US 11,728,104 B1
Circuit breaker with integrated safety lock-off mechanism
Raiden Jay Kim, Buford, GA (US)
Assigned to Siemens Industry, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed by Siemens Industry, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed on May 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/663,263.
Int. Cl. H01H 9/28 (2006.01); H01H 21/22 (2006.01); H01H 21/04 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 9/281 (2013.01) [H01H 21/04 (2013.01); H01H 21/22 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A circuit breaker configured to ensure electrical safety when working on its circuits, the circuit breaker comprising:
a housing with an exterior boundary, the housing including an “integrated” or “pre-installed” Lock-Off feature extending away from the exterior boundary,
wherein the Lock-Off feature having a hole that is configured to receive a shackle or a shank of a padlock; and
a built-in Lock-Off mechanism including a handle integrated with the housing using a pivot such that the handle is configured to pivot relative to the hole in the Lock-Off feature,
wherein the built-in Lock-Off mechanism in combination with the Lock-Off feature is configured to prevent the handle from being turned ON with the use of the padlock, and
wherein the padlock prevents the handle from rotating on its pivot such that the padlock disables the circuit breaker from turning ON by impeding the handle from rotating to an ON-position,
wherein the housing includes a main base having a handle pivot hole, and
wherein the handle pivot hole includes first ribs and the Lock-Off feature includes second ribs to respectively strengthen the handle pivot hole and the Lock-Off feature from breaking during a forceful operation by a user.