US 6,275,126 B1Granted

Molded case power switch with secondary cover removably secured by quick release fasteners

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsDominic P. Martelli, Trent Allen Chontas, Richard Paul Malingowski, William David Munsch

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Abstract

The secondary cover of a molded case electric power switch housing is removably secured in place to enclose cavities in a primary cover for auxiliary devices by quick release fasteners. These quick release fasteners have a shaft with self taping threads which engage mounting holes in the top face of the primary cover. In an unlatched position, the non-circular heads register with complimentary non-circular apertures in the secondary cover which passes down over the heads of the quick release fasteners and seats on the top face of the primary cover. The quick release fasteners are then rotated clockwise ¼ turn by a tool to a latched position to clamp down on the secondary cover. A pair of diametrically opposite arcuate recesses in the secondary cover at each non-circular aperture assure that the quick release fasteners can only be rotated clockwise to the latched position as side walls of these recesses form stops at the ¼ turn position.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A molded case power switch housing comprising:

a molded base having an open top;
a primary cover extending over said open top and secured to said molded base to form an enclosure, said primary cover having at least one cavity formed in a top face thereof and at least one mounting hole in said top face;
at least one quick release fastener having a threaded shaft partially threaded into said at least one mounting hole in said primary cover, and a non-circular head on said threaded shaft;
and
a removable secondary cover having at least one non-circular aperture complimentary to said non-circular head on said at least one quick release fastener and aligned such that with said at least one quick release fastener rotated to a first position said non-circular aperture in said secondary cover registers with said non-circular head on said at least one quick release fastener and said secondary cover passes over said non-circular head and seats on said top face of said primary cover and covers said at least one cavity in said top cover, said secondary cover being secured in place over said primary cover by rotation of said at least one quick release fastener to a second position out of registration with said non-circular aperture in said secondary cover such that said non-circular head overlaps and clamps down upon said secondary cover adjacent said at least one non-circular opening.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.