초록

The present application discloses a shredder with a switch lock that locks the on/off switch in its on/off position.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A shredder comprising: a housing; a shredder mechanism mounted in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the

What is claimed is: 1. A shredder comprising: a housing; a shredder mechanism mounted in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein; a throat opening provided on the housing for enabling articles to be fed into the shredder mechanism; an on/off switch provided on an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the motor of the shredder mechanism, the switch including a manually engageable portion manually movable by a user's hand between at least (a) an on position wherein the switch enables delivery of electric power to the motor and (b) an off position disabling the delivery of electric power to the motor; a switch lock movable between (a) a locking position wherein the switch is locked in the off position and (b) a releasing position wherein the switch is released for movement from the off position; wherein the switch lock includes a manually engageable portion provided on the exterior of the housing, the manually engageable portion being manually movable by the user's hand to move the switch lock between the locking and releasing positions. 2. A shredder according to claim 1, wherein the switch lock is constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the on position thereof, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 3. A shredder according to claim 2, wherein the switch is also movable to a reverse position enabling delivery of electric power to the motor so as to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements in a reverse manner, the on position and the reverse position being on opposing sides of the of position, wherein the switch lock is also constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the reverse position, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 4. A shredder according to claim 3, wherein the switch lock includes a pair of camming surfaces, one of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position, the other of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the reverse position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 5. A shredder according to claim 2, wherein the switch lock includes a camming surface configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 6. A shredder according to claim 1, further comprising a cover associated with the throat opening of the housing, the cover being movable between (a) a closed position covering the opening for preventing the articles to be shredded from being fed into the housing and into the cutter elements, and (b) an open position uncovering the opening for allowing the articles to be shredded to be fed into the housing and into the cutter elements. 7. A shredder according to claim 6, wherein the cover is linked with the switch lock such that the cover and the switch lock move together between (a) the open position of the cover and the releasing position of the switch lock and (b) the closed position of the cover and the locking position of the switch lock. 8. A shredder according to claim 7, wherein the cover is manually movable between the open and closed positions thereof, thereby enabling manual movement of the cover between the open and closed positions to move the switch lock between the releasing and locking positions thereof, respectively. 9. A shredder according to claim 8, wherein the switch lock is constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the on position thereof, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 10. A shredder according to claim 9, wherein the switch lock includes a camming surface configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. operate the motor to drive the cutter elements in a reverse manner, the on position and the reverse position being on opposing sides of the off position, p1 wherein the switch lock is also constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the reverse position, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 11. A shredder according to claim 9, wherein the switch is also movable to a reverse position enabling delivery of electric power to the motor so as to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements in a reverse manner, the on position and the reverse position being on opposing sides of the off position, wherein the switch lock is also constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the reverse position, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 12. A shredder according to claim 11, wherein the switch lock includes a pair of camming surfaces, one of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position, the other of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the reverse position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 13. A shredder according to claim 1, comprising a status indicator for visually indicating whether the switch lock is in the locking position. 14. A shredder according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an upwardly facing top wall, and wherein the throat opening is formed in the top wall. 15. A shredder according to claim 14, wherein the manually engageable portion of the on/off switch is mounted for sliding movement on the top wall between the on and off positions thereof. 16. A shredder according to claim 15, wherein the top wall has an open, upwardly facing recess and wherein the manually engageable portion of the on/off switch is received in said recess. 17. A shredder according to claim 15, wherein the manually engageable portion of the switch lock is mounted for sliding movement on the top wall between the locking and releasing positions thereof. 18. A shredder according to claim 17, wherein the switch lock has a locking portion located beneath the top wall and connected to the manually engageable portion of the switch lock, the locking portion being constructed to engage a portion of the switch beneath the top wall in the locking position of the switch lock to lock the on/off switch in the off position. 19. A shredder according to claim 18, wherein the on/off switch has a switch module located beneath the top wall and connected to the motor for controlling the delivery of electrical power to the motor; the on/off switch further comprising a movable element located at least in part beneath the top wall and connecting the manually engageable portion of the on/off switch to the switch module; the locking portion of the switch lock being constructed to engage the movable element of the on/off switch beneath the top wall in the locking position of the switch lock to lock the on/off switch in the off position. 20. A shredder according to claim 19, wherein a space is provided beneath the top wall between the switch module and the top wall, the movable element of the on/off switch extending in said space and the locking portion of the switch lock being movable within said space to engage the movable element in the locking position of the switch lock to lock the on/off switch in the off position. 21. A shredder according to claim 20, wherein the locking portion of the switch lock includes a recess, the recess being configured to receive the movable element of the switch in the locking position of the switch lock to lock the on/off switch in the locking position. 22. A shredder comprising: a shredder mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein; an on/off switch electrically coupled to the motor of the shredder mechanism, the switch including a manually engageable portion manually movable by a user's hand between at least (a) an on position wherein the switch enables delivery of electric power to the motor and (b) an off position disabling the delivery of electric power to the motor; a switch lock movable between (a) a locking position wherein the switch is locked in the off position and (b) a releasing position wherein the switch is released for movement from the off position; a housing in which the shredder mechanism is received, the housing including an opening for enabling the articles to be shredded to be fed into the housing and into the cutter elements; a cover associated with the opening of the housing, the cover being movable between (a) a closed position covering the opening for preventing the articles to be shredded from being fed into the housing and into the cutter elements, and (b) an open position uncovering the opening for allowing the articles to be shredded to be fed into the housing and into the cutter elements; wherein the cover is linked with the switch lock such that the cover and the switch lock move together between (a) the open position of the cover and the releasing position of the switch lock and (b) the closed position of the cover and the locking position of the switch lock. 23. A shredder according to claim 22, wherein the cover is manually movable between the open and closed positions thereof, thereby enabling manual movement of the cover between the open and closed positions to move the switch lock between the releasing and locking positions thereof, respectively. 