Abstract:
It is aimed to provide a fuse holder with a novel structure capable of improving insertion operability in the fuse holder for holding a plurality of fuses. A plurality of fuse holding portions ( 26   a,    26   b ) are provided into which main body portions ( 16, 16 ) of fuses ( 12   a,    12   b ) are to be mounted and in which lead portions ( 14, 14 ) of the fuses ( 12   a,    12   b ) are held in a projecting state. Holding positions of the fuses ( 12   a,    12   b ) by the plurality of fuse holding portions ( 26   a,    26   b ) are made different from each other in a projecting direction of the lead portions ( 14 ) from the main body portions ( 16 ) in the fuses ( 12   a,    12   b ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fuse holder for holding a plurality of fuses and a fuse interruption mechanism using the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, a fuse interruption mechanism using a fuse holder as described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-169382 has been provided in an electrical connection box such as a junction box or a fuse box to be installed in an automotive vehicle in some cases. The fuse holder is provided with a plurality of fuse holding portions, so that a plurality of fuses can be held. The fuse holder is mounted to be able to approach and separate from the electrical connection box and the fuses held in the fuse holder are made connectable to and disconnectable from the connection terminals provided in the electrical connection box, whereby the fuse interruption mechanism is configured. Such a fuse interruption mechanism is used to cut off supplied power by temporarily removing the fuses from the connection terminals provided in the electrical connection box for the purpose of preventing the consumption of a battery by so-called dark current circuits, which constantly consume power, such as a clock, a malfunction of an air-bag and the like, for example, in the case of transporting an automotive vehicle a long distance. 
     When the vehicle is used, the fuse holder is caused to approach the electrical connection box and an inserting operation of connecting the fuses held in the fuse holder to the corresponding connection terminals is performed. However, since the plurality of fuses are simultaneously connected in the fuse holder described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-169382, a large insertion force is required, which has presented a problem of a large burden on a worker. 
     The present invention was developed in view of the above situation and an object thereof is to provide a fuse holder with a novel structure capable of improving insertion operability in the fuse holder for holding a plurality of fuses and provide a fuse interruption mechanism with a novel structure using such a fuse holder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention relating to a fuse holder is directed to a fuse holder configured such that main body portions of fuses are to be mounted thereinto and including a plurality of fuse holding portions in which lead portions of the fuses are to be held in a projecting state, wherein holding positions of the fuses by the plurality of fuse holding portions are made different from each other in a projecting direction of the lead portions from the main body portions in the fuses. 
     In the fuse holder structured according to the present invention, the positions of tip edge portions of the lead portions of the fuses held in the respective fuse holding portions are made different from each other in a connecting direction to connection terminals provided in an electrical connection box, which is the projecting direction of the lead portions from the main body portions. This can shift peaks of an insertion force by making timings, at which the lead portions of the respective fuses are connected to the connection terminals arranged at the same height in the electrical connection box, different. As a result, the insertion force required for the connection of the fuses can be reduced and insertion operability can be improved. 
     Note that the number of the fuse holding portions can be arbitrarily set and three or more fuse holding portions may be provided. Further, in the case of providing three or more fuse holding portions, the fuse holding position by at least one of them has only to be different from those of the others. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention relating to the fuse holder, in the fuse holder according to the first aspect, a difference between the positions of tip edge portions of the lead portions of the respective fuses held in the plurality of fuse holding portions is larger than a distance from a press start point where pressing by the lead portion is started at a connection terminal to be connected to the lead portion to a press end point where the pressing by the lead portion is completed. 
