Child-safe outlet plate

An improved child-safe outlet cover including a main plate defining receptacle opening(s), a shield on the main plate for each opening having first and second portions, such shield movable between use and non-use positions in which the first and second portions, respectively, cover the receptacle openings, the first portion having prong openings aligned with the receptacle slots in the use position, and means biasing the shield to the non-use position. Preferred embodiments include locking pins and a number of structural variations providing important advantages.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is related generally to electrical outlet receptacle covers 
and, more particularly, to electrical outlet covers having safety devices. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Electrical plug receptacles used as wall outlets usually have contacts 
which are continuously energized, and because of this represent a source 
of danger. Electrical shocks and short circuits can occur upon the 
insertion of a wire or other metal object into one of the slots which are 
intended to receive plug prongs. Children of tender years usually fail to 
appreciate this danger and are often at risk due to the own curiosity. 
Many devices have been developed to render electrical wall outlets safe for 
children, that is, "child-safe." Many of these involve simple 
non-conductive plug covers, sometimes having prongs like electric plugs, 
which are removed prior to insertion of an electric plug. One disadvantage 
of such devices is that too frequently it is difficult to remove such 
non-metallic covers, and very easy just to ignore covering an electrical 
wall outlet again when it is no longer in use. Furthermore, such devices 
provide no protection during plugging and unplugging. 
Efforts have been made toward development of child-safe outlet cover 
assemblies which reclose automatically when the wall receptacle is not in 
use. Examples of such devices and other prior art include the following 
U.S. Pat. Nos.: 
4,302,624 (Newman) 
2,641,627 (Lewis) 
4,584,430 (Belknap) 
4,605,270 (Aslizadeh) 
4,600,258 (Hu) 
4,279,457 (Nickence) 
4,206,957 (Ludwig et al.) 
3,865,456 (Dola) 
3,775,726 (Gress) 
3,238,492 (Houston) 
2,710,382 (Fitzpatrick et al.) 
2,610,999 (Silver) 
3,222,631 (Cohen). 
Despite the efforts in development of child-safe outlet covers, a a variety 
of problems, disadvantages and shortcomings are present in prior art 
outlet covers and cover assemblies. 
Devices requiring a specific locking action may not consistently be locked. 
Automatic locking is needed. 
Many of the prior cover assemblies are complex and/or difficult to operate. 
For example, some devices require that an adult use two hands in order to 
insert an electric plug into a receptacle. This inconvenience may not be 
tolerated by an adult and discourages the use of the protective device. 
Furthermore, it is unsafe to use two hands when working with live 
electricity. 
In other cases, relative ease of operation or simplicity of structure may 
be achieved with excessive compromise in childresistant capabilities. In 
some cases, shielding devices can be fairly easily moved to the side thus 
exposing the electric receptacles. Some shielding devices are at no time 
adequately locked in protective positions. In other cases, shields are 
inadequately attached to the remainder of the assembly, or inadequately 
held while in certain positions of operation. 
In some devices of the prior art, movable shields are intended to be 
pivoted to positions beyond the edges of the cover plates on which they 
are mounted. This is unattractive and may allow a child to bend and break 
the shield away from the device. 
In short, a number of problems need to be solved in an improved child-safe 
outlet cover. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved child-safe outlet 
cover overcoming certain problems, shortcomings and disadvantages of the 
prior art. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a child-safe outlet cover 
having improved child-safe qualities. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved child-safe 
outlet cover which may be easily operated and yet provides excellent 
protection against improper receptacle access by young children. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a childsafe outlet cover 
assembly having a shield well secured to the assembly regardless of the 
operational position of the cover. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved child-safe 
outlet cover which is automatically locked upon removal of an electric 
plug. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved child-safe 
outlet cover assembly having a receptacle shield which cannot be slid away 
from the receptacle by a young child. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved child-safe 
outlet cover which may be operated easily by an adult using one hand. 
