Patent ID: 7145089
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. An interlock mechanism for preventing a first circuit breaker having a first actuating mechanism and a second circuit breaker having a second actuating mechanism from simultaneously being in a closed condition, comprising: a frame; a sliding bar slideably mounted within said frame, said sliding bar being movable between a first position and a second position, said sliding bar in said first position blocking a path of movement of said first actuating mechanism and said sliding bar in said second position blocking a path of movement of said second actuating mechanism; one or more retaining protrusions extending outwardly from one or more inner edges of said frame, said one or more retaining protrusions frictionally engaging said sliding bar when said sliding bar is in said first position; and wherein said first and second circuit breakers and said sliding bar are subject to a gravitational force acting in a first direction, said sliding bar being movable in a second direction generally parallel to said first direction, said one or more retaining protrusions frictionally engaging said sliding bar with a frictional force sufficient to resist said gravitational force, wherein said first and second circuit breakers are arranged in a vertical relationship with respect to one another in a vertical plane substantially parallel to said first direction such that said first circuit breaker is located above said second circuit breaker.