Locking device for an installation switch device

A locking apparatus for prevention of unauthorized switching-on of a service switching device comprising:

• a release lever disposed within a device housing;
• a switching mechanism movable from a latched state to an unlatched state by the release lever;
• and
• a release lever actuating part disposed in an area of the device housing in which the release lever is disposed, wherein the release lever actuating part is movable from outside the switching device between a switched-on position and a switched-off position, and wherein the release lever actuating part is coupled to the release lever so as to hold the release lever in the unlatched state when the release lever actuating party is in the switched-off position.

A service switching device comprising:

• a release lever;
• a device housing having a device housing wall;
• a switching mechanism disposed in the device housing and movable from a latched state to an unlatched state by the release lever, wherein the switching mechanism is disposed underneath the device housing wall in an area in which a release lever actuating part, pivotable on a plane parallel to the device housing wall, is disposed;
• and
• a pin fitted to the release lever actuating part and extending towards the release lever so as to hold the release lever in the unlatched state when the release lever actuating part pivots.