Patents by Inventor Tom Novak

Tom Novak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7592893
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a fuse having opened-fuse indication, which places two or more coils or conductors in parallel and in thermal contact with an indicating material. The multiple conductors allow a lower level of current to produce sufficient heat or sufficient electrical resistance to transform the indicating material. The multiple conductors can also be made of a reduced diameter, resulting in surge protection at a lower device temperature. The multiple conductor indicator in an embodiment includes a base material. First and second conductors contact the base material. An indicating material thermally couples to the first and second conductors. The indicating material can be on the inside or outside of the fuse body. If on the outside, the body can define a recess, wherein the indicator resides within the recess. The indicator can operate with fuses and other types of circuit protection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Tom Novak, Mark Klinger, William Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20080258856
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a fuse having opened-fuse indication, which places two or more coils or conductors in parallel and in thermal contact with an indicating material. The multiple conductors allow a lower level of current to produce sufficient heat or sufficient electrical resistance to transform the indicating material. The multiple conductors can also be made of a reduced diameter, resulting in surge protection at a lower device temperature. The multiple conductor indicator in an embodiment includes a base material. First and second conductors contact the base material. An indicating material thermally couples to the first and second conductors. The indicating material can be on the inside or outside of the fuse body. If on the outside, the body can define a recess, wherein the indicator resides within the recess. The indicator can operate with fuses and other types of circuit protection devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: LITTELFUSE, INC.
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Tom Novak, Mark Klinger, William Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7405646
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a fuse having opened-fuse indication, which places two or more coils or conductors in parallel and in thermal contact with an indicating material. The multiple conductors allow a lower level of current to produce sufficient heat or sufficient electrical resistance to transform the indicating material. The multiple conductors can also be made of a reduced diameter, resulting in surge protection at a lower device temperature. The multiple conductor indicator in an embodiment includes a base material. First and second conductors contact the base material. An indicating material thermally couples to the first and second conductors. The indicating material can be on the inside or outside of the fuse body. If on the outside, the body can define a recess, wherein the indicator resides within the recess. The indicator can operate with fuses and other types of circuit protection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Tom Novak, Mark Klinger, William Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20070285865
    Abstract: An integrated fuse device (1) includes a varistor stack (11), a thermal fuse (12), and a current fuse (13) within an enclosure (2) having device terminals (3). The varistor stack (11) is connected to the thermal fuse (12) by a Cu terminal (20) and is connected to the device terminal (3) by steel terminal (10) of smaller cross-sectional area. Being of Cu material and having a greater cross-sectional area, the terminal (20) connected to the thermal fuse (12) has greater thermal conductivity than the steel terminal (10) to the end cap (3). The thermal fuse (12) comprises a plurality of links having a melting point to melt with sustained overvoltage, the links having a diameter in the range of about 2 mm to about 3 mm. The links pass through an elastomer plug (15), which exerts physical pressure on them to assist with opening during sustained overvoltage. Hot melt (18) around solder (17) of the thermal fuse limits heat conduction to back-fill sand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Littelfuse Ireland Limited
    Inventors: Neil McLoughlin, Michael O'Donovan, Tom Novak, Nathan Siegwald, Brian Walaszczyk, John Kennedy, John Foster
  • Publication number: 20040000983
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a fuse having opened-fuse indication, which places two or more coils or conductors in parallel and in thermal contact with an indicating material. The multiple conductors allow a lower level of current to produce sufficient heat or sufficient electrical resistance to transform the indicating material. The multiple conductors can also be made of a reduced diameter, resulting in surge protection at a lower device temperature. The multiple conductor indicator in an embodiment includes a base material. First and second conductors contact the base material. An indicating material thermally couples to the first and second conductors. The indicating material can be on the inside or outside of the fuse body. If on the outside, the body can define a recess, wherein the indicator resides within the recess. The indicator can operate with fuses and other types of circuit protection devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Tom Novak, Mark Klinger, William Gonzalez