Safety device for an electrical outlet

• US 5,998,735 A
• Filed: 08/03/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Leroy Jr. Patterson
• Original Assignee: Paul Leroy Jr. Patterson
• Inventors: Patterson, Paul Leroy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/128,614
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 174/53, 220/3.8, 220/241, 220/242, 439/135, 439/195
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A safety device (14) for an electrical outlet (16) including a back cover plate (32) having a pair of vertically aligned apertures (34), (36) therethrough. A pair of shields (40), (42) are sized to obstruct the apertures (34), (36) in the back cover plate (32), to prevent access to dual sockets (24), (26) of a receptacle (22). A structure (44) on a front face (46) of the back cover plate (32) is for guiding the upper shield (40) to move upwardly away from the upper aperture (34) and the lower shield (42) to move downwardly away from the lower aperture (36) in the back cover plate (32). Components (48) are for biasing the shields (40), (42) on the front face (46) of the back cover plate (32). A front cover plate (50) has a pair of vertically aligned apertures (52), (54) therethrough. Elements (58) are for mating the front cover plate (50) to the back cover plate (32) cover the shields (40), (42). A facility (60) is for engaging the upper shield (40) through the upper aperture (52) in the front cover plate (50) and move it upwardly away from the upper aperture (34) in the back cover plate (32). A facility (62) is for engaging the lower shield (42) through the lower aperture (54) in the front cover plate (50) and move it downwardly away from the lower aperture (36) in the back cover plate (32).

Claims

1. A safety device for an electrical outlet of the type including an outlet box in a wall for maintaining a receptacle having vertically aligned dual sockets, the dual sockets including an upper socket and a lower socket, and a central threaded opening between the sockets for receiving a cover plate screw, said safety device comprising:

a) a back cover plate having upper and lower vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole is aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box, when said back cover plate is positioned over the outlet box;

b) upper and lower shields sized to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, to prevent access to the upper and lower sockets of the receptacle;

c) means on a front face of said back cover plate for guiding said upper shield to move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate, and said lower shield to move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate;

d) means for biasing said shields on said front face of said back cover plate, so as to normally position said shields to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate;

e) a front cover plate having a pair of vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole is aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box;

f) means for mating said front cover plate to said back cover plate over said shields, so that the cover plate screw can engage with the central threaded opening in the receptacle to hold said safety device thereto;

g) means for engaging said upper shield through said upper aperture in said front cover plate, so that said upper shield can move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate to expose the upper socket of the receptacle; and

h) means for engaging said lower shield through said lower aperture in said front cover plate, so that said lower shield can move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate to expose the lower socket of the receptacle, wherein each said shield is a T-shaped slide panel having a pair of outwardly extending tabs and a main flat body with a pair of integral parallel legs in which each of said legs extends from one said tab adjacent said main flat body.

2. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 1, wherein said mating means includes:

a) four small sockets integrally formed on said front face of said back cover plate at corners thereof; and

b) four locking tabs integrally formed on a rear face of said front cover plate at the corners thereof, so that said locking tabs can engage with small sockets.

3. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 1, wherein said shields locking means includes:

a) said legs of said shields having hook ends; and

b) four sets of two raised protrusions integrally formed on a rear face of said front cover plate above and below said apertures which engages with said hook ends.

4. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 3, wherein said shields releasing means includes said front cover plate having four L-shaped tabs cut therethrough above and below said apertures, whereby each of said L-shaped tabs is in front of said two raised protrusions, so that when two of said L-shaped tabs above and below said apertures are simultaneously manually depressed inwardly said hook ends of said two legs of one of said shields will disengage from said raised protrusions, so that said one of said shields can be moved away from said respective aperture in said front cover plate and said respective aperture in said back cover plate by said electrical plug to expose the respective sockets of the receptacle.

5. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 3, wherein said shields retaining means includes:

a) said front cover plate having first and second U-shaped tabs cut therethrough, in which said first U-shaped tab is located centrally adjacent a top edge and said second U-shaped tab is located centrally adjacent a bottom edge; and

b) said upper shield having a horizontal depression in a front face at a top end and said lower shield having a horizontal depression in a front face at a bottom end, so that when said upper shield is moved to its uppermost position said first U-shaped tab can be manually depressed into said horizontal depression of said upper shield to keep said upper shield raised, and when said lower shield is moved to its lowermost position said second U-shaped tab can be manually depressed into said horizontal depression of said lower shield, to keep said lower shield lowered.

