GFCI receptacle having plug blocking means
US7026895B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/338
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shaped member having at least one window is located within a GFCI protected receptacle and is operated by movement of the contact arm of the GFCI to assume a first position to block at least one plug receiving opening in the receptacle and a second position which locates the window to allow the prong of a plug to freely enter the face of the receptacle. In operation, when the circuit interrupting device goes into a tripped state, the contact arm moves down to open the circuit. The downward movement of the contact arm, acting through a connecting linkage causes the shaped member to move to the first position, that of blocking at least one opening in the face of the receptacle. Resetting the circuit interrupting device by pressing in and then releasing the reset button of the GFCI causes the main contacts in the circuit interrupting device to close by the upward movement of the contact arm. As the contact arm moves up, it moves the connecting linkage to position the window of the shaped member to allow the prongs of a plug to freely enter the openings in the face of the receptacle. GFCI's normally have two separate sets of internally located contacts known as bridge contacts, one s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.