US2562947A - Fuse arrangement for electric wall outlets - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1951 J. s. RICHARD ETAL FUSE ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC WALL OUTLETS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 FUSE ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC WALL OUTLETS' John S. Richard and Carl Youngquist, Brooklyn,

N. Y.; Geraldine Youngquist administratrix oilY said Carl Youngquist, deceased Application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,496

This invention relates to electric wall receptacles or outlets and more particularly to a fuse arrangement therefor.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide means facilitating ready access to and operation of the fuse arrangement in electric wall receptacles and affording an increased safety in handling such receptacles, whether they are of the single or double outlet type.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means ensuring easy and convenient insertion of a fuse arrangement in an electric wall receptacle and for removal therefrom, said fuse arrangement being so constructed as to establish contact only after an extreme position in the receptacle is reached.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide in a wall receptacle a fuse device or unit which will consume little space, ac-

- cess being had to the fuse at the location of the receptacle without having to reach for the fuse box located elsewhere and in an out-of-the-way place in the premises and wherein each receptacle in the household will contain its own fuse.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a wall receptacle an arrangement for containing a cartridge type fuse which is placed in a sleeve member extending parallel to the prongs of the plug to be inserted in the receptacle, said sleeve member substantially not interfering with the plug, so that a new cartridge can be received and introduced in the body of the wall receptacle as a unit independently of the insertion of the plug in the wall receptacle.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a wall receptacle with fuse arrangement which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number oi parts, is compact and consumes little space, wherein a single fuse may serve two outlets forming a part of the same receptacle, is convenient to replace and eiiicient in operation.

Further objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: 'f

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of the receptacle embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but with the fuse partly retracted from the body of the receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a skeletonized view showing the wire hook-up therefor.

2 claims. (C1. 20o-115.5) Y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary and sectional view of a modied form of the invention using a lamp indicatorvto indicate whether or not the fuse has been blown.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a main body II) of the receptacle or casing having two plug receiving portions II and l2. Extending from these plug receiving portions are respectively slotted projections I3 and I4 iorthe connection of the receptacle body within the wall casing, not shown. Each of the portions Il and I2 have a pair of laterally spaced slots I5 and I6 adapted to receive the prongs of an electric plug on the end of a lamp cord or the cord of some other device. Extending between the slots I5 is a terminal strip II. Extending between the slots I6 is a terminal strip I8 having an outwardly struck portion I9 intermediate its length thereof (Fig. l).

Extending rearwardly from and centrally of the main casing or body Il! is an extension casing or hollow projection 2I of insulating material which is preferably integral with the body to thereby form a T-shaped housing. On one end of the extension casing is a terminal strip 22 having a terminal screw 23 by which a wire can be connected thereto. This strip 22 has a cupshaped member 24 connected thereto and adapted to extend into the sleeve projection opening. This member 24 houses a contact spring'25 connected to the same with which a terminal 26 of a cartridge fuse 21 may engage. The opposite terminal as indicated at 2B of the fuse 2'I is contained in a cap or cup-shaped member 29 articulated and fixed to a metallic threaded member 3I and adapted to receive the fuse and to pull the-fuse from the contact spring 25 upon the threaded member 3| being turned for disengagement from the receptacle. The threaded member has an insulated turning knob 32 While its main part is of metal so as to conduct electric current to the fuse 21. Within the main body IIJ is an integral depressed insulated portion 33 which contains an internally threaded metal ring v34 which receives the threaded member 3|. This insulated depressed portion 33 is cut away as indicated at 35 (Fig. l) to permit the terminal strip lI to have direct contact with the exterior of the internally threaded ring 34 and to be secured thereto by a set screw 36. A terminal screw 31 is connected to the offset portion I9 oi'theterminal strip I8 and to this terminal strip there is connected by means of the screw 3l one of the wires for supplying current to the receptacle. Unless the member 3l is screwed home. no contact is made of the fuse tially ush with the front face of casing IIJ, aS.

