Temporary restriction of access to circuit breakers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9607785-B1
Application number	US-201514866141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A circuit breaker can actuate to a closed condition and to an open condition. An assembly for the circuit breaker can include an obstacle that can be positioned to obstruct one form of actuation while permitting another form of actuation. The obstacle can be moved from the obstructing position to allow multiple forms of actuation. The obstacle may permit manual actuation of the circuit to an open state in any position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit breaker assembly comprising:
a circuit breaker having a lever movable among a closed position, an open position, and a reset position, the lever configured for movement from the open position to the closed position via the reset position and for movement from the closed position directly to the open position;
a housing that frames the circuit breaker;
a cover comprising:
a base installed on the housing, the base comprising (a) a first bar attached to the housing and comprising a hinge; and (b) a second bar attached to the housing and comprising a first locking feature; and
an arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled with the first bar via the hinge such that the arm is pivotable between (a) an obstructing position in which the arm obstructs movement of the lever of the circuit breaker to the reset position and permits movement of the lever of the circuit breaker from the closed position to the open position, and (b) an accessible position in which the arm permits movement of the lever of the circuit breaker to the reset position; and

a second locking feature that is (a) engagable with the first locking feature to secure the second end of the arm with the second bar so that the arm is locked in the obstructing position, and (b) disengagable from the first locking feature to release the second end of the arm from the second bar so as to permit movement of the arm to the accessible position.

2. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bar comprises a mounting segment configured for attaching to the housing, the mounting segment comprising magnets.

3. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting segment configured for attaching to the housing, wherein the first bar is slidingly coupled with the mounting segment so that a position of the arm is adjustable relative to the breaker by sliding the first bar relative to the mounting segment when the mounting segment is attached to the housing.

4. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bar comprises a mounting segment configured for releasably attaching to the housing.

5. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first locking feature comprises a hasp and the second locking feature comprises a lock routed through the hasp.

6. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a recess for holding a key.

7. An apparatus comprising:
a cover comprising:
a base configured to be installed on a circuit breaker housing, wherein the housing frames a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker having a first button actuatable to switch the circuit breaker to an open condition and a second button actuatable to switch the circuit breaker to a closed condition; and
an arm reconfigurable relative to the base between (a) an obstructing position in which the arm is coupled with the base so that the arm obstructs access to one of the first button or the second button and permits access to the other of the first button or the second button, and (b) an accessible position in which the arm permits access to both the first button and the second button; and

a locking feature that is (a) engagable to secure the arm with the base so that the arm is locked in the obstructing position, and (b) disengagable to release the arm from the base so as to permit movement of the arm to the accessible position;
wherein the cover further comprises a structure configured for breaking to provide access, when the locking feature is engaged, via a passage through the arm to whichever of the first button or the second button has access obstructed by the arm in the obstructing position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the locking feature comprises a lock received in a hasp attached to the base.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the base comprises a first bar and a second bar, wherein the arm extends from the first bar to the second bar in the obstructing position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the arm is attached to the base in the obstructing position via a first hasp on the first bar and a second hasp on the second bar.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a hinge pivotally coupling the arm with the base.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the structure comprises a layer of material covering the passage, the circuit breaker assembly further comprising a tool coupled with the cover and configured for breaking the layer.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the arm is configured to expose a display or instrument on the circuit breaker when the apparatus is installed on the circuit breaker housing.

14. An apparatus comprising:
an obstacle for affixing near a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker actuatable to a closed condition and actuatable to an open condition, where the obstacle is configurable between an obstructing position and an accessible position, the obstacle in the obstructing position covering at least a part of the circuit breaker so as to obstruct one of manual actuation to the closed condition or manual actuation to the open condition and permit the other of manual actuation to the closed condition or manual actuation to the open condition, the obstacle in the accessible position positioned relative to the circuit breaker so as to permit both manual actuation to the closed condition and manual actuation to the open condition; and
wherein the obstacle is configured to permit the manual actuation of the circuit breaker to the open condition when the obstacle is in the obstructing position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the obstacle being configured to permit the manual actuation of the circuit breaker to the open condition when the obstacle is in the obstructing position comprises the obstacle including a passage through the obstacle, the passage blocked by a structure configured to be broken to provide access through the passage.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the obstacle being configured to permit the manual actuation of the circuit breaker to the open condition when the obstacle is in the obstructing position comprises the obstacle in the obstructing position being positioned so as to obstruct manual actuation to the closed condition and permit manual actuation to the open condition.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the circuit breaker comprises a first button actuatable to switch the circuit breaker to the open condition and a second button actuatable to switch the circuit breaker to the closed condition, wherein the obstacle in the obstructing position covers one of the first button or the second button.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the circuit breaker comprises a lever actuatable among an open position to switch the circuit breaker to the open condition and a closed position to switch the circuit breaker to the closed condition, wherein the obstacle in the obstructing position covers a part of a path of the lever.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the circuit breaker comprises a lever movable among a closed position corresponding to the closed condition of the circuit breaker, an open position corresponding to the open condition of the circuit breaker, and a reset position, the lever configured for movement from the open position to the closed position via the reset position and for movement from the closed position directly to the open position, wherein the obstacle in the obstructing position covers a part of a path of the lever from the reset position to the closed position.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Morales Osvaldo P
• Czamara Michael P

Classifications

• H01H21/04

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• H01H13/68

  having two operating members, one for opening and one for closing the same set of contacts (single operating member protruding from different sides of switch casing for alternate pushing upon opposite ends H01H15/22) · CPC title

• H01H2239/032

  Anti-tamper · CPC title

• H01H9/02

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H9/282 Primary

  and a separate part mounted or mountable on the switch assembly and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position where it can be secured by the padlock · CPC title