Self retained electrical device having positive locking mechanism
AssigneeSocket-Lockits, Inc.
InventorPatrick M. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self retained cover assembly for holding an electrical device in an electrical outlet. The cover includes a retaining body with a front face for covering the outlet and a rear face with two retainer prongs having moveable barbs for holding the cover to the outlet. The cover retains an electrical cord or an electronic device with electrically conductive prongs to the outlet. A tab is provided to move the barbs so the cover may be removed from the outlet.
Claims20
An electrical outlet safety device comprising:
- a. a first body portion having a front face and a rear face;
- b. at least one prong rigidly attached to and extending from said rear face of said body, said at least one prong defining a tongue carrying a barb, said barb being biased by said tongue to engage a first electrical outlet of a pair of electrical outlets when said device is inserted therein;
- c. a second body portion, integral with said first body portion, for covering a second outlet of said pair of electrical outlets, said second body portion defining a cavity for capturing the head of an electrical cord, said second body portion defining a hole to allow passage of the electrical cord;
- wherein said tongue is a generally rectangular-shaped structure having a first end attached to said rear face of said first body portion and a second end spaced distal to said rear face of said first body portion, said tongue being defined by three slits in said rectangular-shaped structure, one of said slits being defined along said first end of said structure and two of said slits being defined near the lateral edges of said structure, said three slits being connected such that said tongue is attached to said structure only at said second end of said structure.
An electrical outlet safety device comprising:
- a. a first body portion having a front face and a rear face;
- b. at least one prong rigidly attached to and extending from said rear face of said body, said at least one prong defining a tongue carrying a barb, said barb being biased by said tongue to engage a first electrical outlet of a pair of electrical outlets when said device is inserted therein:
- c. a second body portion, integral with said first body portion, for covering a second outlet of said pair of electrical outlets, said second body portion defining a cavity for capturing the head of an electrical cord, said second body portion defining a hole to allow passage of the electrical cord;
- wherein said tongue is a generally rectangular-shaped structure, attached at a first end to said rear face of said first body portion and a second end spaced distal to said rear face of said first body portion;
- said tongue being defined by two slits in said structure, said slits being defined near the lateral edges of said structure, such that said tongue is attached to said structure only at said first end of said structure and said second end of said structure.
An electrical outlet safety device comprising:
- a. a first body portion having a front face and a rear face;
- b. at least one prong rigidly attached to and extending from said rear face of said body, said at least one prong defining a tongue carrying a barb, said barb being biased by said tongue to engage a first electrical outlet of a pair of electrical outlets when said device is inserted therein:
- c. a second body portion, integral with said first body portion, for covering a second outlet of said pair of electrical outlets, said second body portion defining a cavity for capturing the head of an electrical cord, said second body portion defining a hole to allow passage of the electrical cord;
- wherein said at least one prong further comprises a generally “U” shaped structure, having one leg of said “U” being rigidly attached to said rear face of said first body portion, and the other leg being moveable with respect to said rigidly fixed leg.
A device for preventing the removal of an electrical cord from an electrical outlet designed to be used with a locking mechanism having a body and at least one prong rigidly attached to and extending from a rear face of said body, said at least one prong defining a tongue carrying a barb, said barb being biased by said tongue to engage a first outlet of a pair of electrical outlets when said locking mechanism is inserted therein, said device comprising:
- a. a second body portion for covering a second outlet of a pair of electrical outlets, said second body portion defining a cavity for capturing the head of an electrical cord plugged into said second outlet, said second body portion defining a hole to allow passage of said electrical cord;
- and
- b. an engagement portion, integral with said second body portion, said engagement portion defining one or more partial or whole slits for accepting the prongs of said locking mechanism.
A self-contained electrical device capable of being locked into an electrical outlet by a locking mechanism having a body and at least one prong rigidly attached to and extending from a rear face of said body, said at least one prong defining a tongue carrying a barb, said barb being biased by said tongue to engage a first outlet of a pair of electrical outlets when said locking mechanism is inserted therein, said device comprising:
- a. a second body portion for containing said electrical device, said electrical device having two electrically conductive prongs for insertion into a second outlet of a pair of electrical outlets;
- and
- b. an engagement portion, integral with said second body portion, said engagement portion defining one or more partial or whole slits for accepting the prongs of said locking mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.