Safety switch mechanism

Claim 1

In an electrical grounding system for a device having an electrically conductive frame, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame and grounded thereto, an elongated starting member such as a rope or cable to be manually extended for starting the engine, a first clutch for controlling one function of the device, a first switch controlled by the positions of said first clutch in clutched and unclutched condition, a second clutch for controlling a second function of the device, a second switch controlled by the positions of said second clutch in clutched and unclutched condition, an electrical ignition system for said engine, and an electrical circuit for connecting said first and second switches in parallel with ground and with the electrical ignition system of the engine for grounding the ignition system and preventing operation of the engine upon closing of said electrical circuit by the closing of either of said first and second switches by the positioning of either said first and second clutches, respectively, in clutched condition, the improvement of a safety switch mechanism mounted on said device comprising the combination of a mounting bracket carried by said device and grounded to said frame, said bracket having two spaced portions defining an open space therebetween, one of said bracket portions having an electrical contact surface, a movable switch element carried by the bracket movable into and out of electrical engagement with said contact surface, said movable switch element being electrically connected to said electrical circuit for connecting and disconnecting said electrical circuit with ground, biasing means carried by said bracket and insulated from said movable switch element for biasing said movable switch element into electrical engagement with said contact surface, said two bracket portions having aligned openings through which said elongated starting member extends, an actuating member secured to the free end of said elongated starting member, said actuating member having a handle portion adapted to be manually seized for extending the elongated starting member, having a locking portion, and a shank portion extending between said handle portion and locking portion, the said opening in one of said bracket portions being shaped and dimensioned relative to the cross-sectional shape and size of locking portion and shank portion to permit the said shank portion to pass therethrough but to bar said locking portion to pass therethrough except as the locking portion is oriented relative to the said opening in the one said bracket portion, said locking portion upon being oriented to be passable through the said one opening into the said open space between the said bracket portions and to be lockable therein by being moved out of orientation, and to be removable therefrom by being oriented to pass through the said one opening, said locking portion in said open space engaging and opposing said biasing means to hold said movable switch element out of electrical engagement with said contact surface, the said safety switch mechanism upon the electrical engagement of said movable switch element and the said contact surface connecting the said electrical circuit with ground and upon the electrical disengagement of said movable switch element by said locking portion disconnecting the said electrical circuit with ground.