Abstract:
A child-resistant plug includes a plug body, at least one prong, and at least one tab extending from the plug body. In one embodiment, a tab is positioned adjacent each of the upper and lower portions of the plug body and each tab is attached to the plug body by a hinging member. The hinging member allows the tabs to rotate between a folded and an unfolded position. When a tab is in its unfolded position, the tab is sized and positioned such that an aperture in the tab aligns with a pre-existing aperture in an electrical outlet cover plate. A fastening member may be used to attach the tab to the cover plate, preventing a child from unplugging a device or accessing the electrical socket. When the tab is attached to the cover plate, and a person pulls the plug or cord with a pre-determined amount of force, the hinging member will break, and the plug will release from the electrical socket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to and incorporates herein by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/770,276 filed on Feb. 27, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional electrical plugs can be easily inserted into and removed from outlet receptacle sockets so as to provide quick and convenient connection with a source of electrical power. However, the ease of removal can be disadvantageous, especially in instances where a small child may be apt to remove the plug from the socket or in cases where the plug supplies power to a vital appliance or device. Not only will the removal of the plug terminate the supply of power to the appliance or device to which it is connected, but it can also present safety concerns, as the electrical socket will be exposed and accessible. Equally as dangerous are cases where the plug is only partially removed thereby exposing the prongs carrying electrical current. 
     If an issue or emergency involving an electrical appliance or device occurs, often the quickest way to remedy the issue is to unplug the appliance or device from the outlet to which it is connected thereby terminating the supply of power. However, if the plug is fixedly secured to the outlet, it can be very difficult to unplug it in a quick manner. 
     In other instances, where small children are not present or where the plug is not connected to a vital appliance or device, it is preferable that the plug be adapted for easy insertion and removal from outlet receptacle sockets. 
     Residential and commercial buildings commonly have a variety of electrical receptacles installed therein. For example, modern building codes require ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles to be installed in locations near sources of water, such as faucets and the like. However, GCFI receptacles are typically not installed elsewhere and instead standard receptacles are installed in locations away from sources of water. Typically, the holes available for mounting cover plates over GFCI and standard receptacles are located in different places. Additionally, most electrical receptacles are duplex receptacles meaning that they include two sockets adjacent to one another. In some cases, both sockets may be used simultaneously. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide a plug that may be semi-permanently connected to an electrical outlet, yet may be removed quickly with a requisite amount of force in case of an emergency. It is also desirable to provide a plug that may be inserted into the sockets of various outlet receptacles, including both GFCI and standard outlet receptacles, without interfering with or preventing other plugs from being inserted into adjacent sockets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to embodiments of a child-resistant plug. Particularly, the plug includes a plug body, a cord, and a prong. In addition, the plug contains a tab which is attached to the plug body by a hinging member. The tab may include at least one aperture. The hinged member preferably allows the tab to rotate between a folded and an unfolded position. When the tab is in its unfolded position, the tab is sized and positioned such that an aperture in the tab aligns with a pre-existing aperture in an electrical outlet cover plate. The tab may be attached to the upper or lower portion of the plug body via the hinging member. Alternatively, there may be a tab attached to each of the upper and lower portion of the plug body via the hinging member. Either tab may contain an upper and a lower aperture, or just one of an upper or lower aperture. 
     The specific pre-existing aperture in an electrical wall outlet cover plate to which the aperture on the tab aligns depends on whether the plug is attached to a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet, or a standard outlet. It also depends on whether the plug is attached to the upper or lower socket of the outlet. 
     For example, when the child-resistant plug is attached to an upper socket of a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet, a tab attached to the upper portion of the plug body will have an aperture that will align with a pre-existing aperture on the upper portion of the cover plate. 
     Alternatively, when the child-resistant plug is attached to a lower socket of a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet, a tab attached to the lower portion of the plug body will have an aperture that will align with a pre-existing aperture on the lower portion of the cover plate. 
     The tabs are fastenable to the cover plates of the ground fault circuit interrupter or standard outlets. The aperture or apertures preferably align with at least one pre-existing aperture on a cover plate. Typically, a screw or other fastening member is inserted into the aligned apertures, and a screw driver or similar tool is sufficient to install the tab on a semi-permanent basis. 
     The hinging member preferably connects the plug body to a tab. It allows the tab to move hingedly about the plug body. When the tab is fastened to the cover plate, the tab is preferably in its unfolded position. In the unfolded position, a sufficient pre-determined pull force, such as from an adult, may cause the hinging member to break, and the plug would be removable from the outlet. This mechanism allows an adult to detach the plug from the outlet in an emergency situation. 
     The plug body may also contain a structure for retaining a tab in its folded position. For example, the plug body may contain a projection which extends from the plug body. The projection is positioned such that when a tab is in its folded position, the projection aligns with an aperture on the tab. The projection may be cone-shaped, and may have a slit defined therethrough so that when the projection is inserted into the aperture on the tab, the projection may compress and snappingly engage the aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a child-resistant plug constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention aligned for connection with the upper socket of a GFCI electrical outlet. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the child-resistant plug of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the child-resistant plug of  FIG. 1  illustrating the upper and lower tabs in unfolded positions. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the child-resistant plug of  FIG. 1  illustrating the upper and lower tabs in unfolded positions. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the child-resistant plug of  FIG. 1  inserted into the upper socket of a GFCI electrical outlet and having the upper tab coupled to the outlet with a screw and the lower tab retained in a folded back position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a child-resistant plug constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention aligned for connection with the lower socket of a standard electrical outlet. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a child-resistant plug constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention aligned for connection with the upper socket of a standard electrical outlet. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a child-resistant plug constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention aligned for connection with the upper socket of a standard electrical outlet. 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the child-resistant plug of  FIG. 8  illustrating the upper and lower tabs in unfolded positions. 
         FIG. 10  is a rear elevational view of the child-resistant plug of  FIG. 8  illustrating the upper and lower tabs in unfolded positions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings particularly by reference numbers wherein like numerals refer to like parts,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a child-resistant plug  10  designed for connection with an electrical outlet  12 . In particular, the plug  10  is designed for semi-permanent securement to an outlet  12  so as to prevent small children from removing the plug  10  from the outlet  12 , as well as to prevent other unintentional removal of the plug  10 . The plug  10  is also adapted such that it may be quickly removed from the outlet  12  by an adult or adolescent exerting a requisite amount of pull force during an emergency. 
     As discussed in greater detail below, the plug  10  may be suitable for connection with outlets  12  having a variety of receptacles, including a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI or GFI) duplex receptacle  14  ( FIG. 1 ), a standard duplex receptacle  16  ( FIGS. 6-8 ), a combination device that includes both a switch and an electrical socket, or any other suitable devices or receptacles now known or hereafter developed. 
     The plug  10  includes a non-conducting body  18  having prongs  20  and  22  extending from a first side in parallel fashion so that the plug  10  may be connected to an outlet receptacle socket  40 ,  42 ,  72  or  74  Typically, prongs  20  and  22  are referred to as “neutral” and “hot” prongs, respectively. The plug may further include a third prong (not shown) which is typically referred to as a “ground” prong. A cord  26  extends from a second side of the plug  10  and may be attached to an appliance, machine, tool or other electrical or electronic device. 
     In one embodiment, the plug  10  includes upper and lower tabs  28  and  30 , each having one or more apertures  32 ,  34  and  36  defined therethrough. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the plug  10  may include only a single tab or may have one or more tabs extending from the sides thereof. 
     As illustrated in the figures, a hinge member  38  is located between the plug body  18  and each of the tabs  28  and  30  permitting hinged movement of the tabs  28  and  30  relative to the plug body  18 . In particular, the hinge members  38  allow the tabs  28  and  30  to be selectively moved between folded and unfolded positions. 
     In one embodiment, each hinge member  38  includes a thinned area to provide a “living hinge.” The thickness of such a thinned area of the hinge members  38  may be in the order of 0.005 inches to 0.10 inches, for example. In one embodiment, the hinge members  38  are thin enough so that they may become ruptured or broken when an adult pulls on the plug  10  with a predetermined amount of force so that the plug  10  may be quickly removed from the outlet  12  in case of an emergency. In that same embodiment, the hinge members  38  are thick enough such that they will not break when the plug  10  is pulled by a small child. The plug  10 , including its body  18  and tabs  28  and  30 , may be molded as an integral unit with the living hinge members  38  therebetween and may be molded from a polymeric material such as low density polyethylene or other suitable polymeric materials. 
     In order to allow other plugs to be inserted into adjacent sockets of the receptacles  14  and  16 , the upper and lower tabs  28  and  30  may be optionally folded back as demonstrated in the figures. The plug  10  can include means for retaining the tabs  28  and  30  in folded positions. In one embodiment, the plug includes upper and lower projections  52  and  54  extending from the body portion  18 . The projections  52  and  54  may be of any suitable shape and configuration and, as shown in the figures can include a post  56  having a pointed conical end or “arrowhead”  58  located at the terminal end thereof, both of which have a slit  60  defined therethrough. The pointed conical ends  58  of the projections  52  and  54  assist in aligning the projections  52  and  54  with the apertures  32  and  36  of the tabs  28  and  30  when the tabs  28  and  30  are being rotated to their folded positions. The slit  60  allows the pointed conical ends  58  of the projections  52  and  54  to become compressed as they are passing through the apertures  32  and  36 . The apertures  32  and  36  may snappingly engage the projections  52  and  54  when the tabs  28  and  30  are folded back. The connection between the apertures  32  and  36  and the projections  52  and  54  may be an interference fit. The apertures  32 ,  34  and  36  extending through the tabs  28  and  30  may be chamfered or beveled so as to (1) conform to a beveled head of a screw  50  and (2) engage and guide the ends  58  of the projections. 
