Patent ID: 7974063

Claim:
A hybrid surge protector assembly for a network interface device (NID), for protecting against a voltage surge, comprising: a gas-tube protective element that includes two end electrodes and a central ground electrode that define a first path to ground during the voltage surge; a conducting fail-safe spring connected to the ground electrode and having an end supported above the gas-tube protective element by a fusible element that, when melted, allows the fail-safe spring end to electrically contact the gas-tube end electrodes, the fail-safe spring defining a second path to ground from the gas-tube end electrodes when the fusible element melts during the voltage surge; at least one metal-oxide varistor element (MOV) arranged on a gas-tube end electrode and electrically connected to the ground electrode by a MOV spring, wherein the MOV and MOV spring are configured to define a third path to ground from the gas-tube end electrodes when the at least one MOV is activated by the voltage surge; and wherein the third path to ground prevents the gas-tube protective element from initially overheating, and wherein the first path to ground prevents the gas-tube protective element from failing due to a portion of the voltage discharge following the second path to ground.