Electrical outlet safety cover

• US 4,950,842 A
• Filed: 05/22/1989
• Issued: 08/21/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Menninga
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Menninga
• Inventors: Menninga, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/354,777
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 174/67, 220/242, 439/133, 439/135, 439/147, 439/305
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

An electrical outlet safety cover includes an apertured base plate to replace the conventional face plate of an electrical outlet and is attached to such outlet at the original screw position. A box-like cover with openings for passage of an electric cord is provided for attachment to the base plate so as to enclose a cord attached to the outlet. The cord passes over a stop bar on the base plate in registration with the openings in the cover so that access to the outlet through the openings as, for example, by a child'"'"'s finger or a tool is prevented. The cover and base plate include complementary locking members that coact when the cover is introduced to the base plate to effectively lock the cover to the base plate in a position where the locking members are completely enclosed by the cover and inaccessible from outside the cover so that the cover cannot be removed by manual manipulation. The locking member on the cover is constructed and adapted for movement in response to the presence of a magnetic force provided from outside of the cover to release it from engagement with the base plate and permit removal of the cover.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet safety cover, comprising:

an apertured base plate to replace the conventional face plate on an electrical outlet,

a first locking member on said base plate

a box-like cover for encasing said base plate and that portion of an electric cord connected to the electrical outlet,

a second locking member on the interior of said cover,

said first and second locking members coacting when said cover is introduced to said base plate to effectively lock said cover to said base plate in a position where said locking members are completely enclosed by said cover and inaccessible from outside of said cover so that said cover cannot be removed by manual manipulation, and

said second locking member constructed and adapted for movement in response to the presence of a magnetic force provided from outside of said cover to release said locking members and permit removal of said cover.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including a metal means associated with said second locking member and disposed in close proximity to the inside of said cover.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, including:

said cover provided with an opening for passage of an electric cord attached to the electrical outlet, and

a stop bar on said base plate disposed to be intermediate said opening and the electrical outlet and adapted to permit passage of a cord through said opening but which prevents access to said outlet through said opening from exteriorly of said cover.

4. An electrical outlet safety cover, comprising:

an apertured base plate to replace the conventional face plate of an elecrical outlet,

a box-like cover for encasing said base plate and that portion of an electric cord connected to the electrical outlet,

a locking means comprising;

a fixed lock member on said base plate,

a spring-loaded lock member mounted to the interior of said cover,

said spring-loaded lock member lockably engaging said fixed lock member when said cover is introduced to said base plate to effectively lock said cover to said base plate in a position where said locking means is within the confines of said cover and inaccessible from outside said cover so that said cover cannot be removed by manual manipulation, and

said spring-loaded lock member being constructed and adapted for movement in response to the presence of a magnetic force provided from outside of said cover to release the same from said fixed lock member and permit removal of said cover.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 including:

said fixed lock member being an apertured ear, and said spring-loaded lock member being a pin.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, including:

said pin being normally in extended position,

a first cam on said base plate and a second cam associated with said pin, and

said cams coating when said cover is introduced to said base plate to retract said pin until it registers with and engages said ear.

7. A device as defined in claim 4 including a metal means associated with said spring-loaded lock member and disposed in close proximity to the inside of said cover.

8. A device as defined in claim 4, including:

said cover provided with an opening for passage of an electric cord attached to the electrical outlet, and

a stop bar on said base plate disposed to be intermediate said opening and the electrical outlet to permit passage of a cord through said opening but which prevents access to the outlet through said opening from exteriorly of said cover.

9. An electrical outlet safety cover, comprising:

an apertured base plate to replace the conventional face plate of an electrical outlet and to be attached thereto at the conventional screw position,

said base plate defining respective upper and lower positions,

first respective locking means in said upper and lower portions,

a box-like cover for encasing said base plate and that portion of an electric cord connected to the electrical outlet,

said cover defining respective upper and lower portions complementary with said upper and lower portions on said base plate,

second respective locking means in said upper and lower portions of said cover,

said first and second locking means coacting when said cover is introduced to said base plate to effectively lock said cover to said base plate in a position with said respective locking means inaccessible from outside said cover whereby said cover cannot be removed by manual manipulation, and

said second locking means constructed and adapted for movement in response to the presence of a magnetic force provided from outside of said cover to release the same and permit removal of said cover.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 including a thin strip of metal associated with said second locking means and disposed in close proximity to the inside of said cover.

11. A device as defined in claim 9, including:

said first locking means comprising respective upper and lower apertured ears, and

said second locking means comprising a movable pin for engagement with one of said ears and operably connected to a spring-loaded pin engageable with the other of said ears.

12. A device as defined in claim 11 in which said movable pin engages said upper ear and said spring-loaded pin engages said lower ear.

13. A device as defined in claim 11, including:

said spring-loaded pin normally being in extended position,

a first cam on said base plate and a second cam associated with said second locking means, and

said cams coacting when said cover is introduced to said base plate to retract said spring-loaded pin and effect movement of said movable pin until said pins register with and lockably engage said respective ears in said base plate.

14. A device as defined in claim 9, including:

said cover provided with an opening for passage of an electric cord attached to the electrical outlet, and

a stop bar on said base plate disposed to be intermediate said opening and the electrical outlet to permit passage of the cord through said opening but which prevents access to the outlet through said opening from exteriorly of said cover.