Circuit interrupting device with reverse wiring protection

A circuit interrupting device comprising:

• a housing;
• a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path each disposed at least partially within said housing between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load, and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load;
• a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load side upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition;
• and
• a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths;
• said circuit interrupting device further comprising a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if a reverse wiring condition exists, wherein said reset portion comprises:
• a reset button;
• and
• at least one reset contact which when depressed is capable of contacting at least a portion of said phase conductive path to cause said predetermined condition, wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is operational, the circuit interrupting portion is activated to disable said reset lockout portion and facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, and wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, said reset lockout portion remains enabled so that reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths is prevented;
• and
• wherein said phase conductive path comprises a plurality of contacts that are capable of opening to cause said electrical discontinuity in said phase conductive path and closing to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase conductive path at both said line and load sides, and wherein said neutral conductive path comprises a plurality of contacts that are capable of opening to cause said electrical discontinuity in said neutral conductive path and closing to reestablish electrical continuity in said neutral conductive path, between said line and load sides.

A circuit interrupting device for use with an electrical wiring system having at least one conductor comprising:

• a line side connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity for connecting to the electrical wiring system;
• a load side connection capable of being electrically connected to a load side conductor for providing electricity to load side;
• a user load connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load for providing an electrical connection to the electrical wiring system;
• a first conductive path capable of providing an electrical connection between the line side connection and the user load connection;
• a second conductive path capable of providing an electrical connection between the line side connection and the load side connection;
• a circuit interrupter configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition;
• a reset portion configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path;
• a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path if said circuit interrupter is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists;
• wherein activation of said reset portion first simulates at least one of the predetermined conditions, wherein if said circuit interrupter is operational, the circuit interrupter causes said reset lockout portion to be disabled to facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said first and second conductive paths.