     In this aspect, the press start point of the connection terminal means a pass point of the lead portion where the lead portion of the fuse actually comes into contact with both contact pressure blades and the pressing of the contact pressure blades to expand a spacing therebetween by the lead portion is started when the connection terminal is, for example, a U-shaped so-called tuning fork terminal widely used for the connection of a fuse and formed with a pair of contact pressure blades facing each other. On the other hand, the press end point means a pass point of the lead portion where the pressing of the contact pressure blades to expand the spacing therebetween is completed. The insertion force of the lead portion reaches a peak between the press start point and the press end point and becomes substantially constant after passing through the press end point. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably shift peaks of the insertion force and reduce the insertion force by preventing the lead portion of the other fuse from reaching the press start point while a specific lead portion is located between the press start point and the press end point. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention relating to the fuse holder, in the fuse holder according to the first or second aspect, the fuse holding portion includes an accommodating portion into which the main body portion of the fuse is inserted and accommodated in a direction perpendicular to the projecting direction of the lead portion and a lock means for holding the main body portion in a state accommodated in the accommodating portion by locking the main body portion in the direction perpendicular to the projecting direction of the lead portion. 
     In this aspect, the fuse is inserted into the fuse holding portion in a horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the projecting direction of the lead portion) and an engagement force of the lock means is applied in the horizontal direction. This can eliminate a need to ensure an insertion/withdrawal force of the lead portion into/from the connection terminal by a holding force of the lock means unlike in the case of locking in a vertical direction (projecting direction of the lead portion), the lock means can be made small and simple, and a force required to mount the fuse into the fuse holder can be reduced. Further, since the fuse holding position can be accurately set in the projecting direction of the lead portion by inserting the fuse in the horizontal direction, the position of the tip edge portion of the lead portion can be accurately set for each fuse. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention relating to the fuse holder, in the fuse holder according to any one of the first to third aspects, the fuse holder includes a guide portion for guiding the fuse holder to an electrical connection box, in which connection terminals to be connected to the lead portions of the fuses are provided, movably in the projecting direction of the lead portions, and a temporarily holding portion for positioning and temporarily holding the lead portions in a state unconnected to the connection terminals by being locked to the electrical connection box. 
     According to this aspect, the fuse holder can be locked to the electrical connection box by the temporarily holding portion and the fuses can be mounted in the electrical connection box via the fuse holder while being removed from the connection terminals. This makes it possible to prevent the fuses removed from the connection terminals from being lost, connect the fuses only by pushing the fuse holder mounted in the electrical connection box in advance in a guiding direction of the guide portion, and facilitate a connecting operation. 
     The present invention relating to a fuse interruption mechanism is directed to a fuse interruption mechanism in which a fuse holder holding a plurality of fuses is mounted to be able to approach/separate from an electrical connection box including a fuse connection circuit accommodated therein, and lead portions of the plurality of fuses are connected/disconnected to/from a plurality of connection terminals of the fuse connection circuit by causing the fuse holder to approach/separate from the electrical connection box, wherein the plurality of connection terminals of the fuse connection circuit are arranged at the same height position in an approaching/separating direction of the fuse holder, and the fuse holder according to any one of the first to fourth aspects is used as the fuse holder. 
     According to such a fuse interruption mechanism, the plurality of fuses held in the fuse holder can be connected and disconnected to and from the connection terminals provided in the electrical connection box at once by causing the fuse holder to approach and separate from the electrical connection box. Further, by mounting the fuse holder into the electrical connection box, the fuses disconnected from the connection terminals can be mounted in the electrical connection box via the fuse holder and the loss of the fuses can also be prevented. By using the fuse holder according to any one of the first to fourth aspects relating to the fuse holder as the fuse holder, it is possible to reduce an insertion force of inserting the plurality of fuses into the plurality of connection terminals arranged at the same height position in an inserting/withdrawing direction of the lead portions and facilitate a connecting operation. In this way, the fuses can be easily connected to and disconnected from a dark current circuit, an air-bag circuit or the like from which the fuses are temporarily removed, for example, during long-distance transportation. 
