Patent ID: 9030789
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: H01H,H01R,H02H,H04L,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A protective wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system including a plurality of AC power transmitting wires coupled to a source of AC power, the device comprising: a housing including a front cover member having a front major surface and a rear cover member having a rear major surface arranged substantially in parallel with the front major surface, the front major surface including at least one set of user-accessible apertures disposed therein, the user-accessible apertures being configured to accommodate male contact elements from a corded AC plug, the rear major surface including a portion substantially defining a line terminal interface region; at least one set of receptacle terminals configured to align with the at least one set of user-accessible apertures, the at least one set of receptacle terminals being configured to receive corresponding ones of the male contact elements; an electric circuit assembly at least partially disposed on at least one printed circuit board (PCB), the electric circuit assembly including a sensor assembly coupled to a fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit being configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to at least one fault condition propagating in the electrical distribution system or in response to a simulated fault condition, the electric circuit assembly further including a fault actuator responsive to the fault detection signal; a circuit interrupter including a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the at least one set of receptacle terminals, the plurality of first contacts being electrically connected to the plurality of second contacts in a reset state, the circuit interrupter being configured to decouple the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts in response to a fault actuator stimulus to effect a tripped state; and a plurality of line terminal interface contacts disposed in the line terminal interface region, each line terminal interface contact being connected to a termination structure coupled to the rear body member, a conductive pathway being configured to interconnect the termination structure and a corresponding one of the first set of contacts via the sensor assembly, the conductive pathway including a conductive structure at least partially disposed in the rear cover member and mounted to the at least one PCB, the plurality of line terminal interface contacts being configured to mate with a removably attachable electrical adapter connected to the plurality of AC power transmitting wires to provide AC power to the electric circuit assembly.