US4851963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weatherproof air conditioning disconnect switch
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1988-08-15
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Granted: 1989-07-25
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Expires: 2008-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A weather-tight air conditioning disconnect switch has both plastic and metal enclosure components for low cost assembly. The exterior components include a metal case and cover whereas the interior non-electrical components are plastic-molded. One such molded plastic dead-front shields the electrical terminals within the enclosure and contains instruction and caution indicia integrally-formed on the exterior surface during the plastic molding forming process. ON - OFF indication of the switch is achieved by the orientation of the switch handle with the switch handle receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Greg A. Miller
- 👤 Donald H. Stoll
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:31
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/26; H02B1/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An electric disconnect switch comprising: a metal cover and a metal case; a molded plastic base attached to a bottom surface of said:case; a molded plastic handle guide positioned over said base, said base including a plurality of line and load stabs arranged under a channel formed in said handle guide; and a molded plastic handle assembly including a shaped handle grip projecting from one end and a plurality of line and load blades extending from an opposite end thereof, said handle assembly being slidably arranged within said handle guide whereby said line and load blades are moved into and out of contact with said line and load stabs by operation of said handle grip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electric disconnect switch comprising: a metal cover and a metal case; a molded plastic base attached to a bottom surface of said:case; a molded plastic handle guide positioned over said base, said base including a plurality of line and load stabs arranged under a channel formed in said handle guide; and a molded plastic handle assembly including a shaped handle grip projecting from one end and a plurality of line and load blades extending from an opposite end thereof, said handle assembly being slidably arranged within said handle guide whereby said line and load blades are moved into and out of contact with said line and load stabs by operation of said handle grip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 1 including a planar shield attached to said case bottom surface and arranged over said line and load stabs to prevent inadvertent contact with said line and load stabs when said switch is electrically energized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 2 wherein said handle guide includes a pair of tabs extending from a top surface thereof and said shield includes a corresponding pair of recesses formed at opposite ends, said tabs being arranged within said recessed supporting one end of said shield on said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 3 further including a pedestal integrally-formed on said handle guide receiving a platform on said shield intermediate said recesses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 2 including a pair of slots formed on a top surface of each side of said handle guide and an indicating tab extending from one side of said handle assembly whereby "ON - OFF" indicia within said slots become selectively covered and exposed by said indicating tab to display the relationship between said line and load stabs and said blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 1 including upstanding barriers integrally-formed between said line and load stabs, each of said barriers containing indicia formed on a top surface to identify adjacent ones of said line and load stabs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 2 wherein said case comprises a single metal plate formed into a bottom piece having an upstanding front piece, upstanding rear piece and a pair of opposing upstanding side pieces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 7 wherein said cover comprises a single metal plate formed into a planar top piece having a depending front piece and a pair of opposing depending side pieces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electric switch of claim 8 wherein each of said case side pieces includes a slot formed therein extending in a plane coextensive with said case side pieces and wherein said cover side pieces are retained within said slots when said cover is in an open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 9 wherein each of said case side pieces include a pair of tabs projecting outboard therefrom and each of said cover side pieces include a pair of elongated slots formed therein, said tabs being captured within said elongated slots thereby slidingly retaining said cover to said case.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 10 including a pair of circular protrusions formed on said case side pieces proximate said tabs and providing guide means supporting said cover when said cover is moved from an open to a closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 11 including a slotted hasp formed in said case front piece providing attachment means for a padlock.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 12 including a slot formed within said cover top peices said slot capturing said slotted hasp when said is in said closed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 13 including an angled tab formed on said case front piece and receiving an opposite end of said shield.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electric disconnect switch of claim 12 wherein said slotted hasp includes a protrusion for interacting with a cover slot to move said slotted hasp away from said slot when said slot captures said slotted hasp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4675782A
Cited
US4794211A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-24 | 1993-01-23 | 1993-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-24 | 1997-01-23 | 1997-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-24 | 2001-01-23 | 2001-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |