US3740694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shield for electrical plug
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-19
•
Granted: 1973-06-19
•
Expires: 1992-04-19
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a safety shield for an electrical connector plug formed of a flexible resilient material having a base wall from which the plug prongs extend and including flaps which extend along a substantial portion of the length of the prongs. The flaps extend at an obtuse angle to the plane of the base wall and are provided with a curved lip which engages the receptacle as the plug is inserted and pushed into the receptacle and insures that the flaps are driven outwardly away from the prongs as the plug moves into the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 D Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An electrical safety plug adapted to plug into an electrical outlet, said plug comprising a body portion having a planar face, electrical prongs extending from said face of the plug body and adapted to enter the registering apertures of an electrical outlet, a sheath for said prongs formed by flexible resilient and electrically insulating flaps extending from said plug body surface along a substantial portion of the length of said prongs, two opposite ones of said flaps having a width spanning the distance between the prongs, two further opposite ones of said flaps having a width at least equal to the width of said prongs, whereby the ends of said flaps move outwardly to expose said prongs as the plug is inserted in the outlet without subjecting said flaps to appreciable compressive stress.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electrical safety plug adapted to plug into an electrical outlet, said plug comprising a body portion having a planar face, electrical prongs extending from said face of the plug body and adapted to enter the registering apertures of an electrical outlet, a sheath for said prongs formed by flexible resilient and electrically insulating flaps extending from said plug body surface along a substantial portion of the length of said prongs, two opposite ones of said flaps having a width spanning the distance between the prongs, two further opposite ones of said flaps having a width at least equal to the width of said prongs, whereby the ends of said flaps move outwardly to expose said prongs as the plug is inserted in the outlet without subjecting said flaps to appreciable compressive stress.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electrical safety plug as claimed in claim 1 in which said flaps have marginal end portions formed to curve outwardly to provide receptacle engaging surfaces assuring outward movement of the flaps as said prongs enter the receptacle apertures and preventing jamming of the flaps between the plug body and the receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical safety plug as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner facing side surfaces of said prongs are provided intermediate their lengths with detent abutments extending slightly above the prong surface and adapted to cooperate with the receptacle to retain the plug in prong-inserted relation with the receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
An insulating sheath for the prongs of an electrical plug of the type adapted to be inserted in a receptacle, said sheath being formed of a flexible resilient insulating material and having a base wall from which a plurality of integral flaps extend at an obtuse angle, said base wall of the sheath having apertures adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug, said sheath being thus adapted to be accommodated on the prongs of an electrical plug with the sheath base wall contiguous with the adjacent surface of the plug and said flaps extending for a substantial portion of the length of the plug prongs, said flaps being moved outwardly away from the prongs when the plug is inserted in the receptacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
An insulating sheath for the prongs of an electrical plug of the type adapted to be inserted in a receptacle, said sheath being formed of a flexible resilient insulating material and having a base wall from which a plurality of integral flaps extend at an obtuse angle, said base wall of the sheath having apertures adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug, said sheath being thus adapted to be accommodated on the prongs of an electrical plug with the sheath base wall contiguous with the adjacent surface of the plug and said flaps extending for a substantial portion of the length of the plug prongs, said flaps being moved outwardly away from the prongs when the plug is inserted in the receptacle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An insulating sheath as claimed in claim 4 in which said flaps have marginal end portions formed to curve outwardly to provide receptacle engaging surfaces assuring outward movement of the flaps as the plug is fitted to the receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An insulating sheath as claimed in claim 4 in which said base wall of the sheath is rectangular in configuration and an integral flap extends from each of the four side margins of the base wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1564225A
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US2248082A
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US2458153A
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US3088089A
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US3147055A
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US3258732A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |