Cover for an electrical receptacle

• US 5,998,734 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Group Dekko Incorporated (Graham Holdings Company)
• Original Assignee: Pent Products, Inc. (Graham Holdings Company)
• Inventors: Kerestan, Aaron R., Roe, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/022,944
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 174/53, 174/54, 174/60, 174/65 R, 439/934, 439/650, 439/107, 439/892
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

An electrical outlet assembly includes an electrical receptacle having a body with a face. At least one female plug is associated with the face, and at least two exposed terminals are associated with each plug. Each exposed terminal is connected with and carried by the body. A cover is separate from and removably coupled with the electrical receptacle and substantially entirely covers at least one exposed terminal.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet assembly, comprising:

an electrical receptacle having a body with a face, at least one female plug associated with said face, said body including opposing sides with each said side being adjacent to said face, said electrical receptacle including at least two exposed terminals associated with said at least one plug, each of said exposed terminals being mounted on a respective one of said opposing sides; and

a cover separate from and removably coupled with said electrical receptacle, said cover overlying and thereby substantially entirely covering at least one of said exposed terminals, said cover being substantially L-shaped with a first leg and a second leg, each of said first leg and said second leg being disposed substantially perpendicular to each other and defining an adjoining edge therebetween, said cover further including at least one cutout in at least one of said first leg and said second leg, each said at least one cutout being in communication with said adjoining edge.

2. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one cutout comprises two cutouts.

3. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, further comprising two electrical wires associated with said at least one plug, each said wire being connected with a respective one of said exposed terminals and disposed within a respective one of said cutouts.

4. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said cutouts is associated with a corresponding one of said exposed terminals.

5. An electrical outlet assembly, comprising:

an electrical receptacle having a body with a face, at least one female plug associated with said face, said body including opposing sides with each said side being adjacent to said face, said electrical receptacle including at least two exposed terminals associated with said at least one plug, each of said exposed terminals being mounted on a respective one of said opposing sides; and

a cover separate from and removably coupled with said electrical receptacle, said cover overlying and thereby substantially entirely covering at least one of said exposed terminals, said cover being substantially U-shaped with a first leg, a second leg and an interconnecting portion, each of said first leg and said second leg being disposed substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said interconnecting portion, said interconnecting portion and said first leg defining a first adjoining edge therebetween, said interconnecting portion and said second leg defining a second adjoining edge therebetween, said cover further including at least two cutouts, each said cutout being associated and in communication with one of said first adjoining edge and said second adjoining edge.

6. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least two cutouts comprise four cutouts, two of said four cutouts being associated with said first adjoining edge and a remaining two of said four cutouts being associated with said second adjoining edge.

7. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 5, further comprising two electrical wires associated with said at least one plug, each said wire being connected with a respective one of said exposed terminals and disposed within a respective one of said cutouts.

8. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 5, wherein each said cutout is associated with a corresponding one of said exposed terminals.

9. An electrical outlet assembly, comprising:

an electrical receptacle having a body with a face, at least one female plug associated with said face, said body including opposing sides with each said side being adjacent to said face, said electrical receptacle including at least two exposed terminals associated with said at least one plug, each of said exposed terminals being connected with and carried by said body, wherein said at least two exposed terminals comprise two screw type terminals and two push-in type terminals associated with; and

a cover separate from and removably coupled with said electrical receptacle, said cover overlying and thereby substantially entirely covering at least one of said exposed terminals.

10. The electrical outlet assembly of claim 9, wherein said cover includes two projections which are respectively coupled with said two push-in type terminals.

11. A cover for use with an electrical receptacle having a body with a face, at least one female plug associated with the face, and at least two exposed terminals associated with said at least one plug, each exposed terminal being connected with and carried by the body, said cover comprising:

a first leg and a second leg connected together, at least one of said first leg and said second leg being configured for removable coupling with the electrical receptacle, at least one of said first leg and said second leg being configured for substantially entirely overlying and thereby covering at least one corresponding exposed terminal of the electrical receptacle.

12. The cover of claim 11, wherein said cover is substantially L-shaped, each of said first leg and said second leg being disposed substantially perpendicular to each other and defining an adjoining edge therebetween, said cover further including at least one cutout in at least one of said first leg and said second leg, each said cutout being in communication with said adjoining edge.

13. The cover of claim 12, wherein said at least one cutout comprises two cutouts.

14. The cover of claim 11, wherein said cover is substantially U-shaped with an interconnecting portion which interconnects each of said first leg and said second leg, each of said first leg and said second leg being disposed substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said interconnecting portion, said interconnecting portion and said first leg defining a first adjoining edge therebetween, said interconnecting portion and said second leg defining a second adjoining edge therebetween, said cover further including at least two cutouts respectively associated and in communication with said first adjoining edge and said second adjoining edge.

15. The cover of claim 14, wherein said at least two cutouts comprise four cutouts, two of said four cutouts being associated with said first adjoining edge and a remaining two of said four cutouts being associated with said second adjoining edge.