Patent Application
20150122618
The present disclosure relates generally to lockout devices for electrical control switches. In particular, lockout devices that releasably cover an electrical control switch such that it may be safely maintained in a desired position are described.
For operation of electrical systems, circuit breakers and other electrical control switches are used for regulation of electrical currents. During maintenance and/or other operational procedures, it may be required that potentially dangerous electrical currents are prevented from being circulated through the system. In such a case, it is desirable that one or more of the circuit breakers and electrical control switches be secured in an OFF position to restrict accidental or unauthorized manipulation. Generally, lockout mechanisms and devices, such as lockout tags and lockout boxes, are used to restrict access to circuit breakers and electrical control switches.
Known lockout mechanisms and devices are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, there are no established standards for size and shape of electrical control switches. Many existing lockout mechanisms and devices attach directly to an electrical control switch, and are therefore specific to only a certain type of switch. If such lockout mechanisms are improperly used with an incorrect type of electrical control switch, the lockout mechanism may not be effective.
Further, as many electrical control switches are curved or tapered, gripping of a lockout mechanism to the switch itself may be ineffective. In some cases, lockout devices may be removed from an electrical control switch while still in the locked state. Other lockout devices attach over a switch, but prevent viewing of the position of the switch (to ensure that it is in the OFF position) and require complicated attachment components. In addition, conventional lockout mechanisms and devices do not provide notification to a user of when the lockout device was applied, why it was applied, who applied the device, or the intended duration of lockout.
Thus, there exists a need for lockout devices that improve upon and advance the design of known lockout mechanisms. Examples of new and useful lockout devices relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
The present disclosure is directed to electrical switch lockout devices for selectively maintaining a position of an electrical switch on an electrical switch base. The electrical switch lockout devices include a base adapter configured to be fitted around the electrical switch base, a housing that is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a locking mechanism. The housing includes walls, an opening on one side of the housing, a first lateral lip disposed on a first edge of the opening, and a second lateral lip disposed a second edge of the opening. The first lateral lip and the second lateral lip are configured to engage and disengage with the base adapter in the engaged and disengaged positions, respectively.
The disclosed lockout devices will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description. Specifically, the presently described and depicted electrical control switch and lockout device are shown and described in only a single orientation. It will be appreciated that the electrical control switch may be mounted on a side wall, floor, or ceiling and the lockout device can be used to cover a control switch in any of these orientations.
Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of lockout device examples are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
With reference to
Lockout device 100 addresses many of the shortcomings existing with conventional lockout devices. For example, lockout device 100 may be operable with a wide variety of electrical control switches, independent of the size and shape of the switch handle and/or the switch base. Thus, lockout device 100 better prevents accidental or unauthorized manipulation of the electrical control switch. Further, lockout device 100 is less prone to breaking and/or malfunction than other switch-covering type lockout mechanisms because it includes fewer moving components than many conventional switch-covering type lockout mechanisms and is fabricated from durable materials.
Furthermore, because lockout device 100 is fabricated from a clear plastic material, a position of the switch and/or indicator lights can be viewed through the lockout device and a user can be assured that the electrical control switch is in the desired position. Further still, as the surface of lockout device 100 is suitable for marking with a permanent or non-permanent felt pen, a user may mark the lockout device with important information (e.g., time or date that the lockout device was applied, why it was applied, who applied the device, the intended duration of lockout, etc.) that can be viewed by the user and/or other electrical system operators.
As shown in
It will be appreciated that dimensions of the top wall, the first and second lateral walls, and the first and second longitudinal walls may be of any lengths that are suitable for constructing a housing that will fit over and substantially cover an electrical control switch. For example, the dimensions of the housing may be 5 in×3.5 in×3.5 in. It will be further appreciated that although the shape of housing shown in the figures is generally a cuboid, the housing may have any shape suitable for covering the electrical control switch (e.g., cube, pyramid, trapezoidal prism, etc.).
Returning to
The first and second lateral lips can be attached via an adhesive (e.g., acrylic cement, etc.). In alternative examples, the lateral lips can be attached via an adhering process (e.g., sonic welding, etc.). In even other alternative examples, the first and second lateral lips can be attached via a snap-fit mechanism (i.e., a flange in a wall of the first and second lip snap-fit over a projection on the bottom edges of the lateral walls). In still other examples, the first and the second lip can be continuous with (e.g., molded with) the bottom edges of the lateral walls.
