US3800259A

US3800259A - Fusing and switching means and circuit means controlled thereby

Info

Publication number: US3800259A
Application number: US00192904A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Humphreys
Original assignee: MICRO DEVICES CORP
Current assignee: MICRO DEVICES CORP
Priority date: 1971-10-27
Filing date: 1971-10-27
Publication date: 1974-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-26

Abstract

A housing having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being interconnected in a desired electric circuit whereby the electrical circuit will not be completed unless the contact members are electrically interconnected together. A manually movable fuse member is carried by the housing and has one operating position relative to the housing where the fuse member makes electrical contact between the contact members and through the fuse part thereof so that the circuit will not only be completed by the fuse member, but also the circuit will be fused by the fused member. The fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to the housing will break electrical contact between the contact members to open the circuit whereby the fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for the electrical circuit.

Description

FUSING AND SWITCHING MEANS AND CIRCUIT MEANS CONTROLLED THEREBY [75] Inventor: Robert B. Humphreys, Kettering,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Micro Devices Corp., Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Oct. 27, I971 [21] Appl. No.: 192,904

[52] US. Cl 337/10, 337/143, 337/245, 337/254, 337/264, 337/268 [51] Int. Cl. HOlh 85/00 [58] Field of Search .1 337/5, 10,143, 245, 402, 337/406, 198, 199, 197, 232,254, 268, 269, 26 4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,123,692 3/1964 Weber 337/149 3,406,365 10/1968 Lameyre 337/245 X 3,379,842 4/1968 Downs et al... 337/143 X 1,177,310 3/l9l6 Fisher l l t 337/143 2,072,729 3/1937 Corbett 1. 337/199 X 1,019,362 3/1912- Rhodes 337/271 X Great Britain 337/10 [451 Mar. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gilheany Assistant ExaminerF. E. Bell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Candor, Candor & Tassone [57] ABSTRACT A housing having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being interconnected in a desired electric circuit whereby the electrical circuit will not be completed unless the contact members are electrically interconnected together. A manually movable fuse member is carried by the housing and has one operating position relative to the housing where the fuse member makes electrical contact between the contact members and through the fuse part thereof so that the circuit will not only be completed by the fuse member, but also the circuit will be fused by the fused member. The fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to the housing will break electrical contact between the contact members to open the circuit whereby the fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for the electrical circuit.

21 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDmzs 1914 800 259 SHEU 1 BF 3 INVENTOR. ROBERT B HUMPHREYS HIS ATTORNEYS AIENIEMAR26 m4 3800.259

FIG.5

INVENTO 7 ROBERT B. HUMPH s l BY 62 H68 QW 4MJJZ4W HIS ATTORNEYS PATENIEIIIIRS B74 SHiEI 3 0F 3 HIS ATTORNEYS 'FUSING AND SWITCHING MEANS AND CIRCUIT MEANS CONTROLLED THEREBY This application is related to applicants copending patent application, Ser. No. 131,655, filed Apr. 6, 1971, ELECTRICAL OUTLET MEANS AND FUSE THEREFOR, and is assigned to the same assignee to whom this application is assigned.

In particular, this application relates to an improved fusing and switching means for an electrical circuit or the like as well as to an improved fuse and/or switchfor such an electrical circuit or the like.

The aforementioned copending patent application provides an improved fusing arrangement for a convenience outlet on a cooking apparatus or the like by Iocating a fuse member within a self-contained receptacle for the cooking apparatus with such self-contained receptacle providing one or more convenience electrical outlet means for the cooking apparatus. The fuse member for such self-contained receptacle is readily accessible from adjacent the prong receiving openings of the outlet means for easy fuse insertion and removal. However, the fuse member is interlocked in place by the plug which is plugged into the outlet means so that in order to change such fuse, the plug must be first removed from the outlet means so that a safety feature is provided for the fusing of the electrical outlet means of the copending patent application.

