Fuse puller

Abstract

Invention details;

Description

fuse puller

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuse puller.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a fuse puller used to remove a fuse from a fuse box. The fuse puller in Patent Document 1 is formed by combining a pair of clamping pieces that are each molded to the same shape.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-315712

[0004] The fuse puller disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires that each clamping piece be individually formed and then assembled by an operator, which results in a problem of increased man-hours during manufacturing.

[0005] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuse puller that is easy to assemble.

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a fuse puller (1) having a base portion (2) extending left and right, a first arm portion (3) extending forward from the left end of the base portion (2), and a second arm portion (4) extending forward from the right end of the base portion, the base portion (2), the first arm portion (3), and the second arm portion (4) being integrally formed from resin, the first arm portion (3) and the second arm portion (4) being capable of assuming a pre-assembly state in which they are separated from each other when viewed from above, and an assembly state in which they cross each other when viewed from above, and a first tip portion (7) provided at the tip of the first arm portion (3) and a second tip portion (10) provided at the tip of the second arm portion (4) being biased in directions toward each other in the assembly state.

[0007] According to this aspect, a fuse puller that is easy to assemble can be provided. Because the base portion, first arm portion, and second arm portion are integrally molded, there is no need to prepare each component during assembly, making the assembly process easier. The fuse puller is molded with the first arm portion and the second arm portion spaced apart from each other, and after molding, the worker manipulates the first arm portion and the second arm portion so that they cross each other. This allows the worker to cross the first arm portion and the second arm portion by pinching them together so that they approach each other.

[0008] In the above aspect, the first tip portion (7) has a first locking claw protruding toward the second tip portion (10), and the second tip portion (10) has a second locking claw protruding toward the first tip portion (7).

[0009] According to this aspect, each locking claw can more stably hold the fuse. Also, if the fuse has a recess, each locking claw can lock into the recess of the fuse, thereby more reliably holding the fuse.

[0010] In the above aspect, the first arm portion (3) has, in order from the base portion (2) side, a first base end portion (5), a first intermediate portion (6) whose width in the vertical direction is smaller than that of the first base end portion (5) and whose upper edge is positioned downwardly relative to the upper edge of the first base end portion (5), and the first tip portion (7) whose width in the vertical direction is larger than that of the first intermediate portion (6); and the second arm portion (4) has, in order from the base portion (2) side, a second base end portion (8), The first arm portion (7) has a second intermediate portion (9) that is formed small and whose lower edge is positioned offset upward relative to the lower edge of the second base end portion (8), and a second tip portion (10) that is formed with a larger width in the vertical direction relative to the second intermediate portion (9). The upper edge of the first tip portion (7) has a first inclined portion (11) that inclines upward from the first intermediate portion (6) toward the tip side of the first arm portion (3), and the lower edge of the second tip portion (10) has a second inclined portion (12) that inclines downward from the second intermediate portion (9) toward the tip side of the second arm portion (4).

[0011] According to this aspect, during assembly, the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion slide against each other, so that the first arm portion is guided downward relative to the second arm portion, and the first tip portion can pass below the second tip portion, which makes it easier for the worker to cross the first arm portion and the second arm portion.

[0012] In the above aspect, in the assembled state, the first base end portion (5) extends forward from the left end of the base portion (2), the first intermediate portion (6) extends forward and to the right from the front end of the first base end portion (5), the first tip portion (7) extends forward from the front end of the first intermediate portion (6), and in the assembled state, the second base end portion (8) extends forward from the right end of the base portion (2), the second intermediate portion (9) extends forward and to the left from the front end of the second base end portion (8), and the second tip portion (10) extends forward from the front end of the second intermediate portion (9).

[0013] According to this aspect, in the assembled state, the positions of the first base end portion and the first tip end portion relative to the first intermediate portion are fixed, and the positions of the first base end portion and the first tip end portion relative to the second intermediate portion are fixed.

[0014] In the above aspect, it is preferable that the upper edge of the first inclined portion (11) is inclined downward toward the right, and the lower edge of the second inclined portion (12) is inclined upward toward the left.

[0015] According to this aspect, the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion are in sliding contact with each other, so that the first arm portion is more reliably guided downward relative to the second arm portion, thereby allowing the first tip portion to pass more smoothly below the second tip portion.

[0016] In the above aspect, the first tip portion (7) has a first guide portion (13) extending toward the second tip portion (10), the second tip portion (10) has a second guide portion (14) extending toward the first tip portion (7), and the first guide portion (13) and the second guide portion (14) are in sliding contact with each other.

[0017] According to this aspect, the first intermediate portion is disposed below the second intermediate portion, and the first guide portion and the second guide portion are in sliding contact with each other, so that the vertical position of the first tip portion relative to the second tip portion is determined, thereby maintaining the shape of the fuse puller.

[0018] In the above aspect, the lower surface of the first guide portion (13) may be inclined upward toward the second tip portion (10), and the upper surface of the second guide portion (14) may be inclined downward toward the first tip portion (7).

[0019] According to this configuration, even if the first tip and the second tip are misaligned in the vertical direction, the first guide portion and the second guide portion slide against each other, causing the first tip and the second tip to move to the appropriate positions.

[0020] In the above-described embodiment, the upper surface of the first intermediate portion and the lower surface of the second intermediate portion are in sliding contact with each other.

[0021] With this configuration, the upward movement of the first tip portion due to the restoring force of the first arm portion and the downward movement of the second tip portion due to the restoring force of the second arm portion are restricted by the upper surface of the first intermediate portion abutting against the lower surface of the second intermediate portion, thereby determining the relative positions of the first arm portion and the second arm portion in the vertical direction.

[0022] In the above aspect, a pair of locking surfaces (21) facing forward may be provided on the left end (17) and right end (18) of the base portion (2), or on the left side (19) of the first base end (5) on the side of the base portion (2) and the right side (20) of the second base end (8) on the side of the base portion (2).

[0023] According to this aspect, when the fuse puller clamps the fuse and the operator pulls the fuse puller backward, the operator's fingers are engaged with a pair of engagement surfaces, preventing the operator's fingers from slipping backward.

[0024] In the above aspect, the first base end (5) is formed in an arc shape that convex toward the right, the second base end (8) is formed in an arc shape that convex toward the left, one of the engagement surfaces (21) is formed on the left side portion (19) of the first base end (5) on the base portion (2) side, and the other of the engagement surface (21) is formed on the right side portion (20) of the second base end (8) on the base portion (2) side.

[0025] According to this aspect, the first and second base ends are formed in an arc shape, which makes it easier for an operator to grip the fuse puller. Furthermore, one of the locking surfaces is formed on the left side of the first base end, which is closer to the base portion, and the other locking surface is formed on the right side of the second base end, which is closer to the base portion, which allows the operator to grip the fuse puller more stably when pulling it rearward.

[0026] It is preferable that the vertical width of the central portion (22) in the left-right direction of the base portion (2) is smaller than the vertical widths of the left end portion (17) and the right end portion (18) of the base portion (2).

[0027] According to this aspect, the pair of arms can be easily bent in the vertical direction, making it easier to assemble the fuse puller.

[0028] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a fuse puller (1) that is easy to assemble.

[0029] 3A perspective view of the fuse puller after assemblyA perspective view showing the tip of the fuse pullerA plan view of the fuse pullerA side view of the fuse pullerA front view of the fuse pullerA VI-VI sectional view of the fuse puller in FIG. 3A VII-VII sectional view of the fuse puller in FIG. 3A perspective view of the fuse puller before assemblyA plan view of the fuse puller in an open stateA plan view showing the fuse puller clamping a fuseA perspective view showing the tip of the fuse puller according to a modified embodimentA cross-sectional view showing the guide portion of the fuse puller according to a modified embodimentA cross-sectional view showing the guide portion of the fuse puller according to a modified embodiment

[0030] The following describes the configuration of the fuse puller 1 of the present invention. The fuse puller 1 of the present invention is used to extract a fuse 23 from a fuse box mounted in a vehicle, etc. Figure 1 shows the fuse puller 1 in an assembled state.

[0031] In the following, for the purpose of explaining the fuse puller 1, the directions are defined as shown in the figure. Note that these directions do not dictate the orientation of the fuse puller 1 when in use. The fuse puller 1 has a base portion 2, a first arm portion 3, and a second arm portion 4. The base portion 2 and the arms 3 and 4 are molded integrally. The fuse puller 1 is flexible and is made of, for example, resin.

[0032] The base 2 is formed in a plate shape facing forward and backward and extending left and right. The width of a central portion 22 of the base 2 in the left-right direction in the vertical direction is smaller than the widths of the left end 17 and the right end 18 of the base 2 in the vertical direction. The upper and lower edges of the base 2 are preferably formed in an arc shape.

