Patent ID: 7428132
Filing Date: 2008-09-23
Classification: H01H,H02H

Abstract:
1. A protective device comprising: a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to at least one load, a test circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the test circuit being configured to generate a simulated fault signal to the fault detection circuit in response to a user stimulus; a fault detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to detect at least one fault condition, the at least one fault condition including the simulated fault signal; a circuit interrupter assembly coupled to the fault detection circuit, the circuit interrupter assembly including a set of movable contacts configured to open in response to the fault detection circuit in a tripped state, the plurality of line terminals being decoupled from the plurality of load terminals; a reset mechanism coupled to the circuit interrupter assembly, the reset mechanism being configured to close the movable contacts to reestablish electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state; and a timing mechanism connected to the reset mechanism, the timing mechanism being configured to mechanically disable the reset mechanism in response to a failure by the circuit interrupter assembly to open the set of movable contacts within a predetermined period of time after the commencement of the at least one fault condition.