GFCI that cannot be reset until wired correctly on line side and power is applied
First Claim
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1. A protection device having line and load terminals, the device comprising:
- a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and
an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for preventing the misfiring of a protection device. The protection device includes line terminals and load terminals. The protection device further includes a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A protection device having line and load terminals, the device comprising:
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a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and
an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. A protection device according to claim 10, further comprising:
isolated face receptacles, configured such that when said latching mechanism is in said open state, said face terminals are electrically isolated from said line and load terminals and when said latching mechanism is in said closed state, said face terminals are in electrical contact with said line and load terminals.
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12. A method of preventing miswiring of a protection device having line and load terminals, comprising:
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providing a latching mechanism for moving between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and
providing an initial reset prevention mechanism for preventing said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A protective device having source and load terminals between a conductive path and face terminals, the protective device comprising:
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a latching mechanism, adapted to be operable between a first state in which said latching mechanism permits electrical contact between said source load terminals and said load terminals and a second state in which said contact is broken; and
a sensing circuit, adapted to selectively place the latching mechanism in said second state upon detection of a ground fault condition to electrically isolate said face terminals from said source and load terminals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A ground fault circuit interrupter, comprising:
face terminals, adapted to be electrically isolated from source and load terminals and a conductive path of said GFCI when said GFCI detects a ground fault condition. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A method for protecting against powering face terminals of a protective device having source and load terminals connected between a conductive path, comprising:
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providing separate contacts for each one of said face terminals, source and load terminals;
providing a latching mechanism operable to be in one of a first state which electrically connects said face, source load terminals and a second state which electrically isolates said face, source and load terminals; and
placing said latching mechanism in said second state when a sensing circuit detects a ground fault condition in said conductive path. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification