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US5087796A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical outlet safety cover

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-04-19
•
Granted: 1992-02-11
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Expires: 2010-04-19
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Abstract

Abstract An outlet safety cover that encloses electrical sockets (58) and keeps small children from pulling plugs (56) out of sockets (58) or inserting objects into sockets (58). The outlet safety cover includes a housing (10) and flexible clip (34) which interlocks with housing (10) to securely hold housing (10) against electrical outlet faceplate (54). The housing (10) can be installed and removed quickly without the use of a tool, by means of a flexible clip (34) that is attached to existing electrical outlet assembly with a screw (60). The housing (10) is installed by simply pushing housing (10) onto flexible clip (34). To remove housing (10), adults need to simply apply finger pressure to tabs (36) until housing (10) disengages with flexible clip (34).

Inventors

  • 👤 Victor R. Norman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 21:16
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/14; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 223 words
A safety cover for a household electrical outlet having a faceplate and a separated pair of sockets extending through said faceplate, said safety cover comprising: a) a housing dimensioned to enclose a plug end of two electrical cords when said plug ends are connected to said sockets, said plug ends configured with two prongs or three prongs; b) said housing having an open face, said open face is dimensioned to seat flush on the faceplate front surface; c) said housing having a plurality of access cutouts for routing said electrical cords from inside said housing to appliances; d) a clip having a base and a separated pair of latching elements extending from said base, said base is seatable against said faceplate front surface and between said separated sockets, said base having a hole dimensioned to accept a threaded fastener which secures said clip to the faceplate screw position; e) said housing having means to actuate said latching elements as said housing is pressed onto said latching elements, said latching elements having means to securely hold said housing against said faceplate front surface after said actuation, whereby said housing can be installed without using a tool; f) said latching elements being flexible under finger pressure as to release said housing from said latching elements, whereby said housing can be removed without using a tool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 223 words
A safety cover for a household electrical outlet having a faceplate and a separated pair of sockets extending through said faceplate, said safety cover comprising: a) a housing dimensioned to enclose a plug end of two electrical cords when said plug ends are connected to said sockets, said plug ends configured with two prongs or three prongs; b) said housing having an open face, said open face is dimensioned to seat flush on the faceplate front surface; c) said housing having a plurality of access cutouts for routing said electrical cords from inside said housing to appliances; d) a clip having a base and a separated pair of latching elements extending from said base, said base is seatable against said faceplate front surface and between said separated sockets, said base having a hole dimensioned to accept a threaded fastener which secures said clip to the faceplate screw position; e) said housing having means to actuate said latching elements as said housing is pressed onto said latching elements, said latching elements having means to securely hold said housing against said faceplate front surface after said actuation, whereby said housing can be installed without using a tool; f) said latching elements being flexible under finger pressure as to release said housing from said latching elements, whereby said housing can be removed without using a tool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The safety cover of claim 1 wherein said latching elements extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The safety cover of claim 1 wherein said means to securely hold said housing against said faceplate comprises an outwardly protruding tab on an end of each said latching element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The safety cover of claim 1 wherein said means to actuate said latching elements comprises a beveled cutout dimensioned to compress said latching elements as said housing is pressed onto the ends of said latching elements.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2510745A Cited
US4070078A Cited
US4424407A Cited
US4605817A Cited
US4603932A Cited
US4618200A Cited
US4803307A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-02-10 1995-08-12 1996-02-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-02-10 1999-08-12 2000-02-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-02-10 2003-08-12 2004-02-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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