Another object of this invention is to provide improved child-safe cover 
assemblies which may be installed without the services of a trained 
electrician. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved child-safe 
outlet cover which, while including a locking mechanism, is simple in 
construction, requiring few parts. 
These and other important objects will be apparent from the descriptions of 
this invention which follow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is an improved child-safe outlet cover assembly for electric 
receptacles overcoming certain problems and disadvantages of the prior 
art. The invention is a replacement for the standard wall-flush plate 
which defines at least one receptacle opening, and almost always two. The 
invention is made to be attached to the receptacle structure by a single 
screw, in the manner used to attach standard wall-flush plates. 
The child-safe outlet cover of this invention includes a main plate 
defining a receptacle opening, and preferably two. When there are two 
receptacle openings, as is highly preferred, they are separated by a main 
plate center portion. Through this center portion (and, in highly 
preferred embodiments, through a raised member on the center portion) is a 
hole to receive the screw used to attach the child-safe outlet cover of 
this invention to the receptacle structure. 
For each receptacle opening a shield is movably attached to the main plate, 
each shield having first and second portions. The shield is movable with 
respect to the main plate between a non-use position and a use position. 
In the non-use position, the second portion of the shield covers the 
receptacle opening and the first portion of the shield extends away from 
the opening. In the use position, the first portion of the shield covers 
the receptacle opening and the second portion extends away from the 
opening. 
The first portion of the shield defines prong openings therethrough, 
arranged in the normal pattern of electric plug prongs. When the shield is 
in the use position, such prong openings are aligned with the electric 
receptacle slots. The shield is biased to the non-use position, and may be 
moved against the biasing force to its use position. 
The periphery of each shield is preferably configured in various ways for 
various purposes. Each shield preferably has a periphery with an inner 
edge portion adjacent to the main plate center portion and an outer 
portion which is opposite the inner edge portion, and preferably includes 
means at a plurality of points along the shield periphery to hold it 
securely adjacent to the main plate. Such holding means includes holding 
means along the inner edge and holding means along the outer edge. 
The inner edge holding means preferably includes a raised member which 
projects from the main plate center portion and has an undercut edge 
adjacent to and engaging the inner edge of the shield. Such raised portion 
is preferably integrally formed with the main plate. 
The device also includes a pivot support means along the outer edge of the 
shield, to accommodate a pivoting motion of the shield with respect to the 
main plate. This may take various forms, as hereafter described. 
Again referring to the characteristics of the inner edge of the shield, in 
highly preferred embodiments the inner edge of the shield extends along an 
arc. The inner edge arc is shaped such that the inner edge is immediately 
adjacent to the undercut edge of the raised member regardless of the pivot 
position of the shield. Furthermore, the inner edge of the shield has 
means, such as a cross-sectional beveled shape, for engaging the undercut 
edge along the length of the arc. This allows the shield to remain firmly 
in engagement with the raised member regardless of the rotational position 
of the shield. 
The shield periphery preferably also has first and second end portions 
between its inner and outer edge portions, previously described. Each 
shield is preferably somewhat oval in shape. The first end portion is 
along the first portion of the shield, which has the aforementioned prong 
openings, and the second end portion is along the second portion of the 
shield. These end portions serve various functions in preferred 
embodiments of this invention. 
In certain preferred embodiments, a first stop member is on the main plate 
positioned for engagement by the first end of the shield to stop its 
pivoting movement such that when the first end of the shield and such 
first stop member are in engagement, the shield is in its non-use 
position. Such first stop member is preferably undercut and the first end 
of the shield has means, such as a complementary beveled cross-section, 
engaging such undercut stop member, to secure the shield against the main 
plate. 
In certain preferred embodiments, a second stop member is on the main plate 
positioned for engagement by the second end of the shield, and such 
engagement defines the use position of the shield, in which the prong 
openings of the first portion of the shield are in alignment with the 
receptacle slots. The second stop member and second end portion of the 
shield may have interengaging edge configurations, but such is not 
important since the electric plug, as well as the holding means along each 
of the inner and outer edges, serves to hold the shield firmly assembled 
with the main plate. 
