Protective enclosure for electrical outlets

Claim 1

A protective enclosure for electrical outlets comprising a base plate having openings therein for receiving an electrical outlet, a cover defining a cavity having a depth sufficient to accommodate electrical devices plugged into said electrical outlet and having a generally planar opening rimmed by an edge, a pivot connection pivotally connecting said cover to said base plate at a first location on said edge for pivoting said cover between an open position providing access to said electrical outlet and a closed position in which said generally planar opening of said cover buts against said base plate to enclose said electrical outlet, a pair of spaced slots extending into said cover from said edge to a second location spaced from the first location to define between said slots a cantilevered locking tab, said slots being dimensioned to permit the passage therethrough of electrical cords connected to electrical plugs inserted in the electrical outlet, and a hook member secured to the edge of the cover along said locking tab and projecting outward substantially in a direction parallel to said planar opening, said base plate having a catch member defining a ledge under which the hook member engages, said pair of slots being spaced from one another such that the cantilever locking tab substantially lies in a common plate with said slots and is sufficiently flexible that it can be displaced generally in a direction transverse to the common plane with said slots to engage and disengage said hook member from the ledge of the catch.