Patent Description:
Fuses are used as a circuit protection device and can provide an electrical connection between a power source and a circuit to be protected. Fuses can be designed to provide protection to the circuit during an overcurrent and/or an overvoltage condition. In particular, the fuse can be constructed to physically open or interrupt the electrical connection when a specified overcurrent and/or an overvoltage condition occurs, thereby isolating the circuit and preventing damage.

In the automotive market there has been a trend toward implementing so-called "pre-fuse boxes" that are disposed within automobile engine compartments and connected to automobile battery terminals. The primary purpose of a pre-fuse box in an automobile is to prevent electrical damage that may result from short-circuiting in high-current-conducting wires, such as may occur in the event of an accident. In some examples, the fuse may be connected to the battery terminal by a busbar and a central post (e.g., stud or screw) coupled to the fuse element. The central post may be tightened or loosened (e.g., via a nut) to attach and detach the pre-fuse box. However, even after the central post has been secured into place, vibration to the battery may cause the fuse and the busbar to rotate and potentially touch other nearby components, which could cause a short circuit.

Accordingly, there is a need to prevent rotation of the pre-fuse box relative to the power source.

Document <CIT> discloses a device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In one approach according to the present invention, a fuse is described in claim <NUM>.

The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary approaches of the disclosed embodiments so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:.

The drawings are merely representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the disclosure. The drawings are intended to depict typical embodiments of the disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting in scope. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

Furthermore, certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. Furthermore, for clarity, some reference numbers may be omitted in certain drawings.

<FIG> illustrates a fuse assembly (hereinafter "assembly") <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The assembly <NUM> may be secured to a power source <NUM>, such as a battery, which may be used for vehicles or heavy machinery. In some embodiments, the assembly may include a fusible device (hereinafter "fuse") <NUM> coupled to the power source <NUM> by a conductive component, such as a busbar <NUM>. More specifically, an opening <NUM> of the busbar <NUM> may receive a terminal <NUM> of the power supply <NUM>. As will be described in greater detail herein, the fuse <NUM> may be further coupled to a securement device <NUM>, which may be in contact with an upper surface <NUM> and a side surface <NUM> of a case <NUM> of the power source <NUM> to prevent rotation of the fuse <NUM> and the busbar <NUM>. Although not shown, the assembly may include a cover over the fuse <NUM>.

As an example, the fuse <NUM> can be a high-current Zcase fuse manufactured by Littelfuse, Inc. In general, the fuse <NUM> provides protection against overvoltage and/or overcurrent conditions. The fuse <NUM> can include an aperture to accommodate positioning on or around a conductive central support <NUM>. The aperture of the fuse <NUM> can be a central aperture and can be of any size and shape. The fuse <NUM> can further include an input terminal and an output terminal. As an example, a top portion of the fuse <NUM> can provide the input terminal and a bottom portion of the fuse <NUM> can provide the output terminal.

<FIG> and <FIG> demonstrate the assembly <NUM> in greater detail. As shown, the assembly <NUM> may further include a base member <NUM> operable to receive the busbar <NUM>. The fuse <NUM>, the busbar <NUM>, and the base member <NUM> may be coupled together by the central support (e.g., stud or screw) <NUM> and a fastener/nut <NUM>. In some embodiments, the central support <NUM> and the nut <NUM> may be engaged with one another by complimentary threading.

The fuse <NUM>, the busbar <NUM>, and the base member <NUM> may be received within a recess <NUM> of a body <NUM> of the securement device <NUM>. The recess <NUM> may be defined, in part, by one or more sidewalls <NUM> extending along a perimeter of the body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the body <NUM> may include a plurality of fasteners <NUM>, such as press-fit or snap-fit tabs, extending above the recess <NUM>. The fasteners <NUM> may be operable to engage an upper wall or surface <NUM> of the base member <NUM> to retain the two components together. Advantageously, the body <NUM> and the base member <NUM> may be clipped on during installation. As will be described in greater detail herein, the securement device <NUM> may include a support post <NUM> and a wall <NUM> extending from the body <NUM>. The support post <NUM> and the wall <NUM> are operable to engage the case <NUM> (<FIG>) of the power source <NUM> to restrict rotation of the busbar <NUM> and the fuse <NUM> relative to the case <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, the base member <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in greater detail. As shown, the base member <NUM> may include a base body <NUM> having a first end <NUM> opposite a second end <NUM>, a first side <NUM> opposite a second side <NUM>, and an interior surface <NUM> opposite an exterior surface <NUM>. The interior surface <NUM> may be adjacent to, and/or in direct contact with, the busbar <NUM>, while the exterior surface <NUM> may be adjacent to and/or in direct contact with the securement device <NUM>. Although not limited to any particular shape or configuration, the features defining the exterior surface <NUM> may generally complement the surfaces or features defining the recess <NUM> of the body <NUM> of the securement device <NUM>.

