Patent ID: 7170375

Claim:
A permanent-magnet ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) plug, comprising: a. an enclosure; and b. a permanent-magnet mechanism encased in the enclosure, comprising: i. a frame assembly ( 218 ) including a crossbeam ( 218 a ) having a first end portion ( 218 a 1 ) and an opposite, second end portion ( 218 a 2 ), a frame pressure post ( 218 b ) and a core connecting post ( 218 c ) transversely extending from the first end potion ( 218 a 1 ) and the second end portion ( 218 a 2 ) of the crossbeam ( 218 a ), respectively; ii. a core ( 204 ) having a first end ( 204 a ) and an opposite, second end ( 204 b ), attached to the core connecting post ( 218 c ) of the frame assembly ( 218 ) by the first end ( 204 a ), and positioned inside a coil assembly ( 209 ); iii. a spring ( 208 ) sleeved on the core connecting post ( 218 c ) of the frame assembly ( 218 ), and positioned therebetween an inner cam ( 209 a ) of the coil assembly ( 209 ) and the corssbeam ( 218 a ) of the frame assembly 218 ; iv. a circuit-breaking coil ( 211 ) and a circuit-connecting coil ( 210 ) wound on the outer surface of the coil assembly ( 209 ), respectively; v. a permanent-magnet ( 212 ) positioned proximately to the second end ( 204 b ) of the core ( 204 ); vi. a pair of movable contact arms ( 206 ), each having a movable contact ( 205 ), positioned at each lateral side of the frame pressure post ( 218 b ) of the frame assembly ( 218 ) for communicating with the frame assembly ( 218 ); and vii. a pair of fixed contacts ( 303 ) positioned above the corresponding movable contacts ( 205 ), wherein, in operation, the circuit-connecting coil ( 210 ) is powered and produces a magnetic force to repel the core ( 204 ) away from the permanent-magnet ( 212 ) and the resilient force of the spring ( 208 ) causes the frame assembly ( 218 ) to move to a position such that the pair of movable contacts ( 205 ) are connected to the pair of fixed contacts ( 303 ) by an elastic force of the movable contact arms ( 206 ).