Patent ID: 9018553
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A sealing device for use in connection with a toggle-operated apparatus mounted upon a panel and having an actuator normally placed in an initial operating position wherein the actuator extends along a given axial direction away from the panel, the actuator being selectively movable in an angular displacement away from orientation in the given axial direction and into another operating position, in response to an operating force applied to the actuator in a transverse direction, transverse to the given axial direction, the sealing device comprising: a boot member having a wall constructed of a resiliently flexible elastomeric material, the boot member including a lower basal section for establishing a seal at the panel, an upper apical section for establishing a seal at the actuator, and an intermediate section located axially between the basal section and the apical section, the intermediate section including a cylindrical innermost wall portion juxtaposed with the apical section and extending substantially parallel to the axial direction; a cylindrical outermost wall portion spaced outward from the innermost wall portion in a transverse direction to establish a transverse spacing between the innermost wall portion and the outermost wall portion, with the outermost wall portion extending substantially parallel to the axial direction and surrounding the innermost wall portion; and a single intermediate wall portion having a substantially frusto-conical configuration spanning the transverse spacing and extending along a substantially straight line in an oblique direction making an acute angle with respect to the axial direction, from an axially upper end of the outermost wall portion directly to an axially lower end of the innermost wall portion, the wall portions providing the intermediate section with a cross-sectional configuration in axial planes constructed to fold the inner wall portion and the intermediate wall portion into close juxtaposition with one-another along a folded portion of the intermediate section upon angular displacement of the upper apical section away from orientation in the given axial direction, with the outermost wall portion remaining extended substantially parallel to the axial direction, the folded portion juxtaposed closely with the outermost wall portion and the intermediate wall portion remaining extended along the substantially straight line, while the innermost wall portion, the outermost wall portion and the intermediate wall portion simultaneously are unfolded along a further portion of the intermediate section located transversely opposite from the folded portion, with the outermost wall portion remaining substantially parallel to the axial direction and the intermediate wall portion remaining extended along the substantially straight line, to facilitate angular displacement of the apical section, along with said selective angular displacement of the actuator, thereby reducing any resulting resilient biasing force within the boot member tending to return the apical section toward orientation in the given axial direction to less than any transversely directed force capable of moving the actuator out of the another operating position and toward the initial operating position, oriented in the given axial direction.