Abstract:
Electrical plug safety covers having a resilient sleeve that is practically unbreakable. The sleeve features a slit that opens through the application of force along a plane perpendicular to the slit, thereby allowing a plug to be easily removed from the interior of the sleeve by adults but not by small children. The invention further includes an aperture along the back of the sleeve that conforms to the shape of the cord on a plug such that the sleeve cannot easily be pulled off the plug.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/627,208, filed on Jul. 25, 2003, by the same inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates in general to safety covers for electrical plugs and more particularly to a resilient sleeve that opens and closes through the application of force to two opposing sides in a plane perpendicular to a slit opening, thereby making it difficult for small children to remove and plug in an electronic device.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     The hazzards that electricity pose to children around the home are well known. Nonetheless, the risk of injury can be greatly amplified when unsupervised children seek to play with electrical devices or appliances that they do not know how to operate or safeguard properly. Accordingly, a child&#39;s natural curiosity and desire to imitate the actions of adults can lead to situations in which ordinary electrical items turn dangerous or even deadly.  
         [0006]     For example, blenders, lawn trimmers, and power tools are common household possessions that would be relatively easy for a child to plug-in and actuate to his peril (and to those around him). Moreover, sensitive electrical equipment can be damaged (or made less useful by, for example, having its memory erased) if activated and not used correctly. Even appliances that are not generally thought to be inherently dangerous, such as lamps and radios, can cause burns or electric shock if touched or brought in contact with a conductive fluid. Therefore, there is an ongoing need for safety devices that prevent or discourage children from plugging in electrical appliances unless they get assistance from an adult.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,933 issued to Aitkins discloses a two-piece safety apparatus for attachment to the prong of an electrical connector. Essentially, a sleeve having a central channel for receiving a prong and an interior stud for engaging the hole typically (but not always) found on a prong is used to prevent one from plugging the connector into an outlet. To remove the sleeve, a key that disengages the stud from the hole must be inserted. However, if the key is lost, removal of the sleeve can be difficult.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,919 by Geisler describes a lock-out device for electrical plugs. The device includes a flexible bag that can be placed around a plug and locked in place through the use of a pad lock and perforated bar closing mechanism that cinches the bag shut. Again, this safety device requires the use of multiple parts that can become lost, thereby rendering the device ineffective.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,163 issued to Gladura et al. teaches a power tool plug safety cover that consists of two hinged pieces that snap together with internal latches over the plug, with the pieces separated through the aid of an opening tool. In addition to harboring the same disadvantage as other multi-piece covers that use “keys” to open, the device of Gladura et al. requires a user (or manufacturer) to assemble the cover on the plug and cord before it can be utilized. Also, if one of the internal latching components breaks, the device loses effectiveness.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,361 by Brend discloses an electrical plug locking device that includes two hemi-spherical housing elements and a keyed tumbler lock that turns an internal guide lever attached to a flexible cable. When the tumbler is turned, the cable attached to the lever disengages the prongs of the plug such that the plug can be removed from the hemi-spherical housing. While Brend&#39;s invention provides a very secure plug cover, it would also be relatively complicated to manufacture and appears to be very difficult to remove if the key is lost.  
         [0011]     Therefore, in view of the above, it would be desirable to have an electrical plug cover that provides a secure sleeve without the need for locks or keys, that is simple for adults to engage and disengage (yet difficult for small children), and that is essentially unbreakable and inexpensive to produce.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The invention relates in general to a plug-covering sleeve having a slit disposed on its front and an aperture formed in its back. More particularly, the invention provides a resilient sleeve that is difficult for small children to open because the sleeve requires the application of force in a plane perpendicular to the slit in order to open the sleeve sufficiently wide to disengage a plug housed by sleeve&#39;s interior.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the invention is integrally formed from a single piece of resilient material, such as rubber. Thus, the plug cover of the invention is very durable and practically unbreakable under normal use. Moreover, the unitary design of the sleeve of the invention provides an advantage over related devices due to the fact that there is no key or opener to lose and no internal components to damage or break-off.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment, one or more tabs may be disposed on two opposing surfaces of the sleeve (such as on the top and bottom) to provide additional surface area for the application of force used to open the sleeve. Also, an alternative embodiment features a dividing member on the interior of the sleeve that increases the “clamping force” present on a plug housed within the sleeve.  