First lateral lip 128 and second lateral lip 132 are configured to be enageable with base adapter 110. As shown in
Each of first member 148 and second member 150 include an underlying wall (156 and 158, respectively) and a vertical wall (160 and 162, respectively). Electrical switch base 108 is disposed between vertical walls 160 and 162 and a bottom surface 168 of the electrical switch base contacts a top surface 170 of underlying walls 156 and 158. A forward edge 172 of the electrical switch base is partially extended over vertical wall 160 and a rearward edge 174 of the electrical switch base is partially extended over vertical wall 162. The edges of the electrical switch base over the vertical walls of the base adapter can assist in resisting movement of the base adapter if an upward force (i.e., a force away from an underlying surface where the electrical switch base is attached) is applied on the base adapter.
A top of vertical wall 160 includes a forward projecting overhang 164 and a top of vertical wall 162 includes a rearward projecting overhang 166. As shown in
Turning now to
As shown in
Also shown in
It will be appreciated that housing is moveable (slideable) in a longitudinal direction over between the underlying surface and the base adapter, and therefore the first and second lateral lips are moveable in a longitudinal direction underneath the forward and rear projecting overhangs of the base adapter. Thus, the lengths g and h are variable and have an inverse relationship when the housing is moved between the disengaged position (shown in
Accordingly, in an engaged position 182 depicted in
Locking mechanism 112 is configured to resist movement (e.g., longitudinal sliding) of the housing in a locked position and allow movement of the housing in an unlocked position. Accordingly, locking mechanism 112 is moveable between an unlocked position 188 (shown in
Locking mechanism 112 includes a fixed tab 192 that is affixed to and/or continuous with lateral wall 118 of the housing proximal to lateral edge 130 and a moveable tab 194 that is a separate piece. Moveable tab 194 is slideable through a slotted opening 196 (shown in
Moveable tab 194 includes an abutting portion 200 that is extended into the housing beyond lateral wall 118. In locked position 190, abutting portion 200 is extended into the housing such that an end of the abutting portion is proximal to or in contact with forward projecting overhang 164. As shown in
Further, fixed tab 192 includes a central hole 202 and moveable tab 194 includes a central hole 204. In unlocked position 192, central holes 202 and 204 are offset relative to each other, however, in locked position 190 central holes 202 and aligned and configured to receive a retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism (when disposed in the aligned central holes of the tabs) substantially maintains a position of moveable tab 194 and resists movement of housing 104 (i.e., substantially maintains the engaged position of the housing). In one example, shown in
Turning attention to
As can be seen in
Base adapter 210 includes an underlying wall 256 and vertical walls 260 and 262 at opposing ends of underlying wall 256. Electrical switch base 108 configured to be disposed between vertical walls 260 and 262 and a bottom surface 168 of the electrical switch base can contact a top surface 270 of underlying wall 256. A forward edge 172 of the electrical switch base can be partially extended over vertical wall 260 and a rearward edge 174 of the electrical switch base can be partially extended over vertical wall 262. The edges of the electrical switch base over the vertical walls of the base adapter can assist in resisting movement of the base adapter if an upward force (i.e., a force away from an underlying surface where the electrical switch base is attached) is applied on the base adapter. It will be appreciated that although base adapter 210 is not specifically shown in combination with the electrical switch base, reference can be made to
A top of vertical wall 260 includes a forward projecting overhang 264 and a top of vertical wall 262 includes a rearward projecting overhang 266. Although not specifically depicted in the present example, in alternate examples, the forward projecting overhang can include a cutout configured to receive vertical projection 144 and the rearward projecting overhang can include a cutout configured to receive vertical projection 146. In these alternate examples, the vertical projections and the cutouts are further configured to align the first lateral lip and the second lateral lip during engagement with the base adapter.
As described above, in the present example, lockout device 100 is fabricated from a clear plastic material (e.g., plexiglass, acrylic, butyrate, lexan, PETG, etc.) that permits viewing of the electrical control switch and is suitable for marking with a felt pen. Because lockout device 100 is fabricated from a clear plastic material, a position of the switch and/or indicator lights can be viewed through the lockout device and a user can be assured that the electrical control switch is in the desired position. Further still, as the surface of lockout device 100 is suitable for marking with a permanent or non-permanent felt pen, a user may mark the lockout device with important information (e.g., time or date that the lockout device was applied, why it was applied, who applied the device, the intended duration of lockout, etc.) that can be viewed by the user and/or other electrical system operators. It will be appreciated that in alternate examples, the lockout device can be fabricated from a different material such as wood, a metallic material, opaque plastic, etc. In these alternate examples, the lockout device can include a window for viewing a position of the electrical switch.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
This application claims priority to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/900,215, filed on Nov. 5, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61900215 | Nov 2013 | US |
