Pivotal latching mechanism with interengageable latch arm and catch in a sectionalizer assembly

A sectionalizer assembly includes a mounting structure having upper and lower electrical contacts, a sectionalizer tube, an actuating member mounted to the tube and movable from a non-actuated to an actuated position, and a pivotal latching mechanism having a pivot member, latch arm and catch. The pivot member is mounted to the lower electrical contact and to a lower end of the tube for undergoing pivotal movement relative thereto between locking and releasing positions. The latch arm fixedly attached to the pivot member extends outwardly therefrom and undergoes pivotal movement therewith between the locking and releasing positions. The catch is carried on a lower end of the actuating member and undergoes movement therewith. The latch arm has an outer end fittable within a recess in the catch that is open at least at one side thereof. The latch arm outer end interengages the catch within the recess thereof when the actuating member is at the non-actuated position and the pivot member is at the locking position. Such interengagement tends to maintain the pivot member in the locking position. The latch arm outer end disengages the catch recess as the actuating member is moved from the non-actuated position to the actuated position and the pivot member is moved from the locking position to the releasing position. The movement of the catch with the actuating member from the non-actuated position to the actuated position causes the latch arm to pivotally move away from and disengage the catch, permitting an upper end of the tube to move from a closed to open position relative to the upper electrical contact.