Patent Publication Number: US-6666723-B2

Title: Multiple-fuse holder

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to our copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/080,149 and 10/080,151, both filed on Feb. 19, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention belongs to a field of fuse holder into which a blade type fuse, with blade terminals protruding from its body, is fitted. 
     2. Related Art 
     A fuse fitting device into which a blade type fuse is fitted is known. This device comprises a block of synthetic resin, and connecting terminals, which are inserted from below into a chamber in the block and fitted to a lance of the block. When this fuse fitting device is to be used, electric wires are connected to the connecting terminals, these connecting terminals are inserted into the chamber of the block and fitted to the lance, a fuse is inserted from above into the chamber of the block, and the blade terminals of the fuse are fitted into the connecting terminals to make connection (for example, refer to Japanese Patent unexamined publication gazette Heisei 6-150806). 
     When a plurality of fuses are to be fitted into this fuse fitting device, a block must be newly designed whenever the number of fuses to be used is modified. It is inevitable to produce a mold for the block in each occasion, and in turn, the production of the fuse fitting device is costly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was made in view of these points, and one objective of the invention is to propose a multiple-fuse holder, wherein a plurality of fuse holders, each of which is a combination of a holder housing and contacts, are coupled together, use the multiple-fuse holder, mount a required number of fuse holders on a printed circuit board, load the printed circuit board in a casing or the like and produce a fuse fitting device, and easily produce a fuse fitting device for any number of fuses to be used and reduce the production cost of the fuse fitting device. Other objectives include to reduce the production cost by adopting fork-shaped contacts, and to guarantee high performance of the fuse fitting device by supporting these contacts by the holder housing and preventing the contacts from being pried. 
     To accomplish these objectives, the present invention is a multiple-fuse holder into which a plurality of blade type fuses, with blade terminals protruding from the bodies thereof, are fitted, said multiple-fuse holder comprises a holder housing group wherein a plurality of holder housings, in each of which a chamber for holding the blade terminals and at least a part of the body of a fuse inserted from above is formed with wide walls at the front and the rear and narrow walls on the right and the left, are arranged at a constant pitch and each pair of adjacent holder housings are coupled together by coupling parts, each of which is integrally formed on a part of a wall thereof, and contacts, which are provided two for each holder housing, each contact having an intermediate part fixed to the holder housing, a connecting part, at one end, extending into the chamber to fit with a blade terminal, and a leg, at the other end, extending out of the holder housing to be soldered or press-fitted onto a printed circuit board. 
     When a fuse is fitted into each holder housing of this multiple-fuse holder, the blade terminals and at least a part of the body of each fuse will be held in the chamber of each holder housing, and the blade terminals will be fitted into the connecting parts of the contacts. A multiple-fuse holder or a plurality of multiple-fuse holders is arranged on a printed circuit board. Or a fuse holder or a plurality of fuse holders, which is obtained by dividing a multiple-fuse holder, is arranged on a printed circuit board. When the leg of each contact is soldered or press-fitted onto the printed circuit board, the required number of fuse holder (single or plural) will be mounted onto the printed circuit board. When conductive parts such as electric wires are connected to the pattern of the printed circuit board, the fuse or fuses will be electrically connected to the conductive parts. When the printed circuit board is loaded into a casing or the like, a fuse fitting device will be produced. When this multiple-fuse holder is used, a fuse fitting device can be made with ease for any number of fuses to be used without newly designing a block. Hence the production cost is reduced. To produce a fuse fitting device, a multiple-fuse holder or a plurality of multiple-fuse holders or a fuse holder or a plurality of fuse holders may be mounted onto the printed circuit board before fitting a fuse into each fuse holder. 
     Accordingly, a fuse fitting device can be produced easily for any number of fuses to be used by properly dividing the multiple-fuse holder of the present invention or keeping it intact, mounting the fuse holders onto a printed circuit board and loading the printed circuit board in a casing or the like, and in turn, the production cost of the fuse fitting device can be reduced. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder according to the present invention. The multiple-fuse holder is seen from the top thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is seen from the top. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is seen from the bottom. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the left wall and the right wall thereof. 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the front wall and the rear wall thereof. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder with the fuses being fitted. The multiple-fuse holder is seen from the top. 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. A fuse is fitted into the fuse holder and the fuse holder is cut in both the left wall and the right wall. 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the first embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. A fuse is fitted into the fuse holder and the fuse holder is cut in both the front wall and the rear wall. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder according to the present invention. The multiple-fuse holder is seen from the top thereof. 
