Swingline Inc.

Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Other

John J Power

Roger M Bradley

Armando Calixto

Frantz Germain

David Y Chan

Raymond H Van Wagener

David Herzfeld

Ernest M Raasch

Arthur J Pulos

John C Costello

Gilbert Knauer

Gerald T Washington

Harry T Wines

Resettable circuit interrupting devices using a center latch are provided. The circuit interrupting devices include those with a reset lockout, reverse wiring protection, and/or an independent trip portion.

Circuit interrupter having at least one indicator

An overvoltage device that is formed from a MOV device that is coupled in parallel with a spark gap. This device is coupled upstream from electronic components to protect these components from damage. For example, in one embodiment, the overvoltage device is coupled to a fault circuit interrupter such as a GFCI, across the phase and neutral lines to protect components of the GFCI from an overvoltage condition. In one embodiment the overvoltage device is formed as an MOV physically coupled to a spark gap wherein the MOV and the spark gap are electrically coupled across the phase line and the neutral line in parallel.

Overvoltage device with enhanced surge suppression

A compact module with a pair of transformers and a double pole single throw relay (DPST) mounted onto a housing to create a self contained assembly for installation in a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) as a unit. The first transformer has a core and is electrically coupled to a first set of terminals for connection to a printed circuit board (PCB). The second transformer is located adjacent to and magnetically coupled to the core of the first transformer and is electrically coupled to a second set of terminals for connection to the PCB. The DPST relay has a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts for selectively connecting line phase and neutral conductive paths to a load.

Compact ground fault circuit interrupter module

An MOV element is physically and electrically connected to a heat sensitive material which changes from a low impedance path to a high impedance path, such as a spark gap, when the temperature of the MOV element rises to a temperature below that at which the MOV will enter into its thermal runaway state. More specifically, the heat sensitive material is located on a surface of the MOV and is electrically connected in series with the MOV. In operation, as the MOV gets hot, it heats the heat sensitive material. As the heat sensitive material gets hot, it starts to separate from the surface of the MOV to form a spark gap which is electrically connected in series with the MOV element to help dissipate excessive voltage. The heat sensitive material on the surface of the MOV element can be a coating of epoxy which cracks and/or breaks away, at least partially from the surface of the MOV element during the occurrence of a high voltage transient surge, or it can be a solder that sputters to form an arc path during the occurrence of a high voltage transient surge. In operation, when a GFCI is subjected to a high voltage transient surge above a certain magnitude, the heat sensitive material forms a spark gap which is in series with the MOV and prevents the GFCI from going into its destructive thermal runaway condition. Thus, prior to the MOV entering its thermal runaway state, it goes from being only an MOV to an MOV in series with a spark gap which can be used to protect an up stream GFCI during the occurrence of a high voltage transient surge.

GFCI with enhanced surge suppression

A signaling system employing indicator lamp means and an audible alarm is employed to remind a user to periodically test his GFCIs and to provide information regarding the status of the GFCI. The power lines that supply the GFCI with power are also coupled to the circuits on the PCB to disconnect power to those circuits of the GFCI that trips due to faults or tests.

Ground fault circuit interrupter

Stapler

Letter opener

A carrier for holding sheets of material to be bound along one edge thereof for use in a thermal binding machine. The carrier includes two side portions and a bottom portion which cooperate to support glue material to maintain the edges of the sheets being bound proximate the glue material. The bottom portion defines an inner surface which allows the bound material to be withdrawn from the bottom portion while maintaining the material in a bound disposition.

Carrier for holding sheets of material for use with a thermal binding

An electrically operated stapling device is disclosed. Staples are driven into the article to be stapled by a simple driver blade which is powered by a current actuated solenoid. In the preferred embodiment, the solenoid is provided with a plurality of pulses which are derived from alternate half-cycles of an AC power source which powers the stapling device. The circuit produces two pulses by defining a window in each of the successive output cycles of the power source. The current then initiates the generation of an enabling signal which lasts for a predetermined period of time which begins during the window. During this period of time, alternate half-cycles of the power source are coupled to the solenoid, thereby causing the driver blade to drive the staple into the article to be stapled.

Growing community of inventors

Westbury, NY, United States of America

John J Power