Patent ID: 7227435

Claim:
A circuit interrupting device comprising: a housing: a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path each disposed at least partially within said housing between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity and a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and at least one user accessible load, and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity and a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and said at least one user accessible load; said circuit interrupting device being free of bridge contacts which provide a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load and another third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load; a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing comprising a movable arm having contacts thereon adapted to disengage from fixed contacts to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load side upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths: said circuit interrupting device further comprising a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if a reverse wiring condition exists; wherein said reset portion comprises: a reset button; at least one reset contact which is capable of contacting at least a portion of said phase conductive path to cause said predetermined condition, wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is operational, the circuit interrupting portion is activated to disable said reset lockout portion and facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, and wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, said reset lockout portion remains enabled so that reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths is prevented; and blocking means coupled to the movable arm of the circuit interrupting portion to block the second connection of said phase conductive path and of said neutral conductive path from being connected to a user accessible load upon the occurrence of said predetermined condition.