Electricity: conductors and insulators – Covers or face plates – With closure for face plate opening
Patent
1992-06-30
1994-02-22
Tolin, Gerald P.
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Covers or face plates
With closure for face plate opening
439147, H05K 503
Patent
active
052889459
ABSTRACT:
An electric outlet safety plate incorporates sliding cover elements which, in various positions, cover the electric outlet when not in use, open for insertion of an electric plug, and grasp the plug to prevent removal. A plate member includes a groove extending outwardly to the side from each of the electric outlet openings. A pair of substantially identical sliding members engage the groove from opposing sides of the plate member. The sliding members include an outlet covering portion which is spaced from the outer surface of the electric outlet and has its inner edges toothed to enhance their grasp upon the electric plug. The sliding members are lockable against outward movement on the plate member. Teeth are formed upon the plate member so as to extend within the groove, and a second set of teeth are formed upon the sliding member so as to releasably engage the teeth of the plate member. The sliding member teeth are formed upon a resilient arm which is biased to engagement, but may be disengaged by finger pressure. Where the plate member teeth are formed on both sides of the groove and the sliding member teeth are formed on each of a pair of resilient arms thereon, release occurs by pressing the two arms towards each other. A ratchet tooth structure may be used to allow direct inward movement of the sliding members, but which requires disengagement to move the sliding members outwards toward the uncovered position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2000318 (1935-05-01), Cannon
patent: 2516464 (1950-07-01), Hooser
patent: 2744243 (1956-05-01), Menendez
patent: 4453793 (1984-06-01), Panek et al.
patent: 4607136 (1986-08-01), Thomas
patent: 4810833 (1989-03-01), Meyers
patent: 4914265 (1990-04-01), Mongeau
patent: 4922056 (1990-05-01), Larsson
patent: 4952756 (1990-08-01), Meyers
Ingman John F.
Tolin Gerald P.
Tone David
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