     FIG. 16 is a side view of the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 17 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is seen from the top. 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is seen from the bottom. 
     FIG. 21 is a front view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 22 is a plan view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the left wall and the right wall thereof. 
     FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the front wall and the rear wall thereof. 
     FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder with the fuses being fitted. The multiple-fuse holder is seen from the top. 
     FIG. 27 is a sectional view of a fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. A fuse is fitted into the fuse holder and the fuse holder is cut in both the left wall and the right wall. 
     FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the second embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. A fuse is fitted into the fuse holder and the fuse holder is cut in both the front wall and the rear wall. 
     FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a fuse holder divided from the third embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder according to the present invention. The fuse holder is seen from the top. 
     FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the fuse holder divided from the third embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is seen from the bottom. 
     FIG. 31 is a sectional view of a fuse holder divided from the fourth embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder according to the present invention. The fuse holder is cut in both the front wall and the rear wall. 
     FIG. 32 is a sectional view of a fuse holder divided from the fifth embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the left wall and the right wall. 
     FIG. 33 is a bottom view of the fuse holder divided from the fifth embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 34 is a sectional view of the fuse holder divided from the fifth embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the front wall and the rear wall. 
     FIG. 35 is a sectional view of a fuse holder divided from the sixth embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. The fuse holder is cut in both the left wall and the right wall. 
     FIG. 36 is a bottom view of the fuse holder divided from the sixth embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 37 is an enlarged view showing the leg of the contact of the seventh embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
     FIG. 38 is an enlarged view showing a modification of the leg of the contact of the seventh embodiment of the multiple-fuse holder. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following, some embodiments of the multiple-fuse holder according to the present invention will be described. A fuse to be fitted into this multiple-fuse holder is a blade type fuse  200 , as shown in FIG.  13  and FIG. 14 or FIG.  27  and FIG. 28, with two blade terminals  220  protruding from the body  210  thereof. These fuses  200  have been standardized. The larger fuse  200  shown in FIG.  13  and FIG. 14 is called the maxi type, and the smaller fuse  200  shown in FIG.  27  and FIG. 28 is called the mini type. 
     FIG.  1  through FIG. 4 show a multiple-fuse holder H of the first embodiment according to the present invention. A plurality of fuses  200  of the maxi type are fitted into this multiple-fuse holder H. The multiple-fuse holder H comprises a holder housing group h, which is a plurality of fuse holders  100  respectively comprising holder housings  110  being made of an insulator, arranged in a row and coupled together and contacts  130 , which are made of a conductor and are provided two for each holder housing  110 . 
     As shown in FIG.  5  through FIG. 11, the holder housing  110  is provided with wide walls  111 ,  112  at the front and the rear, and narrow walls  113 ,  114  on the left and the right thereof. A chamber  115 , which is through from the top  110   a  to the bottom  110   b  of the holder housing  110 , is formed on the inner sides of the front wall  111 , the rear wall  112 , the left wall  113  and the right wall  114 . The front, rear, left and right herein are used for convenience to indicate relative positional relationships. Accordingly, these directions are not related to the orientation of a printed circuit board  300 , onto which the fuse holder  100  is to be mounted, and to the orientation of the casing or the like, into which the printed circuit board  300  is to be loaded. When a fuse  200  is inserted into the holder housing  110  from the top side thereof, the blade terminals  220  of the fuse  200  and at least a part of the body  210  thereof will be held in the chamber  115 . A portion of the holder housing  110  from a point between the top  110   a  and the bottom  110   b  and to the top  110   a  overhangs in the direction of alignment of the blade terminals  220 . The body  210  of the fuse  200  is held by a horizontal wall  110   c , which is inside the overhanging part. 
     The holder housing group h is formed by placing a plurality of holder housings  110  at a regular pitch and coupling each pair of adjacent holder housings  110  by means of coupling parts  120 . Each coupling part  120  is integrally formed on a part of a wall of each holder housing  110 . In the case of this embodiment, a plurality of the holder housings  110  are placed at a regular pitch in such a way that, of each pair of adjacent holder housings  110 , the front wall  111  of one holder housing  110  opposes the rear wall  112  of the other holder housing  110 . The coupling part  120  is integrally formed on a part of the front wall  111  of each holder housing  110 , and the coupling part  120  is integrally formed on a part of the rear wall  112  of each holder housing  110 . Moreover, the coupling part  120  of the front wall  111  is integrally formed on the rear wall  112  of the holder housing  110  on the front side, and the coupling part  120  of the rear wall  112  is integrally formed on the front wall  111  of the holder housing  110  on the rear side. The open front wall  111  or the open rear wall  112  of the holder housing  110  at two ends of the holder housing group h is not provided with the coupling part  120 . The coupling parts  120  are formed simultaneously when, for example, the holder housing group h is formed, by forming coupling parts  120  simultaneously with the holder housings  110 . The coupling parts  120  have such a strength that they can maintain the pitch between two adjacent holder housings  110  and yet can be broken by human force. The strength that can maintain the pitch between two holder housings  110  is, for example, a strength of maintaining the pitch without being broken when the holder housings  110  are mounted onto a printed circuit board  300 , when a fuse  200  is fitted into or removed from the holder housing  110 , or when the holder housings  110  are transported. The strength that can be broken by human force is the strength that can be broken when subjected to pulling or twisting by a hand or the strength that can be broken by a manually operated tool such as a knife. The coupling parts  120  are provided at a plurality of points on both the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112 . For example, at a total of four points; at one point on the left and on the right at the top  110   a , and at one point on the right and on the left at the bottom  110   b . The holder housing group h is formed by coupling twelve holder housings  110 . The present invention does not limit the positions of the coupling parts  120  to both the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112 . The present invention includes embodiments wherein the coupling parts are provided on the left wall  113  and the right wall  114 , and embodiments wherein these features are combined together. 
     Ribs  211  are formed on the side edges of the body  210  of the fuse  200  in parallel with the extending direction of the blade terminals  220 . A U-shaped supporting part  116 , which fits with the rib  211  of the body  210  of the fuse  200 , is provided on the top of the left wall  113  and the right wall  114  of the holder housing  110 . A slit  117  into which a side edge  221  of a blade terminal  220  will fit is provided in the left wall  113  and the right wall  114  of the holder housing  110 . 
     Two bosses  118 ,  119  are provided on the bottom  10   b  of the holder housing  110 . The bosses  118 ,  119  are provided in positions that are asymmetric to each other in relation to a line L, which runs, when seen from the bottom, between the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112  approximately in parallel with these walls. 
     An intermediate part  131  of each contact  130  is fixed to the bottom  110   b  of the holder housing  110 . A fork-shaped connecting part  132  is provided on one end of the contact  130  to extend towards the inside of the chamber  115 . This connecting part  132  is formed approximately into a U shape, and its two branches  132   a  are arranged to expand towards the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112  to fit with the blade terminal  220  with a certain contact pressure. A leg  133  is provided on the other end of the contact  130  to extend out of the holder housing  110 . This leg  133  is soldered or press-fitted onto a printed circuit board  300 . 
     The intermediate part  131  of the contact  130  is press-fitted into a space between the walls  111 ,  112  at the bottom  110   b  of the holder housing  110 . 
     The leg  133  of the contact  130  is forked into two branches. In other words, it has two ends. 
     The clearances t between the connecting part  132  and the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112  of the holder housing  110  are set in such a way that they allow deformation of the connecting part  132  while limiting its excessive deformation. In other words, the clearances t are provided not to hinder expansion of the two branches  132   a  of the connecting part  132  when they are properly pushed by the blade terminal  220  to expand towards the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112 . Moreover, the clearances t are provided to hold and prevent excessive deformation of the two branches  132   a  when they are pried by the blade terminal  220 . 
     Accordingly, in the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, as shown in FIG.  12  through FIG. 14, when a fuse  200  is fitted into each holder housing  110  of the multiple-fuse holder H, the blade terminals  220  and at least a part of the body  210  will be held in the chamber  115  of each holder housing  110 , and the blade terminals  220  will be fitted into the connecting parts  132  of the contacts  130 . A multiple-fuse holder H or a plurality of multiple-fuse holders H is arranged on a printed circuit board  300 . Or a fuse holder  100  or a plurality of fuse holders  100 , which is obtained by dividing a multiple-fuse holder H, is arranged on a printed circuit board  300 . When the leg  133  of each contact  130  is soldered or press-fitted onto the printed circuit board  300 , the required number, singular or plural, of fuse holder  100  having a fuse  200  fitted will be mounted onto the printed circuit board  300 . When conductive parts such as electric wires are connected to the pattern of the printed circuit board  300 , the fuses  200  will be electrically connected to the conductive parts. When the printed circuit board  300  is loaded into a casing or the like, a fuse fitting device will be produced. When this multiple-fuse holder H is used, a fuse fitting device can be made with ease for any number of fuses  200  to be used without newly designing a block. Hence the production cost is reduced. To produce a fuse fitting device, a multiple-fuse holder H or a plurality of multiple-fuse holders H or a fuse holder  100  or a plurality of fuse holders  100  may be mounted onto the printed circuit board  300  before fitting a fuse  200  into each fuse holder  100 . 
