Patent ID: 7446273
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: F16P,H01H

Abstract:
1. A safety lockout system for a door-like, moveable closure which has an edge that is normally adjacent to, and aligned with, a fixed member such as a door-like frame, when closed and being spaced from said fixed member when open, comprising: a switch having a pair of cooperating switch components, one component being formed upon said closure edge and the other component being formed upon the fixed member in normal alignment with the first named component when the closure is in closed position, so that the components are normally closely adjacent to each other when the switch thereby is actuated for allowing the passage of electrical current and so that the switch is deactivated for preventing the passing current when the components are non-aligned and relatively widely separated when the door-like closure is at least partially opened; a slider element mounted upon one of the door edge or fixed member and a cooperating keeper and a stop member mounted upon the other of the closure edge or fixed member with the slider normally engaging the keeper for locking the closure in its closed position; said slide element being manually moveable for disengagement with the keeper for unlocking the closure from the fixed member and being automatically moved by gravity downwardly to cover one of the switch components and to engage the stop member, and thereby, hold the closure in at least a partially open position relative to the fixed member; whereby the slide element is normally engaged with the keeper for locking the closure to the fixed member when the closure is in its closed position, but the slide element is manually lifted to disengage it from the stop member for enabling the closure to be opened and then upon release of the slider, the slider will automatically slide down and thereby prevent the closure from being closed and to prevent the switch components from aligning relative to each other so that the electrical flow is interrupted and the closure is prevented from inadvertently completely closing and the slide element is manually raised again for moving the closure into its closed position and thereby permitting the flow of electricity through the switch.