As further shown, the base member <NUM> may include a central cylinder <NUM> defining an opening <NUM> operable to receive the central support <NUM>. In some embodiments, the base member <NUM> may further include a plurality of fasteners <NUM>, such as press-fit or snap-fit tabs. As shown, each of the fasteners <NUM> may include a sloped engagement surface <NUM> extending to a retention surface <NUM>. During assembly, the busbar <NUM> may be forced against each engagement surface <NUM>, which causes the fasteners <NUM> to deflect away from the central cylinder <NUM>. As the busbar <NUM> is depressed beyond each engagement surface <NUM>, the fasteners <NUM> will relax and move towards the central cylinder <NUM> until a top surface of the busbar <NUM> is adjacent to, or in contact with, the retention surface <NUM>. The retention surface <NUM> in abutment with the top surface of the busbar <NUM> maintains the busbar <NUM> within an internal area <NUM> of the base member <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, the securement device <NUM> will be described in greater detail. As shown, the body <NUM> of the securement device <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> opposite a second end <NUM>, a first side <NUM> opposite a second side <NUM>, and first main surface <NUM> opposite a second main surface <NUM>. The first main surface <NUM> may generally correspond to an upper side of the body <NUM>, while the second main surface <NUM> may generally correspond to a lower or underside of the body <NUM>. Although not limited to any particular material, the securement device <NUM> may be made from a non-conductive material.

In some embodiments, the securement device <NUM> includes the plurality of fasteners <NUM>, such as press-fit or snap-fit tabs. As shown, each of the fasteners <NUM> may include a sloped engagement surface <NUM> extending to a retention surface <NUM>. During assembly, the base member <NUM>, which is secured to the fuse <NUM> and the busbar <NUM>, may be forced against each engagement surface <NUM>, which causes the fasteners <NUM> to deflect outwardly from the recess <NUM>. As the base member <NUM> is depressed beyond each engagement surface <NUM>, the fasteners <NUM> will relax and move back towards an original position until the top surface <NUM> of the base member <NUM> is adjacent to, or in contact with, the retention surface <NUM>. The retention surface <NUM> in abutment with the top surface <NUM> of the base member <NUM> maintains the fuse <NUM> within the recess <NUM> of the base member <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the fasteners <NUM> extend upwardly from the sidewall <NUM> of the body <NUM> (e.g., along the y-direction). As best shown in <FIG>, the sidewall <NUM> may further include one or more openings <NUM> operable to receive tabs <NUM> (<FIG>) of the busbar <NUM>. Advantageously, the sidewall <NUM> may extend farther from the fuse <NUM> (e.g., along the z-direction) than the tabs <NUM> of the busbar <NUM> to protect the busbar <NUM> from inadvertently making contact with conductive components in close proximity thereto.

The securement device <NUM> includes the wall <NUM> extending from the body <NUM>. More specifically, the wall <NUM> may be coupled to, or integrally formed with, the second main surface <NUM>. The wall <NUM> may generally extend perpendicular from a plane (e.g., x-z plane) defined by the second main surface <NUM>. Although not limited to any particular shape or configuration, the wall <NUM> may include a main section <NUM> having a first wall end <NUM> opposite a second wall end <NUM>. The main section <NUM> may include one or more support ribs <NUM> connected with the second main surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the support ribs <NUM> may extend to a free edge <NUM> of the main section <NUM>. In some embodiments, the wall <NUM> may be integrally formed with the support post <NUM>. In other embodiments, the wall <NUM> and the support post <NUM> are separated from one another by a gap.

