Patent Publication Number: US-2016240340-A1

Title: Thermal circuit breaker

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of Lamerdin et al., U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/117,780, filed on Feb. 18, 2015, and entitled “Thermal Circuit Breaker.” The entire contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     SEQUENTIAL LISTING 
     Not applicable 
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     The present subject matter relates to electrical circuit breakers, and more particularly to circuit breakers using snap-action thermostatic discs, which allow for illuminated trip indication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a typical autoreset snap-action thermal circuit protector, a curved or cupped, current carrying, thermostatic blade is mounted in a housing so that the blade can snap between two oppositely cupped configurations in which the contacts are closed or the contacts are open, depending on the temperature of the blade. With the contacts closed, electrical current through the blade above a predefined level and duration generates heat, which raises the temperature of the blade to a point at which the blade will snap into a configuration having the contacts open, thereby breaking the electrical circuit. As the blade cools off to a lower reset temperature, the thermostatic blade will automatically snap back to a configuration having the contacts closed and thereby re-establishing electrical continuity in the circuit. 
     Typical manually resettable circuit breakers employ a similar cupped thermostatic blade having a relatively low reset temperature. Such manually resettable circuit breakers may require the use of a reset plate and associated components to apply a force to the blade to cause the blade to reset to a contacts-closed position. The reset plate and associated components assist a user in applying a relatively high force to the blade without interfering with trip-free operation. Trip-free operation refers to the quality of the contacts being allowed to open even if the reset mechanism is held in the actuated position. The inclusion of a reset plate results in a relatively complex configuration of components in such circuit breakers. In addition, thermostatic blades with wide temperature differentials are complex to manufacture. Further, automatically resettable thermostatic blades may use a relatively narrow temperature differential between the contacts-open position and the contacts-closed (reset) position. 
     Manually resettable circuit breakers do not always include an external indication of the position of the contacts, either open or closed. The position of an external reset actuator mechanism (such as a reset button) may be the same regardless of the status of the circuit breaker contacts or the energization of the electrical circuit. Mechanical external reset actuators that do indicate the status of the contacts may not be visible under low light conditions and do not always indicate the energization status of the circuit. Therefore, when a user views a typical circuit breaker that does not have an external indication of the position of the contacts, the user is not able to perceive whether or not the main circuit is electrically “hot.” 
     However, in the case of a circuit breaker having a light for indicating status, a user may perceive whether the breaker is tripped open when the light is illuminated. Furthermore, if the light remains unlit then the circuit is not electrically “hot.” Further, if the breaker is in the closed position, the light will always be unlit and will impart no information regarding the “on” or “off” status of the circuit. Other types of manually resettable circuit breakers may employ an automatically resettable thermostatic blade along with a spring loaded, insulating flag. The spring loaded, insulating flag rotates between the contacts when the contacts are opened and prevents the re-closing of the contacts. The circuit breaker may be manually reset by rotating a lever attached to the spring-loaded flag that then removes the flag from between the contacts, allowing the contacts to close. 
     When using a manually resettable circuit breaker with a spring loaded, insulating flag, the insulating member may drag across the contacts. The dragging motion of the insulating flag may deteriorate or contaminate the contacts during repeated cycling when using this type of circuit breaker. For these and other reasons a trip free, automatic or manually resettable thermal circuit breaker that provides an improved seal and/or indication of circuit breaker status would be an improvement in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect, an electric current responsive circuit breaker device includes a housing formed from electrically insulating material and the housing has an internal compartment and an open end. The circuit breaker further includes a thermostatic snap-action blade and first and second electrically conductive contacts such that the first contact has a stationary position disposed within the internal compartment and the second contact is disposed on the thermostatic snap-action blade. Further, the first and second contacts are coupled such that electric current flows through the contacts when the temperature of the thermostatic snap-action blade is below a threshold level, and the thermostatic snap-action blade bends to uncouple the second contact from the first contact when the temperature of the thermostatic snap-action blade is at or above the threshold level so that electric current does not flow through the first and second contacts after the first and second contacts are uncoupled. The circuit breaker device further includes a flexible gasket and a cover interconnectedly arranged with the open end of the housing such that the flexible gasket is arranged between the cover and the housing, and the gasket has a throughhole disposed on an interior portion thereof. 
