Electrical plug safety cover

[0001] This is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 10/770,313 filed Feb. 2, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,9321.

[0002] Not Applicable

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates electrical safety outlets and particularly to electrical safety outlets having lockable covers.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Electrical outlets are common fixtures in homes today. Despite a number of safety improvements, these outlets remain a danger to small children. FIG. 1 shows a standard modern electrical outlet 100 as prior art. The slot openings 101 in the outlet that connect to the interior wiring are inviting to children who are driven to investigate everything. Every year children are electrocuted when they insert objects into the slots of electrical outlets.

[0007] To protect them from such danger, large covers have been invented. These covers fit over the entire outlet and can be locked. While making the outlet safe, they also make the outlet difficult to use. The cover must be unlocked every time the outlet is needed. Moreover, these covers extend out into the room, making furniture placement sometimes difficult.

[0008] Another device commonly used today is a small plastic cover 102, shown in FIG. The cover 102 has prongs 103 that engage the slot openings in the outlet. When in place, these covers completely prevent access to the outlet slots; yet, they are easily removable when access to the outlet is needed. Moreover, because they are relatively flat, they do not block furniture placement. Despite these advantages, they have one major drawback. A determined child can pull them out of the outlet because there is nothing holding them in place. As a result, they improve safety only marginally.

[0009] The instant invention overcomes these problems. It is a removable cover that has two safety prongs. A replacement outlet cover is also provided that has corresponding side slots to receive the safety prongs. When the cover is inserted into the outlet, the safety prongs engage the side slots, which then hold the cover in place. Once the safety prongs are engaged, the safety prongs must be compressed to remove the cover. This type of action is beyond the motor skills of small children, thus making the covers totally safe for use around children. Moreover, removing the covers is a simple task for adults, which makes them more likely to be used than more complicated covers and locks. Finally, the covers can be sold as a kit with a replacement outlet box cover for a low price. This makes them affordable as well as easy to install and use.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of a replacement outlet cover 10, modified to accept the new safety cover 20. The replacement cover is similar to the standard outlet cover in that it has two openings 11 for the receptacle. Unlike the standard outlet cover, the replacement cover 10 has one addition: on the space adjacent to the openings 11 for the receptacle are two slots 12. These slots are located on both the top and bottom of the replacement cover as shown. FIG. 4 shows the cover 10 installed on a receptacle. As shown, the cover 10 is the same size and shape as a standard outlet cover so that there is no problem in making the replacement.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a top view of the safety cover 20. The safety cover has two prongs 21 like the current safety cover shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the safety cover 20 has two additional prongs 22 that align with the slots 12. Note that the prongs 22 have hooked ends 23. These hooked ends pass through the slots 12 and engage the back of the replacement cover (see e.g. FIG. 5). In this way, the outer prongs 22 prevent a child from simply pulling the safety cover out of the receptacle. A user must first push the prongs 22 slightly apart, by pushing in on the ribs 22a, so the hooked ends 23 pass through the slots 12 before the safety cover can be removed.

[0029] Note that the ribs 22a do not protrude excessively. This makes the safety cover completely safe for use around small children, yet the benefits of the flat safety cover are retained.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the replacement outlet cover with a safety cover installed, showing a side clip engaging a side slot. As shown in this figure, the hooked end 23 of the prong 22 is shown on the back side of the replacement cover. In this figure, the ribs 22a are clearly shown.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a front view of the safety cover 20 installed in the replacement outlet cover 10. Here, the entire receptacle is covered. In the view, only one cover is shown. In actual use, two covers would be used.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a detail top view of the safety cover showing the cover in the position for extraction. Here, the safety cover 20 is shown bent back (the figure is slightly exaggerated for clarity). As the cover is bent back, the prongs 22 bend as well. In this way, the prong ends 23 align with the slots 12 in the cover 10 so that the safety cover 20 can be easily removed.

[0033] Once the replacement covers 10 are in use, power cords can be made with extra prongs as well. FIG. 9 is a top detail of a power cord that contains the safety removal system. Here, a power cord 30 has a plug head 31 that has a set of power prongs 32 and a pair of security prongs 33. As in the case of the safety covers, the security prongs have angled ends 34 that pass through the slots 12 and hold the plug 30 in place. The figure shows a plug having two prongs, however, the system can be used with three prong plugs as well.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a side view of the power cord 30 of FIG. 9 showing a release button 35. There are two buttons 35, one on each side of the plug 31. When the buttons are squeezed, they cause the prongs 33 to flex outward (see e.g., FIG. 8), which allows the hooked ends 34 to align with the slots 12.

[0035] FIG. 11 is a side view of a power cord 100 with a removable safety cord cover 40. The power cord 100 it a typical cord, having a length of wire 101 and a plug head 102. The removable safety cord cover 40 is designed to fit over the wore portion of the cord and then, when the removable safety cord cover 40 is in place, the cover 40 is slid forward to cover the plug head 102 after the plug head is plugged into a receptacle.

[0036] FIG. 12 is a front view of the replacement outlet cover 10 with two power cords 100 and two removable safety cord covers 40 in place. The removable safety cord cover 40 is attached to the replacement outlet cover 10 using a set of prongs 41 (discussed below), which are similar to those used on the safety cover and plug discussed above.

[0037] FIG. 13 is a top view of the removable safety cord cover 40. Here, a pair of security prongs 41 extends forward of the cover. As in the case of the safety covers, the security prongs have angled ends 42 that pass through the slots 12 in the replacement outlet cover 10, which hold the cover 40 (and therefore, the plug head 102) in place.

[0038] FIG. 13 also shows a pair of release buttons 43 on the sides of the plug cover 40. When the buttons are squeezed, they cause the prongs 41 to flex outward (see e.g., FIG. 8), which allows the hooked ends 42 to align with the slots 12.

[0039] FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the removable safety cord cover 40. Here, the prongs 41 and release buttons 43 are shown. A slit 44 is formed along the centerline of the bottom of the plug cover. This slit is used to place the cover over a power cord wire portion, as discussed above

[0040] FIG. 15 is a right side view of the removable safety cord cover 40. Note the prong 41 and release button 43 are shown.

[0041] FIG. 16 is a rear view of the removable safety cord cover. Note the slit 44 extends up to the center hole or opening 45. Note the buttons 43 are also shown.

[0042] FIG. 17 is a front view of the removable safety cord cover, looking into the safety cover. Note the position of the prongs 41. Note the slit 44, as discussed above. The arrows indicate how the slit is spread open to accept the power cord wire. The wire enters the slit and feeds upwards toward the center hole 45. When the wire reaches the center hole, it fits within the hole. The slit 44 then closes back to its original position, thereby locking the safety cover over the wire.

[0043] In the preferred embodiment, the safety covers are made of molded plastic. However, and suitably strong and non-conductive material may be used as well.

[0044] The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.