Switch interlock apparatus

A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:

• a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners;
• a mounting post disposed on the mounting frame;
• an interlock member, slidably mounted on the mounting post for reciprocating movement relative to the mounting frame, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position,
• the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches.

A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:

• a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners;
• a mounting post disposed on the mounting frame;
• an interlock member, slidably mounted on the mounting post for reciprocating movement relative to the mounting frame, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position,
• the interlock member has a shape in the form of a “U”-shaped channel, comprising a planar central web and two planar leg webs extending substantially perpendicular thereto, the central web having an elongated slot therein,
• wherein the interlock member is in the configuration of an elongated “U”-shaped channel, in which the “U”-shaped channel is inverted relative to the mounting post, so that the mounting post extends between the leg webs, and in which the “U”-shaped channel is oriented such that the leg webs extend longitudinally, with respect to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem, wherein end edge portions of the central web of the “U”-shaped channel engage the switch handles during reciprocating movement of the interlock member.

A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:

• a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners;
• a mounting post disposed on the mounting frame;
• an interlock member, slidably mounted on the mounting post for reciprocating movement relative to the mounting frame, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position,
• the interlock member has a shape in the form of a “U”-shaped channel, comprising a planar central web and two planar leg webs extending substantially perpendicular thereto, the central web having an elongated slot therein,
• wherein the interlock member is in the configuration of a widened, truncated “U”-shaped channel, in which the channel is oriented such that the leg webs extend transversely with respect to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem, wherein portions of the leg webs of the “U”-shaped channel engage the switch handles during reciprocating movement of the interlock member.

A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:

• a mounting frame, operably configured to interlockingly engage peripheral regions of front face areas of physically paired switches, without the use of separate fasteners;
• an interlock member, slidably mounted relative to the mounting frame for reciprocating movement relative thereto, and configured so that when the mounting frame is mounted on the faces of paired switches, the switch handles are precluded from simultaneously occupying their respective “ON” positions, and movement of a first switch handle from its “OFF” position, toward its “ON” position, causes the interlock member to push a second switch handle from its “ON” position, to its “OFF” position, prior to the first switch handle arriving at its “ON” position;
• and
• an interlock member mounting and guide structure, operably disposed on the mounting frame, for enabling capture of the interlock member between the interlock member mounting and guide structure, and front face surfaces of the mounted in tandem switches and facilitating reciprocating longitudinal movement of the interlock member, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on the mounted in tandem switches,
• the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches.

A switch interlock apparatus, for functionally interconnecting the handles of functionally and physically paired switches mounted in tandem on a switch panel, the switch panel having a front face and a housing portion disposed distal to the front face, wherein the handles are arranged in tandem to pivot in a common plane about parallel, spaced apart axes, such that when each handle is in its respective “OFF” position, the handles are pivoted away from one another and when each handle is in its respective “ON” position, the handles are pivoted toward one another, the switch interlock apparatus comprising:

• an interlock member,
• the interlock member having an elongated central planar web having a longitudinal axis, the interlock member configured to be mounted relative to the mounted in tandem switches such that the longitudinal axis of the central planar web extends parallel to an axis extending between the switch handles, when the switch interlock apparatus is mounted on a pair of switches arranged in tandem;
• the interlock member further having two “L”-shaped leg webs extending from opposite ends of the central planar web, each leg web including a truncated connecting web portion extending at an angle to the central planar web, and a switch handle engaging web portion, extending substantially parallel to the central planar web,
• the elongated interlock member being mounted, relative to the switches, so as to move in the direction of its longitudinal axis, parallel to said common plane of movement of the handles of the paired switches.