Patent ID: 8143980

Claim:
A switching device comprising: an input terminal and an output terminal for connection to electrical conductors; first and second switching contacts which, when closed, close a current path between the input terminal and the output terminal; a disconnect device comprising a switch latch having a lockable latch constructed to engage with a part of the switch latch, the disconnect device operable to disconnect the first switching contact and the second switching contact; and an overcurrent trigger device or a short-circuit trigger device, or both, which are in mechanical operative connection with the disconnect device by way of a reversing lever, with the reversing lever triggering the disconnect device and comprising a first lever arm and a second lever arm, wherein the first lever arm comprises a trigger extension which is actuated by at least one of the overcurrent trigger device and the short-circuit trigger device, and wherein the second lever arm comprises a resiliently compliant actuating extension which after a predetermined movement of the reversing lever produced by the overcurrent trigger device or the short-circuit trigger device engages with the lockable latch and unlocks a locked engagement between the lockable latch and the part of the switch latch, thereby unlocking the switch latch and opening the switching contacts, with spring forces produced by the resiliently compliant actuating extension being dimensioned so as to prevent further rotation of the latch upon further rotation of the reversing lever.