Safety outlet

Claim 2

A safety outlet comprising: a housing having electrical contacts disposed therein adapted to engage the prongs of a plug; a cover member secured to said housing and having apertures disposed therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contacts; and a rotatable member movably secured to said cover member, said rotatable member having apertures therein adapted to receive said prongs and further having means provided thereon engaging said cover member to prevent rotation thereof when said rotatable member is in a first predetermined position, said means being adapted to be released in response to the insertion of said prongs in said apertures of said rotatable member, whereby said rotatable member may be rotated from said first predetermined position in which access to said apertures of said cover member is effectively blocked by said rotatable member to a position in which said apertures are aligned, thereby allowing said prongs to pass through said cover member apertures and engage said contacts, said rotatable member further including a slidable member disposed within said rotatable member, said slidable member being adapted to cooperate with said cover member to limit the rotation of said rotatable member.

Claim 3

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slidable member has apertures adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, said slidable member being further adapted to prevent the removal of said prongs when said rotatable member is in a position other than said first predetermined position.

Claim 4

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rotatable member is generally cylindrical in shape having a channel extending between opposite sidewall portions thereof, said slidable member being movably disposed in said channel so as to allow said slidable member to move between said sidewall portions and further comprising means biasing said slidable member toward one of said sidewall portions.

Claim 5

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 3 wherein said slidable member has a protrusion engaging a groove on said cover member, said protrusion adapted to prevent rotation of said rotatable member when said rotatable member is in said first predetermined position.

Claim 6

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 4 wherein said protrusion is caused to move out of engagement with said groove in response to the insertion of said prongs in said apertures of said slidable member.

Claim 7

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 5 wherein said slidable member has tab portions protruding into said apertures, said tab portions adapted to engage elongated apertures in said prongs of said plug when said slidable member is moved out of engagement with said groove and thereby prevent removal of said prongs when said rotatable member is in a position other than said first predetermined position.

Claim 8

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member has a groove in its surface and said slidable member has a protrusion engaging said groove, said groove and said protrusion cooperating to limit the rotation of said rotatable member.

Claim 9

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 7 wherein said groove has an enlarged portion, said protrusion of said slidable member engaging said enlarged portion thereby preventing rotation of said rotatable member when said rotatable member is in said first predetermined position.

Claim 10

A safety outlet comprising: a housing portion having contact means for electrically engaging the prongs of a plug inserted therein; a cover member secured to said housing and having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contact means; a rotatable member movably secured to said cover member, said rotatable member having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said rotatable member and further having a channel extending between opposite sidewall portions thereof; a slidable member disposed in said channel, said slidable member having apertures adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, and further having a protrusion engaging a grooved portion of said cover member so as to limit the rotation of said rotatable member; said grooved portion having an enlarged portion adapted to be engaged by said protrusion when said rotatable member is in a first predetermined position so as to prevent rotation of said rotatable member; means biasing said protrusion of said slidable member into engagement with said enlarged portion, said apertures of said slidable member being adapted to cause said protrusion to move out of engagement with said enlarged portion in response to the insertion of said prongs, thereby allowing rotation of said rotatable member; said slidable member further having means adapted to engage elongated apertures in said prongs thereby preventing removal of said prongs when said rotatable member is in a position other than said first predetermined position; and said rotatable member and said slidable member effectively prevent access to said apertures in said cover member when said rotatable member is in said first predetermined position.

Claim 11

A safety outlet comprising: a housing portion having contact means for electrically engaging the prongs of a plug inserted therein; a cover member secured to said housing and having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contact means; a rotatable member movably secured to said cover member, said rotatable member having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said rotatable member and further having a channel extending between opposite sidewall portions thereof; a slidable member disposed in said channel, said slidable member having apertures adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, and further having a protrusion engaging a grooved portion of said cover member so as to limit the rotation of said rotatable member; said grooved portion having an enlarged portion adapted to be engaged by said protrusion when said rotatable member is in a first predetermined position so as to prevent rotation of said rotatable member; means biasing said protrusion of said slidable member into engagement with said enlarged portion, said apertures of said slidable member being adapted to cause said protrusion to move out of engagement with said enlarged portion in response to the insertion of said prongs, thereby allowing rotation of said rotatable member; said slidable member further having means adapted to engage elongated apertures in said prongs thereby preventing removal of said prongs when said rotatable member is in a position other than said first predetermined position; and said rotatable member and said slidable member effectively prevent access to said apertures in said cover member when said rotatable member is in said first predetermined position.

