US4857004A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety guard for electrical wall outlet
Assignee: POIRIER MORIN Inc
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Filing: 1988-09-09
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Granted: 1989-08-15
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Expires: 2008-09-09
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure herein describes a safety guard which comprises a cover with openings adapted to be mounted over an electrical wall outlet and closure elements which are slideably mounted to the cover to expose or to cover the openings in registry with sockets of the wall outlet. The cover and the closure elements are structured so as to require two movements to displace the closure elements from a socket-covering position to a socket-exposing position. Also, a spring element connected between the cover and each closure element serves to bias the latter to the socket-covering position as the closure element is moved to expose the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Poirier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A safety guard for an electrical outlet having one or more sockets, comprising: a cover adapted to be mounted over said electrical outlet and having a top wall with one or more opening means allowing an electrical plug to be connectingly received in said sockets; said cover having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite side edges; flexible means integrally formed along said top and bottom edges, said flexible means including engaging means thereon; closure means movably mounted to said cover to expose or to cover said opening means; said closure means including a top wall adapted to lie over at least a portion of the top wall of said cover and a pair of opposite side walls adapted to lie adjacent and parallel to said side edges of said cover; ramp means on said top wall of said closure means adapted to ride on said flexible means of said cover and to lockingly contact said engaging means of said cover; said engaging means and said ramp means cooperating to require two movements to displace said closure means from a socket-covering position to a socket-exposing position; and resilient means connected between said cover and said closure means to bias said closure means to said socket-covering position as said closure means are moved to expose said opening means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A safety guard for an electrical outlet having one or more sockets, comprising: a cover adapted to be mounted over said electrical outlet and having a top wall with one or more opening means allowing an electrical plug to be connectingly received in said sockets; said cover having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite side edges; flexible means integrally formed along said top and bottom edges, said flexible means including engaging means thereon; closure means movably mounted to said cover to expose or to cover said opening means; said closure means including a top wall adapted to lie over at least a portion of the top wall of said cover and a pair of opposite side walls adapted to lie adjacent and parallel to said side edges of said cover; ramp means on said top wall of said closure means adapted to ride on said flexible means of said cover and to lockingly contact said engaging means of said cover; said engaging means and said ramp means cooperating to require two movements to displace said closure means from a socket-covering position to a socket-exposing position; and resilient means connected between said cover and said closure means to bias said closure means to said socket-covering position as said closure means are moved to expose said opening means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A safety guard as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means consist of a pair of identically-shaped rectangular elements adapted to fully cover said cover having a rectangular shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A safety guard as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means move in a longitudinal parallel direction relative to said cover; said movements consisting of a first movement in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, followed by a second movement in said longitudinal direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A safety guard as defined in claim 3, wherein the inner face of each said side walls of said closure means includes projection means adapted to slidingly engage said side edges of said cover to secure said closure means to said cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A safety guard as defined in claim 4, further comprising finger-gripping means on the outer surface of said side walls of said closure means in the area of said projection means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A safety guard as defined in claim 4, wherein the under face of the top wall of said cover includes opposite longitudinal spring receiving channels and spring connecting means at substantially mid-point thereof; and wherein said closure means include an end wall having an inner face; spring connection means mounted on said inner face of said end wall; said resilient means being attached, at opposite ends thereof, to said spring connection means of said cover and of said closure means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A safety guard as defined in claim 6, wherein said resilient means is a spring.
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) | 1992-08-14 | 1993-02-13 | 1993-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-14 | 1997-02-13 | 1997-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-14 | 2001-02-13 | 2001-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |