Circuit breaker having a snap-in attachable collar

• US 5,907,140 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Smith, Wayne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/939,690
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 200/43.11, 200/43.13, 200/43.14, 200/43.16-19, 200/333, 200/334, 200/304
• US Class Current: 200/43.19
• 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 molded insulating collar for an insulating housing of a circuit breaker has a plurality of depending tabs which are received in grooves in the housing and provided with cooperating snap-fit structures within the housing to enable the collar to be sub-assembled to a circuit breaker. Collars are removable and replaceable in the field.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker having an insulating housing, an opening in said insulating housing, an operator projecting through said opening, said operator having sides disposed closely adjacent lateral walls of said opening, and an insulating collar attachable to said housing for surrounding said opening and said operator, said collar and said housing comprising complemental snap fastener elements for attaching said collar to said housing, said complemental snap fastener elements comprising tabs depending from said collar extending into said opening and means on said lateral walls of said opening engaged by said tabs, said means comprising slots recessed into said lateral walls of said opening and bosses in said slots, and said tabs comprise openings at said distal ends thereof for deflecting around respective said bosses when said collar is pressed against said housing during attachment of said collar to said housing, said tabs deflecting within said slots in directions parallel to said lateral walls.

2. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collar comprises side walls extending along opposite sides of said operator, said operator being pivotally movable between first and second positions about an axis extending between said opposite sides, said side walls extending to a first height at one end of said collar and to a second height at an opposite end of said collar, said side walls at said one end exposing at least a portion of said operator in said first position of said operator, and said side walls at said opposite end being substantially coextensive with said operator in said second position of said operator.

3. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2 wherein said collar is selectively attachable to said housing for positioning said side walls at said second height at a selected one or another end of said operator.

4. A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing having an opening therein open to an exterior surface of said housing, an operator projecting through said opening and having sides disposed closely adjacent lateral walls of said opening, and an insulating collar attachable to said housing at said exterior surface for surrounding said opening and said operator, said collar and said housing comprising complemental snap fastener elements for attaching said collar to said housing, said complemental snap fastener elements comprising slots recessed into said lateral walls of said opening, said slots being open to said exterior surface of said housing, and tabs depending from said collar inserted into said slots from said exterior surface, wherein said complemental snap fastener elements comprise bosses in said slots and open distal ends of said tabs deflecting around said bosses upon insertion of said tabs into said slots, said tabs deflecting within said slots in directions parallel to said lateral walls.

5. The circuit braker as claimed in claim 4 wherein said collar comprises side walls extending along opposite sides of said operator, said side walls extending to a first height at one end of said collar and to a second height at an opposite end of said collar, and said collar is attachable to said housing in a selective one of two positions which are rotationally displaced one hundred eighty degrees.