Patent ID: 9530575
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: H01H

Claim Text:
1. A triple pole, double throw switching device, comprising: a first set of contacts including at least a first hot contact and a first neutral contact, wherein the first hot contact and the first neutral contact are interconnected with first power source; a second set of contacts including at least a second hot contact and a second neutral contact, wherein the second hot contact and the second neutral contact are interconnected with a second power source, and wherein an open area is located between the first and second sets of contacts; a third set of contacts for selective connection to either the first set or second set of contacts, the third set of contacts including at least one third hot contact and a third neutral contact, wherein the third hot contact and the third neutral contact are interconnected with an electrical load; a pivotable switch member electrically connected to the third set of contacts, wherein the switch member is configured to establish an electrical connection between the first set of contacts and the third set of contacts in a first position and configured to establish an electrical connection between the second set of contacts and the third set of contacts in a second position, wherein the switch member is movable through the open area between the first and second contacts during movement of the switch member between the first and second positions, and wherein the switch member is further configured to be disengaged from both the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts when in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position and located within the open area between the first and second sets of contacts, wherein the switch member establishes the electrical connection between the third neutral contact and the first neutral contact prior to establishing the electrical connection between each of the third hot contacts and the corresponding first hot contact during movement of the switch member from the open area toward the first position, and establishes the electrical connection between the third neutral contact and the second neutral contact prior to establishing the electrical connection between each of the third hot contacts and the corresponding second hot contact during movement of the switch member from the open area toward the second position, and wherein the switch member breaks the electrical connection between the third neutral contact and the first neutral contact after breaking the electrical connection between each of the third hot contacts and the corresponding first hot contact during movement from the first position toward the open area, and breaks the electrical connection between the third neutral contact and the second neutral contact after breaking the electrical connection between each of the third hot contacts and the corresponding second hot contact during movement from the second position toward the open area.