One of the features of this invention is to utilize such a fuse member and self-contained receptacle in the aforementioned unique manner so that the fuse member not only provides the fusing function set forth in such copending patent application, but also the fuse member of this invention will provide an electrical switching function with such switching function providing the fusing arrangement for the circuit being switched on and off by the fuse element of this invention.

However, it is to be understood that the fuse member of this invention can be utilized in electrical circuit means other than the one having an electrical outlet means while still performing its switching and fusing function as will be apparent hereinafter.

For-example, one embodiment of this invention provides a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being electrically interconnected in a desired electrical circuit whereby the electrical circuit will not be completed unless the contact members are electrically interconnected together. A manually movable fuse member of this invention is carried by the housing means and has one operating position relative to the housing means where the fuse member has the fuse portion thereof making electrical contact between the contact members and through the fuse portion thereof so that not only will the circuit be completed by the fuse member, but also the circuit will be fused by the fuse member when the same is in the one operating position thereof. The fuse member, when moved to another operating position thereof relative to the housing means, will cause its fuse part to move out of electrical contact with one of the contact members to thereby break electrical contact between the contact members and open the circuit whereby the fuse member acts as a manually operable switch member for the circuit.

Such an electrical circuit can include another contact member which will remain in contact with the fuse part of the fuse member regardless of its operating position so that the fuse member will continuously provide fusing between the first-named contact member and the last-named contact member during all operating posi tions of the fuse element. This last-mentioned electrical circuit can be utilized as one of the lines leading to one of the prong receiving openings of a convenience outlet means for a cooking apparatus or the like so that such outlet means will be fused by the fuse member of this invention.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fusing and switching arrangement for an electrical circuit means or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical circuit means utilizing the fusing and switching arrangement of this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved plug-in fuse having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the self-contained receptacle and convenience outlet means of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the electrical circuit means being controlled by the receptacle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the receptacle illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fuse and switch member for the receptacle means of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the fuse member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the fuse member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts of the receptacle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates a fuse member for the receptacle of FIG. 1 with the fuse member of FIG. 13 not providing the electrical switching function of the fuse member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates a plug member to be utilized in place of one of the fuse members of the receptacle of FIG. 1.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adapted for providing the fusing and switching function in combination with a convenience electrical outlet of a cooking apparatus, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide electrical fusing and/or switching for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 14, the improved selfcontained receptacle of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and is utilized in FIG. 4 for controlling a circuit means generally indicated by the reference numeral 21 in a manner hereinafter set forth so that the receptacle means 20 not only provides. a fusing function for an electrical outlet means 22, but also the receptacle 20 provides an electrical switching and fusing function for

load devices

23 and 24 in FIG. 4 which can comprise upper and lower oven lights for a cooking apparatus while the outlet means 22 of the receptacle 20 provides a convenience outlet means for the housewife or the like to plug in various electrical appliances, such as an electrical coffee maker and the like.

The receptacle 20 includes a substantially rectangular housing part 25 having various chambers formed therein and closed by a front plate 26 that has a pair of plug

prong receiving openings

27 and 28 formed therein as well as a conventional ground plug prong receiving opening 29 formed therein. In addition, the front plate 26 has an opening means 30 passing therethrough for receiving a pair of fuse and switch

members

31 and 32 of this invention therein constructed in a manner and utilized for purposes hereinafter described.

Five

terminals

33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 extend outwardly from the body portion 26 of the receptacle 20 to be interconnected into the electrical circuit means 21 illustrated in FIG. 4.

-The terminal 35 for the ground plug prong receiving opening 29 of the receptacle 20 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as being interconnected to a line 38 leading to ground and as illustrated in FIG. 7 has a contact portion 39 disposed within a cavity 40 of the receptacle body 25 that is alignable with the opening 29 in the front plate 26 so as to contact'the ground plug prong when received through the opening 29 in substantially a conventional manner.