6. A safety device for an electrical outlet of the type including an outlet box in a wall for maintaining a receptacle having vertically aligned dual sockets, the dual sockets including an upper socket and a lower socket, and a central threaded opening between the sockets for receiving a cover plate screw, said safety device comprising:

a) a back cover plate having upper and lower vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole is aligned with the central treaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box, when said back cover plate is positioned over the outlet box;

b) upper and lower shields sized to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, to prevent access to the upper and lower sockets of the receptacle;

c) means on a front face of said back cover plate for guiding said upper shield to move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate, and said lower shield to move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate, wherein said guiding means includes an H-shaped cross member integrally formed centrally on said front face of said back cover plate; and

a pair of vertically spaced apart side guide rails integrally formed in said front face of said back cover plate on opposite sides of said H-shaped cross member;

d) means for biasing said shields on said front face of said back cover plate, so as to normally position said shields to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate;

e) a front cover plate having a pair of vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole is aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box;

f) means for mating said front cover plate to said back cover plate over said shields, so that the cover plate screw can engage with the central threaded opening in the receptacle to hold said safety device thereto;

g) means for engaging said upper shield through said upper aperture in said front cover plate, so that said upper shield can move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate to expose the upper socket of the receptacle; and

h) means for engaging said lower shield through said lower aperture in said front cover plate, so that said lower shield can move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate to expose the lower socket of the receptacle.

7. A safety device for an electrical outlet of the type including an outlet box in a wall for maintaining a receptacle having vertically aligned dual sockets, the dual sockets including an upper socket and a lower socket, and a central threaded opening between the sockets for receiving a cover plate screw, said safety device comprising:

a) a back cover plate having upper and lower vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box, when said back cover plate is positioned over the outlet box;

b) upper and lower shields sized to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, to prevent access to the upper and lower sockets of the receptacle;

c) means on a front face of said back cover plate for guiding said upper shield to move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate, and said lower shield to move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate;

d) means for biasing said shields on said front face of said back cover plate, so as to normally position said shields to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, wherein said biasing means includes two studs integrally formed in said front face of said back cover plate; and

four springs in which two said springs are connected between said upper shield and said two studs, while other two said springs are connected between said lower shield and said two studs;

e) a front cover plate having a pair of vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central treaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box;

f) means for mating said front cover plate to said back cover plate over said shields, so that the cover plate screw can engage with the central threaded opening in the receptacle to hold said safety device thereto;

g) means for engaging said upper shield through said upper aperture in said front cover plate, so that said upper shield can move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate to expose the upper socket of the receptacle; and

h) means for engaging said lower shield through said lower aperture in said front cover plate, so that said lower shield can move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate to expose the lower socket of the receptacle.

8. A safety device for an electrical outlet of the type including an outlet box in a wall for maintaining a receptacle having vertically aligned dual sockets, the dual sockets including an upper socket and a lower socket, and a central threaded opening between the sockets for receiving a cover plate screw, said safety device comprising:

a) a back cover plate having upper and lower vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box, when said back cover plate is positioned over the outlet box;

b) upper and lower shields sized to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, to prevent access to the upper and lower sockets of the receptacle;

c) means on a front face of said back cover plate for guiding said upper shield to move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate, and said lower shield to move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate;

d) means for biasing said shields on said front face of said back cover plate, so as to normally position said shields to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate;

e) a front cover plate having a pair of vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central bole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box;

f) means for mating said front cover plate to said back cover plate over said shields, so that the cover plate screw can engage with the central threaded opening in the receptacle to hold said safety device thereto;

g) means for engaging said upper shield through said upper aperture in said front cover plate, so that said upper shield can move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate to expose the upper socket of the receptacle, wherein said upper shield engaging means includes said upper shield having three depressions in a front face thereof simulating a hot slot, neutral slot and ground slot of the upper socket of the receptacle, for engagement by a hot blade, neutral blade and ground prong of an electrical plug; and

said front cover plate having three vertical slots extending upwardly from said upper aperture and in alignment with said three depressions in said upper shield, to allow the electrical plug to raise said upper shield to its uppermost position; and

h) means for engaging said lower shield through said lower aperture in said front cover plate, so that said lower shield can move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate to expose the lower socket of the receptacle.

9. A safety device for an electrical outlet of the type including an outlet box in a wall for maintaining a receptacle having vertically aligned dual sockets, the dual socket including an upper socket and a lower socket, and a central threaded opening between the sockets for receiving a cover plate screw, said safety device comprising:

a) a back cover plate having upper and lower vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box, when said back cover plate is positioned over the outlet box;

b) upper and lower shields sized to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, to prevent access to the upper and lower sockets of the receptacle;

c) means on a front face of said back cover plate for guiding said upper shield to move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate, and said lower shield to move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate;

d) means for biasing said shields on said front face of said back cover plate, so as to normally position said shields to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate;

e) a front cover plate having a pair of vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box;

f) means for mating said front cover plate to said back cover plate over said shields, so that the cover plate screw can engage with the central threaded opening in the receptacle to hold said safety device thereto;

g) means for engaging said upper shield through sad upper aperture in said front cover plate, so that said upper shield can move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate to expose the upper socket of the receptacle; and

h) means for engaging said lower shield through said lower aperture in said front cover plate, so that said lower shield can move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate to expose the lower socket of the receptacle, wherein said lower shield engaging means includes said lower shield having three depressions in a front face thereof simulating a hot slot, neural slot and ground slot of the lower socket of the receptacle, for engagement by a hot blade, neutral blade and ground prong of an electrical plug; and

said front cover plate having three vertical slots extending downwardly from said lower aperture and in alignment with said three depressions in said lower shield to allow the electrical plug to lower said lower shield to its lowermost position.

