Ground fault interrupter wiring device with improved moveable contact

Abstract

A ground fault interrupter (gfi) wiring device in the form of a duplex wall receptacle. A pair of electrically conducting members in the form of small buss bars each carry two, spaced contacts. The buss bars are moveable to bring their respective contacts into and out of engagement with fixed contacts on the hot and neutral terminals on the line and load sides of the receptacle. The buss bars are biased toward movement to the circuit-breaking position by respective coil springs extending through openings in a separator member dividing the interior of the receptacle housing into front and rear compartments. One end of each spring rests upon a respective buss bar and the other end is contacted by an integral portion of the front housing section, the springs being compressed to apply a biasing force to the buss bars only upon placing the front housing section in mating engagement with the rear section. The support means for the buss bars permits pivotal movement of the latter to ensure good engagement with the fixed contacts. The line terminals and a separator element within the device housing permits mounting of the terminals with the female contact for receiving a plug blade and the fixed contact in upper and lower compartments defined by the separator.