Patent US4584430A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4584430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety electrical receptacle cover plate
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-04-08
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Granted: 1986-04-22
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Expires: 2005-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A safety electrical receptacle cover plate for dual socket wall receptacles has rotatable shutters adapted for receiving the prongs of a plug, but is normally biased by non-conducting resilient members to close registery with the slots of the socket members. The shutters are received in recesses formed in the rear of the plate, have central portions disposed through openings extending through the plate, and have stepped outer portions journalled in the recesses. A pair of oppositely disposed arms are formed on the outer portions and carry members about which resilient bands are disposed for urging the shutters out of the positions of registery. The periphery of the cover plate has a lip about which a resiliently compressible material is disposed so that when the plate is secured to a receptacle the plate is adjustably located relative to the wall to permit the shutters to abut the face of the sockets thereby ensuring proper electrical contact of the plug prongs with the sockets.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis J. Belknap
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; H01R13/4532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A safety cover plate for an electrical wall receptacle having dual socket elements including slots for receiving the prongs of a plug, said cover plate comprising a base plate having a front face and a rear face, a lip extending rearwardly about the periphery of the plate beyond the rear surface, a pair of recesses formed in the rear face, a circular opening formed in each recess extending through the front face, the openings being spaced apart for overlaying the socket elements of said receptacle, a shutter disposed within each recess having a central portion disposed within the corresponding opening, each shutter including a journal surface for rotatably sliding on the surface of the respective recess, means defining plug receivable slots in each shutter adapted to register with the slots in the socket elements, a pair of arms formed on and extending from each shutter, non-conducting resilient means connected to each arm for rotatably urging the corresponding shutter to a position where the corresponding slots of each shutter are out of registery with the slots of the respective socket elements and for permitting registery of said slots upon overcoming the urging of said resilient means, and resiliently compressible material disposed about said lip and compressible upon attachment of said cover plate to a receptacle for permitting said shutters to be drawn into abutment with the respective socket elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A safety cover plate for an electrical wall receptacle having dual socket elements including slots for receiving the prongs of a plug, said cover plate comprising a base plate having a front face and a rear face, a lip extending rearwardly about the periphery of the plate beyond the rear surface, a pair of recesses formed in the rear face, a circular opening formed in each recess extending through the front face, the openings being spaced apart for overlaying the socket elements of said receptacle, a shutter disposed within each recess having a central portion disposed within the corresponding opening, each shutter including a journal surface for rotatably sliding on the surface of the respective recess, means defining plug receivable slots in each shutter adapted to register with the slots in the socket elements, a pair of arms formed on and extending from each shutter, non-conducting resilient means connected to each arm for rotatably urging the corresponding shutter to a position where the corresponding slots of each shutter are out of registery with the slots of the respective socket elements and for permitting registery of said slots upon overcoming the urging of said resilient means, and resiliently compressible material disposed about said lip and compressible upon attachment of said cover plate to a receptacle for permitting said shutters to be drawn into abutment with the respective socket elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 1, wherein each arm includes a peg extending therefrom substantially normal to the plane of the shutters, a post corresponding to and substantially parallel to each peg extending from the rear face of said base plate, said resilient means comprising a band disposed about each peg and a corresponding post.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 2, wherein said bands comprise rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 2, including a pair of stop members for each arm, one stop member for each are being disposed for limiting the position of the corresponding shutter when the slots are out of registery, and one stop member for each arm being disposed for limiting the position of the corresponding shutter to the position wherein the slots are in registery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 4, wherein said stop members comprise posts extending from the surface of each recess substantially parallel to the pegs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 5, wherein said posts are spaced apart for disposition about the corresponding socket elements for aligning the plate with the receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 1, wherein each shutter comprises a stepped outer portion extending from said central portion defining said journal means, and said arms being formed on said outer portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 7, wherein the thickness of said central portion is substantially equal to the thickness of said base plate from the front face to the rear face, and the thickness of said stepped outer portion is substantially equal to the thickness of each recess from the front face of the base plate to the surface of the recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 8, wherein each are includes a peg extending therefrom substantially normal to the plane of the shutters, a post corresponding to and substantially parallel to each peg extending from the rear face of said base plate, said resilient means comprising a band disposed about each peg and a corresponding post.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 9, wherein said bands comprise rubber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 9, including a pair of stop members for each arm, one stop member for each arm being disposed for limiting the position of the corresponding shutter when the slots are out of registery, and one stop member for each are being disposed for limiting the position of the corresponding shutter to the position wherein the slots are in registery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 11, wherein said stop members comprise posts extending from the surface of each recess substantially parallel to the pegs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 12, wherein said posts are spaced apart for disposition about the corresponding socket elements for aligning the plate with the receptacle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 12, wherein said resilient compressible material comprises polyurethene foam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety cover plate as recited in claim 14, wherein said bands comprise rubber.
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) | 1989-04-21 | 1989-10-21 | 1990-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-21 | 1993-10-21 | 1994-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-21 | 1997-10-21 | 1998-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |