# US 10,485,120 B1 · Enclosures including an interlocking device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,485,120 B1 - Document ID: US10485120B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/150,639 - Filed: 2018-10-03 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-03 - Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Inventors: James W. Adams; Nick E. Klus; Scott Bradley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10485120B1 ## CPC - H02B 1/308: {Mounting of cabinets together} - H05K 5/0208: {Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof} - H05K 5/0217: {Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03)} - H05K 5/30: Side-by-side or stacked arrangements - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An enclosure assembly includes a plurality of enclosures. Each enclosure of the plurality of enclosures includes a cabinet including an interior surface defining an interior volume, and a door mounted relative to a respective opening of each cabinet. An interlocking device interlocks a first door of a first enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, a second door of a second enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, and a third door of a third enclosure of the plurality of enclosures. The interlocking device is operable to selectively fasten each of the first door, the second door, and the third door in a closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An enclosure assembly comprising: a plurality of enclosures, each enclosure of the plurality of enclosures including a cabinet having an interior surface defining an interior volume, and a door mounted relative to a respective opening of each cabinet, wherein the door is oriented to provide access into the respective interior volume of each respective cabinet when the door is positioned in an open position relative to the respective opening, and wherein the door is oriented to restrict access into the respective interior volume of each respective cabinet when the door is positioned in a closed position relative to the respective opening; and an interlocking device interlocking a locking fastener of each of a first door of a first enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, a second door of a second enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, and a third door of a third enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, wherein the interlocking device is operable to selectively engage the locking fastener of each of the first door, the second door, and the third door to fasten each of the first door, the second door, and the third door in the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the interlocking device comprises a cable actuator including a cable and an actuator, wherein the actuator includes a tip portion coupled to a first end of a linkage, and wherein the interlocking device includes a link comprising a first end coupled to a second end of the linkage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the linkage defines a rotation axis between the first end of the linkage and the second end of the linkage about which the first end of the linkage and the second end of the linkage are rotatable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein the linkage is rotatably mounted, with respect to the rotation axis, relative to an electrical safety switch operable to selectively interrupt an electrical circuit based at least in part on rotation of the linkage about the rotation axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The enclosure assembly of claim 4, wherein the electrical safety switch includes a latch operable to selectively engage a mating fastener based at least in part on rotation of the linkage about the rotation axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The enclosure assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator of the cable actuator is disposed within the interior volume of the second cabinet, wherein a first end of the cable of the cable actuator is disposed within the interior volume of the first cabinet, and wherein a second end of the cable of the cable actuator is operably connected to the actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The enclosure assembly of claim 6, wherein the first end of the cable of the cable actuator is operably connected to a handle, and wherein the handle is oriented to operate the cable actuator to translate the tip portion of the actuator relative to the actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The enclosure assembly of claim 7, wherein the handle includes a catch and a mating lever oriented to selectively fasten the first door in the closed position based at least in part on operation of the handle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The enclosure assembly of claim 6, wherein the link includes a second end disposed within the interior volume of the third cabinet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The enclosure assembly of claim 9, wherein the second end of the link includes a pin portion oriented to selectively engage a slot of a hasp on the third door based at least in part on actuation of the actuator to selectively fasten the third door in the closed position. ### Claim 11 An enclosure assembly comprising: a plurality of enclosures, each enclosure of the plurality of enclosures including a cabinet having an interior surface defining an interior volume, and a door mounted relative to a respective opening of each cabinet; and an interlocking device interlocking a first door of a first enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, a second door of a second enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, and a third door of a third enclosure of the plurality of enclosures, wherein the second enclosure is mounted relative to the first enclosure at a first interface defining a first boundary between the first cabinet and the second cabinet, and wherein the third enclosure is mounted relative to the second enclosure at a second interface defining a second boundary between the second cabinet and the third cabinet; wherein the enclosure assembly includes a first aperture defining a first opening in the first boundary and a second aperture defining a second opening in the second boundary; wherein the interlocking device comprises a cable actuator including a cable extending from the interior volume of the first cabinet through the first opening in the first boundary to the interior volume of the second cabinet; and wherein the interlocking device comprises a link including a first end disposed in the interior volume of the second cabinet and a second end disposed in the interior volume of the third cabinet, wherein the link extends from the interior volume of the second cabinet through the second opening in the second boundary to the interior volume of the third cabinet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein each door is oriented to provide access into the respective interior volume of each respective cabinet when the door is positioned in an open position relative to the respective opening, wherein each door is oriented to restrict access into the respective interior volume of each respective cabinet when the door is positioned in a closed position relative to the respective opening, and wherein the interlocking device is operable to selectively fasten each of the first door, the second door, and the third door in the closed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The enclosure assembly of claim 12, wherein the second end of the link includes a pin portion oriented to selectively engage a slot of a hasp on the third door based at least in part on actuation of the actuator to selectively fasten the third door in the closed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein the interlocking device includes a linkage, wherein the actuator comprises a tip portion coupled to a first end of the linkage, and wherein the first end of the link is coupled to a second end of the linkage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The enclosure assembly of claim 14, wherein the linkage defines a rotation axis between the first end of the linkage and the second end of the linkage about which the first end of the linkage and the second end of the linkage are rotatable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The enclosure assembly of claim 15, wherein the linkage is rotatably mounted, with respect to the rotation axis, within the interior volume of the second cabinet. ### Claim 17 An interlocking device for interlocking a plurality of doors of a plurality of enclosures, the interlocking device comprising: a linkage defining a rotation axis between a first end of the linkage and a second end of the linkage about which the first end of the linkage and the second end of the linkage are rotatable; a cable actuator including a cable and an actuator, wherein the actuator includes a tip portion coupled to the first end of the linkage; and a link including a first end coupled to the second end of the linkage, and a second end having a pin portion, wherein the pin portion is oriented to selectively engage a slot of a hasp on a door of the plurality of doors based at least in part on actuation of the actuator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The interlocking device of claim 17, further comprising a handle operably connected to the cable of the actuator, wherein the handle is oriented to operate the cable actuator to translate the tip portion of the actuator relative to the actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The interlocking device of claim 18, wherein the linkage is oriented to rotate about the rotation axis based at least in part on translation of the tip portion of the actuator relative to the actuator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The interlocking device of claim 19, wherein the pin portion of the link is oriented to translate along a path based at least in part on rotation of the linkage about the rotation axis.