Electrical enclosure and guard assembly therefor

A guard assembly for an electrical enclosure comprising a housing, an electrical switching apparatus disposed in said housing, and a handle coupled to said housing, said guard assembly comprising:

• a shaft comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being structured to be coupled to said handle, the second end being structured to be coupled to said electrical switching apparatus;
• and
• a sleeve assembly structured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, said sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve member, said sleeve member comprising:
• a base disposed proximate the first end of said shaft, and
• a cover portion extending from said base toward the second end of said shaft, said shaft extending at least partially through said cover portion,
• wherein, responsive to said sleeve assembly moving from said retracted position toward said extended position, said sleeve member moves away from the second end of said shaft;
• wherein said cover portion comprises a gripping portion and a protrusion extending from said gripping portion toward said shaft;
• wherein said protrusion is annular and comprises a planar end surface;
• and
• wherein said shaft is structured to extend through said planar end surface.

A guard assembly for an electrical enclosure comprising a housing, an electrical switching apparatus disposed in said housing, and a handle coupled to said housing, said guard assembly comprising:

• a shaft comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being structured to be coupled to said handle, the second end being structured to be coupled to said electrical switching apparatus;
• and
• a sleeve assembly structured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, said sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve member, said sleeve member comprising:
• a base disposed proximate the first end of said shaft, and
• a cover portion extending from said base toward the second end of said shaft, said shaft extending at least partially through said cover portion;
• wherein, responsive to said sleeve assembly moving from said retracted position toward said extended position, said sleeve member moves away from the second end of said shaft;
• wherein said base comprises a disc-shaped portion and an annular rim;
• and wherein said annular rim extends away from said disc-shaped portion toward the second end of said shaft.

An electrical enclosure comprising:

• a housing;
• an electrical switching apparatus disposed in said housing;
• a handle coupled to said housing;
• and
• a guard assembly comprising:
• a shaft comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being structured to be coupled to said handle, the second end being structured to be coupled to said electrical switching apparatus, and
• a sleeve assembly structured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, said sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve member, said sleeve member comprising:
• a base disposed proximate the first end of said shaft, and
• a cover portion extending from said base toward the second end of said shaft, said shaft extending at least partially through said cover portion,
• wherein, responsive to said sleeve assembly moving from said retracted position toward said extended position, said sleeve member moves away from the second end of said shaft;
• wherein said base comprises a disc-shared portion and an annular rim;
• and
• wherein said annular rim extends away from said disc-shaped portion toward the second end of said shaft.