     According to another aspect, a thermally responsive circuit breaker device includes a housing formed from electrically insulating material, the housing having an internal compartment, a bottom wall, and a plurality of sidewalls. Further, the circuit breaker device includes first and second electrically conductive contacts and a thermostatic snap-action blade, such that the first electrically conductive contact is disposed on the bottom wall of the housing and the second electrically conductive contact is disposed on the thermostatic snap-action blade. The blade of the circuit breaker has first and second positions such that in the first position, the first and second contacts are coupled so that electricity is conducted, and in the second position, the first and second contacts are uncoupled so that electricity is not conducted. Further still, the thermostatic snap-action blade is in the first position when the blade has a temperature below a threshold level, and the blade snaps to the second position in response to the temperature rising above the threshold level. The circuit breaker device further includes a raised area and a flexible gasket having an interior flange such that the interior flange surrounds at least a portion of the raised area and is fixedly attached thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a manually resettable circuit breaker shown with contacts in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the manually resettable circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  shown with the contacts in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the manually resettable circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  shown with a manual reset button depressed; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a manually resettable circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  with contacts in a closed position and having a lighted status indication circuit shown in a non-operating (unlighted) mode; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the manually resettable circuit breaker of  FIG. 4  with the contacts in an open position and having the lighted status indication circuit in the operating (lighted) mode; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an automatically resettable circuit breaker shown with contacts in a closed position; 
         FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the automatically resettable circuit breaker of  FIG. 6  shown with the contacts in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a manual reset lever; 
         FIG. 8  is a top isometric view of a flexible gasket having a flanged hole for use with the manually resettable circuit breakers seen in  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a lighted status indication circuit for use with the manually resettable circuit breaker of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an automatically resettable circuit breaker with contacts in a closed position and having a lighted status indication circuit in a non-operating (unlighted) mode; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the automatically resettable circuit breaker of  FIG. 10  with contacts in an open position and having the lighted status indication circuit in an operating (lighted) mode; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a manually resettable circuit breaker; and 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a housing for a manually resettable circuit breaker with a cover removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As seen herein a circuit breaker using a current carrying thermostatic, snap-action blade is shown and described. Various embodiments of the circuit breaker employ an improved flexible seal used with a non-rotational reset button. The circuit breaker may selectively include a lighted indication device to visually provide the state of the electrical circuit and contacts. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a manually resettable circuit breaker  30  is shown. The manually resettable circuit breaker  30  in this embodiment has a generally cup-shaped housing  32  molded of electrically insulating material, having a bottom wall  34  and four sidewalls  36  encompassing a volume and forming an open-ended, roughly rectangular internal compartment. The generally cup-shaped housing may be molded from an electrically insulating material such as plastic or another suitable electrically insulating material. Two electrical terminals  38  and  40  pass through the bottom wall  34  of the housing  32 . A cupped thermostatic, snap-action blade  42  is attached as a cantilever to terminal  38  with a movable electrical contact  44  attached to the free end of the blade. The snap-action blade  42  is able to move into and out of engagement with a stationary electrical contact  46  mounted on terminal  40 . The thermostatic, snap-action blade  42  may be formed into a cupped configuration such that the blade  42  will snap between a generally downward concave shape as shown in  FIG. 1  and a generally upward concave shape as shown in  FIG. 2  depending on the temperature of the blade  42 . 
     In another example embodiment, an automatically resettable circuit breaker  48  as seen in  FIG. 6  may be provided. In this example, the snap-action blade  42  of the automatically resettable circuit breaker  48  may be formed such that blade  42  snaps from a first, contacts-engaged (closed) position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , to a second, contacts-disengaged (open) position, as shown in  FIG. 6A , upon the blade  42  reaching a preselected threshold temperature. The thermostatic blade  42  may then snap back to the first, contacts-closed position ( FIG. 6 ) upon cooling to a lower preselected threshold temperature. As seen in  FIGS. 6 and 6A , the automatically resettable circuit breaker  48  may also be provided with an environmental seal in the form of a flexible gasket  50 , which extends over a top portion of the open-ended housing  32 . The flexible gasket  50  may be captured by a cover  52  attached to the housing  32  by rivets, for example, or any other suitable attachment means. 
