Mountable lockout device

• US 20060278504A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brojanac, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,348,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/43.10
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/287 wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers

Abstract

A lockout device is provided for an operable instrument mounted to a structure with a first set of fasteners. The lockout device includes a base member having first and second side walls, an opening disposed between the side walls, a lock tab, and at least one mounting plate removably attached to the first and second side walls. The opening receives the instrument when the base member is mounted to the structure. The lock tab includes an aperture for receiving a locking member. The mounting plate includes a mounting feature for receiving a portion of one of the first set of fasteners to mount the base member to the structure. The lockout device further includes a cover member attachable to the base member and movable between a lockout position and an open position. The cover member includes an outer portion for covering the instrument when the base member is mounted to the structure and the cover member is in the lockout position.

Claims

1. A lockout device for an operable instrument mounted to a structure with a set of fasteners, the lockout device comprising:

a base member comprising;

first and second side walls;

an opening disposed between the side walls for receiving the instrument when the base member is mounted to the structure;

a lock tab including an aperture for receiving a locking member; and

at least one mounting plate, removably attached to the first and second side walls, the at least one mounting plate comprising a mounting feature for receiving a portion of at least one of the set of fasteners to mount the base member to the structure; and

a cover member attachable to the base member and movable between a lockout position and an open position, the cover member comprising an outer portion for covering the instrument when the base member is mounted to the structure and the cover member is in the lockout position.

2. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the lock tab extends beyond the cover member to accommodate a locking member.

3. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein when the cover member is in the lockout position, insertion of a locking member through the lock tab aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the lockout position to the open position.

4. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the instrument is an electrical switch movable between first and second switching positions, and the cover member further comprises a protrusion extending from an inner surface of the outer portion, the protrusion being positioned to obstruct movement of the switch from the first switching position to the second switching position and from the second switching position to the first switching position when the base member is mounted to the structure and the cover member is in the lockout position

5. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the outer portion of the cover member is transparent.

6. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the mounting feature comprises at least one recessed countersink for stabilizing the corresponding portion of the at least one of the set of fasteners when the base member is mounted to the structure.

7. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting plate further comprises at least one retaining finger for retaining a spare fastener.

8. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the lock tab comprises at least one flexible detent adapted to engage a mating edge of the cover member to provide a snap fit engagement between the lock tab and the cover member in the lockout position.

9. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the cover member is pivotally connected to the base member at a hinge portion.

10. The lockout device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting plate includes first and second slots adapted to engage first and second rails on the first and second side walls to slideably attach the at least one mounting plate to the side walls.

11. The lockout device of claim 10, wherein one of the first and second slots and the first and second rails comprises a flexible detent adapted to engage a corresponding notch in the other of the first and second slots and the first and second rails to provide a snap fit engagement between the at least one mounting plate and the side walls.

12. A lockout device for an operable instrument mounted to a structure with a set of fasteners, the lockout device comprising:

a base member comprising;

first and second side walls;

at least one mounting slot extending from at least one of the first and second side walls along a back surface of the base member, the at least one mounting slot being adapted to receive a corresponding portion of at least one of the set of fasteners to mount the base member to the structure;

an opening disposed between the side walls for receiving the instrument when the base member is mounted to the structure; and

a lock tab including an aperture for receiving a locking member; and

a cover member attachable to the base member and movable between a lockout position and an open position, the cover member comprising an outer portion for covering the instrument when the base member is mounted to the structure and the cover is in the lockout position;

wherein when the cover member is in the lockout position, insertion of a locking member through the lock tab prevents movement of the cover member from the lockout position to the open position.

13. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the cover member covers the at least one mounting slot when the cover member is in the lockout position.

14. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the instrument is an electrical switch movable between first and second switching positions, and the cover member further comprises a protrusion extending from an inner surface of the outer portion, the protrusion being positioned to obstruct movement of the switch from the first switching position to the second switching position and from the second switching position to the first switching position when the base member is mounted to the structure and the cover member is in the lockout position.

15. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the cover member further comprises first and second side walls extending from the outer portion to cover corresponding first and second base member side walls when the cover member is in the lockout position.

16. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the outer portion of the cover member is transparent.

17. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the at least one mounting slot comprises a dovetail slot.

18. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the at least one mounting slot comprises a recessed countersink for stabilizing the corresponding portion of the at least one of the set of fasteners when the base member is mounted to the structure.

19. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the lock tab comprises at least one flexible detent adapted to engage a mating edge of the cover member to provide a snap fit engagement between the lock tab and the cover member in the lockout position.

20. The lockout device of claim 12, wherein the cover member is pivotally connected to the base member at a hinge portion.

21. A lockout device for interchangeable use with either one of a first type electrical switch on a first face plate mounted to a wall with a first set of fasteners and a second type electrical switch on a second face plate mounted to a wall with a second set of fasteners, each of the first and second electrical switches being movable between first and second switching positions, the lockout device comprising:

a base member comprising;

first and second side walls;

an opening disposed between the side walls for receiving the switch when the base member is affixed to the face plate;

a lock tab including an aperture for receiving a locking member;

a first set of mounting features for receiving corresponding portions of the first set of fasteners to affix the base member to the first face plate; and

a second set of mounting features for receiving corresponding portions of the second set of fasteners to affix the base member to the second face plate; and

a cover member attachable to the base member and movable between a lockout position and an open position, the cover member comprising an outer portion for covering the base member opening when the cover member is in the lockout position;

wherein when the base member is assembled in a first orientation to either one of the first and second face plates and the cover member is in the lockout position, the cover member covers the corresponding one of the first and second electrical switches in either one of the first and second switching positions to prevent movement of the corresponding one of the first and second electrical switches to the other of the first and second switching positions.

22. The lockout device of claim 21, wherein the cover member covers the first and second sets of mounting features when the cover member is in the lockout position.

23. The lockout device of claim 21, wherein when the cover member is in the lockout position, insertion of a locking member through the lock tab aperture prevents movement of the cover member from the lockout position to the open position.

24. The lockout device of claim 21, wherein the cover member further comprises a protrusion extending from an inner surface of the outer portion, the protrusion being positioned to obstruct movement of the switch from the first switching position to the second switching position and from the second switching position to the first switching position when the base member is mounted to the face plate and the cover member is in the lockout position.

25. The lockout device of claim 21, wherein the first type of electrical switch is a toggle type switch and the second type of electrical switch is a rocker type switch.

26. The lockout device of claim 21, wherein the base member further comprises at least one mounting plate removably attached to the first and second side walls, the at least one mounting plate defining at least one mounting feature of the first and second sets of mounting features.

27. The lockout device of claim 26, wherein attachment of the at least one mounting plate to the side walls in a first orientation accommodates assembly of the base member with the first type of electrical switch, and wherein attachment of the at least one mounting plate to the side walls in a second orientation accommodates assembly of the base member with the second type of electrical switch.

28. The lockout device of claim 26, wherein the at least one mounting plate includes first and second slots adapted to engage first and second rails on the first and second side walls to slideably attach the at least one mounting plate to the side walls.

29. The lockout device of claim 28, wherein one of the first and second slots and the first and second rails comprises a flexible detent adapted to engage a corresponding notch in the other of the first and second slots and the first and second rails to provide a snap fit engagement between the at least one mounting plate and the side walls.

30. The lockout device of claim 21, wherein the first set of mounting features comprises at least one mounting slot extending from at least one of the first and second side walls along a back Surface of the base member.