The terminal 33 of the receptacle 20 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as being interconnected to a power source lead L, and the same has a contact portion 41 disposed within a cavity 42, FIG. 6, of the housing body 25. The cavity 42 is alignable with the plug prong receiving opening 27 in the front plate 26 so as to electrically contact such plug prong when received through the opening 27 in substantially a conventional manner.

The terminal 34 is adapted to be interconnected to the power source lead L and has two

contact members

43 and 44 respectively disposed in

chambers

45 and 46 formed in the housing body 25 and alignable with the opening means 30 of the front plate 26 for a purpose hereinafter described, the

contact portions

43 and 44 being substantially rectangular members bent at 90 relative to the main portion of the terminal 34 and extending vertically upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 3 for a purpose hereinafter described.

' The terminal 36 is illustrated in FIG. as having a one side 50 of the oven light 23 while the other side 51 of the oven light 23 is adapted to be interconnected by a lead 52 to a lead 53 that is also interconnected to the power source lead L For example, the lead 53 could be interconnected to the terminal 33 of the receptacle 20 of this invention or to the power source lead L, at another location as desired.

The terminal 37 has a contact member 54 disposed in the chamber 46 of the housing 25 that is separated from the contact member 44 of the terminal 34 by an internal wall 55 of the housing 25 for a purpose hereinafter described. The terminal 37 is interconnected by a lead 56 to one side 57 of the other oven light 24 while the other side 58 of the oven light 24 is interconnected to the lead 53.

A contact member 59 is disposed in the chamber 45 of the housing member 25 on the same side of the dividing wall 48 thereof as the contact member 47 and is integral with a contact portion 60 that is disposed in a chamber 61, FIG. 6, of the housing 25 that is alignable with the plug prong receiving opening 28 in the front wall 26 so as to be contacted by the plug prong inserted through the opening 28 and forming the other side of the electrical outlet means 22. If desired, the'contact portion 60 can have a terminal extension 62 illustrated in phantom lines in FIGS. 2 and 6 for leading to another outlet means so that the other outlet means will be fused in the same manner as the outlet means 22 if desired as the terminal 62 could, in effect, provide the electrical contact member for one opening of such outlet means and the line L would then provide the contact portion for the other plug prong receiving opening of the other outlet means.

The fuse and switching

members

31 and 32 of this invention are substantially identical in construction except for a feature to be later pointed out whereby the switch and fuse member 31 will now be described in detail with the understanding that such structure applies to the switch member 32 in both its structure and its functional operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the fuse and switch member 31 in general comprises an electrical insulating handle 63 and a fusing and switching part 64.

The insulating or handle part 63 of the fuse member 31 has an H-shaped opening 65 interrupting an end wall 66 thereof and defining a closed end wall 67, FIG. 3, inside the handle part 63.

A pair of integral pivot pins 68 and 69 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the body portion 63 of the fuse member 31 and are respectively adapted to be received in

complementary recesses

70 and 71 formed in the housing member 25 of the receptacle 20 so as to permit the fuse member 31 to pivot on the pivot pins 68 and 69, the opening means 30 in the front plate 36 being shaped to receive the pivot pins 68 and 69, therethrough.

The other switching member 32 has an elongated pivot pin 72 on the electrical outlet side thereof so as to be received in a complementary recess 73 formed in the housing member 25 and extend into the spacing between the plug

prong receiving openings

27 and 28 so that when an electrical plug is plugged into the outlet means 22, the switch member 32 cannot be removed from the receptacle 20 until such plug is unplugged from the outlet opening 22 in the manner fully set forth in the aforementioned copending patent application whereby a safety interlock is provided between the fuse member 32 and the outlet means 22.