         [0015]     An further embodiment includes a resilient sleeve that has an opening slit on its front end and an aperture on its back end through which a cord runs. Preferably, the sleeve substantially conforms to the shape of the electrical plug and cord such that it cannot easily be pulled off the plug. Also preferably, fasteners (such as snaps) are provided near the back of the sleeve so that the sleeve may be conveniently installed around a plug.  
         [0016]     Thus, it is a primary objective of the invention to provide a plug cover that is easy for adults to open but difficult for small children.  
         [0017]     Further, an object of the invention is to provide a plug cover that is opened through the application of force along a plane perpendicular to one or more slits disposed upon the cover.  
         [0018]     Another object of the invention is to provide a plug cover that is practically unbreakable and does not require a key or other additional components.  
         [0019]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a plug cover that conforms to the shape of a plug and cord.  
         [0020]     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a plug cover that is simple and inexpensive to mass produce and can be easily installed on a plug by fastening a portion of the sleeve together.  
         [0021]     In accordance with these and other objects there is provided a new and improved plug cover that includes a resilient sleeve having a slit and an aperture disposed thereon, with the slit providing access to the interior of the sleeve through the application of force in a plane perpendicular to the slit.  
         [0022]     Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention includes the features hereinafter filly described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such description discloses only some of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic, front perspective view of a basic embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic, front perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  during the application of force that causes the slit to open and the sleeve to bow outwardly.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic, front perspective view of a second embodiment as shown with an electrical plug housed within the resilient sleeve of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic, front perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  during the application of force that allows the plug to be removed from the resilient sleeve.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a schematic, front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4A  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  shown in a bowed state.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4B  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  shown in a closed state.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is top plan view of a sixth embodiment showing the cover of the invention enclosed around an electrical plug.  
         [0033]      FIG. 8A  is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8B  is a front elevational view showing the application of force to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     The invention involves an electrical plug safety cover and method of use featuring a resilient sleeve with at least one slit-type opening that provides access to the interior of the sleeve. By applying force to the sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the slit, the sleeve bows outwardly so that a plug may be inserted to or removed from the interior of the sleeve through the slit.  
         [0037]     Turning to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a first embodiment of the plug cover is show. This embodiment of the invention includes a resilient sleeve  2  having a top  4 , a bottom  6 , a front  8 , a back  10  and two opposing side walls  12   a  and  12   b.  Disposed along the front  8  of sleeve  2  is a slit  14  that defines an axis A running generally from top  4  to bottom  6 . By applying force (as indicated by arrows  16  of  FIG. 1A ) to top  4  and bottom  6 , the sleeve  2  attains a bowed state  18 , which opens slit  14  and reveals the sleeve interior  19 . While in the bowed state  18 , a plug  20  is placed through slit  14  and in interior  19  (as indicated by arrows  22 ). Then, when force  16  is released, the resilient sleeve  2  returns to its original state with the plug  20  firmly clamped within (not shown).  
         [0038]     As used throughout this application, the words “top,” “bottom,” and “sides” are used as terms of convenience and to provide consistency in describing invention. As such, these terms should be understood to be indicators of relative positions to which force is applied to engage or remove a plug from a sleeve and not indicators of a required configuration or orientation in space. Thus, while rotating the sleeve of  FIG. 1  by ninety degrees would change the spatial position of the top  4  and bottom  6 , it does not change where force is applied in order to open the slit  14 . In other words, a sleeve of the invention can be opened by the application of force in a plane that is perpendicular to the slit or slits without regard to the name given to the parts of the sleeve to which force is applied.  
