초록 ▼

A switch interlock apparatus for use with switch panels that have pairs of functionally related switches, in which the handles for the switches are mounted in tandem and aligned with their pivot axes parallel to and spaced apart from one another, in which one of the switches must be flipped, before

A switch interlock apparatus for use with switch panels that have pairs of functionally related switches, in which the handles for the switches are mounted in tandem and aligned with their pivot axes parallel to and spaced apart from one another, in which one of the switches must be flipped, before the other switch can be flipped. The switch interlock apparatus mechanically connects the handles of two functionally related switches so that as one switch moves from an “OFF” to an “ON” position, the interlock constrains the handle of the related paired switch to move from “ON” to “OFF” first. In a preferred embodiment, the switch interlock apparatus incorporates a monolithically formed interlock member that can be directly mounted to a switch panel without intermediate assembly steps.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem t

1. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:an elongated interlock member, having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends; at least one fastener structure disposed on the elongated interlock member, for enabling slidable mounting of the elongated interlock member in juxtaposed relation to the front face of a switch panel; a switch handle engagement surface, disposed on each end of the elongated interlock member; a mounting bracket operably configured to be attached to a switch panel housing, for slidably mounting the elongated interlock member in said juxtaposed relation to the front face of a switch panel, without attachment of the elongated interlock member to the front face, the mounting bracket further being operably configured for restrainably maintaining functionally and physically paired switches on a switch panel, the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches. 2. The switch interlock apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the elongated interlock member comprises a substantially U-shaped member, including a substantially planar elongated portion having two ends, and an upraised switch handle engaging leg at each end.3. The switch interlock apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fastener structure comprises an elongated slot in the substantially planar longitudinal portion of the interlock member.4. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket comprises:an interlock member support leg operably configured to extend across the front face of a switch; and an attachment leg, at least indirectly connected thereto, configured for attachment to a switch housing. 5. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the interlock member support leg further comprises:at least one stabilizer bar emanating from a side edge of the interlock member support leg, operably configured for bearing against a front face of a switch, toward preventing twisting of the interlock member support leg relative to said front face. 6. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners; a mounting post disposed on the mounting frame; an interlock member, slidably mounted on the mounting post for reciprocating movement relative to the mounting frame, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position, the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches. 7. The switch interlock apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein the interlock member has a shape in the form of a “U”-shaped channel, comprising a planar central web and two planar leg webs extending substantially perpendicular thereto, the central web having an elongated slot therein.8. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:the mounting post being hollow and internally threaded, a fastener extending through the elongated slot and into a complementary fastener receiving aperture disposed in the mounting post. 9. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:the mounting post being externally threaded and extending through the elongated slot, and a fastener in the form of an internally threaded nut maintains the interlock member in position. 10. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:at least two guide members disposed on the mounting frame at transversely spaced apart positions, so that the mounting post is disposed substantially equidistantly between the at least two guide members, for guiding the interlock member during its reciprocating movement. 11. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising at least one resiliently movable spring clip member operably disposed on the mounting frame for interlockingly engaging a peripheral portion of a switch face.12. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners; a mounting post disposed on the mounting frame; an interlock member, slidably mounted on the mounting post for reciprocating movement relative to the mounting frame, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position, the interlock member has a shape in the form of a “U”-shaped channel, comprising a planar central web and two planar leg webs extending substantially perpendicular thereto, the central web having an elongated slot therein, wherein the interlock member is in the configuration of an elongated “U”-shaped channel, in which the “U”-shaped channel is inverted relative to the mounting post, so that the mounting post extends between the leg webs, and in which the “U”-shaped channel is oriented such that the leg webs extend longitudinally, with respect to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem, wherein end edge portions of the central web of the “U”-shaped channel engage the switch handles during reciprocating movement of the interlock member. 13. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners; a mounting post disposed on the mounting frame; an interlock member, slidably mounted on the mounting post for reciprocating movement relative to the mounting frame, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position, the interlock member has a shape in the form of a “U”-shaped channel, comprising a planar central web and two planar leg webs extending substantially perpendicular thereto, the central web having an elongated slot therein, wherein the interlock member is in the configuration of a widened, truncated “U”-shaped channel, in which the channel is oriented such that the leg webs extend transversely with respect to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem, wherein portions of the leg webs of the “U”-shaped channel engage the switch handles during reciprocating movement of the interlock member. 14. The switch interlock apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein the interlock member has a shape in the form of a “U”-shaped channel, comprising a central web and two planar leg webs extending substantially perpendicular thereto, the central web having an elongated slot therein.15. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners; an interlock member, slidably mounted relative to the mounting frame for reciprocating movement relative thereto, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position; and an interlock member mounting and guide structure, operably disposed on the mounting frame, for enabling capture of the interlock member between the interlock member mounting and guide structure, and front face surfaces of the mounted in tandem switches and facilitating reciprocating longitudinal movement of the interlock member, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on the mounted in tandem switches, the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches. 16. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising at least one resiliently movable spring clip member operably disposed on the mounting frame for interlockingly engaging a peripheral portion of a switch face.17. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the interlock member is in the configuration of a widened, truncated “U”-shaped member, in which the member is oriented such that the leg webs extend transversely with respect to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem, wherein portions of the leg webs of the “U”-shaped channel engage the switch handles during reciprocating movement of the interlock member.18. A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:an interlock member, the interlock member having an elongated central planar web having a longitudinal axis, the interlock member configured to be mounted relative to the mounted in tandem switches such that the longitudinal axis of the central planar web extends parallel to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem; the interlock member further having two “L”-shaped leg webs extending from opposite ends of the central planar web, each leg web including a truncated connecting web portion extending at an angle to the central planar web, and a switch handle engaging web portion, extending substantially parallel to the central planar web, the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches. 19. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the switch panel has a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, the switch interlock apparatus further comprising:a mounting bracket operably configured to be attached to a switch panel housing, for slidably mounting the elongated interlock member in said juxtaposed relation to the front face of a switch panel, without attachment of the elongated interlock member to the front face, the mounting bracket further being operably configured for restrainably maintaining functionally and physically paired switches on a switch panel. 20. The switch interlock apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the switch interlock member is mountable directly to front face surfaces of the mounted in tandem switches, for slidable movement relative thereto.