In order to hold the pivot pins 68, 69 and 72 of the switch and

fuse members

31 and 32 in the

respective recesses

70, 71 and 73 of the housing member 25 when the

switch members

31 and 32 are inserted therein, a spring member 74 can be provided between the housing member 25 and the front plate 26 so that downwardly extending

fingers

75,76 and 77 thereof will overlap against the pivot pins 68, 69 and 72 of the

fuse members

31 and 32 to hold the same respectively in their assembled relation illustrated in FIG. 2. If desired, the ends of the

fingers

75, 76 and 77 of the Spring member 74 can permit the

switch members

31 and 32 to be readily removed in opposition to the force thereof and permit

other switch members

31 and 32 to be snap fitted into their respective recesses by camming past the

spring fingers

75, 76 and 77 whereby it can be seen that the spring member 74 retains the

switch members

31 and 32 in their assembled or plugged-in relation with the housing member 25 while still permitting the same to pivot on their pivot pins relative to the receptacle for a switching'function that will be hereinafter described. In addition, the spring'member 74 permits the

switch members

31 and 32 to be snapped into position and unsnapped therefrom for fuse replacement purposes as will be apparent hereinafter.

The fuse part 64 of the fuse member 31 comprises a pair of

conductive blades

78 and 79 shaped so that the same can be serially cut from a single strip of conductive material without waste between

parts

78 and 79 so that the

blades

78 and 79 each has a triangular cutout 80 at one end thereof and a triangular projection 80' at the other end thereof. The

blades

78 and 79 are ar ranged in spaced parallel and side-by-side relation to be secured together in such side-by-side relation by a fusible element or pin 81 attached at the apexes 82 of the triangular cutouts 80 at the rear ends of the

blades

78 and 79. The fusible member 81 while being formed in any suitable manner can be formed in the manner fully disclosed in applicants other copending patent application, Ser. No. 39,710, filed May 22, 1970, wherein the fuse pin 81 is formed of fine silver and has its opposed ends respectively soldered or brazed to the

conductive members

78 and 79.

The H-shaped opening 65 in the insulating part 63 of the switch member 31 can be filled with a suitable epoxy resin 83 and before the same sets, the fuse pin end of the

blades

78 and 79 can be inserted into the H- shaped opening 65 to cause the triangular cutout portions 80 to bottom out against the end wall 67 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the fuse pin 81 is spaced from the bottom wall 67. When the epoxy 83 subsequently hardens, the fuse part 64 is firmly fastened to the handle part 63 with the fuse pin 81 being fully encased within the handle part 63 so that subsequent blowing thereof will have its electric are or spark completely confined within the handle part 63 whereby the blowing of the fuse pin 81 will not cause damage to other parts of the receptacle 20. The thus assembled switch member 31 has the

blades

78 and 79 thereof electrically interconnected together by the fuse pin 81 for a purpose now to be described.

When the switch member 31 is inserted into the opening 30 in the front wall 26 of the receptacle 20, the

blades

78 and 79 thereof straddle the interior wall 55 of the chamber 46 with the blade 79 making sliding contact with the contact member 44 ofthc terminal 34 and making sliding contact with the contact member 54 of the terminal 37 if the switch member 31 is dis posed in the on pivoted position illustrated in FIG. 3. However, if the fuse member is pivoted to the off" position illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, the blade 79 will still be in electrical contact with the contact member 44 but the blade 78 will be pivoted out of electrical contact with the contact member 54 so that the fuse member 31 is adapted to make and break electrical contact between the

contact members

54 and 44. In particular, when the switch member 31 is in the on pivoted position illustrated in FIG. 3 to electrically bridge the

contact members

54 and 44, the electrical light 24 is placed across the power source leads L and L to be in an operative condition with the fuse pin 81 of the fuse member 31 fusing such electrical circuit for the light 24. However, when the switch member 31 is moved or pivoted to the of pivoted position illustrated in FIG. 3, the electrical circuit is broken for the light 24 so that the light 24 is in an of condition thereof.