         [0039]     As seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a second embodiment of the invention is depicted in which a plug  24  and a portion of its attached cord  25  are housed within a generally oval-shaped resilient sleeve  26 . The sleeve  26  includes a top portion  28 , a bottom portion  30 , a front  32  and a back  34 . Disposed within the front  32  of sleeve  26  is a first slit  36 , with the sleeve also having a second slit  37  disposed within the back  34  (see  FIG. 1B ).  
         [0040]     As force  38  is applied in a plane substantially perpendicular to slits  36  and  37  (i.e., to the top portion  28  and the bottom portion  30  of sleeve  26 ), both slits are opened such that plug  24  can be slid out of the interior  40 . Moreover, after force  38  is released, the sleeve  26  may be left closed around cord  25 , thereby keeping the sleeve in position for future use and preventing its loss. The interior  40  of sleeve  26  may be formed simply by the same cutting process that results in the slit or can be molded to provide a cavity more particularly adapted to receive a plug.  
         [0041]     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Here, the resilient sleeve  44  includes tabs  46   a  and  46   b  disposed along the top portion  48  and bottom portion  50 . The tabs  46   a  and  46   b  provide an enlarged surface area to which force can be applied and concentrated, making the act of opening the sleeve easier for special needs adults (e.g., those with arthritis) without increasing the ability of a small child to remove a plug therefrom.  
         [0042]     Thus, when force  51  is applied to tabs  46   a  and  46   b,  slit  52  opens to expose interior  54 , and sleeve  44  attains a bowed state  56  as shown in  FIG. 4A . When force  51  is released, sleeve  44  returns to its original state ( FIG. 4B ).  
         [0043]     Of course, many alternative embodiments of the novel and improved cover can be practiced without deviation from the spirit of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the resilient sleeve  58  further includes a dividing member  60  disposed longitudinally within interior  62 . Accordingly, slit  62  does not come to a complete close, even in the absence of force to top portion  64  and bottom portion  66 . The dividing member  60  provides additional clamping action on a plug and can act as a “bar” across the slit  62 , thereby preventing a plug from simply being pulled out of the sleeve  58 . Thus, the dividing member  60  may be disposed along the entire length (for additional clamping action) of the interior  62  or just a portion thereof (to provide a “bar”).  
         [0044]     Turning to  FIG. 6 , another alternative embodiment is shown. Here, resilient sleeve  68  includes a top portion  70  and a bottom portion  72 . Disposed upon the front  74  of sleeve  68  is a jagged slit  76 . The slit  76  defines an axis B that extends from the top  70  to the bottom  72  such that the application force perpendicular to the axis B causes the sleeve  68  to bow outwardly and the slit  76  to open. The jagged configuration of the slit  76  also provides a “tooth-like” surface that may improve the retention of a plug and cord (not shown) placed inside.  
         [0045]     In  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of the invention having a fastenable back portion is shown. The sleeve  80  includes a front  82 , a back  83 , a top  84 , and a bottom  86  that together define a cavity that substantially conforms in shape to an electrical plug (shown in phantom line). Two flaps  88  are disposed between the front  82  and back  83  of sleeve  80  and contain a fastening means, such as snaps  90 . The snaps  90  are used to close the back portion  83  of the sleeve  80  around the cord  92  during the sleeve installation.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show the result of applying force  94  to the top  84  and bottom  86  of an empty sleeve  80 . The slit  93  opens and the sleeve  80  achieves a bowed state, revealing the interior cavity  96  and the aperture  98  at the back  83  of the sleeve.  FIG. 9  further shows sleeve  80  of  FIG. 7  from a side elevational view.  
         [0047]     Various changes in the details and components that have been described may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention herein described in the specification and defined in the appended claims. For example, the sleeve of the invention may be formed (cast, molded, etc.) with any resilient material (such as, for example, rubber) rigid enough to provide sufficient clamping action on the plug while also withstanding the application of force needed to attain a bowed state without tearing or breaking. Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent processes and products.