# US 2014/0153143 A1 · Plug tail systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153143 A1 - Document ID: US20140153143A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,970 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-07 - Assignees: Pass & Seymour, Inc. - Applicants: Pass & Seymour, Inc. - Inventors: John Benoit; Richard Weeks; Gerald R. Savicki, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153143A1 ## CPC - H02H 1/0061: {concerning transmission of signals (transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26)} - H01H 1/5866: {characterised by the use of a plug and socket connector} - H01R 13/70: with built-in switch - H01R 25/00: Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits (supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88) - H02H 3/162: {for AC systems} - H04L 69/40: for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection (management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06) - H05K 3/30: Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistors - H01H 23/168: {using cams} - H01H 23/205: {using a compression spring between tumbler and an articulated contact plate} - H01R 13/7177: {filament or neon bulb} - Y10T 29/4913: Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc. - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - 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 - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device that includes a rear cover member having a portion substantially defining a line terminal interface region. An electric circuit assembly includes a sensor assembly coupled to a fault detection circuit. A plurality of line terminal interface contacts are disposed in the line terminal interface region, each line terminal interface contact being connected to a termination structure coupled to the rear body member. A conductive pathway is configured to interconnect the termination structure and a corresponding one of the first set of contacts via the sensor assembly. The conductive pathway includes a conductive structure disposed in the rear cover member and mounted to the at least one PCB. The line terminal interface contacts are configured to mate with a removably attachable electrical adapter connected to the plurality of AC power transmitting wires to provide AC power to the electric circuit assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system including a plurality of AC power transmitting wires coupled to a source of AC power, the device comprising: a housing including a front cover member having a front major surface and a rear cover member having a rear major surface arranged substantially in parallel with the front major surface, the front major surface including at least one set of user-accessible apertures disposed therein, the user-accessible apertures being configured to accommodate male contact elements from a corded AC plug, the rear major surface including a portion substantially defining a line terminal interface region; at least one set of receptacle terminals configured to align with the at least one set of user-accessible apertures, the at least one set of receptacle terminals being configured to receive corresponding ones of the male contact elements; an electric circuit assembly at least partially disposed on at least one printed circuit board (PCB), the electric circuit assembly including a sensor assembly coupled to a fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit being configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to at least one fault condition propagating in the electrical distribution system or in response to a simulated fault condition, the electric circuit assembly further including a fault actuator responsive to the fault detection signal; a circuit interrupter including a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the at least one set of receptacle terminals, the plurality of first contacts being electrically connected to the plurality of second contacts in a reset state, the circuit interrupter being configured to decouple the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts in response to a fault actuator stimulus to effect a tripped state; and a plurality of line terminal interface contacts disposed in the line terminal interface region, each line terminal interface contact being connected to a termination structure coupled to the rear body member, a conductive pathway being configured to interconnect the termination structure and a corresponding one of the first set of contacts via the sensor assembly, the conductive pathway including a conductive structure at least partially disposed in the rear cover member and mounted to the at least one PCB, the plurality of line terminal interface contacts being configured to mate with a removably attachable electrical adapter connected to the plurality of AC power transmitting wires to provide AC power to the electric circuit assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrically isolating member disposed between the at least one set of receptacle terminals and the at least one PCB. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrically isolating member dividing the housing into at least two compartments, the electrically isolating member being disposed between the line terminal interface contacts and the at least one set of receptacle terminals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fault actuator includes a solenoid assembly, the solenoid assembly being mounted on the at least one PCB. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, further comprising an auxiliary switch coupled to the solenoid assembly, the auxiliary switch including a set of auxiliary contacts configured to substantially decouple the solenoid assembly from one of the first contacts in the tripped state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary switch substantially decouples at least a portion of the electric circuit assembly from one of the first contacts in the tripped state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the electric circuit assembly includes a voltage transient suppression circuit including at least one metal oxide varistor (MOV), the MOV being configured to be substantially decoupled from one of the first contacts by the auxiliary switch in the tripped state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electric circuit assembly includes an energy-efficient power supply that is configured to provide power to the fault detection circuit during predetermined portions of each cycle of the source of AC power. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a light indication assembly, the light indication assembly including at least one LED and a light pipe, the light pipe serving to direct light emitted by the LED to an aperture disposed in the front cover, the LED emitting light in response to one or more of a tripped condition, a reset condition, an ambient light condition or an end of life condition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a mounting strap structure disposed between the front cover member and the rear cover member and configured for mounting the protective wiring device to a device box, the electric circuit assembly further including a plurality of LEDs disposed on either side of the mounting strap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fault condition includes an arc fault, a ground fault, or a grounded neutral fault. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the sensor assembly includes at least one toroidal transformer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an end-of-life assembly including an auxiliary switch coupled to a solenoid assembly, the auxiliary switch being configured to decouple at least a portion of the electric circuit assembly from one of the termination structures in the tripped state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an end-of-life assembly that includes an end of life detection circuit configured to generate the simulated fault condition, the end of life detection circuit being configured to cause the circuit interrupter to enter the tripped state in response to the fault detector failing to detect the simulated fault condition within a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first contacts are moveable contacts and the second contacts are fixed contacts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the moveable contacts include a hot moveable contact and a neutral moveable contact disposed on a hot line cantilever and a neutral line cantilever, respectively. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the circuit interrupter includes a latch block configured to move the moveable contacts between the tripped state and the reset state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first contacts are mounted to cantilevers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the line terminal interface contacts are substantially blade-shaped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the removably attachable electrical adapter is adjacent the at least one PCB when the removably attachable electrical adapter is coupled to the plurality of line interface contacts. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive pathway includes electrical connective elements longitudinally traversing an interior portion of the housing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the electric circuit assembly is disposed at a first end of the housing and the line terminal interface region is disposed at an opposite end of the housing. ### Claim 23 A protective wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system including a plurality of AC power transmitting wires coupled to a source of AC power, the device comprising: a housing including a front cover member having a front major surface and a rear cover member having a rear major surface arranged substantially in parallel with the front major surface, the front major surface including at least one set of user-accessible apertures disposed therein, the user-accessible apertures being configured to accommodate male contact elements from a corded AC plug, the rear major surface including a feature substantially defining a line terminal interface region; at least one set of receptacle terminals configured to align with the at least one set of user-accessible apertures, the at least one set of receptacle terminals being configured to receive corresponding ones of the male contact elements; an electric circuit assembly at least partially disposed on at least one printed circuit board (PCB), the electric circuit assembly including a sensor assembly coupled to a fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit being configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to at least one fault condition propagating in the electrical distribution system or in response to a simulated fault condition, the electric circuit assembly further including a fault actuator responsive to the fault detection signal; a plurality of line terminal interface contacts disposed in the line terminal interface region, each line terminal interface contact being coupled to a termination structure mounted to the at least one PCB, a conductive pathway configured to interconnect the termination structure and a corresponding one of a first set of contacts via the sensor assembly, the plurality of line terminal interface contacts being configured to mate with a removably attachable electrical adapter connected to the plurality of AC power transmitting wires to thus provide AC power to the electric circuit assembly; a circuit interrupter including the plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the at least one set of receptacle terminals, the plurality of first contacts being electrically connected to the plurality of second contacts in a reset state, the circuit interrupter being configured to decouple the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts in response to a fault actuator stimulus to effect a tripped state; and an end-of-life assembly coupled to the electric circuit assembly, the end-of-life assembly being configured to decouple the at least one set of receptacle terminals from at least one of the termination structures in response to an end-of-life condition. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the end-of-life assembly further comprises an auxiliary switch including a set of auxiliary contacts, the set of auxiliary contacts being configured to substantially decouple at least a portion of the electric circuit assembly from the termination structures in the tripped state. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, wherein the fault actuator includes a solenoid assembly, the set of auxiliary contacts being configured to substantially decouple the solenoid assembly from one of the first contacts in the tripped state. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the at least one PCB includes a second printed circuit board (PCB). ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26, further comprising a light indication assembly disposed on the second PCB. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the line terminal interface contacts are substantially blade-shaped. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein a portion of the removably attachable electrical adapter is adjacent the at least one PCB when the removably attachable electrical adapter is coupled to the plurality of line interface contacts. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the conductive pathway includes a cantilevered beam. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the electric circuit assembly is disposed at a first end of the housing and the line terminal interface region is disposed at an opposite end of the housing. ### Claim 32 A method of assembling a protective wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system, the electrical distribution system including a plurality of AC power transmitting wires coupled to a source of AC power, the method comprising: providing a housing including a front cover having a front major surface and a rear cover having a rear major surface arranged substantially in parallel with the front major surface when the front cover and the rear cover are assembled, the rear major surface including a line terminal interface region; providing an electric circuit assembly comprising at least one printed circuit board (PCB) configured to interconnect a sensor, a detection circuit and an actuator; providing a line terminal interface assembly including a plurality of line interface contacts and a plurality of termination structures, each line interface contact being connected to a corresponding termination structure, the plurality of line terminal interface contacts being configured to mate with a removably attachable electrical adapter connected to the plurality of AC power transmitting wires to thus provide AC power to the protective wiring device when the method of assembling the protective wiring device is completed; connecting each termination structure to a conductive pathway such that each conductive pathway interconnects a corresponding termination structure with a corresponding one of the first contacts via the sensor assembly, at least a portion of the conductive pathway being coupled to the at least one PCB; inserting the line terminal interface assembly into the rear cover such that the plurality of line interface contacts is accessible via the line terminal interface region; and attaching the front cover to the rear cover. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the front major surface includes at least one set of user-accessible apertures disposed therein, the user-accessible apertures being configured to accommodate male contact elements from a corded AC plug. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising: installing a circuit interrupter assembly portion on the at least one PCB, the circuit interrupter assembly portion including a plurality of first contacts, each first contact being coupled to a corresponding conductive pathway; coupling at least one set of receptacle terminals to the portion of the circuit interrupter assembly, the at least one set of receptacle terminals including a plurality of second contacts, the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts forming a set of circuit interrupting contacts; and inserting the at least one set of receptacle terminals within the front cover, the at least one set of receptacle terminals being substantially aligned with at least one set of user-accessible apertures disposed in the front major surface. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the set of circuit interrupting contacts is configured to decouple the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts in response to a fault actuator stimulus to effect a tripped state, the plurality of second contacts being coupled to the plurality of first contacts in a reset state. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the detection circuit is selected from a group of detection circuits that includes a ground fault detector, an arc fault detector, an ambient light detector and a TVSS. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the sensor is selected from a group of sensors that includes an arc fault sensor, a ground fault sensor, an overvoltage sensor and an ambient light sensor. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the front cover includes a lens element disposed adjacent to at least one user-control interface, the lens element being disposed over at least one light emitting element disposed in the housing. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one user-control interface includes a test button or a reset button. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one PCB further includes a night light circuit or a locator circuit. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40, further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), at least one first LED of the plurality of LEDs being disposed on a first side of a mounting strap, and at least one second LED of the plurality of LEDs being disposed on a second side of the mounting strap.