The aforementioned pivot support means may be in the form of a pivot pin 
pivotably attaching the shield to the main plate. A rivet may be used for 
this purpose, although other types of pivot pins may be used. 
Alternatively, the pivot support means may be a pivot fulcrum on the main 
plate positioned to engage the outer edge of the shield, rather than 
extending through the shield. 
At least in the latter case, the child-safe outlet cover of this invention 
further includes an outside plate which is parallel to and substantially 
coincident with the main plate. The main plate and such outside plate 
together define a chamber therebetween for each shield, such chamber 
serving to hold the shield in place against the main plate. More 
specifically, the chamber is shaped to limit the direction of movement of 
the shield and limit the orientation of the shield with respect to the 
main plate when shield and main plate are not pinned together by a rivet 
or other pivot pin. 
Such outside plate defines an exposure opening therethrough which exposes 
both the first and second portions of the shield when the shield is in its 
non-use position. Such exposure opening preferably has edges which 
slightly overlap the shield to hold it properly in place in every 
position. Indeed, such overlapping forms the aforementioned undercut 
configuration which serves to hold the shield properly against the main 
plate. 
The exposure opening through the cover plate can be small enough such that 
when the shield is in its use position all or more of the second portion 
of the shield will be hidden by the outside plate. However, such covering 
is not essential. 
In embodiments including an outside plate as described, a pivot fulcrum may 
be in the form of a post-like structure which extends between the main 
plate and the outside plate, positioned as indicated for engagement by the 
outside edge of the shield. Such a structure can be in various 
cross-sectional shapes and sizes. It is important only that it provide a 
reference point for pivoting movement of the shield. Such fulcrum 
structure is preferably integrally formed with the main plate, but 
integral formation with the cover plate or securement in some other way 
may be used. 
The cover plate may be heat sealed to the main plate and/ or the various 
parts projecting from it, or may be secured by other ways. The cover 
plate, like the main plate and the projecting portions, is preferably made 
of widely available plastics. 
The aforementioned first and second stop means are also preferably 
integrally formed with the main plate, but in embodiments having a cover 
plate, as just described, integral formation with the cover plate is 
possible, although not preferred. Stop members in various embodiments may 
be secured in place to the the main plate in other ways as well. 
Highly preferred embodiments of the invention include means locking each 
shield in its non-use position. Such locking means preferably include at 
least one pin used for locking the shield in its non-use position on the 
main plate. Each pin is movably secured to the main plate and positioned 
for engagement with one of the prong openings in the first portion of the 
shield when the shield is in its non-use position. Also included are means 
biasing such pin or pins toward engagement with such prong openings or 
openings. The most highly preferred embodiments include a pair of pins 
engaging the two principal prong openings in the main plate. 
Such pins are pushed out of the prong openings in the shield when plug 
prongs are inserted into such prong openings in the shield. This frees the 
shield for pivoting movement from its non-use position to its use 
position. Such unlocking and pivoting motion can be carried out by one 
hand, using an electric plug as an implement to unlock and move the 
shield. 
In one preferred embodiment, the means which biases the pin or pins into 
engagement with the prong openings in the shield is preferably a portion 
of the main plate itself. That is, each pin is preferably attached to or 
formed with the distal end of a tongue which is in the plane of, and is 
part of, the main plate. 
In such embodiments, the plastic material used for forming the main plate 
provides the resiliency necessary to bias the pins into their locking 
positions. In some preferred embodiments, the pins, such tongue portions 
and the entire main plate, as well as the various stops and other 
projecting portions, are integrally formed of resilient plastic. 
The locking pins are designed and configured such that their motion, when 
they are depressed during shield movement, is limited. The tips of such 
pins preferably never are depressed into the main plate, that is, to a 
position beyond flush with the surface of the main plate. Thus, the pins 
should themselves block access to the space behind the main plate. 
