Patent ID: 7531760

Claim:
A locking apparatus for an electrical switching apparatus comprising an enclosure including an opening having a first side, an opposite second side, a first end, and an opposite second end, said enclosure also including a first aperture on the first side and proximate the first end, a second aperture on the first side and proximate the opposite second end, a third aperture on the opposite second side and proximate the first end, and a fourth aperture on the opposite second side and proximate the opposite second end; separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including an operating handle pivotally mounted with respect to said enclosure and disposed through the opening of said enclosure, said operating handle including a first position proximate the first end of the opening of said enclosure and a second position proximate the opposite second end of the opening of said enclosure, said locking apparatus being disposable proximate the first end of the opening of said enclosure when said operating handle is in said second position or being disposable proximate the opposite second end of the opening of said enclosure when said operating handle is in said first position, said locking apparatus comprising: a housing; and a spring member interlocked with said housing, said spring member comprising a first end and an opposite second end structured to be retained by said enclosure at the third aperture and the first aperture, respectively, proximate the first end of the opening of said enclosure when said operating handle is in said second position, or structured to be retained by said enclosure at the second aperture and the fourth aperture, respectively, proximate the opposite second end of the opening of said enclosure when said operating handle is in said first position.