Circuit breaker lockout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9202646-B2
Application number	US-201314052981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 16, 2012
Publication date	Dec 1, 2015
Grant date	Dec 1, 2015

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a circuit breaker lockout. The circuit breaker lockout includes a base, a screw positioned within the base and a jaw. The base has a top and a bottom. The jaw has a top, a bottom and sides that define an open center having a first length. The base is positioned between the sides of the jaw in the open center. The bottom of the base extends in the open center and the top of the base extends above the top of the jaw. The jaw slides with respect to the base when the screw is actuated to decrease the first length of the open center to a second length thereby enabling the lockout to surround the switch of a circuit breaker.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A circuit breaker lockout comprising:
a base having a top and a bottom:
a screw positioned within the base; and
a jaw having a top, a bottom and sides defining an open center having a first length, wherein the base being positioned between the sides of the jaw in the open center, the bottom of the base extending in the open center and the top of the base extending above the top of the jaw;
wherein the base having an upper blade and the jaw having a lower blade, the upper blade is positioned to extend in the open center of the jaw and the lower blade is positioned at end of the jaw;
wherein the jaw slides with respect to the base when the screw is actuated thereby decreasing the first length of the open center to a second length for enabling the lockout to surround a switch of a circuit breaker.

2. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the upper blade extending from the bottom of the base for engaging the circuit breaker, the upper blade is positioned in a vertical direction with respect to the base.

3. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the lower blade is positioned at an angle with respect to the jaw.

4. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the upper blade and the lower blade being offset from each other for gripping the circuit breaker.

5. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the upper blade engages a free end of the circuit breaker switch and the lower blade engages the circuit breaker switch closer to the circuit breaker.

6. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the upper blade and the lower blade are metal.

7. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the jaw further comprising teeth molded into the end of the jaw, whereby the teeth ensure the lockout is positioned on the circuit breaker.

8. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker lockout is installed on a single circuit breaker.

9. The circuit breaker lockout of claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker lockout is installed on a multi-pole circuit breaker.

10. A circuit breaker and a circuit breaker lockout secured on the circuit breaker, the combination comprising:
a circuit breaker having a switch;
a lockout having a base with a top and a bottom; a screw positioned within the base; and a jaw having a top, bottom and sides defining an open center having a first length;
wherein the base being positioned between the sides of the jaw in the open center, the bottom of the base extending in the open center and the top of the base extending above the top of the jaw;
wherein the open center of the jaw receives the switch of the circuit breaker;
wherein the jaw slides with respect to the base when the screw is actuated thereby decreasing the first length of the open center to a second length to enable the base and the jaw to surround the switch of the circuit breaker.

11. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 10 , wherein the base having an upper blade extending from the bottom of the base for engaging the circuit breaker, the upper blade is positioned in a vertical direction with respect to the base.

12. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 10 , wherein the jaw having a lower blade for engaging the circuit breaker, the lower blade is positioned at an angle with respect to the jaw.

13. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 12 , wherein the jaw having an end located at an opening of the open center, the lower blade positioned at the end of the jaw.

14. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 10 , wherein the base having an upper blade and the jaw having a lower blade, the upper blade and the lower blade being offset from each other for gripping the circuit breaker.

15. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 14 , wherein the upper blade is positioned to extend in the open center and the lower blade is positioned at an end of the jaw, wherein the upper blade engages a free end of the circuit breaker switch and the lower blade engages the circuit breaker switch closer to the circuit breaker.

16. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 14 , wherein the circuit breaker is a single pole circuit breaker; wherein the upper blade and the lower blade engage the switch of the single pole circuit breaker as the lockout is closed.

17. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 10 , wherein the upper blade and the lower blade are metal.

18. The circuit breaker and the circuit breaker lockout of claim 10 , wherein the jaw further comprising teeth molded into an end of the jaw, whereby the teeth ensure the lockout is positioned on the circuit breaker.

19. A circuit breaker and a circuit breaker lockout secured on the circuit breaker, the combination comprising:
a circuit breaker having a switch;
a lockout having a base with a top and a bottom; a screw positioned within the base; and a jaw having a top, bottom and sides defining an open center having a first length;
wherein the base being positioned between the sides of the jaw in the open center, the bottom of the base extending in the open center and the top of the base extending above the top jaw;
wherein the jaw slides with respect to the base when the screw is actually thereby decreasing the first length of the open center to a second length for enabling the lockout to surround the switch of the circuit breaker;
wherein the base having an upper blade and the jaw having a lower blade, the upper blade and the lower bade being offset from each other for gripping the circuit breaker; and
wherein the circuit breaker is a multi-pole circuit breaker; wherein the jaw further comprising teeth mold into an end of the jaw, wherein the upper blade and the teeth reach behind a tie bar of the multi-pole circuit breaker as the lockout is closed.

Assignees

• Panduit Corp

Inventors

• Obenshain Marc R
• Howard David M
• Pfaller Mark J

Classifications

• H01H9/283 Primary

  the part being removable · CPC title

• H01H9/20 Primary

  Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms · CPC title