Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a fixed contact, a pivotable contact carrier having a movable contact for engagement with the fixed contact, a pivotable trip arm, a latch adapted to latch the trip arm, a thermostatic element adapted to engage the latch, and an overcenter spring coupled between the contact carrier and the trip arm. In the event of an overcurrent, the latch releases the trip arm, and the overcenter spring retracts the contact carrier, disengaging the contacts. An improved trip arm includes an integrally formed, perpendicularly extending lug which strikes the contact carrier, providing an impact force to disengage the contacts in the event of welding of contacts together.

Abstract: A housing for a circuit breaker is molded with a recess and projection, for receiving a connector clip having contact blades joined by a bight. The bight has a fixed length with a first projection toward, and a longer second projection away from, the blades. The second projection is connectable to an electrical circuit. The inner surfaces of the blades are engageable with a bus bar. A clamping holder for the clip comprises an integral sheet metal member, and includes a mounting plate having a hole for retaining the clip at the bight. A flat spring means is coupled at one end by a substantially perpendicular bend to the plate and has an opposite end formed as two flat springs separated by a slot that terminates before the bend to stiffen the plate. Torque arms, coupled at one end to the flat springs at an acute angle therewith, at their other ends have opposing portions engaging the outer surfaces of the blades. Engagement of the bus bar with the inner surfaces of the blades transmits motion to the arms.

Abstract: Each of a pair of low voltage, residential type circuit breaker housings includes a molded case, a mating cover, a spring clip, and a conductive contact member. The clip, generally U-shaped, has a stiff outer leg with smoothly formed edges, a base, and an inner leg forming two flat springs joined by a flat leg coupled to the base. The flat leg is case supported to stabilize the base and outer leg. The member has an outer conductive leg so formed that when the clip's stiff outer leg's inner surface opposes a connecting surface thereof, and spaced therefrom, a bus bar blade is receivable. The contact member includes a step having a riser in one direction joining at a roundly formed right angle with one end of its leg (the roundly formed angle and smoothly formed edges serving as lead-in contours for a bus bar blade) and a tread along a second orthogonally oriented direction, which tread rests on one of the flat springs.

Abstract: A "U" shaped arc chute, formed in a single piece stamping, with louvered openings at the center section. The louvers cool and safely direct gases, generated during short circuit operation of a circuit breaker, away from the metal front of circuit breaker panel board, thereby reducing the likelihood of an electric arc striking between the circuit breaker line terminal contact and the circuit breaker enclosure. The louvered arc chute is durable, and provides a barrier to prevent access to the interior of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A lock off-lock on for a handle of an electric circuit breaker includes a unitary metallic member having a first handle engaging portion adapted to be inserted into an opening of a circuit breaker handle. The opening can be provided in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating movement path of the handle between "on" and "off" positions. The member includes a second handle engaging portion joined to the first portion by a bight to form a U-shaped structure. The second handle engaging portion engages a surface of the handle which is in exposed adjacency to a dependent arcuate portion which is in proximal relationship with the interior of a slot in the housing in which the handle outwardly extends. A flat spring, coupled to a part of one side of the second portion by an angular bend, is engageable with the dependent arcuate portion and is in abutting relationship with the housing at one of the edges of the slot.

Abstract: A bus bar is held at the peripheral portion of a molded plastic housing by means of a formed metallic support having a single tab along an edge thereof and a pair of spaced apart tabs along an opposite edge thereof. the support has an oval hole therein so that the bus bar can be affixed thereto. The molded plastic housing has a pair of opposed walls at the peripheral portion. One wall has a vertical groove from its top to a bottom stop, so that the single tab can rest therein. The other wall has a first vertical groove from its top to a bottom stop (level with the first bottom stop) and a second vertical groove from the bottom of the wall to a top stop. The top stop is located above the bottom stops by a distance equal to the thickness of the support. The support rests within the grooves of the housing, and holds the bus bar.