Granted Patent B2

US 8,130,480 · App. 13/192,860 · Granted Mar 6, 2012

Assignee: Leviton Manufactuing Co., Inc.

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A resettable circuit interrupting device comprising:

an input electrical hot-line connection terminal;

an input electrical neutral-line connection terminal;

an output electrical hot-line connection terminal;

an output electrical neutral-line connection terminal;

a resettable circuit interrupter providing at least one of:

(a) a first interruptible connection along a first electrically conductive path between said input and output hot-line connection terminals, and

(b) a second interruptible connection along a second electrically conductive path between said input and output neutral-line connection terminals;

a fault-sensing circuit configured and connected (a) to detect an abnormal current condition of current flowing along said first and/or second conductive paths and (b) to change said at least one of the first and second interruptible connections from a closed to an open electrical circuit condition if abnormal current condition is detected; and

a blocking member, positioned in a first position relative to at least one of the first and second interruptible connections to prevent resetting of at least one of the first and second interruptible connections when in an open electrical circuit condition.

2. The resettable circuit interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is moveable from said first position to permit resetting the device.

3. The resettable circuit interrupting device of claim 2 , wherein said blocking member is moveable from said first position if said fault-sensing circuit is successfully tested and found operable.

4. The resettable circuit interrupting device of claim 2 , wherein said blocking member is moveable from said first position if said circuit interrupting device is successfully tested for at least one condition.

5. The resettable circuit interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member is a latch.

6. The resettable circuit interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein said blocking member is a removable blocking member.

7. The circuit interrupting device of claim 6 , wherein said blocking member is selected from the group consisting of a resistor, capacitor, diode, a lever and an arm.

8. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a hot conductive path having an input and an output;

a neutral conductive path having an input and an output;

wherein at least one of said hot and neutral conductive paths is interruptible;

a fault-sensing circuit configured to detect an abnormal current condition on at least one of said hot and neutral conductive paths;

a latch having a blocking position and a reset position, wherein:

said blocking position prevents resetting of said at least one of the hot and neutral interruptible paths from an open to a closed electrical circuit condition; and

said reset position permits resetting of said at least one of the hot and neutral interruptible paths from an open to a closed electrical circuit condition;

a test circuit capable of producing a fault, wherein said test circuit is in electrical communication with said fault-sensing circuit, the latch is configured to be in the blocking position unless said fault-sensing circuit is found operable to detect said fault.

9. A method for operating a resettable circuit interrupter device, the circuit interrupter device having

at least a first conductive path between a phase input and phase output, and a second conductive path between a neutral input and a neutral output, wherein at least one of the first and second conductive paths can be selectively opened and closed between said input and said output,

the method comprising the steps of:

upon at least one of said first and second conductive paths being opened, positioning a blocking member to prevent said opened conductive path from closing;

depressing a reset button to close said opened conductive path;

determining whether to permit said opened conductive path to close; and

repositioning said blocking member to permit said opened conductive path to close, if so determined.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said determining step further comprising the steps of:

creating a fault in response to said depressing step; and

detecting said fault.

11. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a pair of input electrical connections comprising a phase input connection and a neutral input connection;

a pair of output electrical connections comprising a phase output connection and a neutral output connection;

a phase conductive path electrically coupling the phase input and output connections;

a neutral conductive path electrically coupling the neutral input and output connections;

a selectively operable circuit interrupter arranged and configured to selectively interrupt or reset at least one of the phase conductive path and the neutral conductive path;

a fault-sensing circuit, wherein the fault-sensing circuit is arranged and configured to detect a predetermined condition on at least one of the phase and neutral conductive paths, wherein the fault sensing circuit selectively interrupts at least one of the phase and neutral conductive paths upon detection of the predetermined condition; and

a blocking member arranged and configured to prevent the selectively operable circuit interrupter from resetting the interrupted conductive path under certain conditions.

Continuity (8)