The limitation of pin motion may be provided, in embodiments having pins 
integral with the main plate, by a stop bar or the like behind the main 
plate. Such stop bar, which preferably is behind a pair of pins, may 
itself be integrally formed with the main plate, or it may be attached to 
the back of the main plate in some other manner. Such stop bar or the like 
is small enough such that and is positioned such that it will not 
interfere with the outlet or the immediately surrounding area, including 
the wall or the outlet box. Pin movement may instead be limited by other 
means. 
Other pin biasing means may be used, such as leaf springs or the like 
attached to the back of the main plate. In one preferred alternate 
embodiment, rather than having pins and tongues formed as part of the main 
plate, a separate back plate (or partial back plate) may be attached to 
the back surface of the main plate. 
Such a back plate itself has tongue portions of springy (preferably 
plastic), and each tongue portion supports a pin on its end which extends 
through an opening in the main plate. This has the advantage of making the 
openings in the main plate, which are associated with the pins, rather 
small, which limits the possibility of gaining access to the space behing 
the main plate. 
The first end portion of the shield periphery, previously described, 
preferably includes a beveled leading edge which is positioned and 
oriented to depress the pin or pins out of the path of movement of the 
shield during its return movement from its use position to its non-use 
position. Upon completion of such return movement of the shield to its 
non-use position, the prong openings in the first portion of the shield 
come into alignment with the locking pins, and such locking pins snap into 
the prong openings under the action of the biasing means. Such pins lock 
the shield into position until the next use of the receptacle. 
When a pair of locking pins are used to engage a pair of prong openings in 
the shield, the locking pins are preferably of differing sizes and the 
prong openings are of different sizes to prevent engagement of a pin in 
the wrong prong opening as the shield pivots across the pins. More 
specifically, the pin which first encounters a prong opening during the 
movement of the shield from its use position to its non-use position is 
larger than the other pin and larger than such first-encountered opening 
such that the pin slides over the opening rather than engaging it. The 
pins preferably differ in width (diameter). The prong openings preferably 
differ in width, but of course are of appropriate size to accommodate the 
plug prongs. 
The movable shields are, as previously indicated, biased to the non-use 
position, in which their second portions (which are without 
prong-receiving holes) cover the receptacle openings. Such biasing may be 
accomplished in various ways. The use of coil springs is preferred. 
In embodiments having a pivot pin mounting each shield to the main plate, 
the pivot pin may be inserted through a coil spring with one end of the 
coil spring being against or secured to the main plate (or other structure 
secured thereto) and the other end being against or secured to the shield. 
Other configurations for such biasing means are possible as well. In 
embodiments having a pivot fulcrum rather than a pivot pin, a long-prong 
short coil or even a leaf spring can be used, although many other 
configurations are possible. 
The improved child-safe outlet cover of this invention need not have and 
preferably does not have any part which extends at any point during its 
operation beyond the periphery of the main plate. More specifically, the 
first and second portions of each shield are both over the main plate in 
both the use and the non-use positions of the shield. This reduces 
opportunities for destruction of the child-safe outlet cover assembly, and 
also greatly improves the appearance of the device regardless of its use 
status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The figures illustrate two embodiments of the child-safe outlet cover of 
this invention--outlet cover 10 in FIGS. 1-5 and outlet cover 100 in FIGS. 
6-10. Each is used with a pair of standard electric receptacles 11, one of 
which is shown in FIG. 9. Identical parts are identified by like numbers. 
Outlet cover 10 includes a main plate 14 having a front surface 16 and a 
back surface 18. Main plate 14 defines a pair of receptacle openings 20, 
shown in FIG. 3 and illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 1. Receptacle 
openings 20 are always covered by shields 22; one shield 22 covers each 
receptacle opening 20. 
