US4446503A — Electrical panelboard with main breaker hold-down

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

In an electrical panelboard having a plurality of plug-in circuit breakers, the combination comprising: a panel; a mounting rail on said panel for mounting one end of said circuit breakers; insulating means mounted on said panel; a plurality of bus bars supported by said insulating means, said bus bars being transversely spaced with respect to said mounting rail extending along said panel parallel to said mounting rail and said bus bars having first plug-in connector means spaced at intervals along their length; a multi-pole main circuit breaker having a plurality of second plug-in connector means cooperably engagable with respective ones of said first plug-in connector means, one end of said multi-pole main circuit breaker being mounted to said mounting rail and said second plug-in connector means being engaged with respective ones of said first plug-in connector means, said main circuit breaker having wire receiving terminals for connecting said main circuit breaker to a source of electrical power; and hold-down means secured to said panel and extending forwardly from said panel along a side of said main circuit breaker and overlying said main circuit breaker transversely of a line extending between said plug-in connector means and said mounting rail for preventing removal of said main circuit breaker to thereby disconnect said first and second plug-in connections.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 215 words

In an electrical panelboard having a plurality of plug-in circuit breakers, the combination comprising: a panel; a mounting rail on said panel for mounting one end of said circuit breakers; insulating means mounted on said panel; a plurality of bus bars supported by said insulating means, said bus bars being transversely spaced with respect to said mounting rail extending along said panel parallel to said mounting rail and said bus bars having first plug-in connector means spaced at intervals along their length; a multi-pole main circuit breaker having a plurality of second plug-in connector means cooperably engagable with respective ones of said first plug-in connector means, one end of said multi-pole main circuit breaker being mounted to said mounting rail and said second plug-in connector means being engaged with respective ones of said first plug-in connector means, said main circuit breaker having wire receiving terminals for connecting said main circuit breaker to a source of electrical power; and hold-down means secured to said panel and extending forwardly from said panel along a side of said main circuit breaker and overlying said main circuit breaker transversely of a line extending between said plug-in connector means and said mounting rail for preventing removal of said main circuit breaker to thereby disconnect said first and second plug-in connections.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 1 wherein said hold-down means comprises a bracket extending forwardly from said panel along a side of said main circuit breaker, said bracket having means provided at the free end thereof for overlying a portion of said main circuit breaker.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 2 wherein said means provided at the free end of said bracket comprises an offset leg extending substantially parallel to said panel and overlying a forward surface of said main circuit breaker.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 3 wherein said offset leg extends across the width of two poles of said multi-pole main circuit breaker.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 4 wherein said offset leg overlies the forward surface of said main breaker adjacent an operating handle of said main circuit breaker.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 5 wherein said offset leg is provided with indicia on its front face descriptive of the function of said bracket.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 2 wherein said hold-down means further comprises removable fastening means for securing said bracket to said panel, said fastening means comprising tool engagement means thereon which are inadequate for operable engagement by human fingers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 7 wherein said tool engagement means further comprises a structural means for operable engagement solely by a specially formed tool for rendering said fastening means tamperproof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 53 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 2 wherein said bracket is Z-shaped having a first horizontal leg secured to said panel, a second horizontal leg overlying said portion of said main circuit breaker and a connecting leg between said first and second horizontal legs extending forwardly along a side of said main circuit breaker.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The electrical panelboard of claim 9 wherein said bracket is molded of electrical insulating material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-05-01	1987-10-31	1988-05-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-05-01	1991-10-31	1992-05-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-05-01	1995-10-31	1996-05-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical panelboard with main breaker hold-down

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