     Referring ahead to  FIG. 12 , another example embodiment of a manually resettable circuit breaker  54  is shown. In this example embodiment, two mounting flanges  56  protrude laterally from opposing sidewalls  36  and the mounting flanges  56  are provided with mounting through holes  58 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the manually resettable circuit breaker  30 , in this embodiment, has a reset feature that includes manual reset lever  60 , reset button  62 , and corresponding interconnectedly arranged flexible gasket  64  and cover  66 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the manual reset lever  60  in this example is formed from a suitable resilient spring material, such as a 300 series stainless steel or another metal sheet with good spring action. As seen in  FIG. 7 , the manual reset lever  60  has a horizontal rectangular base  68 , several legs  70  and  72  extending generally perpendicularly from the horizontal base  68 . Flexible leg  74  extends generally laterally from the horizontal base  68  and is generally perpendicular to the length of the horizontal base  68 . The flexible leg  74  is also bent at an acute angle back toward the base  68 . Legs  70  are each provided with a tab  128  adjacent to and extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the free distal ends. Legs  72  are positioned on and extend downwardly from the distal ends of base  68 . Legs  72  are held upright within slots  118 ,  120  (see  FIG. 13 ) formed in the opposite sidewalls  36  of housing  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , flexible gasket  64  is provided with an interior flanged throughhole  78  positioned centrally at the gasket  64  to provide an environmental seal in the manually resettable circuit breaker  30 ,  FIGS. 1-5 . Flanged throughhole  78  of gasket  64 ,  FIG. 8 , allows the generally cylindrical reset button  62 ,  FIGS. 1-5 , to penetrate the gasket  64  by way of the flanged throughhole  78 . The generally cylindrical reset button  62  may be formed of an electrically insulting material, such as thermoplastic, thermoset plastic, or another polymer, and such material may be opaque, translucent, or transparent. The gasket  64  may be held firmly on button outer diameter  112 ,  FIGS. 1-5 , by formed flexible flange  80  integral to the inner diameter of the flanged gasket throughhole  78 ,  FIG. 8 . With this configuration, circuitry providing lighted circuit breaker status indication, described with reference to  FIGS. 4, 5 and 9 , is able to penetrate the gasket  64  and be installed within reset button  62  by way of the gasket throughhole  78 . This configuration not only allows circuitry for providing lighted circuit breaker status indication to penetrate the gasket, but also provides an exceptional environmental seal. The interface between the gasket  64  and the button outer diameter  112  produced by flexible flange  80  may provide a superior environmental seal as compared to previous gasket designs. Additionally, the combination of the non-rotational action of the cylindrical reset button  62  with the flexible flange  80  coupling the gasket  64  to the button outer diameter  112  provides for an advantageous environmental seal. 
     Gasket  64 ,  FIGS. 1-5 , also extends over the open end of housing  32  and is captured by circuit breaker cover  66  having an interior, centrally located upwardly flanged throughhole  126  with spray shielding lip  116  around the top inner diameter and accommodating reset button  62 . The cover  66  may be attached to the housing by any suitable means, such as rivets. The inner diameter of lip  116  of cover  66  is smaller than the larger external diameter  112  of reset button  62 . Therefore, the larger external diameter  112  of reset button  62  is enclosed by upwardly flanged cover throughhole  126 . The lip  116  retains the button  62 , preventing the reset button  62  from springing or falling out of the upwardly flanged cover throughhole  126  when the button  62  moves axially through said hole  126 . The lip  116  further provides additional environmental shielding against high-pressure spray. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  may provide externally illuminated trip indication through employment of a light source  94  such as a bi-directional LED, or another suitable light source such as an incandescent or neon light source. The light source  94 , in this example, is housed within the reset button  62 , wherein the reset button  62  may be formed of a transparent or translucent material. The housing of the light source  94  within the reset button  62  is made possible by the improved design of the gasket  64 . The flexible flanges  80  and the improved environmental seal provided thereby, while allowing the reset button  62  to penetrate the gasket  64 , further allow the light source  94  to be housed within the body of the reset button  62  itself. Housing the light source  94  within the reset button  62  allows for increased visibility of the light source  94  and improved operation of the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  having externally illuminated trip indication. Light source  94  is kept in electrical contact with terminals  38  and  40  through an electrical circuit formed by light source leads  96 , springs  102 ,  104 , and terminal leads  106  not in direct contact with blade  42 , as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The electrical circuit formed may also include an additional resistor  112  selectively positionable within the circuit  84  to regulate the current through the light source  94 . 
