Patents Examined by Stephen T. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5694106
    Abstract: An improved safety switch with overload protection circuit includes a housing having a lamp cover and three connecting plates disposed in a receptacle. One connecting plate is provided with a bi-metal plate having a platinum contact, and one is provided with a platinum contact corresponding to the bi-metal plate. When power is overload, the bi-metal plate will trip off so that an electrically insulating baffling plate may slip in between the platinum contacts to cut off power supply. The lamp cover is provided with a control hook which may control the bi-metal plate. The lamp cover further has a leg extending into an elongated notch of the baffling plate. By pressing the lamp cover, displacement of the bi-metal plate and the baffling plate may be controlled to achieve electrical connection or disconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Ming Shan Wang
  • Patent number: 5682130
    Abstract: The invention is a circuit protection device comprising a first and a second female terminal. The device further comprises a first fuse clip in electrical contact with the first fuse terminal and a second fuse clip in electrical contact with the second fuse terminal. A positive temperature coefficient element, preferably planar, is positioned between and makes electrical contact with both the first fuse clip and the second fuse clip. In a first embodiment, at least one of the first and second fuse clips is spring-loaded, i.e., has an inherent resiliency. In this same embodiment, portions of the first and second fuse clips overlap, and the positive temperature coefficient element is secured between the overlapping portions of the first and second fuse clips. In the second of the two preferred embodiments, the first fuse clip, the second fuse clip, and the positive temperature coefficient element are generally coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventors: Michael Styrna, Andrew Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 5680089
    Abstract: A fuse in which molten metal can be positively held or retained in a housing when a fuse element melts, and the melting of the fuse element can be easily confirmed. The fuse includes the fuse element including opposite side portions respectively defining a pair of metal terminals which are connected together through an element having a fusible portion, and are disposed in a generally common plane, and a flap of a metal material which is bendable at the boundary between the flap and the element, an insulating member being formed on at least one face of the flap; and a housing including opposite side portions respectively defining a pair of terminal receiving portions for respectively receiving the pair of terminals, and a central portion defining an element receiving portion for receiving the element, the element receiving portion having an open portion at its upper side. When the flap is bent, that face of the flap having the insulating member formed thereon is exposed to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 5680088
    Abstract: A disconnection mechanism for a dark current fuse provides a connecting terminal connecting the dark current fuse, a fuse block body receiving the connecting terminal, and a fuse holder slidably engaged with the fuse block body in a direction of connecting the dark current fuse, the fuse holder provides a cutaway opening exposing a head of the dark current fuse being therein, an engaging projection disposed at an opening edge of the cutaway opening for engaging the head, and a supporting wall portion contacting a trunk of the dark current fuse. The disconnection mechanism is not necessary to store the extracted dark current fuse after a dark current fuse circuit is opened, so that there arises no possibility of missing the extracted dark current fuse, the dark current fuse can be extracted by using a puller, and the dark current fuse is surely held with being prevented from slipping off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Seki, Kenichiro Kawaguchi, Gen Oozono, Akio Sugiyama, Ryuetsu Oikawa
  • Patent number: 5670927
    Abstract: A universal fuse holder and cut-out is provided with a slot having a length L and width W aligned with the fuse tube and engageable with the fuse tube and engageable by a projecting arm or member of a hot switch stick so as to enable safe and expedient maintenance and service, particularly in high wind and storm conditions. One contact assembly is lengthwise and rotatably mounted to accommodate long and short fuse tubes and different manufacturer styles of switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Robert B. Fennell
  • Patent number: 5670928
    Abstract: A fuse box including an insulative bottom shell having a locating block and fixedly mounted with a metal common receptacle, a cover shell covered on the bottom shell and secured thereto by hooks, a plurality of spring supported jacks mounted in respective through holes in the locating block of the bottom shell, a plurality of cartridge fuses respectively connected between the jacks and respective plug holes in the metal common receptacle, a plurality of first electric wire connectors respectively fastened to respective electric wires and then connected to the jacks by a respective screw joint, and a plurality of second electric wire connectors respectively fastened to respective electric wires and then respectively threaded into a respective screw hole in the metal common receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventors: Wen-Tzung Cheng, Wen-Huoh Cheng
  • Patent number: 5670929
