Switch interlock apparatus
OwnerPaul Schnackenberginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch interlock apparatus for use with switch panels, having pairs of functionally related switches, in which the handles for the switches are aligned with their pivot axes parallel to 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.
Claims12
A switch interlock apparatus, for mechanically connecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches on a switch panel, 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 connection of the elongated interlock member to a switch panel;
- a switch handle receiving contour disposed at each of the first and second ends of the elongated interlock member;
- and
- a switch handle engagement surface, disposed within each switch handle receiving contour.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.