Each shield 22 is pivotably secured to main plate 14 by a rivet 24 and is 
movable between a non-use position, illustrated in FIG. 1, and a use 
position, illustrated in FIG. 2. Each shield 22 has a first portion 26 and 
a second portion 28. The range of movement of each shield 22 is limited 
such that first and second portions 26 and 28 never extend beyond the edge 
of main plate 14. 
Second portion 28 of each shield 22 has no openings in it and completely 
covers its corresponding receptacle opening 20 when shield 22 is in the 
non-use position. This blocks access to the receptacle slots, including 
access by small children unaware of the danger. First portion 26 of each 
shield 22 defines prong openings 30(a, b and c), and covers its 
corresponding receptacle opening 20 when shield 22 is in the use position. 
In such use position, the three prong openings 30 are aligned with the 
slots in the standard electric receptacle opening, so that the prongs of 
an electric plug can extend through shield 22 into normal engagement with 
the electric receptacle. 
Each shield 22 is biased to the non-use position shown in FIG. 1 by a coil 
spring 32 surrounding rivet 24. Each rivet 24 extends through a coil 
spring 32. Each coil spring 32 has one end engaged with or bearing against 
main plate 14 and the other end engaged with or bearing against shield 22 
to bias it toward its non-use position. 
The two receptacle openings 20 in main plate 14 are separated by a main 
plate center portion 34. A screw hole 36 extends through main plate center 
portion 34 and is used to attach child-safe outlet cover 10 to the 
receptacle structure in the normal wall flush manner by means of a small 
screw 37. 
Each shield 22 has a periphery which includes an inner edge portion 38, an 
outer edge portion 40 which is opposite inner edge portion 38, and first 
and second end portions 42 and 44, respectively. Each shield 22 is held 
against and adjacent to main plate 14 by holding means along inner edge 38 
and holding means along outer edge 40. 
For child-safe outlet cover 10, the holding means along outer edge 40 is 
the aforementioned rivet 24, by which shield 22 is pivotably secured to 
main plate 14. The holding means along inner edge 38 is a raised member 46 
projecting from front surface 16 of main plate center portion 34. Raised 
member 46, which is integrally formed with main plate center portion 34 
and with main plate 14, has an undercut edge 48 on each side, each one 
adjacent to inner edge 38 of one of the shields 22. Undercut edges 48 
serve to hold shields 22 against main plate 14, as hereafter explained. 
Screw hold 36 extends through raised member 46. 
The inner edge 38 of each shield 22 forms an arc, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 
and 2, the curvature of which is such that inner edge 38 engages undercut 
edge 48 of raised member 46 for all positions of shield 22, including the 
non-use position illustrated in FIG. 1, the use position illustrated in 
FIG. 2, and all positions therebetween. Furthermore, inner edge 38 of each 
shield 22 is beveled all along its length to facilitate its engagement 
with the corresponding undercut edge 48 of raised member 46 at all 
positions. Such engagement is illustrated best in FIG. 3. 
As is apparent in the drawings, the aforementioned first end portion 42 of 
the periphery of each shield 22 is along first portion 26 of shield 22, 
and the second end portion 44 is along second portion 38 of shield 22. A 
first stop member 50 is attached to front surface 16 of main plate 14 in a 
position for engagement by first end portion 42 of each shield 22 to 
define the non-use position that shield 22. Likewise, a second stop member 
52 is attached to front surface 16 of the main plate 14 in a position for 
engagement by second end portion 44 of each shield 22 to define the use 
position thereof. First and second stop members 50 and 52 are integrally 
formed with main plate 14, as is raised member 46. 
Each first stop member 50, as shown in FIG. 4, has an undercut 
configuration and each corresponding first end 42 has a beveled 
configuration. Such undercut and beveled configurations allow first end 42 
to mate with first stop member 50, and thereby provide an additional means 
by which shield 22 is secured against main plate 14. Second end 44 of each 
shield 22 and second stop member 52 also have beveled and undercut 
configurations for the same purpose. 
The first end 42 of each shield 22, however, is not beveled in the same 
manner at all positions therealong. A reverse beveling, as illustrated in 
FIG. 4, is along a small portion of each first end for a particular 
purpose hereafter described. 
