Switch actuating mechanism

Claim 1

A safety device for electrically powered equipment, comprising: (a) a box-like housing structure having opposed generally rectangular side walls spaced apart from one another by a top member, a bottom wall and an intermediate wall oriented generally parallel to said bottom wall; (b) an electrical switch having an actuator movable between an "open" position and a "closed" position mounted within said housing structure on said intermediate wall; (c) a broad surface member pivotally attached between said side walls along an edge thereof proximate said bottom wall; (d) a linkage coupling said broad surface member to said actuator; (e) a generally "U"-shaped wire bail having spaced apart parallel leg members terminating in inwardly extending end portions which extend through said side walls to the interior of said housing and rotatable therein; (f) an elongated strap member attached to one of said end portions and rotatable therewith; (g) a spring biased latch pivotally mounted on one of said side walls and having a hook portion at one end for engaging said broad surface member and a projection at its other end adapted to abut said elongated strap such that when said bail member is rotated, said hook is disengaged from said broad surface member allowing said broad surface member to be pivotally moved from a first orientation with respect to said housing in which said switch actuator is in said "open" position to a second orientation in which said switch actuator is in said "closed" position; and (h) a key operated lock means, operable independently from said latch mechanism, coupling said broad surface member to said housing structure for preventing movement of said broad surface member from said first orientation to said second orientation until unlocked by said key.