     In the present invention relating to the fuse holder and the fuse interruption mechanism, the fuse holding positions by the plurality of fuse holding portions in the fuse holder are made different from each other in the projecting direction of the lead portions of the fuses. In this way, it is possible to make timings, at which the lead portions of the fuses are connected to the connection terminals, different and shift peaks of the insertion force. As a result, insertion operability can be improved by reducing the insertion force. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fuse holder as one embodiment of the present invention and fuses. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the fuse holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the fuse holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  are diagrams showing press start points and press end points of a connection terminal. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view showing how to mount the fuse into the fuse holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front view showing a fuse mounted state of the fuse holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  are sections showing a fuse interruption mechanism as one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a state where the fuses held in the fuse holder shown in  FIG. 7  are being connected. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. 
     First,  FIG. 1  shows a fuse holder  10  as one embodiment of the present invention relating to a fuse holder and fuses  12   a ,  12   b  to be mounted into the fuse holder  10  together, and  FIGS. 2 and 3  show the fuse holder  10 . The fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are the same members, conventionally widely used and structured such that a pair of lead portions  14 ,  14  project from a main body portion  16  substantially in the form of a rectangular block. In the following description, a vertical direction is the one in  FIG. 2  in which the lead portions  14 ,  14  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are inserted into and withdrawn from connection terminals  38  to be described later unless otherwise specified. 
     The fuse holder  10  is an integrally molded article made of synthetic resin. When viewed from front (see  FIG. 2 ), the fuse holder  10  has a gate shape in which a pair of guide portions  18 ,  18  project. In the fuse holder  10 , a front plate portion  20  and a rear plate portion  22  are formed to face each other and a pair of resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  are formed between the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22 . 
     Two fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  are formed in a central part of the fuse holder  10 . Since the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  are structured to be substantially similar to each other, the fuse holding portion  26   a  is described below, components of the fuse holding portion  26   b  are denoted by reference signs similar to those for the fuse holding portion  26   a  in the drawings and the fuse holding portion  26   b  is not described. 
     The fuse holding portion  26   a  is formed with an accommodating portion  28  which is open on the front plate portion  20 . The accommodating portion  28  is a rectangular hollow space of a size corresponding to the main body portion  16  of the fuse  12   a  and extends between the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22 . Upper walls  30 ,  30  are formed on an upper end edge part of the accommodating portion  28 . The upper walls  30 ,  30  are in the form of plates projecting in directions toward each other from central parts of inner surfaces extending in a longitudinal direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 3 ) in the accommodating portion  28 , and formed to face each other while being spaced apart. On the other hand, a lower wall  32  formed on a lower end edge part of the accommodating portion  28  is formed with a slit  34  extending in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating portion  28 , and one end edge of the slit  34  is open on an outer peripheral edge part of the lower wall  32  near the front plate portion  20 . 
     A lock claw  36  as a lock means is formed on the inner surface of the accommodating portion  28 . The lock claw  36  is formed on an end part of the inner surface on the side of the front plate portion  20  located at an outer side in the accommodating portion  28  of each of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b . The lock claw  36  extends a predetermined length from the lower wall  32  toward the upper wall  30  and a projecting distance from the inner surface of the accommodating portion  28  is gradually increased from the side of the front plate portion  20  toward the rear plate portion  22 . 
     Such fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  are formed at positions shifted from each other in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the fuse holding portion  26   a  is formed to be lower than the fuse holding portion  26   b . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a difference D between the positions of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  in the vertical direction is larger than a distance d from press start points  40  to press end points  42  on the connection terminals  38  shown in  FIG. 4  to which the lead portions  14  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are connected and which are provided in an electrical connection box  62  to be described later. 
     The connection terminals  38  have been conventionally widely used as connection terminals for the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  and have a U-shaped so-called tuning fork shape in which a pair of contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  are formed to face each other. Holding protrusions  46 ,  46  having a substantially semi-circular cross-section and projecting in directions toward each other are integrally formed on tip edge parts of the contact pressure blades  44 ,  44 . Positions on tip sides of the contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  (upper side in  FIG. 4 ) where a facing distance of the holding protrusions  46 ,  46  is equal to a thickness t of the lead portion  14  are the press start points  40 ,  40 , whereas positions where the facing distance of the holding protrusions  46 ,  46  is a shortest distance S 2  are the press end points  42 . 
