Circuit breaker unitary current path

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a housing;
• a first terminal is mounted within said housing;
• and,
• a unitary current path structure comprised of a plurality of individual planar members, each of said plurality of individual planar members having a terminal portion, a movable portion and a flexible portion between said terminal portion and said movable portion, wherein said terminal portions are electrically coupled to form a unitary second terminal, and said movable portions are electrically coupled to form a unitary contact arm;
• wherein said unitary second terminal is coupled to said housing and said unitary current path is arranged such that said unitary contact arm is movable between a first position in electrical contact with said first terminal and a second position which is separated from said first terminal.

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a housing;
• a mechanism within said housing;
• a first terminal is positioned within said housing;
• and,
• a current path structure coupled to said housing, said current path structure comprising:
• a plurality of electrically conductive members arranged as a laminate, said plurality of electrically conductive members having a terminal portion, a movable portion, and a first flexible portion between said movable portion and said terminal portion, wherein material for each of said plurality electrically conductive members is contiguous between said terminal portion, said first flexible portion and said movable portion;
• wherein each of said terminal portions of said plurality of electrically conductive sheets are electrically coupled to each other to form a unitary second terminal;
• and,
• wherein each of said movable portions of said plurality of electrically conductive sheets are electrically coupled to each other to form at least one contact arm;
• and,
• wherein said at least one contact arm is movable by said mechanism between a first position in electrical contact with said first terminal and a second position out of electrical contact with said first terminal.

A method of fabricating a unitary contact path for a circuit breaker, said method comprising:

• forming a plurality of individual electrically conductive sheets, said sheets each having a terminal portion, a flexible portion and a movable portion;
• stacking said plurality of individual electrically conductive sheets in a laminate arrangement, wherein said terminal portion, said flexible portion and said movable portion for each of said plurality of individual sheets are aligned;
• solidifying said terminal portion of said plurality of individual electrically conductive sheets to each other;
• and,
• solidifying said movable portion of said plurality of individual electrically conductive sheets to each other;
• wherein said flexible portion is disposed between and contiguous with said terminal portion and said movable portion allowing said movable portion to move relative to said terminal portion.