Patent ID: 7576959

Claim:
A circuit interrupting device comprising an input power end, an output power end, and a user accessible output end, wherein said circuit interrupting device is capable of establishing and/or disconnecting electrical continuity between said input power end and said output power end and said user accessible output ends, wherein said circuit interrupting device comprising a status test switch (KR- 1 ) which is automatically turned on to perform an end of life test of components of said circuit interrupting device when said circuit interrupting device is powered by electrically connecting to an input power line, an output power line, and a user accessible line properly and when a reset button of said circuit interrupting device is at a tripped position; wherein said KR- 1 comprises a fixed contact point adapted to electrically connect to one of said input power lines, and a flexible metal piece adapted to electrically connect to the other of said input power lines through a resistor and/or a solenoid coil which, when said circuit interrupting device is powered, generates a simulated fault to test said components of said circuit interrupting device; and wherein said KR- 1 is not physically contacted with said reset button; whereby when said components of said circuit interrupting device are functioned properly, said circuit interrupting device can be reset; and whereby when at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is not functioned properly, said circuit interrupting device cannot be reset.