       FIG. 13  shows the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  with the cover  19  removed. The slots  118 ,  120  for holding the legs  72  in place are arranged on opposing sidewalls  36 . In the embodiment shown, the slots  118 ,  120  are on one end of the opposing sidewalls  36 , but may be arranged elsewhere along a length of the sidewalls  36 . Further depicted in  FIG. 13  are spring slots  122 ,  124  for holding the springs  102 ,  104  in place. The spring slots  122 ,  124  are arranged along opposing sidewalls  36  similar to the slots  118 ,  120 . In the embodiment depicted here, the spring slots  122 ,  124  are near the middle of each opposing sidewall  36 , although the spring slots  122 ,  124  may be arranged elsewhere along a length of the sidewalls  36 . Both the slots  118 ,  120  and the spring slots  122 ,  124  may be disposed on either pair of opposing sidewalls  36  or on adjacent sidewalls  36 . Alternatively, the slots  118 ,  120  and the spring slots  122 ,  124  may be disposed on only one of the sidewalls  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , blade  42  is in the first, contacts-closed position with tabs  128  against the edge of the blade. When the temperature of the blade  42  reaches the preselected snap threshold temperature created by Joule heating due to a current overload of a prescribed level and duration, the blade will snap to the second, contacts-open position shown in  FIG. 2 . When the thermostatic blade  42  snaps to the open position,  FIG. 2 , the resilient spring forces of the manual reset lever  60  will cause the tabs  128  to rotate under the edge of the blade  42 , keeping the contacts in the open position after the blade  42  cools down and attempts to snap back to its first, contacts-closed position. When manually resettable circuit breaker  30  is in the second, contacts-open position, as seen in  FIG. 5 , an increase in voltage drop between the open contacts  44 ,  46  allows a small electrical current to pass in either direction between terminal  38  and terminal  40  through the lighted status indication circuit  84  as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this example embodiment, the lighted status indication circuit  84 , as seen in  FIG. 9 , is formed by the electrical coupling of terminal  38 , first terminal lead  108 , first spring  102 , first light source lead  96 , light source  94 , second light source lead  98 , second spring  104 , resistor  112 , second terminal lead  110 , and terminal  40 . The electrical current resulting from the voltage drop enables the light source  94  to be visibly illuminated within the transparent or translucent reset button  62  thereby providing lighted indication of the trip at the circuit breaker  30  so long as sufficient supply voltage is applied to terminals  38  and  40 . Some current always passes through the circuit powering the light source  94  regardless of the open or closed status of the contacts because the circuit powering the light source  94  is in parallel with the bimetal and contacts circuit. The voltage across the open contacts will be dependent on the voltage of the main circuit. For example, a typical open circuit supply voltage for the main circuit is from about 10 V to 50 V. In a further example, the light source  94  will be visibly illuminated at a typical open circuit supply voltage for the main circuit of approximately 15 V with a current of approximately 0.13 milliamperes through the lighted status indication circuit. 
     To reset the manually resettable circuit breaker  30 , reset button  62  is depressed as shown in  FIG. 3 , causing gasket flange  80  to flex gasket  64  so that the button  62  presses on leg  74  of reset lever  60  through gasket throughhole  78 . When the reset button  62  presses on leg  74 , the lever  60  rotates against the spring force provided by legs  72 , held within the slots  118 ,  120  (See  FIG. 13 ) of housing  32 , and forcing distal end of leg  74  to move legs  70  and slide tabs  128  out from underneath the blade  42 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , when slide tabs  128  move out from underneath the blade  42 , the blade  42  is allowed to snap back into the first, contacts-closed position. Subsequent release of reset button  62  allows the spring force of reset lever  60  and gasket  64  on the reset button  62  to return the circuit breaker  30  to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . To reset the manually resettable circuit breaker  30 , reset button  62  is depressed as shown in  FIG. 3 , causing gasket flange  80  to flex gasket  64  so that the button  62  presses on leg  74  of reset lever  60  through gasket hole  78 . When the reset button  62  presses on leg  74 , the lever  60  rotates against the spring force provided by legs  72 , held within the slots  118 ,  120  (See  FIG. 13 ) of housing  32 , and forcing distal end of leg  74  to move legs  70  and slide tabs  128  out from underneath the blade  42 . If the lighted status indication circuit  84  is present, then as reset button  62  is depressed the light source  94  and light source lead  96 ,  98  move with the reset button  62 , compressing the springs  102 ,  104 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , when slide tabs  128  move out from underneath the blade  42 , the blade  42  is allowed to snap back into the first, contacts-closed position. Subsequent release of reset button  62  allows the spring force of reset lever  60  and gasket  64  on the reset button  62  to return the circuit breaker  30  to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The reset button  62 , in this example, may further include a bottom lip  86  and contacting surface  88  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , on a lower portion of the reset button  62 . The bottom lip  86  may contact the flexible flange  80  at a point where the flexible flange  80  meets the button outer diameter  112 . The contacting surface  88  of the bottom lip  86  applies the force of the actuated reset button  62  to press the reset lever  60 , as seen in FIG.  3 . The contacting surface  88  may be angled such that the contacting surface  88  aligns and couples with the reset lever  60  to allow for the smooth transfer of force from the reset button  62  to the reset lever  60  as the horizontal base  68  of the reset lever  60  rotates in a generally downward direction,  FIG. 3 . Further still, the reset feature may alternatively include a switch, a slide, or another suitable mechanical feature for actuating the reset lever  60  in place of, or in addition to, the reset button  62 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 8 , the gasket  64  in this example includes an annular ring  82  next to and surrounding the circular vertical flexible flange  80  that joins the gasket  64  to the button outer diameter  112 . While the flexible flange  80  extends in a vertical direction relative to the base surface of the gasket  64 , the annular ring  82  extends below the base surface of the gasket  64  in a generally curved shape extending from an inner edge to an outer edge of the annular ring  82 . The annular ring  82  may allow the gasket  64  better flexibility during axial movement of the reset button  62 . During depression of the reset button  62 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the generally curved shape of the annular ring  82  may be altered for the purposes of providing flexion of the gasket  64 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , a portion of the annular ring  82 , in this example, straightens to provide the gasket with a range of motion. Furthermore, the spring force produced by the gasket  64  may be increased by the inclusion of the annular ring  82  in the gasket  64 . The portion of the annular ring  82  that straightens to allow a modified shape during depression of the reset button  62 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , may provide increased spring force as the annular ring  82  returns to a generally curved shape as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     When the circuit breaker  30  is in the first, contacts-closed position,  FIG. 4 , a reduced voltage drop across the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  is caused by the closed position of the parallel circuit formed by blade  42  and contacts  44  and  46 . The reduction in voltage drop across the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  reduces the current through the parallel lighted status indication circuit  84 ,  FIG. 9 , such that the light source  94  is no longer visibly illuminated, even with normal supply voltage applied to terminals  38  and  40 . 
