Circuit breaker identification accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9147545-B2
Application number	US-201213440079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2012
Priority date	Apr 5, 2012
Publication date	Sep 29, 2015
Grant date	Sep 29, 2015

Abstract

Identification accessories, circuit breaker caps, and labeling kits for labeling electrical switch devices, such as circuit breakers, are presented herein. An identification accessory is disclosed for identifying an electrical switch device in proximity to its operating mechanism. The identification accessory includes an accessory shell with a lid having first and second endwalls projecting from the lid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An identification accessory for identifying an electrical switch device, the electrical switch device having a housing with a face portion and a handle projecting from the face portion, the identification accessory comprising:
an accessory shell with a lid having first and second endwalls projecting from the lid, the accessory shell being configured to attach to the electrical switch device, the lid including indicium for placement in proximity to the handle of the electrical switch device,
wherein the accessory shell further comprises first and second sidewalls projecting from the lid, the shell sidewalls being connected to the shell endwalls thereby cooperatively forming a continuous surface configured to extend around the face portion of the housing, the continuous surface comprising a continuous rim.

2. The identification accessory of claim 1 , wherein the accessory shell is integrally formed as a single-piece unitary structure.

3. The identification accessory of claim 1 , wherein the face portion of the electrical switch device has a top surface extending between a pair of endwalls, each of the endwalls forming a respective slot, and wherein the accessory shell further includes a first tab projecting from an inside surface of the first endwall, and a second tab projecting from an inside surface of the second endwall, the first and second tabs each being configured to fit into a respective one of the slots in the endwalls of the face portion.

4. The identification accessory of claim 3 , wherein the shell is configured to flex such that the first and second endwalls are displaced outwardly when the accessory shell is pressed onto the face portion of the housing.

5. The identification accessory of claim 4 , wherein the accessory shell further comprises one or more tool slots configured to receive therein a tool such that movement of the received tool displaces one of the shell endwalls away from one of the face portion endwalls thereby allowing for removal of the accessory shell from the face portion of the housing.

6. The identification accessory of claim 1 , wherein the lid of the accessory shell forms a handle slot configured to receive therethrough the handle when the accessory shell is pressed onto the face portion of the housing.

7. The identification accessory of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a first inclined segment extending obliquely from a second inclined segment.

8. The identification accessory of claim 1 , wherein the indicium is integrally formed with the accessory shell, the indicium visibly portraying a characteristic of the electrical switch device.

9. The identification accessory of claim 1 , wherein the accessory shell is characterized by a lack of structure for attaching the identification accessory directly to a panelboard mounting surface.

10. A circuit breaker cap for labeling a circuit breaker having a housing with a raised portion through which extends a switch, the raised portion having a top surface extending between and connecting a pair of endwalls and a pair of sidewalls, each of the endwalls forming a respective slot, the circuit breaker cap comprising:
a single-piece shell with a lid integrally formed with first and second opposing and generally parallel endwalls and first and second opposing and generally parallel sidewalls, the shell sidewalls and endwalls projecting from the lid and cooperatively forming a continuous surface configured to circumscribe the raised portion of the circuit breaker;
first and second tabs, the first tab being integrally formed with and projecting from an inside surface of the first endwall towards the second endwall, the second tab being integrally formed with and projecting from an inside surface of the second endwall towards the first endwall, the first and second tabs each being configured to fit into a respective one of the slots in the endwalls of the raised portion and thereby attach the shell to the circuit breaker housing; and
a handle slot formed in the lid and configured to receive therethrough the switch,
wherein the shell is configured to flex outwardly such that the first endwall and the first tab are deflected away from the second endwall and the second tab by the pair of endwalls when the shell is pressed onto the raised portion of the circuit breaker housing, the continuous surface comprising a continuous rim.

11. A labeling kit for labeling a plurality of circuit breakers mounted to a panelboard in an electrical distribution panel, each of the circuit breakers including a housing having a raised portion with a top surface extending between and connecting a pair of opposing endwalls, and a respective slot formed in each of the endwalls, the labeling kit comprising:
a container; and
a plurality of circuit breaker caps stowed in the container, each of the circuit breaker caps being integrally formed as a single-piece unitary structure including:
a lid;
first and second endwalls projecting from opposing ends of the lid;
first and second tabs each projecting from an inside surface of a respective one the cap endwalls, the first and second tabs each being configured to fit into a respective one of the slots in the endwalls of the raised portion and thereby attach the cap to the housing of a respective one of the circuit breakers; and
one or more of a plurality of indicia integrally formed with the lid, each of the indicium visibly portraying a corresponding characteristic of the respective circuit breaker to which the cap is attached,

wherein each of the circuit breaker caps further comprises first and second endwalls integrally formed with and projecting from opposing sides of the lid, the cap sidewalls and endwalls cooperatively forming a continuous surface configured to extend around the raised portion of the circuit breaker housing, the continuous surface comprising a continuous rim.

12. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein each of the indicium is a color of a color code indicative of a circuit to which the respective circuit breaker is electrically connected.

13. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein each of the indicium is an embossed word or symbol, or both, indicative of a circuit to which the respective circuit breaker is electrically connected.

14. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein the cap is configured to flex such that the first and second endwalls of the cap are deflected outwardly by the pair of opposing endwalls of the circuit breaker housing when the cap is pressed onto the raised portion of the housing.

15. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein the circuit breaker cap is formed from an electrically non-conductive material.

16. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein the electrical switch device includes a switch projecting through the raised portion of the housing, the lid of the accessory shell forming a handle slot configured to receive therethrough the switch when the cap is pressed onto the raised portion of the circuit breaker housing.

17. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein the top surface of the raised portion includes a pair of oblique surfaces, and wherein the lid includes a first surface extending obliquely from a second surface, the first and second surfaces of the lid each being configured to lie generally flush against a respective one of the oblique surfaces of the raised portion.

18. The labeling kit of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of circuit breaker caps are each characterized by a lack of structure for attaching the cap directly to the panelboard in the electrical distribution panel.

19.

Assignees

• Broghammer William J
• Schneider Electric Usa Inc

Inventors

• Broghammer William J

Classifications

• H01H2009/188

  with indication of rating · CPC title

• H02B1/42

  Mounting of devices therein · CPC title

• H01H71/06 Primary

  Distinguishing marks, e.g. colour coding · CPC title