Patent ID: 6920025

Claim:
A fault circuit interrupter for use with an alternating current (AC) receptacle comprising first and second source terminals, and first and second load terminals, the fault circuit interrupter comprising: a sensing circuit, adapted to selectively enter a fault detection state in response to an imbalance of current flow in the AC receptacle; a latching mechanism, adapted to break at least one conductive path between said source and load terminals of the AC receptacle in response to entry of said sensing circuit in said fault state; said sensing circuit being further adapted to maintain said latching mechanism in a condition to maintain a break in at least one of said conductive paths when an AC source is connected to said load terminals instead of to said source terminals; a first switch, adapted to selectively break a first one of said conductive paths; and a second switch, adapted to selectively break a second one of said conductive paths; said second switch, being further adapted to provide an alternative current path between said second load terminal and said first source terminal when the first conductive path has been restored via the first switch; said first switch includes a first contact, adapted to establish the first conductive path; and said second switch includes a second contact, adapted to establish the second conductive path, and a third contact, adapted to establish the alternative current path; and said latching mechanism being structured such that, in response to a reset button being actuated, the second switch and the third contact establish the alternative current path while the first switch and the first contact establish the first conductive path and before the second switch and the second contact establish the second conductive path.