24. A shredder according to claim 23, wherein the switch lock is constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the on position thereof, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 25. A shredder according to claim 24, wherein the switch lock includes a camming surface configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 26. A shredder according to claim 24, wherein the switch is also movable to a reverse position enabling delivery of electric power to the motor so as to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements in a reverse manner, the on position and the reverse position being on opposing sides of the off position, wherein the switch lock is also constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the reverse position, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 27. A shredder according to claim 26, wherein the switch lock includes a pair of camming surfaces, one of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position, the other of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the reverse position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 28. A shredder comprising: a shredder mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein; an on/off switch electrically coupled to the motor of the shredder mechanism, the switch including a manually engageable portion manually movable by a user's hand between at least (a) an on position wherein the switch enables delivery of electric power to the motor and (b) an off position disabling the delivery of electric power to the motor; a switch lock movable between (a) a locking position wherein the switch is locked in the off position and (b) a releasing position wherein the switch is released for movement from the off position; wherein the switch lock includes a manually engageable portion manually movable by the user's hand to move the switch lock between the locking and releasing positions; wherein the switch lock is constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the on position thereof, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position; wherein the switch is also movable to a reverse position enabling delivery of electric power to the motor so as to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements in a reverse manner, the on position and the reverse position being on opposing sides of the off position, wherein the switch lock is also constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the reverse position, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position; wherein the switch lock includes a pair of camming surfaces, one of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position, the other of the camming surfaces being configured to cam the switch from the reverse position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 29. A shredder comprising: a housing; a shredder mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein; a throat opening provided on the housing for enabling articles to be fed into the shredder mechanism; an on/off switch provided on an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the motor of the shredder mechanism, the switch including a manually engageable portion manually movable by a user's hand between at least (a) an on position wherein the switch enables delivery of electric power to the motor and (b) an off position disabling the delivery of electric power to the motor; a switch lock movable between (a) a locking position wherein the switch is locked in the off position and (b) a releasing position wherein the switch is released for movement from the off position; wherein the switch lock includes a manually engageable portion provided on the exterior of the housing, the manually engageable portion being manually movable by the user's hand to move the switch lock between the locking and releasing positions; and wherein the switch lock is constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the on position thereof, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 30. A shredder according to claim 29, wherein the switch lock includes a camming surface configured to cam the switch from the on position to the off position as the switch lock moves from the releasing position to the locking position. 31. A shredder according to claim 30, wherein the switch is also movable to a reverse position enabling delivery of electric power to the motor so as to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements in a reverse manner, the on position and the reverse position being on opposing sides of the off position, wherein the switch lock is also constructed such that, when the on/off switch is in the reverse position, moving the switch lock from the releasing position to the locking position causes the switch to move into the off position. 32. A shredder according to claim 31, wherein the housing has an upwardly facing top wall, wherein the throat opening is formed in the top wall, and wherein the manually engageable portion of the switch lock is mounted for linear sliding movement on the top wall between the on and off positions thereof. 33. A shredder according to claim 32, wherein the top wall has an open, upwardly facing recess and wherein the manually engageable portion is received in said recess. 34. A shredder comprising: a housing; a shredder mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein; a throat opening provided on the housing for enabling articles to be fed into the shredder mechanism; an on/off switch provided on an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the motor of the shredder mechanism, the switch including a manually engageable portion manually movable by a user's hand between at least (a) an on position wherein the switch enables delivery of electric power to the motor and (b) an off position disabling the delivery of electric power to the motor; a switch lock movable between (a) a locking position wherein the switch is locked in the off position and (b) a releasing position wherein the switch is released for movement from the off position; wherein the switch lock includes a manually engageable portion provided on an exterior of the housing, the manually engageable portion being manually movable by the user's hand to move the switch lock between the locking and releasing positions; and a status indicator provided on the exterior of the housing for visually indicating whether the switch lock is in the locking position. 35. A shredder according to claim 34, wherein the housing has an upwardly facing top wall, wherein the throat opening is formed in the top wall, and wherein the manually engageable portion of the switch lock is mounted for linear sliding movement on the top wall between the on and off positions thereof. 36. A shredder according to claim 35, wherein the top wall has an open, upwardly facing recess and wherein the manually engageable portion is received in said recess. 37. A shredder comprising: a housing; a shredder mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling articles to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein; a throat opening provided on the housing for enabling articles to be fed into the shredder mechanism; an on/off switch provided on an exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the motor of the shredder mechanism, the switch including a manually engageable portion manually movable by a user's hand between at least (a) an on position wherein the switch enables delivery of electric power to the motor and (b) an off position disabling the delivery of electric power to the motor; a switch lock movable between (a) a locking position wherein the switch is locked in the off position and (b) a releasing position wherein the switch is released for movement from the off position; wherein the switch lock includes a manually engageable portion provided on an exterior of the housing, the manually engageable portion being manually movable by the user's hand to move the switch lock between the locking and releasing positions; and the switch lock including a locking portion connected to the manually engageable portion of the switch lock, the locking portion including a recess configured to receive a portion of the on/off switch in the locking position of the switch lock to lock the on/off switch in the off position.