Lock-open contact latch

Claim 1

SWITCHING APPARATUS COMPRISING A HOUSING OF SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID INSULATING MATERIAL, AT LEAST ONE CONTACT ARM PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING, A MOVABLE CONTACT CARRIED BY SAID CONTACT ARM, A STATIONARY CONTACT MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, SAID MOVABLE CONTACT BEING MOVABLE ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID STATIONARY CONTACT, A LATCH MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACT ARM, MEANS BIASING SAID LATCH MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, SAID LATCH MEMBER INCLUDING A LATCH PORTION MOVABLE UPON ROTATION OF SAID LATCH MEMBER INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACT ARM TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE SAID CONTACT ARM TO LIMIT MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING MOST OF ITS MASS AT THE SAME SIDE OF SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT AS THE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOUSING WHEREBY SHOCK FORCES EXERTED ON SAID HOUSING CAUSE SAID LATCH MEMBER TO MOVE AWAY FROM ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOUSING AND INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTACT ARM, BEFORE SAID MOVABLE CONTACT ARM HAS MOVED AN APPRECIABLE DISTANCE FROM SAID OPEN-CIRCUIT POSITION.