Cutout cover

{
  "publication_number": "US9916956B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Cutout cover",
  "abstract": "A fuse cutout assembly cover including an insulator cover end for positioning over a cutout assembly insulator and including a shield end for shielding a cutout upper contact assembly. An intermediate portion between the insulator cover end and the shield end can have detents for retaining the cover in place on the fuse cutout assembly. The fuse cutout cover can include a plurality of hole and slot arrangements to provide multiple access sites for an installation tool such as a shotgun stick or other hot stick tool. Methods of manufacturing fuse cutout assembly covers are also disclosed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fuse cutout cover for a fuse cutout assembly including a fuse and an upper contact assembly for engaging an upper end of the fuse, the cover comprising: an insulator cover configured for covering at least an upper end of the insulator; a contact assembly shield configured for shielding the upper contact assembly; and an intermediate portion operatively connecting the insulator cover and the contact assembly shield and molded as one piece of material with the insulator cover and contact assembly shield, the intermediate portion including at least one detent configured for catching on a portion of the fuse cutout assembly for retaining the fuse cutout cover on the fuse cutout assembly; the contact assembly shield having a top wall portion and side wall portions defining, the mouth opening in a direction away from the insulator cover, each of the top wall portion and side wall portions having holes therein sized and shaped for receiving a hot stick tool to manipulate the fuse cutout cover.",
    "2. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upper wall portion is generally horizontal and the side wall portions extend down from the upper wall portion.",
    "3. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 2, wherein the side wall portions extend in respective directions away from the intermediate portion and away from each other.",
    "4. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein the side wall portions include slots adjacent said holes, the holes and slots defining hole and slot arrangements, each hole and slot arrangement including one of said holes and at least one of said slots, each hole and slot arrangement being configured for gripping by the hot stick tool, the hole and slot arrangements being arranged with respect to each other to receive the hot stick tool from different angles.",
    "5. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mouth has an upper peripheral edge margin section, the upper peripheral edge margin section including at least two of said holes, the upper peripheral edge margin section including slots adjacent said at least two holes, said holes and slots defining hole and slot arrangements, each hole and slot arrangement including one of said holes and at least one of said slots, the hole and slot arrangements being arranged with respect to each other in different orientations for receiving the hot stick tool from different angles.",
    "6. A fuse cutout cover for a fuse cutout assembly including an insulator, a fuse, and an upper contact assembly for engaging an upper end of the fuse, the cover comprising: an insulator cover configured for covering at least a portion of an upper end of the insulator; a contact assembly shield configured for shielding at least a portion of the upper contact assembly; an intermediate portion operatively connecting the insulator cover and the contact assembly shield, the intermediate portion including at least one wall section and at least one detent configured to engage the fuse cutout assembly to retain the cutout cover on the fuse cutout assembly in a position in which the insulator cover portion covers at least said portion of the upper end of the insulator and the contact assembly shield shields at least said portion of the upper contact assembly, the at least one wall section being formed of a first material, and the at least one detent being formed of a second material different from the first material.",
    "7. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second material is softer than the first material.",
    "8. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second material is more pliable than the first material.",
    "9. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a throat including said at least one wall section, said at least one wall section including an upper wall section and opposite side wall sections extending downward from the upper wall section.",
    "10. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 9, wherein the at least one detent is located on an inner surface of one of the side wall sections.",
    "11. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 10, wherein the at least one detent is configured to snap into retaining position with respect to the fuse cutout assembly.",
    "12. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 10, wherein the throat is configured for fitting over a sleet hood of the fuse cutout assembly.",
    "13. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 9, wherein the at least one detent comprises a first detent and a second detent, the first detent being located on an inner surface of one of the side wall sections, and the second detent being located on an inner surface of the other of the side wall sections.",
    "14. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein the contact assembly shield defines, the mouth opening in a direction away from the insulator cover, the mouth being configured to permit the upper end of the fuse to pivot away from the upper contact assembly when the cutout fuse cover is installed on the cutout fuse assembly.",
    "15. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 14, wherein the mouth has a peripheral edge margin including peripheral edge margin sections extending in different planes, the peripheral edge margin sections including holes and slots configured for gripping by an installation tool and arranged for receiving the installation tool from different angles.",
    "16. A fuse cutout cover as set forth in claim 6, wherein the insulator cover has a split to permit the insulator cover to be resiliently deformed to receive portions of the cutout assembly into the insulator cover, the split including plural living hinges defining locations where the insulator cover deforms."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates generally to covers for fuse cutout assemblies employed in electric energy distribution systems and more particularly to a cover for protecting the cutout from invasion by wildlife, such as birds or squirrels which can result in death of the animal and/or interruption of electrical service.\n\nUtility companies, particularly electric companies, employ cutout assemblies which include removable fuse tubes or fuse holders in electric energy distribution systems. The devices, usually energized to 7200 volts, generally include an insulator mounted on a bracket having spaced contact assemblies. A lower contact assembly has mount structures, and an upper contact assembly includes an integral latching member, usually spring loaded. A fuse holder with an internal fuse link includes a lower end with opposing contacts adapted to attach to the mounts. The upper end of the fuse tube has a latching contact end shaped for engagement with the upper contact assembly of the bracket. The fuse holder is removably positioned both physically and electrically in parallel with the insulator.\n\nIn an overcurrent situation, the fuse link melts, causing the fuse holder to drop and pivot downward. In order to replace the fuse link, the fuse holder has to be removed from the cutout body. Removal of the fuse holder is generally accomplished by engaging the operating end of an extended hot stick with the fuse holder near the bottom. The fuse holder is lifted out of the cutout assembly and the fuse link replaced.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01H 85/25",
    "B29C 45/1676",
    "B29C 45/2673",
    "H01H 31/006",
    "H01H 31/127",
    "H01H 69/02",
    "H01H 85/0013",
    "H01H 85/0026",
    "H01H 85/175"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B29C 45/16",
    "B29C 45/26",
    "H01B 17/58",
    "H01H 69/02",
    "H01H 85/00",
    "H01H 85/175",
    "H01H 85/25",
    "H02B 1/06",
    "H02H 5/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Gato Assets LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "James B. Rauckman",
    "David W. McGuire"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-09-26",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-13",
  "priority_date": "2015-09-24",
  "application_number": "US-201615276306-A",
  "family_id": "61525627",
  "cited_by_count": 10,
  "citations": [
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  ]
}