US3743805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lighted actuator assembly
Assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-01-21
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1992-01-21
Abstract
Abstract An actuator mechanism for a switch or a circuit breaker comprising a rocker handle having a cavity for housing an indicator lamp. The lamp is energized when the rocker handle, and consequently the main contacts of the switch or circuit breaker, are in a first position, and de-energized when the rocker handle and the main contacts are in a second position. The lamp is located beneath a translucent cover which may be marked with suitable indicia to display the condition of the main contacts. The lamp is connected in series with a power source through a pair of rocker contacts carried by the rocker handle and pivotable therewith. The rocker contacts are movable into or out of engagement with a pair of stationary contacts which are supported adjacent the rocker handle, the stationary contacts and the support means therefor being located in the space between the top surface of the switch or circuit breaker case and the lower wall of the panel to which the case is mounted. When the stationary contacts are in engagement with the rocker contacts, a conductive path is completed from the power source through the indicator lamp to illuminate the rocker handle, thereby indicating the condition of the main contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 T Guinan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H23/00; H01H23/02; H01H23/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
In combination, a circuit breaker including an insulating case, an operating mechanism within the case movable between on and off positions, a pivotal link for operating said mechanism, said case having a first opening on one margin thereof overlying said pivotal link, a mounting bracket secured to said case having a second opening coinciding with said first opening in said case, upstanding ears integral with said bracket and located on opposed sides of said second opening, a rocker handle having a generally rectangular frame and a bottom wall closing said frame on one end thereof, said rocker handle being pivotally supported between said ears and having an arm integral with said bottom wall and extending through said first and second openings to operate said mechanism between on and off positions in response to the pivotal movement of said rocker handle, rocker contact means carried by the bottom wall of said rocker handle, stationary contact means, said stationary contact means including a first section located generally intermediate said case and said rocker contacts, said stationary contact means including a second section connectable to a source of electrical potential, said rocker contact means being pivotable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact means, said rocker handle being hollow in part to provide a cavity for housing an indicator lamp, said lamp being electrically connected to said rocker contact means, whereby said indicator lamp is energized when said rocker handle is pivoted to a first position wherein said rocker contact means engages said stationary contact means, and said lamp is de-energized when said rocker handle is pivoted to a second position wherein said rocker contact means are disengaged from said stationary contact means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
In combination, a circuit breaker including an insulating case, an operating mechanism within the case movable between on and off positions, a pivotal link for operating said mechanism, said case having a first opening on one margin thereof overlying said pivotal link, a mounting bracket secured to said case having a second opening coinciding with said first opening in said case, upstanding ears integral with said bracket and located on opposed sides of said second opening, a rocker handle having a generally rectangular frame and a bottom wall closing said frame on one end thereof, said rocker handle being pivotally supported between said ears and having an arm integral with said bottom wall and extending through said first and second openings to operate said mechanism between on and off positions in response to the pivotal movement of said rocker handle, rocker contact means carried by the bottom wall of said rocker handle, stationary contact means, said stationary contact means including a first section located generally intermediate said case and said rocker contacts, said stationary contact means including a second section connectable to a source of electrical potential, said rocker contact means being pivotable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact means, said rocker handle being hollow in part to provide a cavity for housing an indicator lamp, said lamp being electrically connected to said rocker contact means, whereby said indicator lamp is energized when said rocker handle is pivoted to a first position wherein said rocker contact means engages said stationary contact means, and said lamp is de-energized when said rocker handle is pivoted to a second position wherein said rocker contact means are disengaged from said stationary contact means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said rocker contact means comprises a pair of elongated, electrically conductive pieces supported in passages which extend through the bottom wall of said rocker handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination recited in claim 2 wherein one end of each of said pieces communicates with said cavity and the other end is engageable with said stationary contact means, said pieces being held in position in said passages by a resilient flange on each of said pieces which, after insertion of said pieces into said passages, snaps into place within a notch in said bottom wall, and a shoulder on each of said pieces which abuts a lip in said bottom wall after insertion of said pieces into said passages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said stationary contact means is supported by an insulating block secured to said case.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said insulating block comprises a head, one surface of which abuts the top surface of said bracket, and a pedestal, integral with said head and extending through third and fourth openings in said bracket and said case, said pedestal including a hole through which extends a pin anchored in said case.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said frame of said rocker handle includes a rabbitted groove, and further including a translucent cover press fitted in said groove overlying said indicator lamp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
211 words
An electrical switch comprising a case, a pair of main contacts, means within said case operable to close and open said pair of main contacts, a unitary actuator mechanism attachable to said case for operating said means, comprising a rocker handle coupled to said means and movable between first and second positions corresponding to the open and closed conditions of said main contacts, said rocker handle carried by a mounting bracket, said bracket including means for attachment to said case and means for attachment to a panel, an electrical lamp positioned to illuminate a portion of said mechanism, first contact means carried by said rocker handle, second contact means positioned for engagement with said first contact means upon movement of said rocker handle to one of said first or second positions, and for disengagement from said first contact means when said rocker handle is in the other of said first or second positions, support means carried by said case on the outer periphery thereof for supporting said second contact means externally of said case, said lamp being in electrical contact with said first contact means, said second contact means connectable to a source of electrical potential, whereby said lamp is energized and de-energized depending on the position of said rocker handle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
211 words
