Patent ID: 7391289

Claim:
A device comprising: a trip mechanism adapted to unlatch an operating mechanism of a thermally and electro-magnetically tripped, molded case, alternating current circuit breaker, said trip mechanism comprising: a contact arm; an elongated substantially planar bi-metal element comprising a first major surface arranged as a first end zone, a central zone, and a second end zone, said central zone separating said first end zone from said second end zone, said first end zone of said bi-metal element adapted to be coupled to a load bus, said second end zone of said bi-metal element having a width of no more than 60 percent of a width of said central zone of said bi-metal element, said second end zone adapted to directly engage an armature latch without any component of said circuit breaker located between said second end zone and said armature latch, said armature latch adapted to trip said operating mechanism of the circuit breaker; a magnetic element coupled to the load bus, said magnetic element at least partially surrounding and positioned substantially adjacent said central zone of said bi-metal element; and a flexible conductor connected to said contact arm and said bi-metal element said conductor connected to said bi-metal element at a location within said central zone of said bi-metal element and between said magnetic element and said second end zone of said bi-metal element.