In order to hold the switch member 31 in either of the two desired operating positions thereof, a detent member 84 is disposed in the chamber 46 and is urged outwardly toward the dividing wall by a compression spring 85 disposed in a bore 86 aligned with the chamber 46 and closed by an end plug 87. The leading edge 88 of the detent member 84 is semicircular in cross section as illustrated in FIG. 3 and the length of the

blades

78 and 79 of the switch member 31 are such that the triangular portions engage against the leading edge 88 of the detent member 84 and move the same slightly backwardly in opposition to the force of the compression spring so that the apex parts 89 of the

blades

78 and 79 will toggle on opposite sides of the center line of the detent member 84. For example, when the apexes 89 of the

blades

78 and 79 are below the center line of the detent member 84 as illustrated in FIG. 3, the detent member 84 under the force of the compression spring 85 maintains the

blades

78 and 79 in the down condition illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the switch member 31 will remain in the on" position illustrated in FIG. 3 until the operator pushes on the handle part 63 to rock the same to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 3 whereby the apexes 89 of the

blades

79 and 78 toggle past the center line of the wall 88 of the detent member 84 to be then urged upwardly and maintained in such upward position by the detent member 84.

The detent member 84 in the chamber 45 acts in the same manner on the

blades

78 and 79 of the switch member 32.

However, the blade 78 of the switch member 32 in both the on and off positions of the switch member 32 is always in-sliding contact with the contact member 43 leading from the power source terminal 34. Likewise, the contact member 59 for the plug prong receiving opening 28 of the outlet means 22 is always in sliding contact with the blade 79 of the switch member 32 regardless of the operating position thereof. The contact member 47 for the terminal 36 is only in sliding contact with the blade 79 of the switch member 32 when the switch member 32 is in its on position and will be out of electrical contact therewith when the switch member 32 is moved to its off" position.

Therefore, it can be seen that regardless of the pivoted position of the switch member 32, the fuse pin 81 of the switch member 32 is electrical bridging between the

contact members

43 and 59 to provide fusing for the electrical outlet means 22 of the receptacle 20. However, the switch member 32 must be moved or pivoted to an on" position in order to have the fuse pin 81 effectively electrically bridge the

contact members

43 and 47 so that the load or light 23 can be placed across the power source leads L and L When the switch member 32 is in such on position, the fuse member 32 also is acting as a switch member for such circuit means in the same manner that the switch member 31 acts as aswitch member for the load device 24 previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the

fuse members

31 and 32 of this invention not only provide a fusing function, but also the same provide a switching function with the switch member 32 always providing a fusing function for the outlet means 22 and a fusing and switching function for the load device 23 whereas the fuse device 31 provides a fusing and switch means only for the load device 24.

However, the switch and

fuse members

31 and 32 can readily be replaced from the receptacle should the same be blown in the same manner as the fuse member provided for the outlet means of the aforementioned copending patent application. But, by providing

double legs

78 and 79 on the

fuse members

31 and 32 rather than a single blade as in the aforementioned copending patent application, it can be seen that the receptacle 20 is rendered substantially safe so that a child or the like when inserting a screwdriver on either side of the

wall

55 or 48 cannot effect switching or shorting across the

contact members

44, 54 or 43, 59 even though the

switch members

31 and 32 should be removed from the openings 30 and the child be experimenting with a screwdriver or the like.

Should it be desired to merely have a fusing function and not the additional use of a switching function with the receptacle 20, the fuse member 93 illustrated in FIG. 13 could be utilized in place of the switch member 31 and/or switch member 32. The fuse member 93 is formed in substantially the same manner as the switch member 31 previously described except that the same has a flat end wall 94 which prevents the same from being pivoted after the same has been received in the,

opening 30 of the front wall 26 of the receptacle 20 and had its pivot pins received in the proper recesses in the housingbody 25.

Also, should it be desired not to have a fuse or switch for the circuit defined by the

contact members

44 and 54, a blocking or dummy member 95 of FIG. 14 can be utilized as the same does not have any fuse part extending from the insulating body part 63 thereof and the same is provided with a flat end wall 96 to prevent pivotal movement of the blocking member 95 once it is snapped in place.

