UNIVERSAL SWITCH RESTRAINT DEVICE

• US 20110162942A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Garvin Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ejsmont, Walter, Garvin, Barton L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,598,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/43.21
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/286 making use of a removable locking part acting directly on the operating part H01H9/281 takes precedence

Abstract

A universal restraint device for a switch handle includes a channel adapted to accommodate the switch handle. The channel includes a base wall, first and second side walls that extend generally perpendicularly from the base wall, and first and second feet that extend toward one another from distal ends of the first and second side walls. The channel includes a width defined by a distance measured between the first and second side walls. A lever arm extends from the base wall a distance greater than the width of the channel.

Claims

1. A universal restraint device for a switch handle that projects through an aperture in a switch housing, the universal restraint device comprising:

a collar member forming a channel therethrough and adapted to engage the switch handle; and

a blocking member extending from the collar member and configured to contact the switch housing external to the aperture when the collar member engages the switch handle.

2. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein a surface of the blocking member is substantially parallel to the switch housing external to the aperture when the collar member engages the switch handle.

3. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein the switch handle extends entirely through the channel of the collar member when the collar member engages the switch handle.

4. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein the blocking member has a long dimension greater than the greatest dimension measured transversely across the channel between opposite surfaces thereof.

5. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein the blocking member has a generally rectangular shape.

6. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein the channel is defined by a base wall, a side wall that extends generally perpendicularly from the base wall, and a top wall that extends generally perpendicularly from a distal end of the side wall.

7. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein the blocking member has a short dimension less than the greatest dimension measured transversely across the channel between opposite interior surfaces thereof.

8. The universal restraint device of claim 1 further comprising a shim insertable between the collar member and the switch handle.

9. The universal restraint device of claim 8, wherein the shim is integrally formed with the collar member.

10. The universal restraint device of claim 1, wherein the universal restraint device is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum alloy, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene.

11. A universal restraint device for a switch handle comprising:

a channel adapted to accommodate the switch handle and having first and second planar ends; and

a lever arm extending from the channel a distance greater than the greatest dimension measured transversely across the channel.

12. The universal restraint device of claim 11, wherein a surface of the lever arm is substantially parallel to the first planar end of the channel.

13. The universal restraint device of claim 11, wherein the channel comprises a base wall, first and second side walls that extend generally perpendicularly from the base wall, and first and second feet that extend toward one another from distal ends of the first and second side walls, respectively.

14. The universal restraint device of claim 13, wherein the universal restraint device is formed from a single continuous piece of material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum alloy, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene

15. The universal restraint device of claim 11, wherein the channel comprises a base wall, a side wall that extends generally perpendicularly from the base wall, and a top wall that extends generally perpendicularly from a distal end of the side wall.

16. A universal restraint device for a switch handle comprising:

a channel adapted to accommodate the switch handle, wherein the channel includes a base wall, first and second side walls that extend generally perpendicularly from the base wall, and first and second feet that extend toward one another from distal ends of the first and second side walls, wherein the channel includes a width defined by a distance measured between the first and second side walls; and

a lever arm that extends from the base wall a distance greater than the width of the channel.

17. The universal restraint device of claim 16, wherein first and second ends of the channel are generally planar.

18. The universal restraint device of claim 17, wherein a surface of the lever arm extends from the base wall substantially parallel to the first end of the channel.

19. The universal restraint device of claim 16 further comprising a threaded aperture disposed through the base wall.

20. The universal restraint device of claim 19 further comprising a set screw threadably engaged within the threaded aperture.