Patent ID: 8779309

Claim:
An input switch for selectively connecting either a first power supply or a second power supply to an electrical load via a bus in an electrical panel, wherein the electrical panel includes at least one wall and the bus is mounted to the wall of the electrical panel, the input switch comprising: a housing including a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a surface extending between the first end and the second end, and an opening in the surface; a first connector configured to receive power from the first power supply; a first contact contained within the housing and electrically connected to the first connector; a second connector configured to receive power from the second power supply; a second contact contained within the housing and electrically connected to the second connector; a load contact extending through the opening in the surface, wherein the load contact engages the bus in the electrical panel to establish an electrical connection between the load contact and the bus and to retain, at least in part, the input switch to the electrical panel; a switch arm operatively mounted to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position wherein the switch arm connects the first contact with the load contact in the first position and the second contact with the load contact in the second position; and a mechanical interlock within the housing and operatively connected to the first contact and the second contact, wherein the mechanical interlock disconnects one of the first or the second contacts from the load contact prior to connecting the other of the first or the second contacts when the switch arm is moved between the first and the second positions.