Internal safety cover and method to prevent electrical shock
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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 Furthermore, the compression device can be adapted to eject partially inserted or withdrawn plugs.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 This invention provides automatic safety protection from both improper foreign objects and partially inserted or withdrawn plugs.
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Citations
23 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.
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8. An electrical outlet comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing power and protecting against electrical shocks from an electrical outlet comprising the steps of:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification