1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fuse holder for holding a fuse link comprising a substantially tubular casing and a tubular carrier for receiving the fuse link, the carrier and the casing being made of an electrically isolating plastic material. More particularly the invention relates to a fuse holder comprising a foot contact on the inside of the closed bottom side of the casing for electrically contacting the first of the two metal caps of the fuse link, the foot contact is extended out of the casing to form a first contact lug, a side contact within,. the tubular casing extends out of the casing to form a second contact lug, a bayonet-type lock between the carrier and the casing, a contact bridge within the carrier for electrically connecting the second of the two metal caps of the fuse link to the side contact when the carrier together with the fuse link is locked into the casing by the bayonet-type lock, and a spring received between the inside of the closed front side of the carrier and the second metal cap for urging the first metal cap against the foot contact in the locked position of the carrier.
2. Prior Art
In case of the known fuse holders of the aforementioned type, the contact bridge is normally made from a one or multiple part sleeve, which forms both the mechanical mounting for the fuse link and simultaneously connects the second metal cap to the side contact of the holder. In such cases the contact bridge also serves as the mechanical mounting means for the carrier within the casing. In more recent constructions, due to worldwide regulations, provision has to be made that during the replacement of a blown fuse link, no current carrying part can make contact directly or indirectly with the human body. It is obvious to fulfill this requirement, by constructing the carrier to be inserted into the casing so that it extends as far as possible over the fuse link so as to prevent any contact with human fingers. Simultaneously, fixing the carrier within the casing is done by a thread or a bayonet-type joint directly formed into the plastic material as for instance shown in the German Offenlegungsschrift 32 46 643. Similar solutions are used in commercially available holders.