Mechanical interlock with enhanced features

A mechanical interlock comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a connector at least partially received within the enclosure for selectively receiving a plug;
• a load switch positioned within the enclosure, the load switch arranged and configured to selectively supply power to the connector;
• a handle assembly operatively associated with the enclosure, the handle assembly being selectively movable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively energize and deenergize the load switch;
• a shaft for rotationally coupling the handle assembly to the load switch;
• an interlock latch arranged and configured to be operatively associated with the connector and the handle assembly, the interlock latch movable between a first position and a second position, wherein, when in the first position, the interlock latch prevents rotation of the handle assembly, and when in the second position, the interlock latch axially translates relative to the handle assembly to decouple the interlock latch to enable rotation of the handle assembly so that the handle assembly can be moved from the OFF position to the ON position;
• and
• a plug connector arranged and configured to prevent the plug from being removed from the connector when the handle assembly is in the ON position;
• wherein the plug connector includes a slider plate and a latch spring, in use, rotation of the handle assembly from the OFF position to the ON position causes the slider plate to translate longitudinally towards the connector so that a portion of the latch spring engages a ledge on the plug so that the latch spring engages the plug to prevent removal of the plug from the connector, a direction of movement of the latch spring being substantially perpendicular to the translation of the slider plate;
• wherein the interlock latch includes a first end and a second end, the first end being arranged and configured to contact the plug, wherein upon insertion of the plug into the connector, the interlock latch axially translates via contact with the plug, without rotation of the plug, from the first position to the second position.