Patent ID: 6803535
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A circuit breaker comprising:a housing; a pair of contacts comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact; an operating member pivotally mounted for movement between a closed position and an open position and having a handle extending outside the housing; a contact arm carrying the movable contact at a first end and coupled to the operating member at a second end; a trip mechanism comprising a thermal/magnetic trip device having a tripped state and an untripped state; a cradle pivotally mounted for movement between a latched position in which the cradle is retained by the trip mechanism in the untripped state, and an unlatched position to which the cradle moves when the trip mechanism goes to the tripped state; an operating spring between the cradle and the contact arm biasing the contact arm to a closed state in which the movable contact engages the fixed contact when the operating member is in the closed state and the cradle is latched, and otherwise biasing the contact arm to an open state in which the pair of contacts are separated; and a trip indicator comprising: an indicator window in the housing; a trip indicating member carrying a trip indicia; and an indicator mount mounting the trip indicating member for movement between a tripped position in which the trip indicia is visible through the indicator window and an untripped position in which the trip indicia is not visible through the indicator window; the cradle having an engagement member engaging the trip indicating member and moving the trip indicating member to the tripped position as the cradle moves to the unlatched position; and the operating member having a reset member engaging and moving the trip indicating member to the untripped position as the operating member is moved to the closed position.