Patent ID: 7199319
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A handle assembly for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing assembly which defines a substantially enclosed space that houses an operating mechanism, and which includes an opening, said handle assembly comprising: a base member structured to be coupled to said operating mechanism of said electrical switching apparatus; and a handle member having a first end structured to protrude from said opening of said housing assembly, and a second end coupled to said base member, wherein said base member includes first and second integral resilient legs structured to be disposed within said opening of said housing assembly in order to resist undesired access into said substantially enclosed space therein, wherein said base member and said handle member coupled thereto are movable among ON and OFF positions within said opening of said housing assembly, wherein each of said first and second integral resilient legs includes an arcuate shape having a radius of curvature, and is structured to extend generally outwardly from said base member in order that said opening is substantially closed regardless of the position of said handle assembly with respect to said housing assembly, and wherein when said base member and said handle member coupled thereto are disposed in one of said ON and OFF positions, one of said first and second integral resilient legs is deflected to an arcuate shape having a radius of curvature which is smaller than the radius of curvature of the arcuate shape of the other one of said first and second resilient legs.