     The upper projection  52  may be positioned such that it is engaged by the upper aperture  32  of the upper tab  28  when the upper tab  28  is folded back as shown in  FIG. 7  in order to maintain the upper tab  28  in its folded position. Likewise the lower projection  54  may be positioned such that it is engaged by the aperture  36  of the lower tab  30  when the lower tab  30  is folded back as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  in order to maintain the lower tab  30  in its folded position. 
     The tabs  28  and  30  include faces  62  and  64  that lie in the same general plane as a face  24  of the plug body  18  when the tabs  28  and  30  are in their unfolded, natural positions. As such, the plug body  18  and the tabs  28  and  30  are designed to lie generally flush against the receptacles  14  and  16  and cover plates  44  and  68 . When the tabs  28  and  30  are folded back, the faces  62  and  64  may be generally perpendicular to the face  24  of the plug body  18 . 
     As mentioned above, the plug  10  can be connected to outlets  12  having a variety of receptacles. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the plug  10  may be coupled to an outlet  12  having a GFCI receptacle  14 . As shown, when the plug  10  is inserted into the upper socket  40  of the GFCI receptacle  14 , the upper aperture  32  of the upper tab  28  is in line with upper aperture  46  of the outlet&#39;s cover plate  44 . When the plug  10  is semi-permanently connected to the outlet  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a screw  50  passes through the upper aperture  32  of the upper tab  32 , through the upper aperture  46  of the plate  44  and is threaded into a pre-existing aperture in the framework (not shown) of the receptacle  14 . In other words, the screw  50  is threaded through the same aperture that a screw used to attach the plate  44  to the receptacle  14  would normally be threaded through. As such, only a screw driver or similar tool is required for installing the plug  10  in a semi-permanent fashion. 
     As demonstrated in  FIG. 6 , the plug  10  may be coupled to an outlet  12  having a standard receptacle  16 . As shown, when the plug  10  is inserted into the lower socket  74  of the standard receptacle  16 , the lower aperture  34  of the upper tab  28  is in line with center aperture  70  of the outlet&#39;s cover plate  68 . When the plug  10  is semi-permanently connected to the outlet  12 , the screw  50  passes through the lower aperture  34  of the upper tab  28 , through the center aperture  70  of the plate  68  and is threaded into a pre-existing aperture in the framework (not shown) of the receptacle  16 . Again, the screw  50  is threaded through the same aperture that a screw attaching the plate  68  would normally be threaded through. As depicted, the lower tab  30  may optionally be retained in a folded back position. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the upper aperture  32  of the upper tab  28  is in line with the ground prong slot  76  of the upper socket  72 . As such, it may be possible for a plug, including one having a ground prong, to be inserted into the upper socket  72 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the plug  10  is inserted into the upper socket  72  of a standard receptacle  16 , the aperture  36  of the lower tab  30  is in line with center aperture  70  of the outlet&#39;s cover plate  68 . As explained above, the screw  50  is threaded into a pre-existing aperture in the framework (not shown) of the receptacle  16 . As depicted, the upper tab  28  may be retained in a folded back position so that a second plug may be inserted into the upper receptacle  72 . 
       FIG. 8  includes another embodiment of the plug  10 . In this embodiment, the upper tab  28  is a mirror image of the lower tab  30 . This embodiment is intended primarily for use with standard receptacles  16 . When inserted into the upper socket  72 , the aperture  36  of the lower tab  30  is in line with center aperture  70  of the outlet&#39;s cover plate  68 . The upper tab  28  may optionally be folded back. A second plug may be inserted into the lower socket  74 . Likewise, when inserted into the lower socket  74 , the aperture  32  of the upper tab  28  is in line with center aperture  70  of the outlet&#39;s cover plate  68 . The lower tab  30  may optionally be folded back. A second plug may be inserted into the upper socket  72 . Though not drawn as such in  FIG. 9 , the upper projection  52  and lower projection  54  may be equally spaced from the tabs  28  and  30 , respectively, so that apertures  32  and  36  engage those projections when the tabs  28  and  30  are folded back. 
     Finally, in cases where semi-permanent securement is not required or preferred, a screw  50  is not inserted through either of the tabs  28  and  30 . Optionally, the tabs  28  and  30  may be retained in their folded back positions in this instance as well. 
     Thus, there has been shown and described an embodiment of a novel child-resistant plug. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.