Patent attributes
The present invention is directed to a protective device including a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to at least one load. A test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The test circuit is configured to generate a simulated fault signal to the fault detection circuit in response to a user stimulus. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition. The at least one fault condition includes the simulated fault signal. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter assembly includes a set of movable contacts configured to open in response to the fault detection circuit in a tripped state. The plurality of line terminals are decoupled from the plurality of load terminals. A reset mechanism is coupled to the circuit interrupter assembly. The reset mechanism is configured to close the movable contacts to reestablish electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state. A timing mechanism is coupled to the reset mechanism. The timing mechanism is configured to disable the reset mechanism in response to a failure by the circuit interrupter assembly to open the set of movable contacts within a predetermined period of time after the commencement of the at least one fault condition.
