Patent ID: 6198046
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: H01R,H02G

Abstract:
A safety device for covering receptacles of an electric outlet comprising:a base plate including a front face, a rear face, and an open central zone;means on said base plate for attaching said base plate to said electric outlet;an insert panel including a border surrounding at least one receptacle opening, said border being sized and configured for engagement against said rear face of said base plate so that said at least one receptacle opening is positioned within said open central zone, said at least one receptacle opening being structured and disposed for congruent receipt of one of the receptacles of the electric outlet so that the one of receptacles is exposed on said front face of said base plate;first and second doors hingedly affixed to said base plate and movable between an open position to facilitate access to the receptacles of the outlet and a closed position to cover the receptacles and thereby defining an enclosed chamber behind said first and second closed doors, said first and second doors including peripheral edge portions structured and disposed for mating engagement when said doors are in said closed position, said peripheral edge portions forming a seam between said first and second doors when in said closed position;flange means for overlapping said seam and for interlocking said first and second doors when in said closed position so that said first and second doors are not capable of opening independently of one another;latch means for releasably locking said first and second doors in said closed position, said latch means including an upper latch member and a lower latch member on each of said first and second doors, said upper and lower latch members each including a catch element being structured and disposed for releasable, interlocking engagement within a respective pocket on said base plate, wherein said upper and lower latch members on each of said doors are required to be operated simultaneously to release said catch elements from said pockets prior to opening said first and second doors from said closed position;cord passage means formed in said first and second doors to accommodate passage of an electrical cord therethrough while a plug on the end of the electrical cord remains within said chamber, said cord passage means being sized and configured to permit travel of the electrical cord therethrough, and said cord passage means preventing passage of the plug of the electrical cord therethrough with said first and second doors in said closed position;cap means for covering said cord passage means when the electrical cord is not extending therethrough; andsaid first and second doors being sized and configured to allow the plug of the electrical cord to be removed from one of the receptacles of the outlet with said first and second doors remaining in said closed position.