Electrical outlet safety plate

• US 6,051,788 A
• Filed: 03/17/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David R. Nichols
• Original Assignee: David R. Nichols
• Inventors: Nichols, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/042,536
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 220/3.8, 220/241, 220/242
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate

Abstract

An electrical outlet safety plate is configured to preclude simultaneous contact of the fingers of a person with the electrical contact prongs of an electrical plug, when the prongs of the plug are also in contact with the electrical contacts of a receptacle protected by the present safety plate. The plate has a depth which is greater than standard, preferably about one half inch. The electrical receptacles of an outlet protected by the present plate, are correspondingly recessed below the outer or front face of the plate. The receptacle access passages through the plate are configured to fit closely about the periphery of a conventional electrical plug having generally curved opposite sides and straight, flattened top and bottom surfaces. Thus, when an electrical plug is inserted into a receptacle recess of the present plate to a depth sufficient for the prongs of the plug to contact the electrical contacts within the receptacle, the face of the plug is at least coplanar with the outer face of the safety plate, thus precluding contact of a person'"'"'s fingers with the prongs of the plug when they are in contact with the electrical contacts within the receptacle. Various embodiments of covers or guards for the receptacle recesses of the present safety plate are also disclosed, with each of the guards gripping the interior walls of the receptacle recesses of the present plate to provide a secure installation as desired.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet safety plate, comprising:

an outlet cover plate formed of electrically non-conductive material, for installing over an electrical outlet;

said cover plate having a front face of a generally rectangular shape, configured for covering an electrical outlet box with the electrical outlet installed therein;

said cover plate further including at least one electrical plug passage formed therethrough;

said at least one plug passage having a front opening and inner walls of a generally oval shape substantially conforming to the shape of an electrical plug, and fitting closely about an electrical plug when the electrical plug is inserted into said at least one plug passage;

at least one guard cover formed of an electrically non-conductive material, for removably covering said at least one plug passage for temporarily restricting access thereto;

each of said at least one guard cover including a cover panel with a generally oval shape;

each said cover panel having a periphery larger than said at least one plug passage of said cover plate for precluding insertion of each said cover panel into said plug passage of said cover plate beyond said front face of said cover plate;

each said cover panel having a rear surface including a generally oval shaped hollow sleeve extending therefrom and having a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions disposed about said sleeve, for frictionally engaging said inner walls of said at least one plug passage of said cover plate.

2. The electrical outlet safety plate according to claim 1 wherein said at least one electrical plug passage is two passages, each said passage, upon installation of said cover plate, being disposed in registry with a receptacle of an electrical outlet having two receptacles.

3. The electrical outlet safety plate according to claim 1, wherein said cover plate and said at least one guard plate is formed of plastic.

4. The electrical outlet safety plate according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical plug passage of said cover plate has a depth of substantially one half inch.

5. The electrical outlet safety plate according to claim 1, wherein said front face of said cover plate includes a depending periphery, which with said front face and said inner walls of said at least one plug passage, define a hollow interior.

6. An electrical outlet safety plate and an electrical outlet and electrical plug assembly, comprising in combination:

an electrical outlet including an outer face providing for substantially coplanar installation with a surface, with said electrical outlet including at least one electrical receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts therein;

an electrical plug having a generally oval shape and a face with a plurality of electrical contact prongs extending therefrom, with said electrical contact prongs of said plug corresponding to said electrical contacts within said at least one electrical receptacle of said electrical outlet;

an outlet cover plate formed of electrically non-conductive material, for installing over said electrical outlet;

said cover plate having a front face of generally rectangular shape, configured for covering an electrical outlet box with said electrical outlet installed therein;

said cover plate further including at least one electrical plug passage formed therethrough;

said at least one plug passage having a front opening and inner walls of a generally oval shape substantially conforming to said shape of said electrical plug, and fitting closely about said electrical plug when said electrical plug is inserted into said at least one plug passage, for precluding simultaneous contact of an article with any of said plurality of electrical contact prongs of said plug when any of said contact prongs are in electrical contact with any of said electrical contacts of said electrical receptacle;

at least one guard cover formed of an electrically non-conductive material, for removably covering said at least one plug passage for temporarily restricting access thereto;

each of said at least one guard cover including a cover panel with a generally oval shape;

each said cover panel having a periphery larger than said at least one plug passage of said cover plate for precluding insertion of each said cover panel into said plug passage of said cover plate beyond said front face of said cover plate;

each said cover panel having a rear surface including a generally oval shaved hollow sleeve extending therefrom and having a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions disposed about said sleeve, for frictionally engaging said inner walls of said at least one plug passage of said cover plate.

7. The electrical outlet safety plate and electrical outlet and electrical plug assembly combination according to claim 6, with said electrical outlet having a first and a second said receptacle, said outlet plate including a first and a second said electrical plug passage formed therethrough and disposed in registry respectively with said first and said second receptacle of said electrical outlet when said cover plate is installed thereover.

8. The electrical outlet safety plate and electrical outlet and electrical plug assembly combination according to claim 6, wherein said cover plate and said at least one guard plate is formed of plastic.

9. The electrical outlet safety plate and electrical outlet and electrical plug assembly combination according to claim 6, wherein said at least one electrical plug passage of said cover plate has a depth of substantially one half inch.

10. The electrical outlet safety plate and electrical outlet and electrical plug assembly combination according to claim 6, wherein said front face of said cover plate includes a depending periphery, which with said front face and said inner walls of said at least one plug passage, define a hollow interior.

11. An electrical outlet safety plate, comprising:

an outlet cover plate formed of electrically non-conductive material, for installing over an electrical outlet;

said cover plate having a front face of a generally rectangular shape, configured for covering an electrical outlet box with an electrical outlet installed therein;

said cover plate further including at least one electrical plug passage formed therethrough;

said at least one plug passage having a front opening and inner walls of a generally oval shape substantially conforming to the shape of an electrical plug, and fitting closely about an electrical plug when an electrical plug is inserted into said at least one plug passage;

at least one guard cover formed of an electrically non-conductive material, for removably covering said at least one plug passage for temporarily restricting access thereto;

each of said at least one guard cover including a cover panel with a generally oval shape;

each said cover panel having a periphery larger than said at least one plug passage of said cover plate for precluding insertion of each said cover panel into said plug passage of said cover plate beyond said front face of said cover plate;

each said cover panel having a rear surface including a generally oval shaped hollow sleeve extending therefrom and having a plurality of outwardly extending oppositely disposed resilient lateral grips extending from said sleeve, for frictionally engaging said inner walls of said at least one plug passage of said cover plate.