Electrical outlet safety cover

• US 7,399,921 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Theodore Mcbain
• Original Assignee: Theodore Mcbain
• Inventors: McBain, Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R
• Application Number:
  US11/279,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20060180334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 174/67, 174/66, 174/53, 174/135, 220/241, 220/242, 220/3.8, 33D/IG.10, 335/28, 439/137, 439/135, 439/136, 439/145, 439/195, 439/148, 439/346, 439/732
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/453 Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A safety cap for an electrical outlet having an adhesive section can be attached to a standard outlet cover. Alternately, an outlet cover including two slidable plates including a spring or spring groove can be used to prevent access to the outlet by a child. An elongated member on one plate is used to contact a spring on the other plate. Alternately, the elongated member can fit into a spring groove to bias the plates apart into the closed position. Locking pins can be used to lock the plates onto an aperture at the base of a plug'"'"'s power prong. Additionally, a recess around each electrical outlet can mate with a respective lip of a plug to provide an interlocking interface between the plug and outlet cover to prevent a child from being able to insert a metal object between the plug and the faceplate.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a safety cap including prongs made of a non-electrically conductive material shaped to fit into a standard electrical outlet;

an adhesive section for connecting the apparatus to a standard electrical outlet cover plate; and

a bendable section comprising a groove for rotating the prongs from a position outside an electrical outlet to a position inside an electrical outlet.