As best demonstrated in <FIG>, the first wall end <NUM> is offset (e.g., along the z-direction) relative to the second wall end <NUM> such that a first distance 'D1' between the first wall end <NUM> and the first side <NUM> of the body <NUM> is different (e.g., less) than a second distance 'D2' between the second wall end <NUM> and the first side <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Additionally, a distance 'PD' between the support post <NUM> and the first side <NUM> of the body <NUM> may be less than D1 and D2. As a result, various battery tolerances can be accommodated by a same securement device <NUM>.

This is further demonstrated in <FIG>, which shows the support post <NUM> in direct contact with the side surface <NUM> of the case <NUM> in position (a). As the securement device <NUM> rotates to position (b), the support post <NUM> disengages from the side surface <NUM>, while the second wall end <NUM> begins to rotate/move towards the side surface <NUM>. In position (c), a gap 'G' between the support post <NUM> and the side surface <NUM> may be approximately equal to the distance between the wall <NUM> and the side surface <NUM>. The gap allows the securement device <NUM> to be mounted to batteries with various dimensions. The securement device <NUM> may then continue to rotate until second wall end <NUM> directly engages the side surface <NUM>. The wall <NUM> restricts further movement of the fuse <NUM> and the busbar <NUM> during torqueing and/or vibration.

Referring again to <FIG>, a free end <NUM> of the support post <NUM> may extend down from the second main surface <NUM> by a third distance 'D3', while the free edge <NUM> of the wall <NUM> may extend down from the second main surface <NUM> by a fourth distance 'D4'. As shown, D3 > D4. In other examples, D3 and D4 may be equal. Making the support post <NUM> longer than the wall <NUM> may ensure contact between the support post <NUM> and the case <NUM> of the power supply <NUM> should the fuse <NUM> and securement device <NUM> rotate slightly.

For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" are used herein to describe the relative placement and orientation of components and their constituent parts as appearing in the figures. The terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

As used herein, an element or operation recited in the singular and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" is to be understood as including plural elements or operations, until such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended as limiting. Additional embodiments may also incorporating the recited features.

Furthermore, the terms "substantial" or "substantially," as well as the terms "approximate" or "approximately," can be used interchangeably in some embodiments, and can be described using any relative measures acceptable by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, these terms can serve as a comparison to a reference parameter, to indicate a deviation capable of providing the intended function. Although non-limiting, the deviation from the reference parameter can be, for example, in an amount of less than <NUM>%, less than <NUM>%, less than <NUM>%, less than <NUM>%, less than <NUM>%, less than <NUM>%, and so on.

Still furthermore, one of skill will understand when an element or component is referred to as being formed on, deposited on, or disposed "on," "over" or "atop" another element, the element can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly over" or "directly atop" another element, no intervening elements are present.

Claim 1:
A fuse assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a fusible device (<NUM>) connected to a conductive component (<NUM>), wherein the conductive component (<NUM>) is operable to connect to a terminal (<NUM>) of a power source (<NUM>); and
a securement device (<NUM>) coupled to the fusible device (<NUM>), the securement device (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>) including a recess (<NUM>) operable to receive the fusible device (<NUM>), wherein the body comprises a first end (<NUM>) opposite a second end (<NUM>), and a first side (<NUM>) opposite a second side (<NUM>);
a support post (<NUM>) extending from the body (<NUM>), wherein the support post (<NUM>) is operable to engage a side (<NUM>) of the power source (<NUM>) to reduce rotation of the securement device (<NUM>) and the fusible device (<NUM>) relative to the power source (<NUM>), characterised by
a wall (<NUM>) extending perpendicularly from an underside of the body (<NUM>), wherein the wall (<NUM>) includes a first wall end (<NUM>) and a second wall end (<NUM>), and wherein the first wall end (<NUM>) and the second wall (<NUM>) end are offset relative to one another such that a first distance between the first wall end (<NUM>) and the first side (<NUM>) of the body (<NUM>) is different than a second distance between the second wall end ( <NUM>) and the first side (<NUM>) of the body (<NUM>).