     The present invention does not limit the configuration of the connecting part of the contact. For example, the present invention includes embodiments wherein the connecting part is formed with a coiled spring and the contact pressure between the contact and the blade terminal is secured by the coiled spring. Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the connecting part  132  of the contact  130  is formed into a fork shape that can expand towards the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112 , and the clearances t between the connecting part  132  and the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112  of the holder housing  110  are set to allow deformation of the connecting part  132  while limiting its excessive deformation. With these arrangements, as the contact  130  is fork-shaped, the production cost is lower in comparison with a case wherein contacts with coiled spring ends are used. When the connecting part  132  of the contact  130  is deformed, the connecting part  132  will be restrained from excessive deformation by the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112  of the holder housing  110 , and in turn, the connecting part  132  will be prevented from being pried by the blade terminal  220 . 
     The present invention does not limit the configuration of the coupling parts  120 . Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the first embodiment, the coupling part  120  has a strength that can maintain the pitch between adjacent two holder housings  110  and yet can be broken by human power. With these arrangements, the coupling parts  120  will be broken when subjected to pulling, twisting or the like by human hands, and the coupling parts  120  can be broken by manually operated tools such as a knife. Thus the multiple-fuse holder H can be divided with ease. Moreover, as the coupling parts  120  will maintain the pitch between adjacent two holder housings  110 , the respective fuse holders  110  can be mounted accurately onto a printed circuit board  300 . 
     In the case of the first embodiment, the coupling parts  120  are provided at a plurality of points on the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112 . With this arrangement, the strength of the coupling parts against twisting will be improved, and this is desirable under conditions in which the coupling parts  120  are subjected to twisting forces in production or in use. 
     The present invention does not limit the number of holder housings that constitute a holder housing group. Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the first embodiment, the holder housing group h comprises twelve holder housings  110  coupled together. With this arrangement, the multiple-fuse holder H can be utilized effectively, without generating any odd or waste, by dividing it when the number of fuses  200  to be used is 12, 6, 4, 3, 2 or 1. 
     The present invention includes embodiments wherein the holder housing is not provided with a supporting part. Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the first embodiment, a supporting part  116  is provided on the top of the left wall  113  and the right wall  114  of the holder housing  110 . With this arrangement, when the ribs  211  are fitted into the supporting parts  116 , the relative positions of the fuse  200  and the fuse holder  100  to each other will be determined accurately, and the blade terminals  220  will be prevented from prying the connecting parts  132 . Moreover, the fuse  200  will be held more reliably by the fuse holder  100 . 
     The present invention includes embodiments wherein the holder housing is not provided with any slit. Among embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the first embodiment, the holder housing  110  is provided with slits  117 . With this arrangement, fitting the side edges  221  into the slits  117  will accurately determine the relative positions of the fuse  200  and the fuse holder  100  to each other, and the blade terminals  220  will be prevented from prying the connecting parts  132 . Moreover, the fuse  200  will be held more securely in the fuse holder  100 . 
     The present invention does not limit the structure for fixing the intermediate part of the contact to the holder housing. Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the intermediate part  131  of the contact  130  is press-fitted into a space between the walls  111 ,  112  at the bottom  110   b  of the holder housing  110 . With this arrangement, the operation is easier among the production methods of forming the contacts  130  and molding the holder housing  110  separately and combining them together. 
     The present invention does not limit the configuration of the leg  133  of the contact  130 . Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the leg  133  of the contact  130  is formed into two branches. With this arrangement, the contact  130  will be connected to the printed circuit board  300  at two points, and defective connection will hardly occur. 
     The present invention includes embodiments wherein the holder housings are not provided with bosses. Among the embodiments of the present invention, in the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the bottom  110   b  of the holder housing  110  is provided with two bosses  118 ,  119  in positions that are asymmetric to each other in relation to a line L, which runs, when seen from the bottom, between the front wall  111  and the rear wall  112 . With this arrangement, if holes corresponding to the bosses  118 ,  119  are made in the printed circuit board  300  in advance, mounting the fuse holder  100  on the printed circuit board  300  in a wrong orientation can be prevented. 
     In the following, other embodiments will be described. The description of the first embodiment will apply in its entirety as the description of each embodiment, and the same reference character will be used for the same member, and only parts that differ in construction from those of the first embodiment will be described. 
     FIG.  15  through FIG. 28 show the second embodiment multiple-fuse holder H and fuse holders  100  that constitute it. The mini-type fuse  200  is fitted into this fuse holder  100 . The fuse holder  100  differs from the fuse holder  100  of the first embodiment in the following points. As the fuse  200  has no ribs  211 , the holder housing  100  is not provided with supporting parts  116 . The leg  133  of the contact  130  is not forked into two branches. However, the embodiments of the fuse holder  100 , into which the mini-type fuse  200  is fitted, include embodiments wherein the leg  133  of the contact  130  is forked into two branches. 
     FIG.  29  and FIG. 30 show a fuse holder which constitutes the third embodiment multiple-fuse holder H. This fuse holder differs from that of the first embodiment in the structure of the coupling part  120 . In the third embodiment, the coupling part  120  is provided only at a point on the front wall  111  and on the rear wall  112 . For example, the coupling part  120  is provided at a point almost at the center of the front wall  111  and of the rear wall  112 . With this arrangement, the multiple-fuse holder H can be easily divided, without any use of a jig, by twisting adjacent two fuse holders  100  against each other and wrenching off the coupling part  120 . Thus the operation at the time of use can be done efficiently. 
     FIG. 31 shows the fuse holder of the fourth embodiment. This fuse holder differs from that of the first embodiment in the method of fixing the contact  130  to the holder housing  110 . In the fourth embodiment, the intermediate parts  131  of the contacts  130  are enveloped-cast in the holder housing  110 . Enveloped-casting means that a material in a molten state sticks to the circumference of an object and solidifies over it. When the fuse holder  100  is to be produced, contacts  130  are set in a mold for the holder housing  110 , then the material is filled into the mold to form the holder housing  110 . In this way, the relative positions of the contacts  130  and the holder housing  110  will be determined with high precision. 
     FIG.  32  through FIG. 34 show the fuse holder of the fifth embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the method of fixing the contacts  130  to the holder housing  110 . In the fifth embodiment, the intermediate part  131  of the contact  130  is enveloped-cast in an insert  135 , and this insert  135  is fitted into a space among the walls  111  through  114  at the bottom  110   b  of the holder housing  110 . With this arrangement, molding the holder housing  110  and enveloped-casting the insert  135  are done separately, and they can be done under optimal conditions. 
     FIG.  35  and FIG. 36 show the fuse holder of the sixth embodiment. The sixth embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in the configuration of the insert. The two inserts  135  corresponding to the respective contacts  130  are coupled by a bridge  136 . With this arrangement, inserting the inserts  135  having the contact  130  into the holder housing  110  can be done by a single operation. 
     The present invention does not limit the material of the insert  135 . However, when the insert  135  is formed of a material of which heat resistance is superior to that of the holder housing  110 , the heat resistance of the holder housing  110  will not pose any problem even if the inserts  135  are subjected to heat of soldering. Hence the holder housing  110  can be made of a more inexpensive material. 
     FIG.  37  and FIG. 38 show the fuse holder of the seventh embodiment. In this embodiment, a protrusion  133   a  is formed in the leg  133  of the contact  130 . This protrusion  133   a  is also called a clinch. The protrusion  133   a  may be formed, as shown in FIG. 37, by bending the leg  133  sidewise to form a V shape, or as shown in FIG. 38, by making a part of the leg  133  protrude sidewise. With this arrangement, when the leg  133  of the contact  130  is to be tacked onto a printed circuit board  300  before soldering, fitting the leg  133  of the contact  130  into a hole in the printed circuit board  300  will generate a greater fitting force at the protrusion  133   a . Thus tacking can be done reliably. 
     The present invention does not limit the color of the holder housing  110 . However, if the holder housing  110  has the same color as that of the body  210  of the fuse  200 , the proper fuse  200  for the fuse holder  100  can be identified easily. 
     The present invention includes embodiments that combine features of the above-mentioned embodiments. 
     With the description of these embodiments, the first multiple-fuse holder, which was described in the summary of the invention, has been fully disclosed. Moreover, with the description of these embodiments, the second multiple-fuse holder through the fifteenth multiple-fuse holder, which will be described below, have been fully explained. 
     The second multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in the above-mentioned first multiple-fuse holder, wherein the connecting part of the contact is formed into a fork shape, which can be expanded towards the front wall and the rear wall of the holder housing, and the clearances between the connecting part and the front wall and the rear wall are set in such a way that they allow deformation of the connecting part while limiting its excessive deformation. With this arrangement, as the contact has a fork shape, the production cost is lower than that of a contact having a coiled spring at the top end thereof. When the connecting part of the contact is deformed, the connecting part will be prevented from excessive deformation by the front wall and the rear wall of the holder housing, thus the connecting part will be prevented from being pried by the blade terminal. Hence a high level of performance of the fuse fitting device can be guaranteed. 
     The third multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recite in the above-mentioned first or second multiple-fuse holder, wherein the coupling parts have a strength that ca maintain the pitch between adjacent two holder housings and yet can be broken by human force. With this arrangement, the coupling parts can be broken by an action such as pulling or twisting by a human hand, or the coupling parts an be broken by means of a manually operated tool such as a knife, and in turn, the multiple-use holder can be divided easily. Moreover, as the coupling part maintain the pitch between adjacent two holder housings, each fuse holder can be mounted onto a printed circuit board accurately. 
     The fourth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through third multiple-fuse holders, wherein the coupling parts are provided at a plurality of points on the wall. With this arrangement, the strength of the coupling parts against twisting is enhanced, and this is desirable under conditions in which the coupling parts are subjected to twisting force in production or in use. 
     The fifth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recite in any one of the above mentioned first through third multiple-fuse holders, wherein the coupling part is provided at a single point on the wall. With this arrangement, the multiple-fuse holder can be easily divided, without any use of a tool, by wrenching and breaking the coupling part. 
     The sixth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through fifth multiple-fuse holders, wherein the holder housing group comprises twelve holder housings coupled together. With this arrangement, the multiple-fuse holder can be utilized fully, without generating any odd or waste, by dividing it when the number of fuses to be used is 12, 6, 4, 3, 2 or 1. 
     The seventh multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through sixth multiple-fuse holders, wherein the intermediate parts of the contacts are press-fitted into a space among the walls of the holder housing. With this arrangement, the operation is simpler among the production methods of separately forming the contacts and the holder housing and assembling them together. Thus the multiple-fuse holder can be produced with high efficiency. 
     The eighth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through sixth multiple-fuse holders, wherein the intermediate parts of the contacts are enveloped-cast in the holder housing. With this arrangement, the relative positions of the contacts and the holder housing can be determined with high precision to each other. 
     The ninth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through sixth multiple-fuse holders, wherein the intermediate part of the contact is enveloped-cast in an insert and this insert is fitted into a space among the walls of the holder housing. With this arrangement, molding of the holder housing and enveloped-casting of inserts are made separately, and each can be done under optimal conditions. 
     The tenth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in the above-mentioned ninth multiple-fuse holders, wherein two inserts are coupled together. With this arrangement, inserting the inserts having the contact into the holder housing can be done by a single operation. Thus the efficiency of the assembly can be enhanced. 
     The eleventh multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in the above-mentioned ninth or tenth multiple-fuse holder, wherein the insert is formed of a material of which heat resistance is superior to that of the holder housing. With this arrangement, the heat resistance of the holder housing will not pose any problem even if the insert is subjected to heat of soldering. Hence the holder housing can be made of a more inexpensive material. 
     The twelfth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through eleventh multiple-fuse holders, wherein the leg of the contact is forked into two branches. With this arrangement, the contact will be connected to the printed circuit board at two points, and defective connection can be prevented. 
     The thirteenth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through twelfth multiple-fuse holders, wherein a protrusion is formed in the leg of the contact. With this arrangement, when the leg of the contact is to be tacked onto a printed circuit board before soldering, fitting the leg of the contact into a hole in the printed circuit board will generate a greater fitting force at the protrusion. Thus tacking will be done reliably. 
     The fourteenth multiple-fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through thirteenth multiple-fuse holders, wherein the bottom of the holder housing is provided with two bosses in positions that are asymmetric to each other in relation to a line which runs, when seen from the bottom, between the front wall and the rear wall approximately in parallel with these walls. With this arrangement, when holes corresponding to the bosses are made in advance in the printed circuit board, mounting, in wrong orientation, of the fuse holder on the printed circuit board will be prevented. 
     The fifteenth fuse holder is a multiple-fuse holder as recited in any one of the above-mentioned first through fourteenth multiple-fuse holders, wherein the holder housing has the same color as that of the body of the fuse. With this arrangement, the proper fuse for the fuse holder can be identified easily.