Safety-Enhanced Electrical Circuit Interrupter
A circuit interrupting device is disclosed in one embodiment in accordance with the invention as including an input line to conduct electrical current from a source of electricity, a first output line to conduct electrical current to a load, and a second output line to conduct electrical current to a receptacle. A movable bridge is provided to electrically connect and disconnect the input line, first output line, and second output line, to and from one another. A circuit interrupting mechanism is provided to disconnect the input line, first output line, and second output line from one another by moving the bridge into an open position upon detection of a predetermined condition. Similarly, a reset mechanism is provided to electrically connect the input line, first output line, and second output line to one another by moving the bridge into a closed position.
1 . A circuit interrupting device comprising:
(a) an input line to conduct electrical current from a source of electricity;
(b) a first output line to conduct electrical current to a load;
(c) a second output line to conduct electrical current to a receptacle;
(d) a movable bridge to electrically connect and disconnect the input line, first output line, and second output line, to and from one another;
(e) a circuit interrupting mechanism to disconnect the input line, first output line, and second output line from one another by moving the movable bridge into an open position upon detection of a predetermined condition; and
(f) a reset mechanism to electrically connect the input line, first output line, and second output line to one another by moving the movable bridge into a closed position.
2 . The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein the movable bridge rotates between the open and closed positions.
3 . The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein the movable bridge moves substantially linearly between the open and closed positions.
4 . A circuit interrupting device comprising:
(a) an input line to conduct electrical current from a source of electricity;
(b) a plurality of output lines to conduct electrical current to at least one load;
(d) a movable bridge to electrically connect and disconnect the input line and each of the plurality of electrical output lines to and from one another;
(e) a circuit interrupting mechanism to disconnect the input line and each of the plurality of electrical output lines from one another by moving the movable bridge into an open position upon detection of a predetermined condition; and
(f) a reset mechanism to electrically connect the input line and each of the plurality of electrical output lines to one another by moving the movable bridge into a closed position.
5 . A circuit interrupting device comprising:
(a) an input line to conduct electrical current from a source of electricity;
(b) a first output line to conduct electrical current to a load;
(c) a second output line to conduct electrical current to a receptacle;
(d) a bridge to electrically connect and disconnect the input line, the first output line, and the second output line to and from one another;
(e) a circuit interrupting mechanism to disconnect the input line, the first output line, and the second output line from one another by moving at least one of the input line, the first output line, the second output line, and the bridge into an open position upon detection of a predetermined condition; and
(f) a reset mechanism to electrically connect the input line, the first output line, and the second output line to one another by moving at least one of the input line, the first output line, the second output line, and the bridge into a closed position.