As illustrated best in FIGS. 2 and 4, first and second locking pins 54a and 
54b are movably secured to main plate 14 and positioned for engagement 
with prong openings 30 in shield 22. There are a pair of such pins for 
each shield 22. Pins 54a and 54b are perpendicular to main plate 14 and 
are cylindrical, although other cross-sectional configurations are 
possible. 
Each of the locking pins 54a and 54b is integrally formed on the distal end 
58 of a tongue 60 which itself is integrally formed with main plate 14. 
Integrally formed on back surface 18 of main plate 14 in positions just 
behind pins 54a and 54b is a stop bar 56. See FIG. 4. Stop bar 56 limits 
the movement of pins 54a and 54b and their tongues 60, as earlier 
described, and blocks access to the space behind outlet cover 10. 
Main plate 14, and all portions integrally formed therewith, including 
tongues 60 and first and second locking pins 54a and 54b, are preferably 
made of a resilient material such as a resilient plastic. The chosen 
material is such that after depressing pins 54a and 54b and their 
associated tongues 60, they spring back to their normal positions, shown 
in FIG. 4. In such positions, tongues 60 are in the plane of the main 
portion of main plate 14. The resilience of the material provides the 
means biasing pins 54a and 54b into openings 30a and 30b. 
As already noted, each shield 22 has three prong openings. These include a 
first prong opening 30a, a wider and shorter prong opening 30b, and a 
ground prong opening 30c, locking pins 54a and 54b being positioned for 
engagement with first and second prong openings 30a and 30b, respectively. 
Each first locking pin 54a is smaller in diameter than each second locking 
pin 54b. The diameter of each second locking pin 54b is greater than the 
width of each first prong opening 30a such that prong opening will not 
receive locking pin 54a, but slide over it instead. 
Therefore, when shield 22 is pivoting from its use position to its non-use 
position, second locking pin 54b will not engage first prong opening 30a 
(which would prevent continued return movement of shield 22 to the non-use 
postion), but return movement of shield 22 will continue until first end 
42 engages first stop member 50. In that position, both of the pins 54a 
and 54b will engage their respective prong openings 30a and 30b. 
As earlier noted, each first end portion 42 of the periphery of each shield 
22 has a leading edge portion 62 which is beveled in a manner allowing the 
pivoting return movement of shield 22 to depress locking pins 54a and 54b 
out of the path of movement of shield 22. This leading edge configuration 
is illustrated in FIG. 5. A camming action is provided by such leading 
edge. 
Child-safe outlet cover 100 is another embodiment of this invention, 
differing from child-safe outlet cover 10 in a number of respects. 
Child-safe outlet cover 100, in addition to having a main plate 114 and a 
pair of shields 112, has an outside plate 112 which is parallel to and 
substantially coincident with main plate 114. That is, the peripheral 
edges of outside plate 112 and main plate 114 are aligned. 
Outside plate 112 and main plate 114 together define a pair of chambers 113 
therebetween each containing and limiting the movement of one of the 
shields 122. Shields 122 are made to fit in chambers 113, but not in a 
manner imposing significant frictional resistance to their movement. 
Shields 122 are preferably freely movable in chambers 113. 
Outside plate 112 defines an exposure opening 115 for each shield 122. Each 
exposure opening 115 exposes nearly all of its corresponding shield 122 
when it is in its non-use position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Exposure 
opening 115, however, overlaps the edges of its corresponding shield 122 
such that in all positions outside plate 112 holds shield 122 firmly 
against main plate 114. 
Shields 122 of child-safe outlet cover 100 are similar to shields 22 of 
child-safe outlet cover 10 in a number of respects. However, they are not 
attached to main plate 114 by pivot pins, instead being held there by 
outside plate 112 as explained. And, rather than pivoting about pivot 
pins, shields 122 bear against and pivot around pivot fulcrums 141 which 
extend between main plate 114 and outside plate 112. Each shield 122 has 
an outer edge portion 140 which is shaped to receive and bear against a 
pivot fulcrum 141. 
