Patent ID: 7439833
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A circuit interrupting device comprising: a first electrical conductor adapted to electrically connect to a source of electric current, a second electrical conductor, and a third electrical conductor, wherein the first, second, and third electrical conductors are positioned to electrically connect to at least one user accessible receptacle; at least one movable bridge electrically connected to the first electrical conductor and movable between a closed position to provide electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and at least one of the second and third electrical conductors and an open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors; a blocking linkage having at least one blocking surface disposed thereon and configured to move between a first position to substantially align the at least one blocking surface with the at least one user accessible receptacle thereby preventing user access thereto and a second position to substantially misalign the at least one blocking surface with the at least one user accessible receptacle thereby permitting user access thereto; a resilient cantilever having a distal end operatively coupled to the blocking linkage, wherein the at least one movable bridge is configured to engage the resilient cantilever when in the closed position to move the resilient cantilever to a stressed position thereby moving the blocking linkage to the second position and to disengage the resilient cantilever when in the open position to move the resilient cantilever to an unstressed position thereby moving the blocking linkage to the first position; at least one reset arm having a latch disposed thereon and configured to move between a reset position causing the latch to move the at least one movable bridge to the closed position and a tripped position causing the latch to disengage the at least one movable bridge upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position and movement of the resilient cantilever to the unstressed position to move the blocking linkage to the first position to substantially align the at least one blocking surface with the at least one user accessible receptacle; and a circuit interrupter configured to move the at least one reset arm to the tripped position upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors, wherein, upon resolution of the predetermined condition, movement of the at least one reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position is permitted which causes the latch to reorient the at least one movable bridge to the closed position, thereby reestablishing electrical continuity between the electrical conductors and moving the resilient cantilever to the stressed position which moves the blocking linkage to the second position to substantially misalign the at least one blocking surface with the at least one user accessible receptacle.