Active cover plates

An active cover plate extending in a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction that are orthogonal to one another, the active cover plate comprising:

• a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction;
• a first prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture;
• the first prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction;
• and
• the first prong comprising:
• a first upright formed of electrically conductive material and extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction,
• a first resilient contact located on and contacting an inboard side of the first upright, and
• the first resilient contact comprising a strip having a first end, second end, and middle portion, the strip being formed of electrically conductive material that is bent into a D-shape wherein the first end and the second end extend toward each other in a stem portion of the D-shape.

A method comprising:

• obtaining an active cover plate comprising
• a front plate comprising an outlet aperture extending therethrough,
• a prong connecting to a back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture,
• the prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate, and the prong comprising (1) an upright formed of electrically conductive material and extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate, (2) a resilient contact located on and contacting an inboard side of the upright, and (3) the resilient contact comprising a strip having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion, the strip being formed of electrically conductive material that is bent into a D-shape wherein the first end and the second end extend toward each other in a stem portion of the D-shape;
• inserting the prong into a gap between a side of an electrical receptacle and a wall of an electrical box in which the electrical receptacle is installed;
• contacting, by the prong during the inserting, the side and the wall simultaneously;
• deflecting, by the prong as a result of the contacting, to a reduced width;
• rebounding, by the prong after the inserting, to a second width greater than the reduced width;
• and
• touching, by the prong after the rebounding, an electrical terminal located on the side of the electrical receptacle.

An active cover plate extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the active cover plate comprising:

• a front plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, and an outlet aperture, wherein the outlet aperture extends through the front plate in the transverse direction;
• a prong connecting to the back surface of the front plate at a location outboard of the outlet aperture;
• the prong extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction;
• and
• the prong comprising:
• an upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction, and
• a contact located on an inboard side of the upright, wherein the contact is configured to slide in a transverse direction with respect to the upright.