    Abstract: A fusible link in which the overlooking of a half-fitted condition of a spacer is positively prevented, and the strength of retaining of the spacer on a housing is increased. Guide walls are formed on an inner surface of the housing (which houses a fuse element), and are disposed respectively in the vicinity of projections for retaining the fuse element-holding spacer. Each of the guide walls forms an insertion space into which a respective one of resilient engagement piece portions of the spacer can be inserted, and the insertion space provides a space which allows elastic displacement of the resilient engagement piece portion when the resilient engagement piece portion is brought into and out of engagement with the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiko Totsuka
  • Patent number: 5668522
    Abstract: A slowly-breaking fuse includes a housing made of a synthetic resin, a fuse element including a pair of terminal members for an electrical connection, and a melting member mounted between the terminal members, the melting member being smaller in thickness than the terminal member, the melting member having a narrow elongated central portion and a pair of base portions between which the narrow elongated central portion is mounted, and a cross-sectional area increased member provided at an opposite end of the melting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiko Totsuka, Toshiharu Kudo, Hisashi Hanazaki
  • Patent number: 5661448
    Abstract: A chain of fuse-links is made from an electrically conductive metal plate. Each fuse-link P4. has an arc-shaped fusing portion 1 and a couple of terminal portions 4, 4 constituting a pair of wing-shaped members connected to each end of the arc-shaped fusing portion 1. A carrier strap 9 has a plurality of vertical connecting pieces 8 each positioned at fixed intervals for retaining the plurality of fuse-links P4. Each of a plurality of interconnection pieces 7 is connected to the vertical connecting piece 8 at one end and connected to a side edge of specific side one of the couple of terminal portions at the other end. The other end of the interconnection piece 7' is bent so that the end edges of the couple of terminal portions 4, 4 rise above the carrier strap 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Totsuka, Hisashi Hanazaki
  • Patent number: 5659278
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device and magnetizing device for superconductor including a coil provided around the superconductor; a current supply line connected to the coil and a power source and supplying a pulse current from the power source to the coil; and a refrigerant container controlled to a superconducting transition temperature or below, the coil arranged in the refrigerant container, the current supply line provided within refrigerant pipes connecting to the refrigerant container, its applied instrument, and a magnetizing method for superconductor including cooling the interior of the refrigerant container down to the superconducting transition temperature or below; supplying a pulse current to the coil for generating a magnetic field by the coil; and magnetizing the superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Imra Material R&D Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousuke Yanagi, Shintaro Harada, Ryohei Yabuno, Tetsuo Oka, Yoshitaka Ito, Tutomu Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 5659283
    Abstract: An indicating fuse assembly includes an electrically non-conductive housing; an array of first and second electrically conductive contacts supported by the housing, each pair of first and second contacts being adapted for connecting a replaceable fuse, the contacts being connected in a powered circuit wherein each fuse, when connected between a respective pair of the contacts, is electrically series-connected with a load of the circuit; and a plurality of illuminators electrically connected within the housing for displaying open circuit conditions of corresponding ones of the fuses when the contacts are connected in the powered circuit, electrical current in the illuminators being limited to a minor fraction of a rated current of the corresponding loads. At least some the illuminators can include bipolar pairs of light emitting diodes for activation of the respective illuminators without regard to polarity of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Jose F. Arratia
  • Patent number: 5656983
    Abstract: An inductive coupler forming a closed magnetic circuit by mating a primary core assembly having a primary winding and a secondary core assembly having a secondary winding for transferring electrical power from the primary winding to the secondary winding by electromagnetic induction. A thin magnetic protective sheet having high permeability is attached to the mating surfaces of at least one of said primary and secondary core assemblies or placed to be held by the core assemblies. The magnetic sheet can protect the mating surfaces of ferrite cores, if such cores are used, from breakage by absorbing and dispersing the shock of impact caused when the mating surfaces are abutted against each other to close the cores. Provision of a slit or slits in the magnetic protective sheet can reduce eddy currents flowing in the magnetic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Kazuyoshi Takeuchi, Goro Asahi
  • Patent number: 5648749
    Abstract: A cartridge fuse mounting structure including a fuse holder, a cartridge fuse mounted inside the fuse holder, two cylindrical fuse connectors respectively connected to two opposite ends of the cartridge fuse, two electric wires respectively connected to the cylindrical fuse connectors by a respective wire binding clamp, and two end caps respectively mounted around the electric wires and respectively fastened to two opposite ends of the fuse holder, wherein each cylindrical fuse connector has an inside annular groove, which receives one end of the cartridge fuse, a split coupling tube at one end clamped on one end of the cartridge fuse, and a radial screw hole at an opposite end mounted with a tightening up screw, which holds down the respective wire binding clamp and the respective electric wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventors: Kuang Ts'an Lin, Shih-Tsung Liang
