IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,347,962
Granted Patent B2
US 12,347,962 · App. 18/157,823 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Electrical safety plug

Inventor: Adrian Willson (Fayetteville, AR)
Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
H01R13/443H01R13/6683H01R13/7175
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,347,962
App. No.
18/157,823
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A safety plug for an electrical outlet, including an electrically nonconductive plug body. An adapter is removably coupled to a first end of the electrically nonconductive plug body. The adapter includes a set of pins. The set of pins correspond to a set of pin connector slots associated with an electrical outlet. The safety plug is a dummy plug configured to keep the electrical outlet covered to protect from electrical discharge.

Claims (27)

1. A safety plug for an electrical outlet, the safety plug comprising:

an electrically nonconductive plug body;

an anchor couple comprising a first interlocking device;

a return couple comprising a second interlocking device, wherein the first interlocking device and the second interlocking device are configured to be removably engaged, wherein the first interlocking device and the second interlocking device are magnetic, and wherein the first interlocking device is further configured to magnetically engage with any magnetic surface;

an adapter removably coupled to a first end of the electrically nonconductive plug body, the adapter further comprising:

a set of pins fixedly connected to the adapter, the set of pins corresponding to a set of pin connector slots associated with the electrical outlet, wherein the safety plug is a dummy plug configured to keep the electrical outlet covered to protect from electrical discharge during a cleaning operation around the electrical outlet.

2. The safety plug of claim 1 , further comprising:

a tether connected to a second end of the electrically nonconductive plug body at an attachment point.

3. The safety plug of claim 1 , wherein the tether is extendable and retractable such that the length of the tether is variable, and wherein at least a portion of the tether is housed within a portion of the electrically nonconductive plug body.

4. The safety plug of claim 1 , wherein a tether is connected to the anchor couple via a tether connection aperture.

5. The safety plug of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights implemented on a return couple.

6. The safety plug of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights implemented on an anchor couple.

7. The safety plug of claim 1 , further comprising:

an attachment member, the attachment member connected to a return couple via an attachment connector aperture.

8. The safety plug of claim 7 , further comprising:

one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights implemented on the attachment member.

9. The safety plug of claim 1 , wherein an attachment member comprises a suction device.

10. The safety plug of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is interchangeable such that the adapter can be removed and another adapter comprising a different set of pins can be removably coupled to the first end of the electrically nonconductive plug body, the different set of pins corresponding to a different set of pin connector slots.

11. The safety plug of claim 1 , further comprising:

a diagnostic sensor, implemented on the electrically nonconductive plug body, that detects whether the electrical outlet is a live outlet having an electrical current present or a dead outlet having no electrical current present.

12. The safety plug of claim 11 , further comprising:

an indicator, implemented on the electrically nonconductive plug body and communicatively coupled to the diagnostic sensor, the indicator providing an indication of the current detected by the diagnostic sensor when the safety plug is inserted into the electrical outlet.

13. The safety plug of claim 11 , wherein the diagnostic sensor comprises at least one of a voltmeter, an ammeter, or an ohm meter.

14. The safety plug of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights implemented on the electrically nonconductive plug body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2023
From: WILLSON, ADRIAN
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 062636/0191 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 17145693 · Jan 11, 2021
Provisional Application 62962413 · Jan 17, 2020
Related Publication 20230155314A1 · May 18, 2023
References Cited (22)
US 3868160A · Kersman · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 4930997A · Bennett · 1990 [cited by examiner]
US 6794575B1 · McBain · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 6986674B1 · Gorman · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 8226424B1 · Wang · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 10522936B2 · Martin · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10622768B1 · Cowham · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10840658B1 · Glahe · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 11203462B1 · Ulla · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11289883B1 · Krenz · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20090160427A1 · Drake · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20110294318A1 · Malek · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20150111411A1 · Berry, III · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20180041072A1 · Clifton et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180219341A1 · Blair · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190305463A1 · Gibbon · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 2288520Y · 1998 [cited by applicant]
CN 212542827U · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Topping, Will et al., Magnoplug—“Electricity mad: Smart, Simple and Safe”, Kickstarter, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/magnoplug/magnoplug-the-electrical-plug-evolved, captured Feb. 4, 2020, pp. 1-16. [cited by applicant]
amazon.com, “Acouto 125cm / 49.2in Ignition Key Switch & Safety Lanyard for Johnson Evinrude Boat 5005801”, https://www.amazon.com/Acouto-Ignition-Lanyard-Johnson-Evinrude/dp/B07HMZPTQY, captured Feb. 4, 2020, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
amazon.com, “Acouto Universal Engine Stop Kill Tether Switch Lanyard for ATV Racing Emergency”, https://www.amazon.com/Acouto-Universal-Engine-Lanyard-Emergency/dp/B07K67N45F?ref_=ast_bbp_dp, captured Feb. 4, 2020, 1 pa… [cited by applicant]
amazon.com, “Sea Dog 420488-1 Kill Switch with Lanyard”, https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-420488-1-Switch-Lanyard/dp/B00DH3QHBI, captured Feb. 4, 2020, 1 page. [cited by applicant]