US4851612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outlet protector
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-09-08
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Granted: 1989-07-25
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Expires: 2007-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A protective enclosure assembly for an electrical outlet having plug receptacles, having a baseplate which fits around the receptacles. The baseplate has a peripheral edge with notches arranged into two of the opposing edges. A transparent housing fits over the baseplate. The housing has a set of full tabs extending from one lower edge thereof, and a main locking and two small tabs extending from its opposite edge. A set of slots are disposed through the housing wall, one slot between adjacent tabs on the multiple tab wall. The housing covers the receptacles when the housing walls are "pinched" so as to flex inwardly the walls, enabling the multiple tabs to mate with the notches on one edge of the baseplate, and enabling the one tab on the opposing wall of the housing to scamp into a notch on the opposing edge of the baseplate edge. The baseplate then safely encloses any electrical cords plugged into the plug receptacles, the cords extending through the slots in one of the sidewalls of the housing. Any pulling on the cords causing the enclosure to lock more firmly into the notches because they are on the same sidewall of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert E. Peckham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/639; H01R13/6395; H01R13/44; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A protective enclosure assembly for an electrical outlet having plug receptacles comprising: a baseplate having a planar bottom surface with at least two plug engagement receptacle openings for securement to the electrical outlet, said baseplate including a pair of short sides and a pair of long sides with a lip disposed all along said sides, said lip having an arrangement of notches comprising receiving means along said edges; an enclosure housing for pinched locked intermating thereof with said baseplate notch receiving means; said enclosure housing comprising a transparent arrangement of walls and an upper cover thereon, at least one of said walls having a plurality of short releasable tabs and a lockable tab matable with said notch receiving means in said lip disposed around said baseplate on one edge of said enclosure housing and a plurality of main full size anchoring tabs disposed on the opposite edge of said enclosure housing engagable with notch receiving means in said lip; and a cord exit slot only between adjacent main full size anchoring tabs on said opposite edge of said enclosure housing to permit a cord to exit only through said anchoring side of said enclosure housing to prevent inadvertent removal of said enclosure housing from said baseplate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A protective enclosure assembly for an electrical outlet having plug receptacles comprising: a baseplate having a planar bottom surface with at least two plug engagement receptacle openings for securement to the electrical outlet, said baseplate including a pair of short sides and a pair of long sides with a lip disposed all along said sides, said lip having an arrangement of notches comprising receiving means along said edges; an enclosure housing for pinched locked intermating thereof with said baseplate notch receiving means; said enclosure housing comprising a transparent arrangement of walls and an upper cover thereon, at least one of said walls having a plurality of short releasable tabs and a lockable tab matable with said notch receiving means in said lip disposed around said baseplate on one edge of said enclosure housing and a plurality of main full size anchoring tabs disposed on the opposite edge of said enclosure housing engagable with notch receiving means in said lip; and a cord exit slot only between adjacent main full size anchoring tabs on said opposite edge of said enclosure housing to permit a cord to exit only through said anchoring side of said enclosure housing to prevent inadvertent removal of said enclosure housing from said baseplate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A protective enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein portions of said lip member are arranged on each of the long sides of said baseplate, each lip member portion having more than one notch arrangement disposed thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
154 words
A self-locking enclosure for an electrical outlet, comprising: a baseplate having a pair of opposed long edges and a pair of opposed short edges, said baseplate having notch receiving means on said pair of opposed long edges; a transparent enclosure housing having a pair of walls and an upper cover surface connecting said walls; an arrangement of anchoring tabs disposed on the distal periphery of one of said walls; a releasable locking tab disposed on the distal periphery of the other of said walls; an arrangement of cord exit slots only between adjacent anchoring tabs for permitting an electrical cord to pass therethrough, preventing inadvertant disengagement thereof, from said baseplate; and a pair of alignment releasable tabs shorter than said locking tab between said releasable tabs, said pair of tabs each having a tapered outer edge to permit flexible displacement of its respective wall of said enclosure housing from its respective notch receiving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
A self-locking enclosure for an electrical outlet, comprising: a baseplate having a pair of opposed long edges and a pair of opposed short edges, said baseplate having notch receiving means on said pair of opposed long edges; a transparent enclosure housing having a pair of walls and an upper cover surface connecting said walls; an arrangement of anchoring tabs disposed on the distal periphery of one of said walls; a releasable locking tab disposed on the distal periphery of the other of said walls; an arrangement of cord exit slots only between adjacent anchoring tabs for permitting an electrical cord to pass therethrough, preventing inadvertant disengagement thereof, from said baseplate; and a pair of alignment releasable tabs shorter than said locking tab between said releasable tabs, said pair of tabs each having a tapered outer edge to permit flexible displacement of its respective wall of said enclosure housing from its respective notch receiving means.
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) | 1992-07-24 | 1993-01-23 | 1993-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-24 | 1997-01-23 | 1997-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-24 | 2001-01-23 | 2001-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |