Patent ID: 7019952

Claim:
A reset apparatus for a circuit interrupting device including a line side connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity; a load side connection capable of being electrically connected to a load side conductor, the reset apparatus comprising: a housing; a reset button connected to the housing; the reset button having a depressed and a relaxed position; a resilient element biasing the reset button into the relaxed position; a directional lock coupled to the reset button and having a bottom surface; a bias member arranged under the reset button, the reset bias member defining a central aperture therein receiving the directional lock, the directional lock being moveable in a vertical direction in the aperture; a first pair of electric contacts for making an electric connection between the line side connection and the load side connection; a latch extending into the bias member and through the aperture, the latch defining an opening therein and being movable through the aperture in a horizontal direction between an aligned position in which the opening is aligned with the bottom surface of the directional lock and a misaligned position in which the opening is misaligned with the bottom surface of the directional lock, wherein the latch is adapted to engage the directional lock such that movement of the reset button to the relaxed state causes the bias member to close the first pair electric contact; and a flexible switch located between the bias member and the housing, wherein said flexible switch has a first end attached to an electric circuit board of the housing and a second end adapted to be in contact with the bias member; the second end of the flexible switch having a first contact point on the flexible switch which corresponds to a second contact point on the electric circuit board of the housing; wherein the second contact point of the electric circuit board is connected to a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), which is in turn connected to a solenoid coil; whereby when the reset button is depressed, a downward movement of the bias member causes the first contact point of the flexible switch to be in contact with the second contact point of the electric circuit board so as to perform a reverse wiring test.