# US 10,770,254 B2 · Plug-on neutral connector for use with a fault circuit interrupt circuit breaker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,254 B2 - Document ID: US10770254B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/729,368 - Filed: 2017-10-10 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-10 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: Tapas Ranjan Rout; Leonardo Dorea Mascarenhas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770254B2 ## CPC - H01H 71/08: Terminals; Connections - H01H 71/02: Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings - H01R 4/30: utilising a screw or nut clamping member (H01R4/50 takes precedence; utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut H01R4/38; {for coaxial cables H01R9/0521}) - H01R 13/652: with earth pin, blade or socket - H01R 25/16: Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts - H02B 1/205: {for connecting electrical apparatus mounted side by side on a rail} - H01H 1/5866: {characterised by the use of a plug and socket connector} - H01R 4/36: Conductive members located under tip of screw - H01R 13/05: Resilient pins or blades (carrying separate resilient parts H01R13/15) - H02B 1/041: {Mechanical coupling for side-by-side mounted apparatus} - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER ## Abstract A plug-on neutral connector includes a neutral terminal plug arranged to be inserted into a neutral terminal of a circuit breaker, a conductive fastener, including a pass-through, electrically coupled to the neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, and a housing disposed over at least a portion of the conductive fastener. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plug-on neutral connector comprising: a neutral terminal plug arranged to be inserted into a neutral terminal of a circuit breaker; a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through; and a housing disposed over at least a portion of said conductive fastener, said housing comprising a second pass-through disposed in alignment with said first pass-through. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1, wherein said neutral terminal plug is a plug-in connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1, wherein said first and second pass-throughs are arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1, wherein said conductive fastener further comprises a plurality of flexible conductive legs arranged to cooperatively engage on the neutral bus bar of the load center. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1, further comprising a flexible conductive element coupled between said neutral terminal plug and a receiving port of said conductive fastener. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1, further comprising a c-shaped clip engaged over at least a portion of said conductive fastener between said conductive fastener and said housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 6, wherein said c-shaped clip comprises a third pass-through. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plug-on neutral connector of claim 7, wherein said third pass-through is aligned with said first and second pass-throughs, and wherein said first, second, and third pass-throughs are arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw. ### Claim 9 A circuit breaker comprising: a neutral terminal; and a plug-on neutral connector comprising: a neutral terminal plug inserted into said neutral terminal of said circuit breaker; a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through; a housing disposed over at least a portion of said conductive fastener; and a c-shaped clip engaged over at least a portion of said conductive fastener between said conductive fastener and said housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein said circuit breaker is one of an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuit breaker and a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breaker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein said first pass-through is arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein said conductive fastener further comprises a plurality of flexible conductive legs arranged to cooperatively engage on the neutral bus bar of the load center. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein said plug-on neutral connector further comprises a flexible conductive element coupled between said neutral terminal plug and a receiving port of said conductive fastener. ### Claim 14 A circuit breaker comprising: a case; and a plug-on neutral connector comprising: a first neutral terminal plug electrically coupled to a first neutral terminal of said circuit breaker; a second neutral terminal plug electrically coupled to a second neutral terminal of said circuit breaker; a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said first neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through; a housing disposed over at least a portion of said conductive fastener and coupled to said case of said circuit breaker; and a c-shaped clip engaged over at least a portion of said conductive fastener between said conductive fastener and said housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein said first pass-through is arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein said conductive fastener further comprises a plurality of flexible conductive legs arranged to cooperatively engage on the neutral bus bar of the load center. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein said c-shaped clip comprises a second pass-through. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The circuit breaker of claim 17, wherein said second pass-through is aligned with said first pass-through and is arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises at least one neutral terminal extension port arranged to couple a neutral wire running from a load to said second neutral terminal. ### Claim 20 An electrical load center comprising: a neutral bus bar electrically connected to a power source, said neutral bus bar arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw; a mounting rail disposed substantially in parallel with said neutral bus bar; a circuit breaker mountable on said mounting rail, said circuit breaker comprising a neutral terminal; and a plug-on neutral connector arranged to electrically connect said circuit breaker to said neutral bus bar, said plug-on neutral connector comprising: a neutral terminal plug arranged to be inserted into said neutral terminal of said circuit breaker; a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on said neutral bus bar, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through arranged to receive the neutral bus bar set screw; and a housing disposed over said conductive fastener, said housing comprising a second pass-through disposed in alignment with said first pass-through and arranged to receive the neutral bus bar set screw.