10. A safety device for an electrical outlet of the type including an outlet box in a wall for maintaining a receptacle having vertically aligned dual sockets, the dual sockets including an upper socket and a lower socket, and a central threaded opening between the sockets for receiving a cover plate screw, said safety device comprising:

a) a back cover plate having upper and lower vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box, when said back cover plate is positioned over the outlet box;

b) upper and lower shields sized to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate, to prevent access to the upper and lower sockets of the receptacle;

c) means on a front face of said back cover plate for guiding said upper shield to move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate, and said lower shield to move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate;

d) means for biasing said shields on said front face of said back cover plate, so as to normally position said shields to obstruct said apertures in said back cover plate;

e) a front cover plate having a pair of vertically aligned apertures therethrough with a central hole between said apertures, said apertures being shaped and positioned to correspond to the upper and lower sockets, while said central hole aligned with the central threaded opening of the receptacle in the outlet box;

f) means for mating said front cover plate to said back cover plate over said shields, so that the cover plate screw can engage with the central threaded opening in the receptacle to hold said safety device thereto;

g) means for engaging said upper shield through said upper aperture in said front cover plate, so that said upper shield can move upwardly away from said upper aperture in said back cover plate to expose the upper socket of the receptacle;

h) means for engaging said lower shield through said lower aperture in said front cover plate, so that said lower shield can move downwardly away from said lower aperture in said back cover plate to expose the lower socket of the receptacle;

i) means on said front cover plate for locking each of said shields in the normally obstructing positions;

j) means on said front cover plate for releasing each of said shields from the normally obstructing positions; and

k) means on said front cover plate for retaining each of said shields away from the sockets of the receptacle, so that an electrical plug can engage with each of the socket of the receptacle.

11. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said shields is a T-shaped slide panel having a pair of outwardly extending tabs and a main flat body with a pair of integral parallel legs in which each of said leg extends from one of said tabs adjacent said main flat body.

12. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 11, wherein said guiding means includes:

a) an H-shaped cross member integrally formed centrally on said front face of said back cover plate; and

b) a pair of vertically spaced apart side guide rails integrally formed on said front face of said back cover plate on opposite sides of said H-shaped cross member.

13. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 12, wherein said biasing means includes:

a) two studs integrally formed on said front face of said back cover plate; and

b) four springs in which two said springs are connected between said upper shield and said two studs, while other two said springs are connected between said lower shield and said two studs.

14. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 13, wherein said mating means includes:

a) four small sockets integrally formed on said front face of said back cover plate at corners thereof; and

b) four locking tabs integrally formed on a rear face of said front cover plate at the corners thereof, so that said locking tabs can engage with small sockets.

15. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 14, wherein said upper shield engaging means includes:

a) said upper shield having three depressions in a front face thereof simulating a hot slot, neutral slot and ground slot of the upper socket of the receptacle, for engagement by a hot blade, neutral blade and ground prong of an electrical plug; and

b) said front cover plate having three vertical slots extending upwardly from said upper aperture and in alignment with said three depressions in said upper shield, to allow the electrical plug to raise said upper shield to its uppermost position.

16. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 15, wherein said lower shield engaging means includes:

a) said lower shield having three depressions in a front face thereof simulating a hot slot, neutral slot and ground slot of the lower socket of the receptacle, for engagement by the hot blade, neutral blade and ground prong of an electrical plug; and

b) said front cover plate having three vertical slots extending downwardly from said lower aperture and in alignment with said three depressions in said lower shield to allow the electrical plug to lower said lower shield to its lowermost position.

17. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 16, wherein said shields locking means includes:

a) said legs of said shields having hook ends; and

b) four sets of two raised protrusions integrally formed on a rear face of said front cover plate above and below said apertures which engages with said hook ends.

18. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 17, wherein said shields releasing means includes said front cover plate having four L-shaped tabs cut therethrough above and below said apertures, whereby each of said L-shaped tabs is in front of said two raised protrusions, so that when two of said L-shaped tabs above and below said apertures are simultaneously manually depressed inwardly said hook ends of said two legs of one of said shields will disengage from said two raised protrusions, so that said one of said shields can be moved away from respective aperture in said front cover plate and said respective aperture in said back cover plate by said electrical plug to expose respective sockets of the receptacle.

19. A safety device for an electrical outlet as recited in claim 18, wherein said shields retaining means includes:

a) said front cover plate having first and second U-shaped tabs cut therethrough, in which said first U-shaped tab is located centrally adjacent a top edge and said second U-shaped tab is located centrally adjacent a bottom edge; and

b) said upper shield having a horizontal depression in a front face at a top end and said lower shield having a horizontal depression in a front face at a bottom end, so that when said upper shield is moved to its uppermost position said first U-shaped tab can be manually depressed into said horizontal depression of said upper shield to keep said upper shield raised, and when said lower shield is moved to its lowermost position said second U-shaped tab can be manually depressed into said horizontal depression of said lower shield, to keep said lower shield lowered.