Safety plug adapter

Claim 1

In combination, an outlet face plate assembly and a safety plug adapter for an electrical outlet box containing at least one receptacle for receiving a single phase, three prong, polarized electric plug, each receptacle having three recessed contacts for engaging the three plug prongs, respectively, the three receptacle contacts including a first contact connected to an energized line of a power system, a second contact connected to a ground line of the power system, and a third contact separately connected to ground, wherein the face plate assembly defines an access opening to each receptacle and includes first and second flanged portions disposed on opposite sides of each access opening and mounting means for securing the face plate to the outlet box, and the safety plug adapter comprises: an adapter housing formed of electrically-insulating material; first, second, and third contact prongs, extending outwardly from one end of the housing, which are shaped and spaced relative to one another to engage the first, second, and third receptacle contacts in said electrical outlet box, respectively; fourth, fifth and sixth contact members secured within the adapter housing at an opposite end thereof from said first, second and third contact prongs and spaced the same as the first, second and third contact prongs, respectively, the adapter housing and the fourth, fifth and sixth contact members constituting another receptacle for receiving a single phase, three prong, polarized electric plug; a first electrically conductive connecting line for connecting the first contact prong and the fourth contact member, which includes an overcurrent protection means in said first electrically conductive connecting line for opening the first connecting line upon the occurrence of an overcurrent flowing therethrough, and a reset means for resetting said overcurrent protection means upon opening, second and third electrically conductive connecting lines for connecting the second and third contact prongs with the fifth and sixth contact members, respectively; first and second resilient engaging means, disposed on opposite sides of the housing, for engaging the safety plug adapter with the face plate, the first and second engaging means having first ends affixed to the housing, and second ends for resiliently engaging the first and second flanged portions, respectively, of the face plate assembly; and restraining means, affixed to the adapter housing, for holding an electrically insulating cover means against the opposite end of the adapter housing relative to said prongs in a position at which the adapter receptacle openings are covered by the cover means.