The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1994
Jean-Claude Marcou, DeWitt, NY (US);
Thomas N Packard, Syracuse, NY (US);
David A Finlay, Marietta, NY (US);
Patrick J Murphy, Marcellus, NY (US);
Pass & Seymour, Inc., Syracuse, NY (US);
Abstract
A ground fault interrupter (gfi) wiring device includes a latch member having integral abutment, latching and spring portions. In the preferred embodiment, the latch member is formed from a unitary blank of springy sheet metal, the spring portion being a leaf spring formed at one end and biasing the latch member to a latching position to maintain the moveable contact(s) in circuit-making relation with the fixed contact(s) of the device. The latch member is released to permit circuit-breaking movement of the moveable contact(s) by a solenoid having an armature with a relatively enlarged head portion to enhance speed of operation. Optionally, a spring may be provided to maintain the otherwise freely-slidable armature with its end portion in spaced relation to the latch member abutment portion so that the armature gains momentum before contacting the abutment portion to effect unlatching movement of the latch member.