# US 2014/0151201 A1 · Circuit breaker terminal shield with position indicator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151201 A1 - Document ID: US20140151201A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,208 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Eaton Corporation - Applicants: Eaton Corporation - Inventors: James Patrick Sisley; Richard Paul Malingowski; Craig Joseph Puhalla; Kelly Julia McCarthy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151201A1 ## CPC - H01H 71/0207: {Mounting or assembling the different parts of the circuit breaker} - H01H 9/0264: {Protective covers for terminals} - H01H 71/08: Terminals; Connections - H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement - H01R 4/36: Conductive members located under tip of screw - H01R 13/447: Shutter or cover plate - 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 ## Abstract A position indicator for a circuit breaker is provided. A circuit breaker housing assembly body has an alignment surface. The position indicator includes an indicator member having an alignment surface and an elongated spacer member. The indicator member is movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing assembly adjacent a terminal screw with the spacer member generally aligned with the terminal screw. The indicator member is structured to move between a first position, wherein the alignment surface is not aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface, and a second position, wherein the alignment surface is aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface. The spacer member engages the terminal screw and, if the terminal screw is in a terminal screw first position, the spacer member prevents the indicator member from moving into the indicator member second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A position indicator for a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker including a housing assembly, the circuit breaker housing assembly including a body, a terminal assembly including a terminal and an elongated terminal fastener, the housing assembly body including an alignment surface, the terminal including a body defining a terminal fastener passage and a conductor passage, the terminal fastener disposed in the terminal fastener passage and structured to move between two positions, a first position, wherein the terminal fastener is not set, and a second position, wherein the terminal fastener is set, the position indicator comprising: an indicator member including an alignment surface; an elongated spacer member; the spacer member coupled to the indicator member and extending away from the indicator member alignment surface; the indicator member movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing assembly adjacent a terminal fastener with the spacer member generally aligned with the terminal fastener; the indicator member structured to move between a first position, wherein the indicator member alignment surface is not aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface, and a second position, wherein the indicator member alignment surface is generally aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface; and wherein the spacer member engages the terminal fastener when the terminal fastener is in the terminal fastener first position and the spacer member prevents the indicator member from moving into the indicator member second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The position indicator of claim 1 wherein the circuit breaker housing assembly includes a terminal shield movably coupled to the housing assembly body, the terminal shield structured to move between a first position and a second position, and wherein: the indicator member is disposed on the terminal shield. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The position indicator of claim 1 wherein the circuit breaker housing assembly body includes a generally planar upper surface and the terminal shield includes a generally planar member having a generally planar upper surface and a generally planar lower surface, and wherein: the indicator member is disposed on the terminal shield planar member upper surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The position indicator of claim 3 wherein: the spacer member includes a generally cylindrical body; and the spacer member extends from, and is generally perpendicular to, the terminal shield body planar member lower surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The position indicator of claim 4 wherein there are two spacer members, each spacer member including a generally cylindrical, elongated body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) position indicator of claim 3 wherein the terminal shield body planar member includes a perpendicular surface extending, between the upper and lower surface and wherein the indicator member includes a contrasting color on the terminal shield planar member perpendicular surface. ### Claim 7 A circuit breaker housing assembly comprising: a housing assembly body including an alignment surface; an elongated terminal fastener coupled to the housing assembly body, the terminal fastener structured to move between two positions, a first position, wherein the terminal fastener is not set, and a second position, wherein the terminal fastener is set; a position indicator including an indicator member and an elongated spacer member; the indicator member including an alignment surface; the spacer member coupled to the indicator member and extending away from the indicator member alignment surface; the indicator member movably coupled to the housing assembly body adjacent a terminal fastener with the spacer member aligned with the terminal fastener; the indicator member structured to move between a first position, wherein the indicator member alignment surface is not aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface, and a second position, wherein the indicator member alignment surface is generally aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface; and wherein the spacer member engages the terminal fastener when the terminal fastener is in the terminal fastener first position and the spacer member prevents the indicator member from moving, into the indicator member second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The circuit breaker housing assembly of claim 7 further comprising: a terminal assembly including a terminal and the terminal fastener; the terminal including a body defining a terminal fastener passage and a conductor passage; the terminal assembly coupled to the housing assembly body; and the terminal fastener directly coupled to the terminal body fastener passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The circuit breaker housing assembly of claim 7 further comprising: a terminal shield movably coupled to the housing assembly body, the terminal shield structured to move between a first position and a second position; and the indicator member disposed on the terminal shield. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit breaker housing assembly of claim 9 wherein: the housing assembly body includes a generally planar upper surface and a first end, the housing assembly body first end extending generally perpendicular to the housing assembly body upper surface; the alignment surface disposed on the housing assembly body upper surface adjacent the housing assembly body first end; the terminal shield including a generally planar member having a generally planar upper surface and a generally planar lower surface; the indicator member disposed on the terminal shield planar member upper surface; and the terminal shield slidably coupled to the housing assembly body first end and structured to move between a first position, wherein the terminal shield upper surface is not generally aligned with the housing assembly body upper surface, and a second position, wherein the terminal shield upper surface is generally aligned with the housing assembly body upper surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) circuit breaker housing assembly of claim 10 wherein: the spacer member includes a generally cylindrical body; and the spacer member extends from, and generally perpendicular to, the planar member lower surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The circuit breaker housing assembly of claim 11 wherein there are two spacer members, each spacer member including a generally cylindrical, elongated body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker housing assembly of claim 10 wherein: the terminal shield planar member includes a perpendicular surface extending between the upper and lower surface; and wherein the indicator member includes a contrasting color on the terminal shield planar member perpendicular surface. ### Claim 14 A terminal shield for a circuit breaker housing assembly, the circuit breaker housing assembly including a body, the housing assembly body including an alignment surface and a first end, a terminal assembly including three terminals including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, each terminal including an elongated terminal fastener, each terminal body defining a fastener passage and a conductor passage, each terminal fastener disposed in a terminal fastener passage, each terminal fastener structured to move between two positions, a first position, wherein the terminal fastener is not set, and a second position, wherein the terminal fastener is set, each terminal coupled to the housing assembly body first end and disposed in a spaced parallel relationship, the terminal shield comprising: a terminal shield body including a generally planar member having an upper surface and a lower surface; an indicator member including an alignment surface disposed on the terminal shield body planar member upper surface; three elongated spacer members; each spacer member coupled to the indicator member and extending away from the indicator member alignment surface; the planar member movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing assembly adjacent a terminal fastener with each spacer member aligned with a terminal fastener; the indicator member structured to move between a first position, wherein the indicator member alignment surface is not aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface, and a second position, wherein the indicator member alignment surface is generally aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface; and wherein each spacer member engages the aligned terminal fastener when the terminal fastener is in the terminal fastener first position and the spacer member aligned terminal fastener in the terminal fastener first position prevents the indicator member from moving into the indicator member second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The terminal shield of claim 14 wherein: the spacer member includes a generally cylindrical body; and the spacer member extends from, and generally perpendicular to, the planar member lower surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The terminal shield of claim 14 wherein each sparer member includes a generally cylindrical, elongated body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The terminal shield of claim 14 wherein: the terminal shield planar member includes a perpendicular surface extending, between the upper and lower surface; and wherein the indicator member includes a contrasting color on the terminal shield planar member perpendicular surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The terminal shield of claim 14 wherein: the terminal shield body includes a number of planar shield members extending from, and generally perpendicular to, the planar member lower surface: the shield members including a number of inner shield members and outer shield members: wherein the inner shield members are structured to be disposed in the gaps between the terminals in a spaced parallel relationship; and wherein the outer shield members are structured to extend over the lateral sides of the terminal assembly when the indicator member is in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The terminal shield of claim 18 wherein; the shield members include a laterally extending flange; and each shield member flange structured to extend partially over an adjacent terminal body when the indicator member is in the second position.