Patent ID: 8487721

Claim:
A circuit interruption device comprising: a conductive element comprising a first end, said conductive element configured to be coupled to a circuit; a contact arm comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein at least a portion of said third portion is filled with a nonconductive material, said third portion defining a notch opening toward said conductive element, said contact arm further comprising a second end positioned to contact said conductive element first end such that said contact arm and said conductive element overlap only at said conductive element first end and said contact arm second end, said contact arm configured to move with respect to said conductive element between a first position and a second position; and a biasing element configured to apply a biasing force on said contact arm in a first direction to maintain contact between said contact arm and said conductive element when said contact arm is in the first position, said notch configured such that a current flow through said contact arm changes direction within said second portion prior to flowing to said conductive element and causes an electromagnetic repulsive force to act on said contact arm in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.