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:
Nov. 03, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1996
Duane Lee Turner, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
James Arthur Heise, Cedar Falls, IA (US);
Square D Company, Palatine, IL (US);
Abstract
A circuit breaker device for interrupting current in a circuit path between a source and a load. The device includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from the source to the load. At least one of the contacts is disposed on a contact carrier which is movable for interrupting the current provided to the load. A contact status indication arrangement is provided for indicating the status of the contacts. The contact status indication arrangement includes a trip flag, a status insert, a clear plastic lens, a flag guide, and a status flag. The trip flag, status insert and status flag are viewable through the lens, which is disposed in an aperture in the circuit breaker housing. Only one status indicator is viewable through the lens at any one time, each indicating a different circuit breaker status. For example, when the trip flag is visible, the circuit breaker is in the TRIPPED position; when the status insert is visible, the circuit breaker is in the OPEN position; and when the status flag is visible, the circuit breaker is in the CLOSED position. One end of the trip flag is coupled to a trip lever and the other end rides on the flag guide as the trip flag moves forward and back when the circuit breaker moves into the TRIPPED position and is then reset, respectively. The flag guide is a staple-shaped piece of wire disposed in the housing and provides a reliable guide on which the trip flag to travel and maintains separation between the trip flag and the statues flag.