     A pressing force of pressing the contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  in directions away from each other to expand a spacing therebetween is applied to such a connection terminal  38  when the lead portion  14  comes into contact with the press start points  40 ,  40  as shown in  FIG. 4( a ) . When the lead portion  14  passes over the press end points  42 ,  42  as shown in  FIG. 4( b ) , the pressing of the contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  to expand the spacing therebetween is completed. Accordingly, an insertion force of inserting the fuse  12  into the connection terminal  38  increases when the lead portion  14  reaches the press start points  40 ,  40  and the pressing of the contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  to expand the spacing therebetween is started, becomes a force of a substantially constant magnitude based on frictional forces with the holding protrusions  46 ,  46  after the lead portion  14  reaches the press end points  42 ,  42  and the pressing of the contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  to expand the spacing therebetween is completed, and reaches a maximum peak until the lead portion  14  reaches the press end points  42 ,  42  after reaching the press start points  40 ,  40 . The difference D (see  FIG. 2 ) between the positions of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  in the vertical direction is set to be larger than the distance d from the press start points  40  to the press end points  42  on the connection terminals  38 . 
     Further, the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22  of the fuse holder  10  are formed with the pair of guide portions  18 ,  18  projecting downwardly at opposite sides of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b . Detachment preventing claws  48  projecting outwardly in a facing direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 3 ) of the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22  are formed on downwardly projecting end edge parts of these guide portions  18 . 
     Further, resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  are integrally formed at the opposite sides of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  between the facing surfaces of the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22 . The resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  are coupled at lower end parts to the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22 , while being in an uncoupled state at upper end parts by being separated from the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22 . This enables the upper end parts of the resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  to be resiliently deformed inwardly of the fuse holder  10  with the lower end parts as supporting points. Note that operating protrusions  50 ,  50  projecting outwardly in a width direction (lateral direction in  FIG. 2 ) of the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22  are formed on the upper end parts of the resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  so that the resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  are easily deformed inwardly of the fuse holder  10 . In the fuse holder  10 , temporarily holding claws  52 ,  52  as temporarily holding portions are formed on outer surfaces of the resilient piece portions  24 ,  24 , which form side surfaces between the front plate portion  20  and the rear plate portion  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are mounted into the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  of such a fuse holder  10 . As also shown in  FIG. 5 , the main body portion  16  of each of these fuses  12   a ,  12   b  is inserted into the accommodating portion  28  of the fuse holding portion  26  in a horizontal direction (longitudinal direction) perpendicular to the projecting direction of the lead portions  14 ,  14 . The main body portion  16  is vertically sandwiched by the upper walls  30  and the lower wall  32  of the accommodating portion  28  and inserted in a lightly press-fitted state. Further, the lead portions  14 ,  14  are inserted into the slit  34 . A central protrusion  54  (see  FIG. 1 ) formed on a longitudinal central part of the main body portion  16  moves over the lock claw  36  and is locked in the horizontal direction by the lock claw  36 , whereby the main body portion  16  is mounted into the fuse holder  10  while being accommodated in the accommodating portion  28 . In this way, the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are respectively held in the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b.    
     Particularly in this embodiment, the upper walls  30 ,  30  of the accommodating portions  28  are formed only in central parts of the accommodating portions  28  in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) and only central parts of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  accommodated in the accommodating portions  28  in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) are covered. This can prevent conduction inspection terminals  55 ,  55  exposed at opposite longitudinal end parts of the main body portion  16  from being covered by the upper walls  30 ,  30 , and terminals of an unillustrated inspection device can be inserted from above to facilitate conduction inspection. However, the shape of the upper walls  30 ,  30  is not limited to that of this embodiment and a single plate for covering the entire surface of the main body portion  16  may be, for example, used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the main body portions  16  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are held in the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b , held in contact with the upper walls  30  and the lower walls  32  and accommodated in the accommodating portions  28  while being positioned in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the lead portions  14 ,  14  project downwardly of the fuse holder  10  through the slits  34 . The positions of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  held in the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  are made different by the distance D in the vertical direction and the positions of tip edge portions  56 ,  56  of the lead portions  14 ,  14  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are made different by the distance D in the vertical direction by making the positions of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  different by the distance D in the vertical direction, which is the projecting direction of the lead portions  14  and a connecting direction of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  to the connection terminals  38 . 
