Fuse block with integral door sensing rotary disconnect
First Claim
1. A disconnect mechanism for a fuse block receiving power connections and of a type having a support face for mounting on a panel with one or more fuse sockets accessible on a front face of the fuse block opposite the support face and with an extending rotary operator, an outer end of the rotary operator adapted to receive a portion of a door-mounted knob and rotating in a first direction to connect the fuses with the power connections, and rotating in a second direction to disconnect the fuses from the power connections, the improvement comprising:
- a rotatable handle configured to receive the outer end of the rotary operator, the handle including;
(a) a housing;
(b) a first coupling mechanism that is releasably connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the first coupling mechanism rotates the operator in the first and second directions in response to rotation of the handle in the first and second directions when the first coupling mechanism is connected; and
(c) a second coupling mechanism that is connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the second coupling mechanism includes an engagement member that rotates the operator in the second direction when the handle is rotated in the second direction and does not rotate the operator when the handle is rotated in the first direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fuse block having a rotary operator communicating with a door-mounted knob provides a handle on the rotary operator for engaging the door handle to detect closure of the door. The handle includes first and second coupling mechanisms that control the connection between the handle and the operator depending on whether the door is open or closed. With the door closed power may be connected and disconnected. With the door open the handle may be used only to disconnect power.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A disconnect mechanism for a fuse block receiving power connections and of a type having a support face for mounting on a panel with one or more fuse sockets accessible on a front face of the fuse block opposite the support face and with an extending rotary operator, an outer end of the rotary operator adapted to receive a portion of a door-mounted knob and rotating in a first direction to connect the fuses with the power connections, and rotating in a second direction to disconnect the fuses from the power connections, the improvement comprising:
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a rotatable handle configured to receive the outer end of the rotary operator, the handle including;
(a) a housing;
(b) a first coupling mechanism that is releasably connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the first coupling mechanism rotates the operator in the first and second directions in response to rotation of the handle in the first and second directions when the first coupling mechanism is connected; and
(c) a second coupling mechanism that is connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the second coupling mechanism includes an engagement member that rotates the operator in the second direction when the handle is rotated in the second direction and does not rotate the operator when the handle is rotated in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A handle for a fuse block receiving power connections and of a type having a support face for mounting on a panel with one or more fuse sockets accessible on a front face of the fuse block opposite the support face and with an extending rotary operator, an outer end of the rotary operator adapted to receive a portion of a door-mounted knob and rotating to disconnect the fuses from the power connections, the handle comprising:
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(a) a housing;
(b) a first coupling mechanism that is releasably connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the first coupling mechanism rotates the operator in the first and second directions in response to rotation of the handle in the first and second directions when the first coupling mechanism is connected; and
(c) a second coupling mechanism that is connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the second coupling mechanism includes an engagement member that rotates the operator in the second direction when the handle is rotated in the second direction and does not rotate the operator when the handle is rotated in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A handle usable in combination with a handle-operated device of the type including an outwardly extending operator that is rotatable in a first direction and in a second, opposite direction, the handle comprising:
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(a) a housing;
(b) a first coupling mechanism that is releasably connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the first coupling mechanism rotates the operator in the first and second directions in response to rotation of the handle in the first and second directions when the first coupling mechanism is connected; and
(c) a second coupling mechanism that is connected between the operator and the housing, wherein the second coupling mechanism includes an engagement member that rotates the operator in the second direction when the handle is rotated in the second direction and does not rotate the operator when the handle is rotated in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification