Active cover plates

An active cover plate extending in longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the wall-plate system 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;
• the first prong comprising:
• a first upright extending rearward away from the back surface of the front plate in the transverse direction, and
• a first resilient contact located on an inboard side of the first upright, and
• the first resilient contact comprising a first end, second end, and middle portion;
• and
• the first prong wherein the first and second ends move away from each other in the transverse direction and the resilient contact resiliently flattens in response to a force urging the middle portion in the lateral direction toward the inboard side of the upright.

A method comprising:

• obtaining an active cover plate comprising
• a front plate, and
• a first prong extending away from a backside of the front plate;
• inserting the first prong into a first gap between a first side of an electrical receptacle and a first wall of an electrical box in which the electrical receptacle is installed;
• contacting, by the first prong during the inserting, the first side and the first wall simultaneously;
• deflecting, by the first prong as a result of the contacting, to a reduced width;
• rebounding, by the first prong after the inserting, to a second width greater than the reduced width;
• and
• touching, by the first prong after the rebounding, a first electrical terminal located on the first side of the electrical receptacle.