       FIG. 7  show the electrical connection box  62  provided with a fuse interruption mechanism  60  as one embodiment of the present invention relating to a fuse interruption mechanism. The electrical connection box  62  is, for example, a junction box or a fuse box and a printed board  66  as a fuse connection circuit is accommodated in a case  64 . A plurality of (only two are shown in  FIG. 7 ) of connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b  are soldered to project from the printed board  66 . The contact pressure blades  44 ,  44  of the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b  are accommodated in fuse mounting portions  68   a ,  68   b  formed in the case  64 . The connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b  are the same members and arranged such that the contact pressure blades  44  of the connection terminal  38   a  and those of the connection terminal  38   b  are at the same height position in a moving direction of the fuse holder  10  (approaching/separating direction of the fuse holder  10 , vertical direction in  FIG. 7 ). 
     Further, a holder insertion hole  70  is provided above the fuse mounting portions  68   a ,  68   b  in the case  64 . In the holder insertion hole  70 , guide holes  72 ,  72  formed into rectangular holes extending in the vertical direction, which is a projecting direction of the contact pressure blades  44  of the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b , are formed at opposite sides of the fuse mounting portions  68   a ,  68   b . Further, temporarily holding projections  74 ,  74  projecting upwardly are formed on opening edge parts of the holder insertion hole  70  at the opposite sides of the fuse mounting portions  68   a ,  68   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 7( a ) , the fuse holder  10  shown in the above embodiment is inserted into the holder insertion hole  70  with the guide portions  18  in the lead while holding the fuses  12   a ,  12   b , and the detachment preventing claws  48  of the guide portions  18  are inserted into the guide holes  72 . Note that although only the guide holes  72  into which the detachment preventing claws  48 ,  48  (only one is shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the pair of guide portions  18 ,  18  provided on the rear plate portion  22  are shown in  FIG. 7 , the detachment preventing claws  48 ,  48  provided on the front plate portion  20  are also inserted into similar guide holes  72 . In this way, the fuse holder  10  are guided by the detachment preventing claws  48  and the guide holes  72  and able to approach and separate from the electrical connection box  62  in the projecting direction of the lead portions  14 . Further, when the fuse holder  10  is moved in the direction to separate from the electrical connection box  62 , the detachment preventing claws  48  are locked to upper end edge parts of the guide holes  72 , thereby preventing the detachment of the fuse holder  10  from the electrical connection box  62 . Then, the temporarily holding claws  52 ,  52  provided on the resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  of the fuse holder  10  are locked to the temporarily holding projections  74 ,  74  of the case  64 , thereby preventing a displacement of the fuse holder  10  in the direction to approach the electrical connection box  62 . In this way, the fuse holder  10  is mounted into the electrical connection box  62  while being positioned at a temporary holding position shown in  FIG. 7( a ) . At the temporary holding position of the fuse holder  10 , the lead portions  14 ,  14  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  held in the fuse holder  10  are both temporarily held without being connected to the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b.    
     Then, the operating protrusions  24 ,  24  of the fuse holder  10  are pressed inwardly of the fuse holder  10  to resiliently deform the resilient piece portions  24 ,  24  inwardly of the fuse holder  10 , whereby the temporarily holding claws  52 ,  52  are disengaged from the temporarily holding projections  74 ,  74  and enabled to pass through the holder insertion hole  70  by being inserted into the fuse holder  10 . Then, the fuse holder  10  is caused to approach the electrical connection box  62  while being guided by the detachment preventing claws  48  and the guide holes  72 , thereby being located at a connection position shown in  FIG. 7( b ) . In this way, the lead portions  14 ,  14  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  held in the fuse holder  10  are respectively connected to the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b.    
