Circuit protection device

摘要

A circuit protection device (31) suitable for surface mounting on a substrate (19). The device has a laminar PTC resistive element (3) which is composed of a conductive polymer composition and is positioned between first and second electrodes (5,7). Attached to the first electrode is a first electrical terminal (33) containing an electrically conductive material which has a first attachment portion (35) connected to a first flexible portion (39) by means of a first connection portion (47). At least part of the first flexible portion is free of attachment to the first electrode. The first attachment portion is coplanar with at least one of the first connection portion and the first flexible portion. The first attachment portion may contain a slot (49) and a solid hinge portion (51). When the device is mounted on a substrate by means of a mounting component (41) extending from the first terminal, the first flexible portion allows contraction and expansion of the conductive polymer despite the rigid attachment of the mounting component onto the substrate.