Electrical wiring device and method for providing replacement instructions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9629269-B2
Application number	US-201414469057-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2014
Priority date	Aug 30, 2013
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

An eletrical wiring device includes a housing having a front outer surface is visible during use and in an installed position, a side surface and a rear surface. Printed indicia is provided on the side surface of the housing or a front surface of the housing for identifying the location of compliance installation instructions for installing the electrical wiring device in a wiring system. The printed indicia is oriented to be visible by the installer during installation of the electrical wiring device and is oriented to be covered by a faceplate after installation of the electrical wiring device. Printed compliance installation instruction indicia is provided on the housing for installing the electrical wiring device in the electrical system. The compliance installation instruction indicia is oriented to be visible by the installer during installation of the electrical wiring device in the electrical system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical system comprising an electrical wiring device and branch circuit breaker, said electrical wiring device comprising an outlet branch circuit arc fault circuit interrupter comprising:
a housing having a front surface that is visible when viewed from a front of said housing during installation and in an installed position,
a side surface having an inwardly extending shoulder parallel to said front surface and facing outwardly with respect to said outlet branch circuit arc fault circuit interrupter,
and a rear surface; and
printed indicia on said shoulder of said side surface of said housing, recessed from a front face of said housing to identify a location on said rear surface of said housing for printed installation instructions for said electrical wiring device and branch circuit breaker,
said printed indicia being covered by a face plate after installation of said face plate onto said housing,
said location said rear side of said housing having a surface area greater that a surface area of said shoulder; and
printed installation instruction indicia provided on a label on said rear surface of said housing for installing said electrical wiring device and replacement of said branch circuit breaker,
said rear surface having a surface area greater than a surface area of said shoulder, and where said printed installation instruction indicia occupies a surface area greater than a surface area of said shoulder,
said label having a base sheet with an inner surface adhesively bonded to said rear surface, and outer sheet having a first edge fixed to a first edge of said base sheet and a second edge coupled to a second edge of said base sheet by a pressure sensitive adhesive,
where said printed installation instruction indicia is provided on a top face of said base sheet and a bottom face of said outer sheet,
and where said printed installation instruction indicia is accessible and visible by separating said outer sheet from said base sheet; and
where said electrical system comprises a hang tag removably coupled to said housing, where said printed installation instruction indicia is provided on said hang tag.

2. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein
said electrical wiring device is a kit comprising a combination of said outlet branch arc fault circuit interrupter and a molded case circuit breaker.

3. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein said printed indicia is visible when viewed during installation of said electrical wiring device and is in a location that can be covered by a cover plate.

4. The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein said printed installation instruction indicia is attached to said rear face of said electrical wiring device.

5. An electrical system comprising an electrical wiring device and branch circuit breaker, said electrical wiring device consisting of an outlet branch circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter and a molded case circuit interrupter comprising:
a housing supporting electrical wiring components and configured for mounting in an electrical box by a mounting strap,
said housing having front cover with a front outer surface visible when viewed from said outer surface during installation and in an installed position,
said housing having an inwardly extending shoulder parallel to said front outer surface and facing outwardly with respect to said outlet branch circuit arc fault circuit interrupter,
said front outer surface having a plurality of blade openings for receiving a plug and at least one opening receiving a test button,
said front cover having a side surface,
and said housing having a rear body with a rear surface and a side wall coupled to said front cover;
printed indicia on said shoulder of said side surface of said housing, recessed from a front face of said housing to identify a location on said rear surface of said housing for printed installation instructions for said electrical wiring device and branch circuit breaker,
said printed indicia being oriented to be visible during installation of said electrical wiring device,
and oriented to be covered by a faceplate after installation of the face plate; and
printed installation instruction indicia provided on a label on said rear surface on said rear body of said housing for installing said electrical wiring device and replacement of the branch circuit breaker in the electrical system,
said installation instruction indicia oriented on said rear surface or side wall of said rear body to be visible by an installer during installation of said electrical wiring device in the electrical system,
and where said rear surface has a surface area greater than a surface area of said shoulder;
and said printed installation instructions occupy a surface area greater than the surface area of said shoulder.
said label having a base sheet with an inner surface adhesively bonded to said rear surface, and outer sheet having a first edge fixed to a first edge of said base sheet and a second edge coupled to a second edge of said base sheet by a pressure sensitive adhesive,
where said printed installation instruction indicia is provided on a top face of said base sheet and a bottom face of said outer sheet,
and where said printed installation instruction indicia is accessible and visible by separating said outer sheet from said base sheet; and
where said electrical system comprises a hang tag removably coupled to said housing, where said printed installation instruction indicia is provided on said hang tag.

6. The electrical system of claim 5 , wherein
said electrical wiring device is a kit comprising a combination of said outlet branch arc fault circuit interrupter and a molded case circuit breaker.

7. The electrical system of claim 5 , wherein said printed installation instruction indicia are attached to said rear face of said housing of said electrical wiring device.

8. The electrical system of claim 5 , wherein said hang tag is removably coupled to said housing on said mounting strap or said side wall of said rear body.

9. A method for providing printed compliance instruction indicia on an electrical system comprising an electrical wiring device and branch circuit breaker, said electrical wiring device comprising an outlet branch circuit arc fault circuit interrupter comprising the steps of:
providing said electrical wiring device consisting of an outlet branch circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter and a molded case circuit interrupter,
said electrical wiring device having housing with a front outer surface that is visible when viewed from said front outer surface during installation in an installed position,
a side surface,
and a rear surface,
said housing having an inwardly extending shoulder parallel to said front outer surface and facing outwardly with respect to said outlet branch circuit arc fault circuit interrupter;
forming indicia on said shoulder of said side surface of said housing, recessed from a front face of said housing to identify a location that is visible to an installer during installation of said electrical wiring device, said indicia directing the installer to compliance installation instruction indicia on said housing; and
providing the compliance installation instruction indicia on said rear surface of said housing for installing the electrical wiring device and replacement of the branch circuit breaker in the electrical system,
where said rear surface has a surface area greater than a surface area of said shoulder;
and said compliance installation instructions occupy a surface area greater than the surface area of said shoulder.
said label having a base sheet with an inner surface adhesively bonded to said rear surface, and outer sheet having a first edge f

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Goodsell John P

Classifications

• Y10T29/49

  Method of mechanical manufacture · CPC title

• H05K5/0252 Primary

  Labels, e.g. for identification, markings or configuration store · CPC title