     Further, the fuse holder  10  located at the connection position shown in  FIG. 7( b )  is separated from the electrical connection box  62  while being guided by the detachment preventing claws  48  and the guide holes  72  in a state where the operating protrusions  50 ,  50  are pressed inwardly of the fuse holder  10  and the temporarily holding claws  52 ,  52  are enabled to pass through the holder insertion hole  70 , whereby the lead portions  14 ,  14  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are separated from the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b  and the fuse holder  10  can be returned to the temporary holding position shown in  FIG. 7( a ) . 
     In the fuse holder  10  in this embodiment, the holding position of the fuse  12   a  by the fuse holding portion  26   a  is located before (closer to the connection terminal  38 ) that of the fuse  12   b  by the fuse holding portion  26   b  in the projecting direction of the lead portions  14 , i.e. in the connecting direction of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  to the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b . Thus, when the fuse holder  10  is caused to approach the electrical connection box  62 , the lead portions  14  of the fuse  12   a  are connected to the corresponding connection terminal  38   a  earlier than the lead portions  14  of the fuse  12   b  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Particularly in this embodiment, the difference D between the position of the tip edge portions  56  of the lead portions  14  of the fuse  12   a  and that of the tip edge portions  56  of the lead portions  14  of the fuse  12   b  in the projecting direction of the lead portions  14  is larger than the distance d from the press start points  40  to the press end points  42  on the connection terminals  38  in the connecting direction of the lead portions  14  to the connection terminals  38 . Thus, the connection of the fuse  12   b  to the connection terminal  38   b  is not started until the lead portions  14  of the fuse  12   a  pass through the press end points  42  of the connection terminal  38   a . This can shift the timings of peaks of an insertion force of inserting the respective fuses  12   a ,  12   b  into the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b  and enables the connecting operation of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  to be performed with a smaller insertion force. 
     Further, the main body portions  16 ,  16  of the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  are inserted into the accommodating portions  28 ,  28  of the fuse holding portions  26   a ,  26   b  in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the projecting direction of the lead portions  14 . This enables the main body portions  16  to be accurately positioned in the vertical direction by being sandwiched between the upper walls  30  and the lower walls  32  of the accommodating portions  28 . Further, by the contact of the upper walls  30  and the lower walls  32  with the main body portions  16 , holding forces for the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  at the time of insertion into and withdrawal from the connection terminals  38   a ,  38   b  are ensured. Thus, a lock means for holding the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  can be configured by the small-sized and simple lock claws  36  and forces required to mount the fuses  12   a ,  12   b  into the fuse holder  10  can also be reduced. 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific description thereof. For example, the number of the fuse holding portions may be set at three or more. In such a case, the fuse holding position by at least one fuse holding portion has only to be different from those of the other fuse holding portions. 
     Further, the specific shape of the fuse holder described in the above embodiment is merely an example and the specific shape of the fuse holder of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mounting direction of the fuses into the fuse holder is not limited to the horizontal direction as described in the above embodiment and the fuses may be inserted and mounted into the fuse holder in the vertical direction (connecting direction of the fuses to the connection terminals). Further, the specific shapes of the guide portions  18  and the resilient piece portions  24  in the above embodiment can also be appropriately changed. Furthermore, the guide portions and the temporarily holding portions are not necessarily required and the use of the present invention is not limited to the fuse holder to be mounted into the electrical connection box. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
       10 : fuse holder,  12   a ,  12   b : fuse,  14 : lead portion,  16 : main body portion,  18 : guide portion,  26   a ,  26   b : fuse holding portion,  28 : accommodating portion,  36 : lock claw (lock means),  38 : connection terminal,  40 : press start point,  42 : press end point,  52 : temporarily holding claw (temporarily holding portion),  56 : tip edge portion (lead portion),  60 : fuse interruption mechanism,  62 : electrical connection box,  66 : printed board (fuse connection circuit),  68   a ,  68   b : fuse mounting portion,  72 : guide hole