Claim 12

A safety outlet comprising: a housing having electrical contacts disposed therein adapted to engage the prongs of a plug; a cover member secured to said housing and having at least a pair of apertures disposed therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contacts; a cap member engaging said cover member, said cap member having at least a pair of apertures therein adapted to receive said prongs; a slidable member disposed within said cap member and having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, said slidable member being laterally movable within said cap member from a first position in which said slidable member prevents access to said apertures in said cover member to a second position in which said apertures of said cover member, said cap member and said slidable member are aligned in response to the insertion of said prongs in said apertures; and locking means provided on said slidable member for securing said slidable member in said first position and adapted to be released by the insertion of said prongs into said slidable member apertures said locking means including a pivot member disposed within a chamber formed in said slidable member and adapted to rotate with respect thereto, said pivot member further having a first portion extending into one of said apertures, said portion being adapted to cause said pivot member to rotate upon engagement with one of said prongs, said pivot member further having a second portion adapted to engage a recess formed in said cover member when said slidable member is in said first position.

Claim 13

A safety outlet comprising: a housing having electrical contacts disposed therein adapted to engage the prongs of a plug; a cover member secured to said housing and having at least a pair of apertures disposed therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contacts; a cap member engaging said cover member, said cap member having at least a pair of apertures therein adapted to receive said prongs; a slidable member disposed within said cap member and having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, said slidable member being laterally movable within said cap member from a first position in which said slidable member prevents access to said apertures in said cover member to a second position in which said apertures of said cover member, said cap member and said slidable member are aligned in response to the insertion of said prongs in said apertures; and locking means provided on said slidable member for securing said slidable member in said first position and adapted to be released by the insertion of said prongs into said slidable member apertures said locking means including a pivot member disposed within a chamber formed in said slidable member and adapted to rotate with respect thereto, said pivot member further having a first portion extending into one of said apertures, said portion being adapted to cause said pivot member to rotate upon engagement with one of said prongs, said pivot member further having a second portion adapted to engage a recess formed in said cover member when said slidable member is in said first position.

Claim 14

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pivot member further includes means biasing said second portion into engagement with said cover member.

Claim 15

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second portion is another pivot member rotatably secured to said pivot member.

Claim 16

A safety outlet as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cap member is rotatably secured to said cover member and further including means biasing said slidable member toward said first predetermined position, said slidable member having means cooperating with said cover member to prevent rotation of said cap member.

Claim 17

A safety outlet comprising: a housing having electrical contacts disposed therein adapted to engage the prongs of a plug; a cover member secured to said housing and having at least a pair of apertures disposed therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contacts; a cap member secured to said cover member, said cap member having at least a pair of apertures adapted to receive said prongs; a slidable member disposed within said cap member and having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, said slidable member being laterally movable within said cap member from a first position in which said slidable member prevents access to said apertures in said cover member to a second position in which said apertures of said cover member, said cap member and said slidable member are aligned in response to the insertion of said prongs in said apertures; means urging said slidable member into said first position; a pair of pivotable members disposed within said slidable member, each of said pivotable members having a portion adapted to engage respective prongs of said plug upon the insertion thereof into respective of said apertures, each of said pivot members being further adapted to engage a recess provided in said cover member when said slidable member is in said first position, and to be moved out of said recess in response to the insertion of said prongs; and means urging said pivot member into engagement with said cover member.

Claim 18

A safety outlet comprising: a housing having electrical contacts disposed therein adapted to engage the prongs of a plug; a cover member secured to said housing and having at least a pair of apertures disposed therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said cover member to engage said contacts; a cap member secured to said cover member, said cap member having at least a pair of apertures adapted to receive said prongs; a slidable member disposed within said cap member and having apertures therein adapted to allow said prongs to pass through said slidable member, said slidable member being laterally movable within said cap member from a first position in which said slidable member prevents access to said apertures in said cover member to a second position in which said apertures of said cover member, said cap member and said slidable member are aligned in response to the insertion of said prongs in said apertures; means urging said slidable member into said first position; a pair of pivotable members disposed within said slidable member, each of said pivotable members having a portion adapted to engage respective prongs of said plug upon the insertion thereof into respective of said apertures, each of said pivot members being further adapted to engage a recess provided in said cover member when said slidable member is in said first position, and to be moved out of said recess in response to the insertion of said prongs; and means urging said pivot member into engagement with said cover member.