[0033] The first arm portion 3 extends from the left end of the base portion 2. The first arm portion 3 has, in order from the base portion 2 side, a first base end portion 5, a first intermediate portion 6, and a first tip end portion 7.

[0034] The first base end 5 extends forward from the left end 17 of the base 2. The first base end 5 has a locking surface 21A facing forward on the left side 19 of the base 2. In this embodiment, the first base end 5 is formed in an arc shape that convexes to the right when viewed from above. As a result, the locking surface 21A faces forward and leftward on the left side 19 of the first base end 5 facing the base 2.

[0035] The first base end portion 5 has a first stopper portion 24 that protrudes rightward from the right side surface thereof. The first stopper portion 24 extends in the up-down direction.

[0036] The first intermediate portion 6 extends forward and to the right from the front end of the first base end portion 5. The vertical width of the first intermediate portion 6 is smaller than the vertical width of the first base end portion 5. The upper edge of the first intermediate portion 6 is positioned offset downward relative to the upper edge of the first base end portion 5. Meanwhile, the lower edge of the first intermediate portion 6 extends horizontally, continuing from the lower edge of the first base end portion 5. The boundary between the upper edge of the first intermediate portion 6 and the upper edge of the first base end portion 5, i.e., the front end of the first base end portion 5, extends vertically.

[0037] The first tip portion 7 extends forward from the first intermediate portion 6. The first tip portion 7 is located to the right of the first base end portion 5. The first tip portion 7 has, at its upper portion, a first inclined portion 11 that inclines upward from the first intermediate portion 6 toward the tip side of the first tip portion 7. As shown in FIG. 2 , the vertical width of the tip side of the first tip portion 7 is greater than the vertical width of the first intermediate portion 6. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 , the first inclined portion 11 inclines downward toward the right.

[0038] The first tip portion 7 has a first guide portion 13 extending leftward on its left side surface. The first guide portion 13 is located at the upper part of the left side surface. As shown in Figure 5, the lower surface of the first guide portion 13 is inclined upward and leftward.

[0039] The first tip portion 7 has a first locking claw 15 that protrudes toward the left. As shown in FIG. 3 , the first locking claw 15 is preferably located on the left side surface of the first tip portion 7, forward of the first guide portion 13. It is also preferable that a plurality of first locking claws 15 be provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 , two first locking claws 15 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the front end of the left side surface of the first tip portion 7. The length of the first locking claws 15 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the first guide portion 13 in the left-right direction. The first base end portion 5 is longer in the front-rear direction than the first intermediate portion 6 and the first tip portion 7.

[0040] 1, the second arm portion 4 extends from the right end of the base portion 2. The second arm portion 4 has, in order from the base portion 2 side, a second base end portion 8, a second intermediate portion 9, and a second tip end portion 10. The second arm portion 4 is formed in 180-degree rotational symmetry with the first arm portion 3 with respect to the central axis of the fuse puller 1, which extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0041] The second base end 8 extends forward from the right end 18 of the base 2. The second base end 8 has a locking surface 21B facing forward on the right side 20 of the base 2. In this embodiment, the second base end 8 is formed in an arc shape that convexes leftward when viewed from above. As a result, the locking surface 21B faces forward and to the right on the right side 20 of the second base end 8 facing the base 2.

[0042] The second base end portion 8 has a second stopper portion 25 that protrudes rightward from the right side surface thereof. The second stopper portion 25 extends in the vertical direction.

[0043] The second base end portion 8 is disposed to the right of the first base end portion 5 with a gap therebetween, and faces the first base end portion 5 in the left-right direction.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3 , the second intermediate portion 9 extends forward and leftward from the front end of the second base end portion 8. As shown in FIG. 4 , the vertical width of the second intermediate portion 9 is smaller than the vertical width of the second base end portion 8. The lower edge of the second intermediate portion 9 is offset upward relative to the lower edge of the second base end portion 8. Meanwhile, the upper edge of the second intermediate portion 9 extends horizontally and is continuous with the upper edge of the second base end portion 8. The boundary between the lower edge of the second intermediate portion 9 and the lower edge of the second base end portion 8, i.e., the front end of the second base end portion 8, extends vertically. The second intermediate portion 9 passes above the first intermediate portion 6. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , the second intermediate portion 9 preferably intersects with the first intermediate portion 6 when viewed from above. The lower surface of the second intermediate portion 9 preferably makes sliding contact with the upper surface of the first intermediate portion 6.

[0045] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the second tip portion 10 extends forward from the front end of the second intermediate portion 9. The second tip portion 10 is located to the left of the second base end portion 8. The second tip portion 10 is located to the left of the first tip portion 7. The second tip portion 10 has a second inclined portion 12 at its lower portion that is inclined downward from the second intermediate portion 9 toward the tip side of the second tip portion 10. The vertical width of the tip side of the second tip portion 10 is formed to be larger than the vertical width of the second intermediate portion 9. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the second inclined portion 12 is inclined upward toward the left.

[0046] 5 and 9, the second tip portion 10 has a second guide portion 14 extending rightward on its right side surface. The second guide portion 14 is located at the bottom of the right side surface. The upper surface of the second guide portion 14 slopes downward toward the right.

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the second tip portion 10 has a second locking claw 16 that protrudes toward the right. The second locking claw 16 is preferably located forward of the second guide portion 14 on the right side surface of the second tip portion 10. It is also preferable that a plurality of second locking claws 16 be provided. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, in this embodiment, two second locking claws 16 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the front end of the right side surface of the second tip portion 10. The length of the second locking claws 16 in the left-right direction is smaller than the length of the second guide portion 14 in the left-right direction.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1 , in the assembled state, the first arm portion 3 is biased leftward by its own restoring force, and the second arm portion 4 is biased rightward by its own restoring force. As a result, the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10 are biased toward each other, and the first base end portion 5 and the second base end portion 8 are biased away from each other. The first guide portion 13 abuts against the right side of the second tip portion 10, and the second guide portion 14 abuts against the left side of the first tip portion 7, thereby determining the relative positions of the first arm portion 3 and the second arm portion 4 in the left-right direction. At this time, the lower surface of the first guide portion 13 abuts against the upper surface of the second guide portion 14, causing the first tip portion 7 to move upward and the second tip portion 10 to move downward. At the same time, the upper surface of the first intermediate portion 6 abuts against the lower surface of the second intermediate portion 9, restricting the movement of the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10. This determines the relative positions of the first arm portion 3 and the second arm portion 4 in the vertical direction.

[0049] In the assembled state, the right end 26 of the first stopper portion 24 and the left end 27 of the second stopper portion 25 are spaced apart. The first locking claw 15 and the second locking claw 16 may be spaced apart or may abut against each other. Unless otherwise specified, the assembled state of the fuse puller 1 in this specification refers to a state in which the first guide portion 13 abuts against the right side surface of the second tip portion 10 and the second guide portion 14 abuts against the left side surface of the first tip portion 7 (closed state).

[0050] As shown in FIG. 8 , in the pre-assembly state of the fuse puller 1, i.e., the molded state, the first arm portion 3 and the second arm portion 4 do not intersect with each other and are separated in the left-right direction when viewed from above. An operator or assembly machine grasps the outer surfaces of the first base end 5 and the second base end 8 and pushes the first base end 5 and the second base end 8 toward each other, thereby changing the fuse puller 1 from the pre-assembly state to the assembled state. At this time, the first inclined portion 11 and the second inclined portion 12 slide against each other, causing the first tip end 7 to move downward relative to the second tip end 10, and the second tip end 10 to move upward relative to the first tip end 7. As a result, the first tip end 7 passes below the second tip end 10 and reaches the right of the second tip end 10. Because the vertical width of the center portion 22 in the left-right direction of the base portion 2 is smaller than the vertical widths of the left end 17 and the right end 18 of the base portion 2, the base portion 2 is prone to twisting. As a result, the first arm portion 3 is more likely to be displaced downward relative to the second arm portion 4. When the first arm portion 3 and the second arm portion 4 are separated in this state, the restoring force of the first arm portion 3 and the second arm portion 4 returns the fuse puller 1 to the assembled state, as shown in FIG.

[0051] Next, a method of using the fuse puller 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10 , the fuse 23 has two terminals 28 arranged in parallel, a fuse element (not shown) connected to the base ends (not shown) of the two terminals 28, and a fuse body 29 covering the base ends of the two terminals 28 and the fuse element. Recessed locking holes 30 are provided on each of the opposing side surfaces of the fuse body 29. A fuse box (not shown) has multiple slots. The tip end 31 of each terminal 28 of the fuse 23 is inserted into a slot in the fuse box, and the fuse body 29 protrudes from the surface of the fuse box. When the fuse 23 is inserted into the slot, the locking holes 30 are exposed to the outside.