An electrical switch comprising a case, a pair of main contacts, means within said case operable to close and open said pair of main contacts, a unitary actuator mechanism attachable to said case for operating said means, comprising a rocker handle coupled to said means and movable between first and second positions corresponding to the open and closed conditions of said main contacts, said rocker handle carried by a mounting bracket, said bracket including means for attachment to said case and means for attachment to a panel, an electrical lamp positioned to illuminate a portion of said mechanism, first contact means carried by said rocker handle, second contact means positioned for engagement with said first contact means upon movement of said rocker handle to one of said first or second positions, and for disengagement from said first contact means when said rocker handle is in the other of said first or second positions, support means carried by said case on the outer periphery thereof for supporting said second contact means externally of said case, said lamp being in electrical contact with said first contact means, said second contact means connectable to a source of electrical potential, whereby said lamp is energized and de-energized depending on the position of said rocker handle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said rocker handle comprises a rectangular frame closed on one end by a bottom wall and open at the top to define a cavity, said lamp being located in said cavity, said first contact means being carried by said bottom wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination recited in claim 8 further including a translucent cover carried by said frame Overlying said lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
250 words
In combination with a circuit breaker including a case containing a mechanism movable between open and closed positions by means of a pivotal link, said case including an opening overlying said pivotal link, an actuator mechanism comprising a rocker handle, a mounting bracket attachable to said case having a generally flat main body portion, a hole in said main body portion coinciding with said opening in said case, upstanding ears integral with said main body portion, inverted L-shaped flanges including an intermediate portion extending away from said case at right angles thereto and an upper portion spaced from and parallel to the adjacent surface of said case, one of said flanges defining between itself and the top surface of said case a space, said rocker handle carried by said ears and operable between two alternate stable positions, corresponding to said open and closed position of said mechanism, first contact means carried by said rocker handle, second contact means connectable to a source of electrical potential, means for supporting said second contacts means for engagement with said first contact means when said rocker handle is in one of said alternate positions, but for disengagement from said first contact means when said rocker handle is in the other of said alternate positions, said means located in said space, and an indicator lamp connected to said first contact means for illuminating a portion of said rocker handle, whereby said lamp is turned on and off depending on the position of said rocker handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
250 words
In combination with a circuit breaker including a case containing a mechanism movable between open and closed positions by means of a pivotal link, said case including an opening overlying said pivotal link, an actuator mechanism comprising a rocker handle, a mounting bracket attachable to said case having a generally flat main body portion, a hole in said main body portion coinciding with said opening in said case, upstanding ears integral with said main body portion, inverted L-shaped flanges including an intermediate portion extending away from said case at right angles thereto and an upper portion spaced from and parallel to the adjacent surface of said case, one of said flanges defining between itself and the top surface of said case a space, said rocker handle carried by said ears and operable between two alternate stable positions, corresponding to said open and closed position of said mechanism, first contact means carried by said rocker handle, second contact means connectable to a source of electrical potential, means for supporting said second contacts means for engagement with said first contact means when said rocker handle is in one of said alternate positions, but for disengagement from said first contact means when said rocker handle is in the other of said alternate positions, said means located in said space, and an indicator lamp connected to said first contact means for illuminating a portion of said rocker handle, whereby said lamp is turned on and off depending on the position of said rocker handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said rocker handle defines a cavity, said lamp being located within said cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said operating means comprises a member, a portion of which is movable toward said case to a first position in which said lamp contact means is in engagement with said supply contact means and movable away from said case to a second position wherein said lamp contact means are disengaged from said supply contact means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said member comprises a rocker handle, said lamp is located within said rocker handle and said supply contact means comprises stationary contacts located in part intermediate said case and said rocker handle to engage said lamp contact means depending upon the position of said rocker handle, and stationary contact support means carried by said case and located intermediate said panel and said case.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
106 words
In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism movable between first and second positions and coupled to said operating mechanism, said actuator mechanism carrying an indicator lamp and lamp contact means which project therefrom, supply contact means, support means carried by said case for mounting said supply contact means in a position external to said case and engageable by said lamp contact means when said actuator mechanism is in said first position and disengageable therefrom when in said second position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, and a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism movable between first and second positions and coupled to said operating mechanism, said actuator mechanism carrying an indicator lamp and lamp contact means which project therefrom, supply contact means, support means carried by said case for mounting said supply contact means in a position external to said case and engageable by said lamp contact means when said actuator mechanism is in said first position and disengageable therefrom when in said second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism mounted upon said case comprising, support means for mounting said case in spaced relation to a panel, operating means carried by said support means and coupled to said operating mechanism, said operating means carrying an indicator lamp and lamp contact means, and supply contact means coupled to said case and electrically connectable to said lamp contact means, and supply contact support means for positioning said supply contact means external to said case and intermediate said panel and said case.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
In combination, an electrical switch comprising a case, an operating mechanism within said case, a pair of contacts within said case which are opened and closed by said operating mechanism, an actuator mechanism mounted upon said case comprising, support means for mounting said case in spaced relation to a panel, operating means carried by said support means and coupled to said operating mechanism, said operating means carrying an indicator lamp and lamp contact means, and supply contact means coupled to said case and electrically connectable to said lamp contact means, and supply contact support means for positioning said supply contact means external to said case and intermediate said panel and said case.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |