Patent ID: 8519283

Claim:
A cover assembly structured for use with an electrical switching apparatus and a movable locking element, the locking element being of a cross-sectional dimension, the cover assembly comprising: a retention device being structured to be disposed on the electrical switching apparatus; a cover comprising an engagement element; one of the retention device and the cover being translatable with respect to the other of the retention device and the cover between a first configuration of the cover assembly and a second configuration of the cover assembly and being structured to be engageable with the locking element to resist movement toward the second configuration of the cover assembly; at least a portion of the retention device and at least a portion of the engagement element in the first configuration of the cover assembly confronting one another to resist movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus; the at least portion of the retention device and the at least portion of the engagement element in the second configuration of the cover assembly being clear of one another to permit movement of at least a portion of the cover away from the electrical switching apparatus between the second configuration of the cover assembly and a third configuration of the cover assembly; wherein the cover is translatable between the first and second configurations of the cover assembly and is pivotable between the second and third configurations of the cover assembly; and wherein the cover is translatable along a first axis between the first and second configurations of the cover assembly, and wherein the retention device and the engagement element each have an opening formed therein that is structured to receive therein at least a portion of the locking element, the openings in the first configuration of the cover assembly being aligned with one another along a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being oriented substantially perpendicular to one another.