seen in Fig. 2) current will be receptacle. In the form of the invention shown in Fig.`

passed" through the" the body lli is similarly constructed and is proa vided with the usual sleeve projection t avd'gtnf 1 associated parts thereof. According to thisffeirnv f of the invention a lamp 39 is provided to give an indication as to whether or net vthe fise has been blown. The fuse 2i 'has its terminal 2 lying in l an insulating sleeve M and engages with the end' of the lamp bulb as indicated at 4 2. The lamp bein istiireadedjintoja meta ring t3 which ccntairis trie insulated sleek/eral. on the other end of this sleeve there is tight fitted, an insulating hollow knob de. The threaded sleeve" is' held' in place in the body by an internal threaded metal ring l5 imbedded in the depressed ins'iilated poi'- tieii se. By turning the insulating knob lit.r the entire yassei'njely iiiludig the larnp bulb and the fufse 2 can' be' removed fromth'e receptacle bo'dy'; The terminal strips Il and I8 are similarly connected t'o` the inetal threaded Vring d3' and to terminal wires ieade from the receptacle. Whenthe lamp bulb BQfail's' t glow, `this will' bean indication that the insenas been' blown. AcYe cordingly the assembly' will be removed and the fuse element' 2l replaced' in the saine manner as above described. v

It wiu be apparent that' the arrangement be constructed so that a double set 6i' fuse wires can be provided in a single fuse unit or' cartridge fuse in order to separately serve tw diiferent plugs. In all thesecases, the' fuse unit' always extends parallel to the prongs oi" the plug' or plugs '4 trally and rearwardly thereof, whereby a shaped housing is achieved with the prongs of said plug means when inserted in said openings extending substantially in the same direction as that of said extension casing, a rst terminal strip leading 'to one of the openings of each pair of penings, 'a second terminal strip leading to the other opening of each pair of openings, a terminal element connected to said rst terminal strip, a `threaded metal rin-g member inserted inv said main casing and coaxial with said extension casing and ,connected to the second terminal strip, a

lthre'ade'dl'r'iietal member having an insulated knob at one endV andra cup-shaped metal member at the'pposite end, saidy cup-shaped member being s'lfiapecl te engage with one end of a fuse, a spring Contact supported by said extension casing and adapted to contact with the other end of said .stahti'ally right 'angles to and 'positioned to project from said main casing rearwardly thereof 'and 'substantially parallel to the prongs er" the .plug when inserted iii said openings, said main casing being'prvided with a bore which is positioned 'adjacent said two fopen'ings and "cinnznunie to be inserted.A in openings I5, I6 of receptacle b. .i

'and a dp-shaped metallic member at the opparts Il, l2. The elongated fuse unit 3D' is' posi--y tioned intermediate the receptacle p'r'tios" [i and l2- and preferably does not interfere with the operation of the plug or plugs (not sliewn) as may be easily realizedfromthe drawingA` It is to be noted'that signal or pilot light` B, whichmay also serve as an emergency light',y can be arranged sogas to signal Ato the operator only if and when a fuse has been blown.

It is further contemplated by this invention to operate the readily removable fuse unitv as a safety key or device which willonly be inserted; in the receptacle when same-Visto be used. K a

While various changes may be made in' the lcates with said hollow extension casing, a fiirst terminal strip leading to `one of said openings, a second terinih'al Strp'lea'ding to the therop'en; ig, a 'terminal elerfientt connected to 4said first terminal Strip, a threaded metal ring member nhectedtofsai'd second terminal strip and dise posed in said bore of -said main casing and coaxial with 'said eir'teiisiii casing, a threaded metal member having an insulated knob at one "en'd p'site end, 's'ad cup-shaped member being adapted to receive one enc 'or a fuse, a springeontaetarrangeti iii said hollow extension atie for contact with 'trie 'other end or said iii-seither sare detailed construction, it shall be understood that J1-4 iii? ' threatie member is inserted through said here threaded engagement with said threaded'rin'g member, whereby said knob ei'i'terids iht said boreand becomes 'substantially with 'said iront face, said spring contact including a 'tferin'i-Y .nal element for connection by means 'of said .fuse with said second terminal strip. u y Gier Sf RICHARD.

CARL YOUNGQUIST.

t .RE'FRNS CTED b The following references Iare of record in vthe file of this patent: 'UNITE-D STATES PATENTS Number

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