  • Patent number: 5644282
    Abstract: A battery pack (10) including at least one battery cell (26) and a circuit carrier (30) in proximity to the battery cell. Disposed in the battery pack, is a fuse (50) which is formed from an electrically conductive resilient material adapted to work as the fuse. The electrically conductive resilient material further is encapsulated with a material adapted to promote resistance to breakage due to shocks, bumping or droppage of battery packs into which the fuse is incorporated. When the temperature of the at least two battery cells reaches a predetermined trip point, the fuse releases from at least one of the batteries, due to the heat transfer from the battery cell, electrically disconnecting the battery cell from adjacent battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Alay M. Mehta, Stephanie D. Brown, Michael B. Kirschner
  • Patent number: 5642090
    Abstract: A chip fuse is disclosed which includes a hollow insulating body and a fusible element extending through the body, the respective ends thereof being engaged with end portions of the body. Two terminals are fitted onto the end portions of the body. Each terminal includes a projection for fixing the terminal to the end portion of the body. The body may include two grooves into which respective projections are fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: SOC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroo Arikawa
  • Patent number: 5635670
    Abstract: In order to provide a multilayer electronic component which can reduce arrangement pitches for external electrodes, via holes filled up with conductive materials are provided in a mother laminate, which is obtained by stacking a plurality of insulating sheets with interposition of conductor films, in positions parted by cutting. The conductive materials define external electrodes of individual multilayer electronic components which are obtained by cutting the mother laminate. No specific step is required for forming the external electrodes, and characteristics of each multilayer electronic component can be efficiently measured in the state of the mother laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubota, Norio Sakai, Shoichi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5635669
    Abstract: A multilayer electronic component having reduced arrangement pitches for external electrodes is formed by providing via holes in a mother laminate with conductive materials. The mother laminate is obtained by stacking a plurality of insulating sheets with interposition of conductor films in positions that are parted by cutting. The conductive materials define external electrodes for individual multilayer electronic components which are obtained by cutting the mother laminate. A specific step for forming the external electrodes is not required, and characteristics of each multilayer electronic component can be efficiently measured while each multilayer electronic component is still part of the mother laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kubota, Norio Sakai, Shoichi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5633618
    Abstract: A fuseless plug with an overload safety circuit breaker having a thermal reactive spring leaf and an electric conductive sheet. When in normal use, the thermal reactive spring leaf and the electric conductive sheet are electrically connected by contacting mutually. If overloading or short circuiting occurs, the temperature will rise, while the thermal reactive spring leaf made of an alloy of two kinds of metal material has different coefficients of temperature, so that the spring leaf will be bent outwardly to release the electric conductive sheet to form a broken circuit state and to assure that no disaster such as a fire alarm will occur. After clearing, a push button can be pushed down to force the electric conductive sheet into engagement again with the spring leaf for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Chuang
  • Patent number: 5631617
    Abstract: A system for levitating and guiding an object by a magnetic force, which is typically a superconducting magnetic support apparatus or a superconducting linear convey system, comprises a support member, a superconductor unit, disposed on the support member, including a container having an inner space, a superconductor material for trapping magnetic fluxes generated at the time of transition from the normal conduction state to the superconduction state of the superconductor unit, and a refrigerant supply unit for supplying the inner space of the container with a refrigerant for setting the superconductor material in the superconducting state, a convey member situated to face the support member, a magnetic material disposed on the convey member so as to face the superconductor material, and a magnet, situated on the support member, for generating magnetic fluxes which enter the magnetic material through the superconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Mimpei Morishita
  • Patent number: 5629664
    Abstract: Bifurcated gripping pieces, each having a clearance in a thickness direction of a terminal, are projected from inner edge portions of respective terminals so as to confront each other. An inserting opening of an inserting space is made on a lower surface of a housing. Closing plates interposed between a pair of slits extending in a terminal inserting direction from the inserting opening are arranged on both lateral walls of the housing. The pair of closing plates are gripped between the respective gripping pieces while inserted into the clearances of the respective gripping pieces with the terminals inserted into the inserting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Muramatsu, Toshiharu Kudo