Electric outlet child safety cap
OwnerGeorge Raymond DeCell, Jr., Estelle Rita DeCellinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric outlet child safety cap is provided. Designs include one or more openings in the shield of the safety cap to allow air to pass there through to reduce or to substantially eliminate a choking hazard with the electric outlet safety caps. Safety caps having shields with at least one dimension that is larger than about 1⅔ inches are also provided to reduce or eliminate the chance that a small child will be able to insert the safety cap in the mouth and choke. The openings can be combined with the larger than standard sized shields for additional resistance to the choking hazard.
Claims64
A safety cap for an electric outlet having a plurality of electrical contact holes, comprising a shield extending to completely cover the electrical contact holes when the safety cap is positioned on the electric outlet, said shield including at least one opening positioned for reducing a choking hazard if the cap is inserted in the mouth of a small child, wherein said opening is located outside of the electrical contact holes and space between the electrical contact holes when the cap is positioned in any possible orientation on the electrical outlet, wherein said shield has a central portion thickness adjacent said contact holes, wherein said shield has an opening region thickness adjacent said opening, wherein said opening region thickness is not substantially less than said central portion thickness.
A method of fabricating a safety cap for an electric outlet having a plurality of electrical contact holes, comprising:
- a. providing a safety cap having a shield extending to completely cover the electrical contact holes when said safety cap is positioned on the electric outlet;
- and
- b. providing at least one opening in said shield, wherein said opening is for allowing sufficient air to flow there through to reduce a choking hazard for a small child, wherein said opening is located outside space of the electrical contact holes and between the electrical contact holes when the cap is positioned in any possible orientation on the electric outlet, wherein said shield has a central portion thickness adjacent said electrical contact holes, wherein said shield has an opening region thickness adjacent said opening, wherein said opening region thickness is not substantially less than said central portion thickness.
A safety cap for an electric outlet having a plurality of electrical contact holes, comprising a shield extending to completely cover the electrical contact holes when the safety cap is positioned on the electric outlet in any possible orientation, wherein said shield has a dimension larger than 1½ inches, wherein said shield has a central portion thickness adjacent said electrical contact holes, wherein said shield has a furthest portion that is furthest from said electrical contact holes when said safety cap is positioned on the electric outlet, wherein said furthest portion has a furthest portion thickness, wherein said furthest portion thickness is not substantially less than said central portion thickness.
A safety cap for an electric outlet having a plurality of electrical contact holes, comprising a shield extending to completely cover the electrical contact holes when the safety cap is positioned on the electric outlet, said shield including at least two openings positioned for reducing a choking hazard if the cap is inserted in the mouth of a small child, wherein said openings are located outside of the electrical contact holes and space between the electrical contact holes when the cap is positioned in any possible orientation on the electrical outlet, wherein two of the electrical contact holes define a first line that extends through said two electrical contact holes, wherein said openings define a second line that extends through said openings, wherein said second line is parallel to said first line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.