Patent ID: 6274828
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
An on-off switch with a lock for preventing unintentional closing of the on-off switch, the on-off switch comprising:a body;an electrical switching mechanism within the body and having electrical contacts that are selectively electrically closed and electrically open;an operator slidingly supported by the body and manually slidable along a first direction between a first position in which the electrical contacts of the switching mechanism are closed and a second position in which the electrical contracts of the switching mechanism are open;a metal blade protruding from the operator and extending along the first direction;first spring biasing the operator toward the second position; anda locking device including:a metal locking member alignable with the blade, in a locking position, for preventing sliding of the operator from the second position to the first position by being interposed between the metal blade and the body, the metal locking member being slidable within the body along a second direction, transverse to the first direction, to a releasing position, out of alignment with the metal blade, for sliding of the operator to the first position from the second position;an actuator engaging the metal locking member and manually slidable along the second direction, anda second spring biasing the actuator toward a locking position in which the metal locking member is aligned with the blade.