Patent ID: 8686304

Claim:
An electrical switching apparatus comprising: an enclosure having an opening; a single operating handle disposed through the opening of said enclosure; a first pole disposed in said enclosure, said first pole comprising: first separable contacts, a first operating mechanism structured to open and close said first separable contacts, and a first operating member cooperating with said first operating mechanism to open and close said first separable contacts; and a second pole disposed in said enclosure parallel to said first pole, said second pole comprising: second separable contacts, a second operating mechanism structured to open and close said second separable contacts, and a second operating member cooperating with said second operating mechanism to open and close said second separable contacts, wherein said single operating handle comprises a first projection within said enclosure cooperating with said first operating member to open and close said first separable contacts, and a second projection within said enclosure cooperating with said second operating member to open and close said second separable contacts, and wherein said single operating handle is centered between said first and second parallel poles; wherein said first projection comprises a first tapered channel therein; wherein said first operating member comprises a first tapered member engaging said first projection at the first tapered channel; wherein said second projection comprises a second tapered channel therein; and wherein said second operating member comprises a second tapered member engaging said second projection at the second tapered channel.