Safety electrical outlet
View Patent ↗An electrical outlet comprises an outlet housing having a front side adapted to receive a face plate and a back side. A receptacle has a wall extending from an opening at the front side to a bottom within the outlet housing. A cover is retained within the receptacle and is slidable between a closed position at the opening to an open position at the bottom. The cover has a front face generally flush with the face plate in the closed position.
1. An electrical outlet comprising:
a housing;
an enclosed receptacle defining a keyed cross-section extending from a front opening to a closed bottom within said housing;
a plurality of conductors retained by said housing and configured to provide an electrical path to an external power source;
a plurality of apertures defined in said receptacle, said apertures providing access to said conductors via said receptacle; and
a cover retained within said receptacle, said cover having a closed position hiding said apertures and an open position revealing said apertures,
said receptacle capable of receiving a probe housing a plurality of prongs,
said apertures capable of accepting a corresponding plurality of prongs extending from said probe so as to connect said prongs to said conductors and lock said probe within said receptacle.
2. An electrical outlet comprising:
a connector to an external power source;
a receptacle defined within the outlet capable of receiving a plug;
a cover retained within said receptacle and movable between open and closed positions; and
a buss capable of conducting power from said connector to said plug,
said cover urged to said closed position so as to block inadvertent access to said receptacle,
said buss located outside said receptacle so as to avoid exposed, current-carrying conductors within said receptacle,
said cover configured to be flush with an attached face plate in said closed position so as to present a relatively featureless, smooth surface,
said receptacle has a keyed cross-section so as to orient said plug with respect to said receptacle,
said receptacle has an aperture capable of providing access to said buss and of locking said plug within said receptacle.