     Another example embodiment of an automatic reset circuit breaker  114  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In this example embodiment, the automatic reset circuit breaker  114  may be provided with the lighted status indication circuit  84  as described with reference to  FIG. 9 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , the automatic reset circuit breaker  114  having the light status indication circuit  84  is in the closed position. Automatic reset circuit breaker  114  is shown in the open position in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, cover  76  is provided with a raised area. The raised area forms an illumination boss  90  and LED pocket  92 . In this embodiment, automatic reset circuit breaker  114  also includes a penetrable gasket such as gasket  64  having hole  78  as described with reference to  FIG. 8 . The automatic reset circuit breaker  114  of  FIG. 10  may provide externally illuminated trip indication using light source  94  such as a bi-directional LED, or another suitable light source. The automatic reset circuit breaker  114 , in this embodiment, provides visual indication of the state of the electrical circuit and contacts in a manner similar to the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  of  FIG. 4 . The light source  94 , in this example, is housed within the LED pocket  92  of cover  76 . The cover  76  may be formed of a transparent or translucent material that allows light from the light source to be visible through the cover  76  and illumination boss  90 . The housing of the light source  94  within the LED pocket  92  is made possible by the throughhole  78  that allows the gasket  64  to be penetrated. Hole  78  allows the light source  94  and leads  96 ,  98  to penetrate the gasket. Furthermore, housing the light source  94  within the LED pocket  92  in illumination boss  90  of cover  76  allows for visibility of the light source  94 . In this example, the light source  94  is in electrical contact with terminals  38  and  40  through an electrical circuit formed by light source leads  96  and  98 , springs  102  and  104 , and terminal leads  108  and  110  not in direct contact with blade  42 , as seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The electrical circuit formed in the automatic reset circuit breaker  114  in  FIGS. 10 and 11  may be the lighted status indication circuit  84  described with reference to  FIG. 9 . The electrical circuit formed in the automatic reset circuit breaker  114  may further include an additional resistor  112  selectively positionable within the circuit to regulate the current through the light source  94  as described in connection with the lighted status indication circuit  84  of  FIG. 9 . 
     The example embodiment of an automatic reset circuit breaker  114 , shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , operates in a similar way to the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The automatic reset circuit breaker  114  is shown in  FIG. 10  in the first, contacts-closed position. In the first, contacts-closed position, a main circuit is formed by the blade  42  and contacts  44  and  46 . The voltage drop across the main circuit with the contacts closed is typically below a level required to cause lighted status indication circuit  84  to illuminate the light source  94 . With the contacts  44 ,  46  closed electrical current through the blade  42  above a predefined level and duration generates heat, which raises the temperature of the blade  42  to a point at which the blade  42  will snap into a configuration having the contacts  44 ,  46  open as shown in  FIG. 11 . An increase in voltage drop between the open contacts  44  and  46  in this position allows a small electrical current to pass in either direction between terminals  38  and  40 . The voltage drop between the open contacts  44 ,  46  creates a current through the lighted status indication circuit  84  as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this example embodiment, the lighted status indication circuit  84  is formed by the electrical coupling of terminal  38 , first terminal lead  108 , first spring  102 , first light source lead  96 , light source  94 , second light source lead  98 , second spring  104 , resistor  112 , second terminal lead  110 , and terminal  40 . The electrical current passing through the lighted status indication circuit  84  enables the light source  94  to be visibly illuminated. The visibly illuminated light source  94  housed within the LED pocket  92  of the transparent or translucent illumination boss  90  thereby provides lighted indication of a trip of the automatic reset circuit breaker  114 . The light source  94  remains illuminated so long as a sufficient supply voltage is applied to terminals  38  and  40 . 
     As with the manually resettable circuit breaker  30  of  FIG. 4 , some current always passes through the lighted status indication circuit  84  powering the light source  94 , regardless of the open or closed status of the contacts  44 ,  46  because the lighted status indication circuit  84  is in parallel with the bimetal and contacts circuit. The voltage drop across the open contacts  44 ,  46  will be dependent on the voltage of the main circuit. In an example, a typical open circuit supply voltage for the main circuit is from approximately 10 V to 50 V. The light source  94  may be visibly illuminated by approximately 15 V of open circuit supply voltage with a current of approximately 0.13 milliamperes through the lighted status indication circuit  84 . 
     As seen, the circuit breakers shown and described herein provide for ease of assembly utilizing components insertable into the circuit breaker embodiments. Further, the circuit breakers are provided with an environmental seal, which, by being both flexible and penetrated by the reset button, allows for lighted trip indication while maintaining a sealed internal compartment. 
     As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, can be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The circuit breaker described herein may provide advantages by improving the environmental seal of the internal compartment. Further, the circuit breaker is configured to include throuhhole(s) that may allow light to exit the cover and indicate the status of the circuit breaker. Further still, the flange and/or annular ring of the gasket may provide greater flexibility for the reset feature and improve the quality and/or duration of the environmental seal. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure. 
     Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.