[0052] The worker grasps the outer surfaces of the first base end 5 and the second base end 8 of the assembled fuse puller 1 and pushes them in the direction that brings the first base end 5 and the second base end 8 closer to each other. As a result, as shown in Figure 9, the first base end 5 and the second base end 8 move closer to each other against the biasing force, and the first tip end 7 and the second tip end 10 move away from each other.

[0053] 9 , when the first stopper portion 24 and the second stopper portion 25 abut against each other, the distance between the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10 is maximized. This state is called the open state of the fuse puller 1. Because the right end portion 26 of the first stopper portion 24 abuts against the left end portion 27 of the second stopper portion 25, the open state of the fuse puller 1 is stable.

[0054] When the fuse puller 1 is in the open state, a fuse body 29 can be received between the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10. As shown in FIG. 10 , when the fuse body 29 is received between the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10, if the operator loosens the force clamping the outer surfaces of the first base portion 5 and the second base portion 8, the restoring force of the first arm portion 3 and the second arm portion 4 moves the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10 closer to each other, and the first tip portion 7 and the second tip portion 10 clamp the fuse body 29. At this time, the first locking claw 15 and the second locking claw 16 enter and lock into the corresponding locking holes 30. In this state, the operator can hook their fingers on each of the pair of locking surfaces 21 to pull the fuse 23 out of the fuse box. Because each locking surface 21 faces at least forward, the operator can easily hook their fingers on the locking surfaces 21.

[0055] According to the fuse puller 1 of the above embodiment, the base portion 2, the first arm portion 3, and the second arm portion 4 are integrally molded, so there is no need to prepare the components of the fuse puller 1 individually. Therefore, the number of work steps can be reduced compared to when the components are prepared individually.

[0056] During assembly, when the first base end 5 and the second base end 8 are clamped together so that they approach each other, the upper edge of the first inclined portion 11 and the lower edge of the second inclined portion 12 come into sliding contact, allowing the first tip end 7 to pass smoothly below the second tip end 10. This allows the worker or assembly machine to easily bring the fuse puller 1 into the assembled state.

[0057] Furthermore, by providing a pair of locking surfaces 21 at each of the left end 17 and right end 18 of the base portion 2, when an operator pulls out the fuse 23 from the fuse box, the operator's fingers are locked onto each locking surface 21, allowing the fuse 23 to be pulled out stably.

[0058] Although the description of the specific embodiment has been completed above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified. For example, in the above embodiment, the locking surfaces 21A, 21B are inclined so as to face forward and outward to the left and right. In other embodiments, the locking surfaces 21A, 21B may be formed on a plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the locking surfaces 21A, 21B may be formed on the front surfaces of both the left and right ends of the base portion 2.

[0059] The upper edge of the first inclined portion 11 does not have to be inclined downward toward the right, and the upper edge of the second inclined portion 12 does not have to be inclined upward toward the left.

[0060] 11 , the first tip 7 may not have the first inclined portion 11, and the second tip 10 may not have the second inclined portion 12. In this case, the upper edge of the first tip 7 may be inclined downward toward the right, and the lower edge of the second tip 10 may be inclined upward toward the left.

[0061] 12, the first guide portion 13 and the second guide portion 14 may have different shapes. For example, the left end of the first guide portion 13 may have a convex portion that convex toward the left when viewed from the front, and the right end of the second guide portion 14 may have a concave portion that receives the convex portion of the first guide portion 13 when viewed from the front.

[0062] Also, as shown in Figure 13, the left end of the first guide portion 13 may have a rounded convex portion that convex toward the left when viewed from the front, and the second guide portion 14 may have a rounded concave portion when viewed from the front that receives the convex portion of the first guide portion 13.

[0063] 1: Fuse puller 2: Base portion 3: First arm portion 4: Second arm portion 5: First base end portion 6: First intermediate portion 7: First tip portion 8: Second base end portion 9: Second intermediate portion 10: Second tip portion 11: First inclined portion 12: Second inclined portion 13: First guide portion 14: Second guide portion 15: First locking claw 16: Second locking claw 17: Left end portion 18: Right end portion 19: Left side portion 20: Right side portion 21A, B: Locking surface 22: Central portion