arcuate in side elevation, the deepest portion of said notch being adjacent the longitudinal center of said effective length of said fusible element, and said fusible element responding to a potentially-hurtful overload of predetermined duration to fuse and thereby open said electric circuit.