Safety plate assembly

• US 5,477,010 A
• Filed: 09/17/1993
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis J. Buckshaw, James A. Clark
• Original Assignee: Dennis J. Buckshaw, James A. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, James A., Buckshaw, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tone, David
• Application Number:
  US08/123,333
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 174/66, 174/67, 220/241, 220/242, 439/137, 439/145
• US Class Current: 174/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/14 Fastening of cover or lid to box

Abstract

A safety plate assembly for use with a conventional electric outlet of the type adapted to be fitted in a panel opening and including an outlet box and an outlet mounted in the box and including a receptacle defining a pair of sockets receiving the prongs of an electric plug. The assembly includes an annular mounting plate of open frame configuration positioned against the panel in surrounding relation to the opening and a cover plate positioned over the mounting plate and lockingly secured thereto by coacting locking finger and tab on the plates. A slide is mounted on the cover plate for movement between a safety position in which slide apertures overlie solid portions of the cover plate and an operative position in which the slide apertures are aligned with open areas of the cover plate and with the sockets of the receptacle so as to allow the prongs of the electric plug to be passed through the slide apertures and through the open areas of the cover plate for insertion in the receptacle sockets. The slide includes a shutter portion overlying the front face of the cover plate, a guide portion coacting with the rear face of the cover plate, and a juncture portion passing through an opening in the cover plate. The guide portion of the slide also coacts with the front face of the mounting plate to further facilitate the sliding movement of the slide.

Claims

1. A safety plate assembly for use with a conventional electric outlet assembly of the type adapted to be fitted in a panel opening and including an outlet box and an outlet mounted in the box and including a receptacle defining a pair of sockets for receiving the prongs of an electric plug, said assembly including:

an annular mounting plate of open frame configuration;

fastener means for securing the mounting plate to the outlet assembly with the mounting plate positioned proximate the panel in surrounding relation to the receptacle;

a cover plate;

coating means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate for securing the cover plate to the mounting plate with solid portions of the cover plate overlying the fastener means to preclude removal of the fastener means without removal of the cover plate; and

a safety member mounted on the cover plate for movement between a safety position in which access to the receptacle sockets by the prongs of the electric plug is blocked and an operative position in which access to the receptacle sockets by the prongs of the electric plug is provided.

2. A safety plate assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

the coacting means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate are operative in response to relative movement between the cover plate and the mounting plate to snapingly secure the plates together.

3. A safety plate assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

the coacting means comprise resilient fingers extending rearwardly from the cover plate, openings in the mounting plate, and rearwardly extending tabs on the mounting plate respectively positioned in the openings and lockingly coacting with the fingers of the cover plate in response to relative movement between the plates.

4. A safety plate assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

the fastener means is adapted to secure the mounting plate to the outlet box.

5. A safety plate assembly for use with a conventional electric outlet adapted to be fitted in an opening in a panel and including a receptacle defining sockets for receipt of the prongs of an electric plug, said assembly comprising:

a cover plate adapted to fit over the receptacle and including a rear face positioned in confronting relation to the panel, a front face, an opening, and at least one prong aperture; and

a slide including a shutter portion overlying the front face of the cover plate and including at least one prong aperture for selective coaction with the prong aperture in the cover plate, a guide portion coacting with the rear face of the cover plate, and a juncture portion passing through the opening in the cover plate.

6. A safety plate assembly according to claim 5 wherein:

the assembly further includes an annular mounting plate of open frame configuration, means for securing the mounting plate to the outlet with the mounting plate positioned proximate the panel in surrounding relation to the receptacle, and coacting means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate for securing the cover plate to the mounting plate in overlying relation thereto.

7. A safety plate assembly according to claim 6 wherein:

the coacting means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate are operative in response to relative movement between the cover plate and the mounting plate to snapingly secure the plates together.

8. A safety plate assembly for use with a conventional electric outlet assembly of the type adapted to be fitted in a panel opening and including an outlet box and an outlet mounted in the box and including a receptacle defining a pair of sockets for receiving the prongs of an electric plug, said assembly including:

an annular mounting plate of open frame configuration;

means for securing the mounting plate to the outlet assembly with the mounting plate positioned proximate the panel in surrounding relation to the receptacle;

a cover plate;

coacting means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate for securing the cover plate to the mounting plate in overlying relation thereto; and

a slide member having a pair of apertures sized to receive the prongs of an electrical plug and mounted on the cover plate for movement between a safety position in which the slide member apertures-overlie solid portions of the cover plate and an operative position in which the slide member apertures are aligned with open areas of the cover plate and with the sockets of the receptacles so as to allow the prongs of the plug to be passed through the slide plate apertures and through the open areas of the cover plate for insertion in the receptacle sockets.

9. A safety plate assembly according to claim 8 wherein the mounting plate is secured to the outlet box and the securing means comprises fasteners passing through apertures in the mounting plate for threaded engagement with threaded apertures in the outlet box.

10. A safety plate assembly according to claim 9 wherein:

the coacting means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate are operative in response to relative movement between the cover plate and the mounting plate to snapingly secure the plates together.

11. A safety plate assembly for use with a conventional electric outlet assembly of the type adapted to be fitted in a panel opening and including an outlet box and an outlet mounted in the box and including a receptacle defining a pair of sockets for receiving the prongs of an electric plug, said assembly including:

an annular mounting plate of open frame configuration;

fastener means for securing the mounting plate to the outlet assembly with the mounting plate positioned proximate the panel in surrounding relation to the receptacle;

a cover plate;

coating means on the cover plate and on the mounting plate for securing the cover plate to the mounting plate with solid portions of the cover plate overlying the fastener means to preclude removal of the fastener means without removal of the cover plate; and

a slide member having a pair of apertures sized to receive the prongs of the electric plug and mounted on the cover plate for movement between a safety position in which the slide member apertures overlie solid portions of the cover plate and an operative position in which the slide member apertures are aligned with open areas of the cover plate and with the sockets of the receptacle so as to allow the prongs of the plug to be passed through the slide plate apertures and through the open areas of the cover plate for insertion into the receptacle sockets.

12. A safety plate assembly according to claim 11 wherein:

the cover plate includes a rear face positioned in confronting relation to the panel, a front face, an opening, and at least one prong aperture; and

the slide includes a shutter portion overlying the front face of the cover plate and including at least one prong aperture for selective coaction with the prong aperture in the cover plate, a guide portion coacting with the rear face of the cover plate, and a juncture portion passing through the opening in the cover plate.