# US 8,770,994 B1 · Child resistant safety plug accessory > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,994 B1 - Document ID: US8770994B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/626,043 - Filed: 2012-09-25 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-25 - Applicants: Brett Fagan; Thomas Avallone - Inventors: Brett Fagan; Thomas Avallone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770994B1 ## CPC - H01R 13/44: Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)} - H01R 24/30: with additional earth or shield contacts - H01R 13/4538: {Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement} - H01R 13/5213: {Covers} - H01R 13/53: Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases {for high voltage} with means for preventing corona or arcing - H01R 2103/00: Two poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract The child resistant safety plug accessory fits onto an existing male prong plug in order to insulate and protect the male prongs from producing an electrical arc with auxiliary objects when being inserted, removed, or used to transmit electricity from a female pronged plug or electrical outlet. The child resistant safety plug accessory is comprised of an interfacing member that is defined with an inner surface and an outer surface, and slots that correspond with the various prongs of the male-pronged plug. The inner surface abuts against a plug wall whereas collapsible prong members extend outwardly from the outer surface in order to encompass the various prongs of the male-pronged plug when un-inserted into an electrical outlet or female electrical plug. The collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and collapse when pressed against an external surface of the electrical outlet or female electrical plug. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A child resistant safety plug accessory comprising: an interfacing member with slots provided thereon, which is adapted for sliding onto electrical prongs of a male-pronged plug; wherein collapsible prong members extend outwardly in order to cover the electrical prongs; wherein the collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and extend and retract when touching a wall surface of an electrical outlet or female-pronged plug; wherein the interfacing member includes a cut line, which enables an earth prong portion to be severed from the interfacing member in order for the accessory to be configured for use with a 2-pronged male plug as opposed to a 3-pronged male plug; wherein the interfacing member includes a strap that extends from the interfacing member upwardly to a distal end wherein tie-strap slots are provided, and enable a zip-tie to secure the strap to an electrical cord that is associated with the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 1 wherein the interfacing member is further defined with an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the interfacing member has a thin profile, and is made of a non-conductive material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 2 wherein the collapsible prong members extend outwardly from the outer surface; wherein the collapsible prong members are of hollowed construction, and are made of non-conductive materials. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 3 wherein the collapsible prong members each have a length, which when added with a profile width of the interfacing member is be equal to or longer than a prong length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 4 wherein the collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and include a plurality of corrugations along the length, which facilitates the extension of or retraction of the collapsible prong members with respect to the electrical prongs of the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 1 wherein the strap is of an undefined length, and is made of a flexible material such that the strap is bent backwardly in order for the zip-tie to secure the distal end of the strap to the electrical cord of the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 7 A child resistant safety plug accessory comprising: an interfacing member with slots provided thereon, which is adapted for sliding onto electrical prongs of a male-pronged plug; wherein collapsible prong members extend outwardly in order to cover the electrical prongs; wherein the collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and extend and retract when touching a wall surface of an electrical outlet or female-pronged plug; wherein the interfacing member is further defined with an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the interfacing member has a thin profile, and is made of a non-conductive material; wherein the interfacing member includes a strap that extends from the interfacing member upwardly to a distal end wherein tie-strap slots are provided, and enable a zip-tie to secure the strap to an electrical cord that is associated with the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 7 wherein the collapsible prong members extend outwardly from the outer surface; wherein the collapsible prong members are of hollowed construction, and are made of non-conductive materials. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 8 wherein the collapsible prong members each have a length, which when added with a profile width of the interfacing member is be equal to or longer than a prong length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 9 wherein the collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and include a plurality of corrugations along the length, which facilitates the extension of or retraction of the collapsible prong members with respect to the electrical prongs of the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 10 wherein the interfacing member includes a cut line, which enables an earth prong portion to be severed from the interfacing member in order for the accessory to be configured for use with a 2-pronged male plug as opposed to a 3-pronged male plug. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 7 wherein the strap is of an undefined length, and is made of a flexible material such that the strap is bent backwardly in order for the zip-tie to secure the distal end of the strap to the electrical cord of the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 13 A child resistant safety plug accessory comprising: an interfacing member with slots provided thereon, which is adapted for sliding onto electrical prongs of a male-pronged plug; wherein collapsible prong members extend outwardly in order to cover the electrical prongs; wherein the collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and extend and retract when touching a wall surface of an electrical outlet or female-pronged plug; wherein the interfacing member is further defined with an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the interfacing member has a thin profile, and is made of a non-conductive material; wherein the interfacing member includes a cut line, which enables an earth prong portion to be severed from the interfacing member in order for the accessory to be configured for use with a 2-pronged male plug as opposed to a 3-pronged male plug. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 13 wherein the collapsible prong members extend outwardly from the outer surface; wherein the collapsible prong members are of hollowed construction, and are made of non-conductive materials. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 14 wherein the collapsible prong members each have a length, which when added with a profile width of the interfacing member is be equal to or longer than a prong length. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 15 wherein the collapsible prong members are biased outwardly, and include a plurality of corrugations along the length, which facilitates the extension of or retraction of the collapsible prong members with respect to the electrical prongs of the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 13 wherein the interfacing member includes a strap that extends from the interfacing member upwardly to a distal end wherein tie-strap slots are provided, and enable a zip-tie to secure the strap to an electrical cord that is associated with the male-pronged plug. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The child resistant safety plug accessory as described in claim 17 wherein the strap is of an undefined length, and is made of a flexible material such that the strap is bent backwardly in order for the zip-tie to secure the distal end of the strap to the electrical cord of the male-pronged plug.