Abstract:
A switch lockout device for securing a toggle switch of a circuit breaker. The lockout device includes a housing having an opening for positioning around the toggle switch. A screw is threaded through the housing and is tightened against the toggle switch to restrain it. A circular disk is secured at one end of the screw and is lockable to a member slidable with respect to the housing, for preventing the disk from movement.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a toggle switch lockout device, and more particularly relates to a device for locking a toggle switch such as a circuit breaker switch in either the ON or OFF position. 
     Lock out devices are used to secure the setting or position of a toggle switch in either its ON position or its OFF position. Such lockout devices may be used to ensure safety during work on electrical circuits by locking a toggle circuit breaker in its OFF position. This prevents someone from accidentally or inadvertently turning the power ON to the circuit while maintenance or other work is being performed on the circuit. Alternatively, the toggle switch may be locked to its ON position so as to prevent someone from turning the power OFF. 
     Toggle switch lockout devices are known in the art, and generally include a housing which is positioned over the toggle switch and secured into position. Once in place, the housing prevents the normal movement of the toggle switch by obstructing the toggle switch&#39;s path of movement, which is typically arcuate. The shackle portion of a padlock is passed through apertures in the housing to prevent the removal of the housing from the toggle switch. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,839,552 discloses a circuit breaker locking device in which a set screw is tightened against the handle of the toggle switch to fix the housing onto the handle and keep the handle in its ON position. The handle cannot be pivoted to its OFF position because the housing confronts the circuit breaker casing. The shackle portion of a padlock is next inserted through an aperture in the housing in order to block access to the set screw preventing the screw from being loosened to remove the housing. This device requires a tool, for example, a screw driver, to work the set screw so as to secure the device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,815 discloses a similar circuit breaker lockout device in which a set screw carries an integral, but pivotable, thumb screw which is manually rotated in order to the drive the set screw. Rotation of the thumb screw is prevented by pivotable movement of the thumb screw out of alignment with the set screw. A shackle of a padlock is inserted into the device to prevent the thumb screw from pivoting back into realignment with the set screw, and thus prevent use of the thumb screw to release the set screw. This device requires a special set screw having a knuckle joint for pivotable connection of the set screw to the thumb screw. Such a set screw adds cost and complexity to the manufacture of the device. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved toggle switch lockout device. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a toggle switch device which does not require any additional tools for use. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a toggle switch lockout device, which is of simple, of rugged construction and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a toggle switch lockout device that allows for a plurality of padlocks to be used to secure the switch. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a lockout device comprising a housing member having an opening for receiving the handle of the toggle switch. A securement member is manually operable for securing the housing member onto the handle. The securement member includes a drive member for operating the securement member. The housing and the drive member include openings for receiving the shackle portion of a conventional padlock so that the securing member is prevented from releasing the housing from the handle of toggle switch. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lockout device of the present invention being used to lockout a conventional circuit breaker. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lockout device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lockout device of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cut away side view of the lockout device of FIG. 1 and a partial cutaway view of the switch handle area of a conventional circuit breaker. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the lockout device of FIG. 1, shown secured to the switch handle of the conventional circuit breaker of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of a drive disk of the lockout device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of a disk section member of the lockout device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the disk section member of FIG. 7 detached from the rear portion of the housing of the switch lockout device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of the housing of the switch lockout device of FIG. 1, without the disk section member of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , a lockout device  11  includes a housing  13  having a central opening  15 . As shown in FIG. 1, the housing is placed over a conventional circuit breaker  17 , allowing the handle  19  of the circuit breaker to pass through opening  15 . The bottom side of housing  13  includes a planar bottom surface  21  (FIG. 3) for positioning against the top surface  23  (FIG. 1) of the circuit breaker. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, opening  15  passes completely through the housing  13  and is shaped by forward and rearward planar side wall surfaces  25 ,  27 , respectively, which are angled relative to bottom surface  21 . The angle of surfaces  25 ,  27  may correspond to the angle at which switch handle  19  projects from top surface  23 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, housing  13  includes a brake projection  29  which extends outwardly from the plane of bottom surface  21 . Brake projection  29  is triangular in cross sectional shape, providing a linear brake edge  31  (FIG.  3 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 5, brake projection  29  seats against the curved portion of the breaker switch when the housing  13  is placed over the circuit breaker and secured onto handle  19 . As the handle is forced toward its other position, brake projection  29  provides a stop for contact with the circuit breaker wall  34 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , lockout device  11  includes a cylindrical set screw  33  which extends through the rear wall  35  (FIG. 3) of the housing and into opening  15 . Screw  33  is disposed substantially perpendicular to the sidewall surface  25  formed on rear wall  35 . A threaded area  37  is formed in rear wall  35  allowing the screw  33  to move into and out of opening  15  as the screw is rotated. 
     Distal end  39  of the screw is driven against one side of handle  19  of the breaker, as shown in FIG.  5 . The other side of handle  19  is forced against wall surface  27  . Thus, handle  19  is clamped between wall surface  27  and screw end  39 , securing housing  13  to the circuit breaker. 
     The opposite end  41  of screw  33  is secured tightly within a circular drive disk  43 . As shown in FIG. 6, drive disk  43  includes a plurality of circular openings  55  arranged around the circumference of disk  43 . Disk  43  is easily rotated in order to move screw  33  toward and away from handle  19 . The user may place the end portion his or her finger within one of openings  55  to “dial” the disk  43  for quickly rotating screw  33 . The user may also use the outer circumferential edge  44  (FIG. 3) of disk  43  to rotate the disk, thus allowing for more hand leverage (more torque) to be transmitted to the screw to tighten the screw against the handle. This assures for a tighter clamp. 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, lockout device  11  includes a lock member  45  which is slidably connected to housing  13 . As shown in FIG. 7, lock member  45  includes a disk section member  47  having a radius equal to that of disk  43  and a central aperture for receiving screw  33 . Disk section member  47  includes a plurality, for example three, circular openings  57  of equal size as openings  55  of disk  43 . Openings  57  are arranged around the circumference of member  47  so as to align with three consecutive openings  55 . 
     Lock member  45  also includes a U-shaped longitudinal slide  49 , as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for slidingly receiving a pair of flanges  51 ,  53  of the housing  13 , as also shown in FIG.  8 . Flanges  51 ,  53  extend laterally of the housing, as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     In use, lockout device  11  is placed over the handle  19  of circuit breaker  17 , with the switch breaker in the ON or OFF position. The circular disk  43  is rotated to drive set screw  33 , and its end  39 , into engagement with handle  19  to secure the switch breaker in the desired position. Disk  43  moves laterally relative to housing  13 , being carried by screw  33  along the longitudinal axis of the screw, and occupies a “lock” position when screw  33  can no longer be driven further into the opening  15  due to its forced contact against handle  19 . Lock member  45  is next slid outwardly to mate against circular disk  43 , when the disk occupies its lock position, aligning openings  55  with openings  57 . Disk  43  may be rotated slightly so as to align the three openings  57  with three openings  55 , if necessary. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a shackle  59  of a padlock  61  is inserted through one set of aligned openings  55 ,  57 . This prevents disk  43  from rotation relative to housing  13 , and thus prevents screw  33  from being released from handle  19 , and thus prevents removal of the lockout device  11  from the circuit breaker  17 . 
     As will suggest itself, the device allows up to three padlocks to be installed, the shackle of one lock passing through one aligned aperture  57 . This protects up to three different workers or union tradesmen who may be working on equipment energized by the breaker. Each worker is protected until all workers have removed their own locks. As will suggest itself, disk section member  47  may be enlarged sectorially in its manufactured shape, while maintaining a radial extent no greater than that of disk  43 , so as to provide for additional openings  57 , if so desired. 
     The housing  13 , lock-member  45  and circular drive disk  43  are formed of plastic. Screw  33  is formed of metal. As will suggest itself, these three components  13 ,  43 ,  45  may take on different shapes than that set out in the drawings. 
     It is to be noted that while an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described as being used on a circuit breaker toggle switch, other embodiments of the invention may be used on any toggle type switch. In addition, the particular area of contact of brake projection  29  against circuit breaker  17 , as shown in FIG. 5, of course, is determined by the shape of the circuit breaker and its switch handle. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, modifications such as those suggested above, but not limited thereto, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.