Self-locating, prepositioning actuator for an electrical switch enclosure

A self-locating, prepositioning operating means for an electric switch, comprising:

• (a) a housing having an openable cover;
• (b) a switch mounted in said housing, and having a toggle lever pivotably connected thereto for converting said switch between an energized state and a deenergized state;
• (c) an actuator shaft passing through an aperture in the cover and rotatably mounted thereto, said shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected in a fixed relationship to an externally viewed operator handle, a portion of said shaft located inside said housing and providing a bearing surface;
• (d) an actuator plate having two parallel feet depending therefrom, a first and second longitudinal slot near respective ends of said plate that are positioned parallel to the direction of pivotable movement of the toggle lever, and a cam surface adjacent to the first longitudinal slot, said actuator shaft passing through the first longitudinal slot so that the bearing surface thereof may contact the cam surface of said actuator plate while said actuator plate may freely move with respect to said actuator shaft;
• and
• (e) connection means passing through the second longitudinal slot for securing said actuator plate to the cover, while permitting movement of said actuator plate with respect thereto, whereby, upon closing of the cover, the feet of said actuator plate automatically locate the toggle lever of said switch and come into contact therewith, imparting rectilinear force in the toggle lever movement direction to said actuator plate, the cam surface of said actuator plate bearing against the bearing surface of said actuator shaft to translate the rectilinear movement of said actuator plate into rotational movement of said actuator shaft so that said operator handle is automatically prepositioned to indicate the energization state of said switch concealed in said housing.