For each shield 122, a long-prong short coil spring 143, which is secured 
to main plate 114, biases each shield 122 to the non-use position, as best 
illustrated at the top of FIG. 9. Spring 143 includes a first end 145 
engaged in a slot 147 formed in main plate 114, and a longer second end 
149 bearing against second end portion 144 of the periphery of shield 122. 
The action of each spring 143 causes a shield 122 to pivot around pivot 
fulcrum 141 toward the non-use position. Shields 122, however, can be 
pivoted around pivot fulcrum 141 against the biasing force of spring 143 
to the positions shown in FIG. 7, in which much of each shield is hidden 
by outside plate 112. 
The periphery of each shield 122, in addition to including outer edge 
portion 140 and second end portion 144, includes an inner edge portion 138 
and a first end portion 142. Inner edge 138, outer edge 140, second end 
144, and much of first end 142 are perpendicular to the plane of main 
plate 114. The beveling illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 would serve no 
purpose, since the overlapping portions of outside plate 112 provide all 
the "undercut" necessary to hold shields 122, by contact on all portions 
of their peripheries, against main plate 114. 
The only beveling along the peripheries of shields 122 is along their 
leading edge portions 162, shown in FIG. 7. The leading edge portion 162 
of each shield 122 has the same beveling as the same comparable portion 62 
of shield 22 of child-safe outlet cover 10, illustrated in FIG. 5. 
As illustrated in FIG. 9, second end 144 of each shield 122 has a groove to 
receive a portion of second end 149 of spring 143. This holds spring 143 
in place, preventing it from jamming between shield 122 and either outside 
plate 112 or main plate 114. 
Child-safe outlet cover 100 has, for each shield 122, first and second 
locking pins 154a and 154b, which are somewhat similar to the pins earlier 
described. Likewise, each shield 122 has similar prong openings 30a, 30b 
and 30c. These cooperate in the manner previously described. 
Pins 154a and 154b differ, however, from the pins illustrated in the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 in that they are not integrally formed with the 
main plate and are not attached to or integrally formed with tongues which 
are integral with the main plate. Instead, the embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 
has a back plate 166 secured against the back surface of main plate 114. 
Tongues 168 which are portions of backplate 166 not adhering to main plate 
114 have distal ends to which pins 154a and 154b are attached. Tongues 166 
function as means to bias pins 154a and 154b to positions of engagement 
with shield 122. 
Pins 154a and 154b extend through small circular holes in main plate 114. 
Such holes are small enough that gaining access therethrough to positions 
behind main plate 114 is quite difficult, if not impossible. Although not 
shown, stop bars may also be used in the embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 to 
further reduce the possibility of gaining access to space behind main 
plate 114. 
The embodiment of FIGS. 6-10, rather than having pivot fulcrums 141 as 
shown, could utilize pivot pins similar to the rivets shown in the 
embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. Other pivoting arrangements are possible as well. 
As noted, the outlet covers of this invention can be made of various 
materials, resilient plastic materials being preferred. Suitable materials 
will be apparent to those skilled in the art who are familiar with this 
disclosure. Polyvinyl chlorides are particularly preferred. The movable 
shields can be made of materials different than those used for the main 
plate and outside plate. All principal parts are, of course, made of 
non-conductive materials. 
A variety of biasing means can be used for the shields and for the locking 
pins. For the former, various leaf springs are another good choice. For 
the latter, leaf springs can be attached to the back of the main plate 
with the locking pins attached thereto or at least engagable therewith. 
After depression of the locking pins, such leaf springs would move them 
back into engagement with the prong openings. Such leaf springs can be 
formed with the main plate or can be separate pieces attached to the main 
plate. Many other variations in the biasing means are possible. 
While the principles of this invention have been described in connection 
with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these 
descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit 
the scope of the invention.