Thus, it can be seen that when a blocking member 95 is disposed in the opening 30 of the receptacle 20 in place of the fuse member 31 no electrical connection will be provided between the

contact members

44 and 54 thereof. Similarly, should a fuse member 93 be disposed in the opening 30 of the receptacle 20 in place of the switch member32, such fuse member 93 will only provide a fusing function between the

contact members

43 and 59 for the electrical outlet 22 and no electrical connection will be provided between the

contact members

43 and 47.

Thus, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved fusing and switching arrangement for an electrical circuit means, but also this invention provides an improved electrical circuit means as well as an improved fuse member for such an arrangement or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as requiredby the patent statutes, other forms may be utilized, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being electrically interconnected in a desired electrical circuit whereby said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact'members are electrically interconnected together, a manually movable fuse member carried by said housing means and having one operating position relative to said housing means where said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for said circuit, said first contact member being in electricalcontact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof, and a third contact member being carried by said housing means and cooperating with said first contact member to define another electrical circuit, said third contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof whereby said fuse member not only completes said other circuit at least at said first and third contact members but also said fuse member fuses said other circuit at said first contact member and said third contact member when said fuse member is in either of said operating positions thereof.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means has a pair of plug prong receiving openings therein to provide an electrical outlet means for said housing means, said third contact member being electrically interconnected to one of said prong receiving openings whereby said fuse member fuses said outlet means between said third contact member and said first contact member when said fuse member is in either operating position thereof. a

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second contact member is out of electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in said other operating position thereof.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fuse member includes a pair of spaced conductive blades electrically interconnected together solely by a fuse element of said fuse member, one of said blades being in electrical contact with said first contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, the other of said blades being in electrical contact with said third contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, said other blade only being in electrical contact with said second contact member when said fuse member is in said one operating position thereof.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said fuse member is pivotally mounted to said housing means to pivotally move said blades in unison relative to said housing means as said fuse member is pivotally moved between said operating positions thereof, said blades being in sliding contact with said contact members as said fuse member is being pivotally-moved.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fuse member is replaceably pivotally mounted in said housing means.

7. In combination, a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being electrically interconnected in a desired electrical circuit whereby said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, and a manually movable fuse member carried by and attached to said housing means and being movable relative to said housing means while remaining attached thereto, said fuse member having one operating position relative to said housing means where said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position therof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually oper able switch for said circuit, said fuse member including a pair of spaced conductive blades electrically interconnected together solely by a fuse element of said fuse member, one of said blades being in electrical contact with said first contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, the other of said blades only being in electrical contact with said second contact member when said fuse member is in said one operating position thereof, said fuse member being pivotally movable relative to said housing means about an axis of rotation of said fuse member, said blades of said fuse member being disposed in side-by-side parallel relation with each other and respectively radiating from said axis of rotation of said fuse member.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fuse member is pivotally mounted to said housing means to pivotally move said blades in unison relative to said housing means as said fuse member is pivotally moved between said operating positions thereof, said blades being in sliding contact with said contact members as said fuse member is being pivotally moved.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said fuse member includes a handle portion formed of electrical insulating material, said blades being carried by said handle portion and projecting outwardly therefrom, said fuse element being disposed in said handle portion to be encased thereby.

10. In an electrical circuit means having an electrical power source for directing electrical current through said circuit, the improvement comprising a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members respectively being electrically interconnected in said electrical circuit so that said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, a manually movable fuse member carried by said housing means and having one ope rating position relative to said housing means where said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for said circuit, said first contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof, and a third contact member being carried by said housing means and cooperating with said first contact member to define another electrical circuit, said third contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof whereby said fuse member not only completes said other circuit at least at said first and third contact members but also said fuse member fuses said other circuit at said first contact memberand said third contact member when said fuse member is in either of said operating positions thereof.

11. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 10, the further improvement wherein said housing means has a pair of plug prong receiving openings therein to provide an electrical outlet means for said housing means, said third contact member being electrically interconnected to one of said prong receiving openings whereby said fuse member fuses said outlet means between said third contact member and said first contact member when said fuse member is in either operating position thereof.

12. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 11, the further improvement wherein said second contact member is out of electrical contact with said fuse member when saidfuse member is said other operating position thereof.

13. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 12, the further improvement wherein said fuse member includes a pair of spaced conductive blades electrically interconnected together solely by a fuse element of said fuse member, one of said blades being in electrical contact with said first contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, the other of said blades being in electrical contact with said third contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, said other blade only being in electrical contact with said second contact member when said fuse member is in said one operating position thereof.

14. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 13, the further improvement wherein said fuse member is pivotally mounted to said housing means to pivotally move said blades in unison relative to said housing means as said fuse member is pivotally moved between said operating positions thereof, said blades being in sliding contact with said contact members as said fuse member is being pivotally moved.

15. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 14, the further improvement wherein said fuse member is replaceably pivotally mounted in said housing means.

16. In an electrical circuit means having an electrical power source for directing electrical current through said circuit, the improvement comprising a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members respectively being electrically. interconnected in said electrical circuit so that said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, and a manually movable fuse member carried by said housing means and having one operating position relative to said housing means when said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manuallyoperable switch for said circuit, said fuse member including a pair of spaced conductive blades electrically interconnected together solely by a fuse element of said fuse member, one of said blades being in electrical contact with said first contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, the other of said blades only being in electrical contact with said second contact member when said fuse member is in said one operating position thereof, said fuse member being pivotally movable relative to said housing means about an axis of rotation of said fuse member, said blades of said fuse member being disposed in side-by-side parallel relation with each other and respectively radiating from said axis of rotation of said fuse member.

17. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 16, the further improvement wherein said fuse member is pivotally mounted to said housing means to pivotally move said blades in unison relative to said housing means as said fuse member is pivotally moved between said operating positions thereof, said blade being in sliding contact with said contact members-as said fuse member is being pivotally moved.

18. in an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 17, the further improvement wherein said fuse member includes a handle portion formed of electrical insulating material, said blades being carried by said handle portion and projecting outwardly therefrom, said fuse element being disposed in said handle portion to be encased thereby.

19. A plug-in fuse construction comprising an electrically insulating handle part to be manually grasped for inserting said fuse construction in an opening means for receiving the same, and a fuse part carried by said handle part and extending therefrom, said fuse part having spaced apart blades for respectively engaging spaced apart contact means, and a fusible means electrically interconnecting said spaced blades, said spaced blades extending from saidhandle part for insertion on both sides of a barrier disposed between said spaced apart contact means to provide an electrical circuit therebetween, said handle part having a pair of opposed pivot pins extending therefrom, said handle part being adapted to be pivotally movable about an axis of rotation as defined by said opposed pivot pins, said blades being disposed in side-by-side parallel relation with each other and respectively radiating from said axis of rotation of said handle part.

20. A plug-in fuse construction as set forth in claim 19 wherein said pivot pins of said handle part provide key means extending therefrom to require positive orientation of said fuse construction relative to said opening means.

21. A plug-in fuse construction as set forth in claim 19 wherein one of said pivot pins is longer than the other pivot pin.

Claims

1. In combination, a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being electrically interconnected in a desired electrical circuit whereby said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, a manually movable fuse member carried by said housing means and having one operating position relative to said housing means where said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for said circuit, said first contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof, and a third contact member being carried by said housing means and cooperating with said first contact member to define another electrical circuit, said third contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof whereby said fuse member not only completes said other circuit at least at said first and third contact members but also said fuse member fuses said other circuit at said first contact member and said third contact member when said fuse member is in either of said operating positions thereof.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means has a pair of plug prong receiving openings therein to provide an electrical outlet means for said housing means, said third contact member being electrically interconnected to one of said prong receiving openings whereby said fuse member fuses said outlet means between said third contact member and said first contact member when said fuse member is in either operating position thereof.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said fuse member is pivotally mounted to said housing means to pivotally move said blades in unison relative to said housing means as said fuse member is pivotally moved between said operating positions thereof, said blades being in sliding contact with said contact members as said fuse member is being pivotally moved.

