IP Library Granted Patent US 7,541,541
Granted Patent B1
US 7,541,541 · App. 11/556,320 · Granted Jun 2, 2009

Safety outlet cover

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,541,541
App. No.
11/556,320
Granted
Jun 2, 2009
Kind
B1
Abstract

A safety outlet cover that includes a cover with a front face including plug blade apertures. The safety cover may include a cover with a front face where the front face is configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough. The cover also may include a mounting plate and a spring element formed as a single piece where the mounting plate includes a receptacle face aperture. When the cover and mounting plate are coupled at a rest position, the cover is configured to cover a plug blade socket in a receptacle face.

Claims (51)

1. A safety cover assembly comprising:

a cover comprising a front face, the front face configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough; and

a mounting plate and a spring element formed as a single piece, the mounting plate comprising a receptacle face aperture therethrough;

wherein when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled at a rest position, the cover is configured to cover a plug blade socket in a receptacle face; and

wherein a rear surface of the cover is in contact with the receptacle face when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled.

2. The safety cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover rail member and the mounting plate further comprises a plate rail member, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate are slidably coupled through the cover rail member and plate rail member.

3. The safety cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at only one end of the at least one curved projection.

4. The safety cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at both ends of the at least one curved projection.

5. The safety cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate further comprises a keyhole slot mounting aperture.

6. The safety cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is coupled to an electrical box with prongs, clips, wire, glue, screws, tape or box mounting screw inserts.

7. The safety cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the cover is between about 0.020 inches and about 0.075 inches in a region surrounding the plug blade apertures.

8. A method of installing a safety cover assembly, the method comprising:

placing a mounting plate and a spring element over an electrical device, the mounting plate and spring element formed as a single piece;

coupling a cover to the mounting plate, the cover comprising a front face, the front face configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough;

biasing the cover to a rest position with the spring element;

covering a plug blade socket in the electrical device; and

placing a back surface of the cover plate in contact with the electrical device face.

9. The method of installing a safety cover assembly of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises slidably coupling the cover to the mounting plate.

10. A safety cover assembly comprising:

a cover comprising a front face, the front face configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough; and

a mounting plate and a spring element formed as a single piece, the mounting plate comprising a receptacle face aperture therethrough;

wherein when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled at a rest position, the cover is configured to cover a plug blade socket in a receptacle face; and

wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at both ends of the at least one curved projection.

11. The safety cover assembly of claim 10 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover rail member and the mounting plate further comprises a plate rail member, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate are slidably coupled through the cover rail member and plate rail member.

12. The safety cover assembly of claim 10 , wherein the mounting plate further comprises a keyhole slot mounting aperture.

13. A safety cover assembly comprising:

a cover comprising a front face, the front face configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough; and

a mounting plate and a spring element formed as a single piece, the mounting plate comprising a receptacle face aperture therethrough;

wherein when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled at a rest position, the cover is configured to cover a plug blade socket in a receptacle face; and

wherein the mounting plate further comprises a keyhole slot mounting aperture.

14. The safety cover assembly of claim 13 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover rail member and the mounting plate further comprises a plate rail member, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate are slidably coupled through the cover rail member and plate rail member.

15. The safety cover assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at only one end of the at least one curved projection.

16. The safety cover assembly of claim 13 , wherein the mounting plate is coupled to an electrical box with prongs, clips, wire, glue, screws, tape or box mounting screw inserts.

17. A safety cover assembly comprising:

a cover comprising a front face, the front face configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough; and

a mounting plate and a spring element formed as a single piece, the mounting plate comprising a receptacle face aperture therethrough;

wherein when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled at a rest position, the cover is configured to cover a plug blade socket in a receptacle face; and

wherein the mounting plate further comprises a frame and at least one mounting member, wherein the frame is configured to couple with the mounting plate through the mounting member at a mounting aperture in the frame.

18. The safety cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover rail member and the mounting plate further comprises a plate rail member, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate are slidably coupled through the cover rail member and plate rail member.

19. The safety cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein a rear surface of the cover is in contact with a receptacle face when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled.

20. The safety cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at only one end of the at least one curved projection.

21. The safety cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at both ends of the at least one curved projection.

22. The safety cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cover further comprises a bias projection extending from a rear surface configured to engage with the spring element of the mounting plate.

23. The safety cover assembly of claim 22 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover rail member and the mounting plate further comprises a plate rail member, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate are slidably coupled through the cover rail member and plate rail member.

24. A safety cover assembly comprising:

a cover comprising a front face, the front face configured to cover the face of an electrical device except for a plurality of plug blade apertures therethrough; and

a mounting plate and a spring element formed as a single piece, the mounting plate comprising a receptacle face aperture therethrough;

wherein when the cover and the mounting plate are coupled at a rest position, the cover is configured to cover a plug blade socket in a receptacle face; and

wherein the mounting plate is coupled to an electrical box with prongs, clips, wire, glue, screws, tape or box mounting screw inserts.

25. The safety cover assembly of claim 24 , wherein the cover further comprises a cover rail member and the mounting plate further comprises a plate rail member, and wherein the cover and the mounting plate are slidably coupled through the cover rail member and plate rail member.

26. The safety cover assembly of claim 24 , wherein the spring element comprises at least one curved projection coupled to the mounting plate at only one end of the at least one curved projection.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2012
From: TAYMAC CORPORATION
To: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 028136/0396 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2006
From: BALDWIN, JEFFREY P.; JOLLEY, LINCOLN
To: TAYMAC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018483/0302 →