Electrical circuit interrupter

Details Electrical circuit interrupter Electrical circuit interrupter

2005-09-27

2005-09-27

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)

Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr

Electromagnetically actuated switches

Automatic circuit-interrupting devices

C361S042000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06949995

ABSTRACT:
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for opening a circuit when a ground fault has been detected in an attached circuit includes a current path structure containing no more than one splice and no more than one pair of contacts. A cantilevered movable contact arm and an activation device that moves in a linear fashion can be provided to open the current path structure when a ground fault is detected by the GFCI. In addition, the GFCI can include a transformer boat and solenoid bobbin that are snap fit onto a circuit board and located adjacent each other to provide rigidity to the circuit board and GFCI. The GFCI can be tested by a test switch that includes an integral cantilevered extension from an electrical terminal disposed over a resistor such that the cantilevered extension can be bent by a test button to contact a lead of the resistor and simulate a ground fault condition for the GFCI. Furthermore, the GFCI can include a housing with an outer portion that defines a uniform width channel adjacent a wire contact point to allow quick and easy connection to ground wires.

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