US3763457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical plug guard
Assignee: Product Horizons Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-17
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An electrical plug guard comprising a flat disc, a central body portion, slots therein for receiving and frictionally holding the prongs of an electrical plug, an outer rim to extend radially beyond the periphery of the plug when the disc is placed adjacent thereto by inserting the prongs through the slots in the said central body portion of the disc, resilient electrically nonconductive ribs extending from and around said central body portion joining it resiliently to said outer rim, said resiliently joining ribs permitting longitudinal movement of the outer rim away from the central body portion when pressure is applied against the rim and permitting return of said outer rim back to the plane of the central body portion when such pressure is released, said ribs providing a protective cage around the prongs of the electrical plug when the outer rim is moved longitudinally away from the central body portion frictionally held adjacent to the electrical plug to prevent a person''s fingers from accidentally touching the prongs and resulting in electrical shock when connecting or disconnecting the plug to an electrical outlet.
Inventors
- 👤 W Whippo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An electrical plug guard comprising a flat disc having a central body portion, slots therein for receiving and frictionally holding the prongs of an electrical plug, an outer rim portion of said disc which extends radially beyond the periphery of an electrical plug when mounted thereon, and slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion, said slotted means simultaneously providing an electrically non-conductive barrier around the prongs of an electrical plug when said outer rim portion is moved longitudinally away from said central body portion and an electrical plug on which it is mounted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An electrical plug guard comprising a flat disc having a central body portion, slots therein for receiving and frictionally holding the prongs of an electrical plug, an outer rim portion of said disc which extends radially beyond the periphery of an electrical plug when mounted thereon, and slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion, said slotted means simultaneously providing an electrically non-conductive barrier around the prongs of an electrical plug when said outer rim portion is moved longitudinally away from said central body portion and an electrical plug on which it is mounted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion consists of resilient material joining said outer rim portion to said central body portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flat disc, said central body portion, said outer rim portion, and said slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion are of the same material and thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion includes ribs joining said outer rim portion to said central body portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 1, including slots forming said slotted means to permit longitudinal movement of said outer rim portion with respect to said central body portion, said slots being interposed between and around said outer rim portion and said central body portion to provide ribs integrally joining said outer rim portion to said central body portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 5, wherein said slots include a midpoint and diverge in one direction towards a first end point at the inner edge of said outer rim portion and diverge in a different direction towards a second end point at the outer edge of said central body portion, the first end point of each of said slots being radially aligned with the midpoint of the slot next adjacent in a circumferential direction, and with the second end point of the next following slot in the same circumferential direction when said outer rim portion and said central body portion are in the same plane, said arrangement of slots providing ribs integrally joining said outer rim portion to said central body portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 6, including resilient hinge means joining said outer rim portion and said central body portion to said ribs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 7, wherein said hinge means include notches cut partially into said disc on lines between said radially aligned first end points, midpoints, and second end points of the respective slots forming said ribs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical plug guard as set forth in claim 8, wherein said flat disc is no greater than one-sixteenth of an inch thick, wherein said central body portion, said outer rim portion and said ribs are of the same material, wherein said material is resilient and electrically non-conductive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |