Internal safety cover and method to prevent electrical shock

• US 6,767,228 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irwin G. Katz
• Original Assignee: Irwin G. Katz
• Inventors: Katz, Irwin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/160,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20020182907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 439/140, 439/141, 439/144, 439/131, 439/137, 174/67, 200/51.09, 361/93
• US Class Current: 439/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement

Abstract

This invention is an internal safety cover for use in electrical outlets that provides increased protection against electrical shock. The internal safety cover is designed to be slidably positioned inside the conductive members of an electrical outlet. One embodiment requires uniform force to both openings in the socket for the safety cover to slide and permit the plug to gain contact with the conductive members. Furthermore, the compression device can be adapted to eject partially inserted or withdrawn plugs. A latch mechanism embodiment may lock the safety cover in the closed position preventing access even with uniform force. This invention provides automatic safety protection from both improper foreign objects and partially inserted or withdrawn plugs.

Claims

1. An internal safety cover comprising a backend connected to at least one non-conducting prong wherein said backend is attachable to the inside of a socket body of an electrical outlet and said prong slidably fits inside a conductive track of a conductive member of said electrical outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said internal safety cover is connected to the inside of said socket body by a compression device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said compression device is a spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said compression device is a piston.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said compression device is attached to said internal safety cover by a pivot.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said safety cover has two prongs and each prong slidably fits inside said conductive member of said electrical outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said safety cover has two prongs and each prong slidably fits inside said conductive member of said electrical outlet and said pivot has a pivot pin at or near the center of said pivot and said pivot pin is attached to said compression device and said pivot is attached to said internal safety cover by said pivot bracket.

8. An electrical outlet comprising:

(a) a socket body;

(b) at least one conducting member connectable with a power source, said conducting member comprising a conductive track; and

(c) an internal safety cover comprising a backend connected to at least one non-conducting prong wherein said backend of said safety cover is attached to the inside of said socket body by a compression device wherein said prong of said internal safety cover is slidably inside said conductive track of said conducting member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said compression device is a spring.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said compression device is a piston.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said safety cover is attached to said compression device by a pivot.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said compression device is attached to said safety cover by attaching said compression device to a pivot pin inside said pivot, said pivot attached to said safety cover by a pivot bracket.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a spring guide is located inside said spring to guide said spring and said safety cover.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said safety cover is adapted to slide inside the metal contact of said electrical outlet.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said electrical outlet has two conductive members each comprising a conductive track and said safety cover has at least two prongs, each prong of said safety cover slidably fits inside said conductive track of said conductive member.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a latch mechanism said latch mechanism comprising a finger wherein said finger prevents movement of the safety cover when said latch mechanism is engaged.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a latch mechanism said latch mechanism comprising a finger and said safety cover has at least one notch to receive said finger of said latch mechanism when said latch is engaged.

18. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said compression device provides at least enough force to eject partially inserted plugs but not enough force to eject a fully inserted plug.

19. A method of providing power and protecting against electrical shocks from an electrical outlet comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an electrical outlet comprising a socket body and at least one coupling part with a conductive member comprising a conductive track said conductive member connectable with a power source and being sized and configured to be coupled to a complimentary plug comprising at least one prong, an internal safety cover comprising a backend and at least two non-conducting prongs slidably inside said conductive member, said backend of said safety cover is attached to a compression device which is attached to the rear inside of said socket body;

(b) inserting said plug into said coupling part whereby said force exerted by prongs of said plug compresses said spring attached to said safety cover permitting said safety cover to slide in a conductive track of said conductive member of said coupling part, exposing said conductive member to said plug; and

(c) providing power from said electrical outlet to said plug in contact with said conductive member of said outlet.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of ejecting a partially inserted plug.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of providing a latch mechanism and activating said latch to prevent movement of said safety cover.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of providing a latch mechanism comprising a finger and notches in said safety cover to receive said finger of said latch mechanism and activating said latch mechanism wherein said notch of said safety cover receives said finger preventing movement of said safety cover.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of providing a pivot with a pivot pin in the center of said pivot, said pivot is attached to said safety cover by said pivot bracket, said pivot pin is attached to said spring, rotating said pivot as uneven pressure is exerted on said safety cover wherein at least one prong of said safety cover contacts a side of said conductive track of said conductive member of said electrical outlet and friction between said safety cover and said conductive member prevents movement of said safety cover.