7. In combination, a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members for respectively being electrically interconnected in a desired electrical circuit whereby said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, and a manually movable fuse member carried by and attached to said housing means and being movable relative to said housing means while remaining attached thereto, said fuse member having one operating position relative to said housing means where said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position therof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for said circuit, said fuse member including a pair of spaced conductive blades electrically interconnected together solely by a fuse element of said fuse member, one of said blades being in electrical contact with said first contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, the other of said blades only being in electrical contact with said second contact member when said fuse member is in said one operating position thereof, said fuse member being pivotally movable relative to said housing means about an axis of rotation of said fuse member, said blades of said fuse member being disposed in side-by-side parallel relation with each other and respectively radiating from said axis of rotation of said fuse member.

10. In an electrical circuit means having an electrical power source for directing electrical current through said circuit, the improvement comprising a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members respectively being electrically interconnected in said electrical circuit so that said electrical circuit will noT be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, a manually movable fuse member carried by said housing means and having one operating position relative to said housing means where said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for said circuit, said first contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof, and a third contact member being carried by said housing means and cooperating with said first contact member to define another electrical circuit, said third contact member being in electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is in either said one or said other operating position thereof whereby said fuse member not only completes said other circuit at least at said first and third contact members but also said fuse member fuses said other circuit at said first contact member and said third contact member when said fuse member is in either of said operating positions thereof.

12. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 11, the further improvement wherein said second contact member is out of electrical contact with said fuse member when said fuse member is said other operating position thereof.

16. In an electrical circuit means having an electrical power source for directing electrical current through said circuit, the improvement comprising a housing means having a pair of spaced first and second contact members respectively being electrically interconnected in said electrical circuit so that said electrical circuit will not be completed unless said contact members are electrically interconnected together, and a manually movable fuse member carried by said housing means and having one operating position relative to said housing means when said fuse member makes electrical contact between said contact members and through the fuse thereof so that said circuit will not only be completed by said fuse member but also said circuit will be fused by said fuse member, said fuse member when moved to another operating position thereof relative to said housing means breaking electrical contact between said contact members to open said circuit whereby said fuse member also acts as a manually operable switch for said circuit, said fuse member including a pair of spaced conductive blades electrically interconnected together solely by a fuse element of said fuse member, one of said blades being in electrical contact with said first contact member in both operating positions of said fuse member, the other of said blades only being in electrical contact with said second contact member when said fuse member is in said one operating position thereof, said fuse member being pivotally movable relative to said housing means about an axis of rotation of said fuse member, said blades of said fuse member being disposed in side-by-side parallel relation with each other and respectively radiating from said axis of rotation of said fuse member.

17. In an electrical circuit means as set forth in claim 16, the further improvement wherein said fuse member is pivotally mounted to said housing means to pivotally move said blades in unison relative to said housing means as said fuse member is pivotally moved between said operating positions thereof, said blade being in sliding contact with said contact members as said fuse member is being pivotally moved.

19. A plug-in fuse construction comprising an electrically insulating handle part to be manually grasped for inserting said fuse construction in an opening means for receiving the same, and a fuse part carried by said handle part and extending therefrom, said fuse part having spaced apart blades for respectively engaging spaced apart contact means, and a fusible means electrically interconnecting said spaced blades, said spaced blades extending from said handle part for insertion on both sides of a barrier disposed between said spaced apart contact means to provide an electrical circuit therebetween, said handle part having a pair of opposed pivot pins extending therefrom, said handle part being adapted to be pivotally movable about an axis of rotation as defined by said opposed pivot pins, said blades being disposed in side-by-side parallel relation with each other and respectively radiating from said axis of rotation of said handle part.