Electric circuit interrupter
US6515564B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H83/226
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.