Abstract:
A child safety plug lock for releasably securing a plug within a power outlet. The plug lock comprises a body portion including a through-hole and left and right sides. The plug lock also includes left and right arm portions which extend from the left and right sides, respectively, of the body portion. Each arm portion includes an inwardly facing flange. The plug lock is designed to be secured to an outlet via the through-hole in the body portion. The flanges are sized and positioned to engage and retain a plug in the power outlet when the plug lock is attached to the power outlet via the through-hole. The left and right arm portions are flexible, and are sized and positioned such that pressure applied to an arm portion causes that arm portion to flex laterally away from the plug.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    However, permanently or fixedly attaching a plug to an outlet has its own dangers. 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. 
         [0004]    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. 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. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to embodiments of a child safety plug lock for releasably securing a plug within a power outlet. In one embodiment, the plug lock comprises a body portion including a through-hole and left and right sides. The plug lock also includes left and right arm portions which extend from the left and right sides, respectively, of the body portion. Each said arm portion includes an inwardly facing flange. The plug lock is designed to be secured to an outlet via the through-hole in the body portion. The flanges are sized and positioned to engage and retain a plug in the power outlet when the plug lock is attached to the power outlet via the through-hole. The left and right arm portions are flexible, and are sized and positioned such that pressure applied to an arm portion causes that arm portion to flex laterally away from the plug. In so doing, the flange of the flexed arm is disengaged from retaining the plug in the power outlet. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the arm portions extend perpendicularly outward from the body portion and outlet, such that lateral outward pressure on an arm portion causes the arm and the associated flange to flex laterally away from the plug. More specifically, in this embodiment, each arm portion may include a first section which extends in the y direction from the body portion to a distal end thereof, and a second section which extends perpendicularly outward from the distal end of the first section in the z direction. In this embodiment, the flange is positioned on the second portion near the distal end of the first portion. 
         [0007]    However, in another embodiment, the arm portions at least partially extend laterally away from the plug, such that pressure which depresses the laterally extending section of an arm portion causes the arm portion to flex, which moves the flange laterally away from the plug. In this embodiment, each arm portion preferably includes three sections: a first section which extends in the y direction from the body portion to a distal end of the first section, a second section which extends perpendicularly outward from the distal end of the first section in the z direction to a distal end of the second section, and a third section which extends from the distal end of the second section laterally outward in the x direction. In this embodiment, the flange is positioned on the second portion near the distal end of the first portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a child-resistant plug lock constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the child-resistant plug lock of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the child-resistant plug lock of  FIG. 1  aligned for connection with the upper socket of an electrical outlet. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the child-resistant plug lock of  FIG. 1  as inserted into the upper socket of an electrical outlet. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a top plan view of the child-resistant plug lock of  FIG. 1  as inserted into the upper socket of an electrical outlet in a resting position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is a top plan view of the child-resistant plug lock of  FIG. 1  as inserted into the upper socket of an electrical outlet, with the arm portions depressed in position to allow the plug to be withdrawn from the socket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the child-resistant plug lock of  FIG. 1  as inserted into the upper socket of an electrical outlet. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a child-resistant plug lock aligned for connection with the upper socket of an electrical outlet. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of the alternate embodiment of a child-resistant plug lock of 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  as inserted into the upper socket of an electrical outlet in a resting position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8B  is a top plan view of the alternate embodiment of a child-resistant plug lock of 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  as inserted into the upper socket of an electrical outlet, with the arm portions pressed laterally and in position to allow the plug to be withdrawn from the socket 
       
    
    
       [0020]    While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawing and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings particularly by reference numbers wherein like numerals refer to like parts,  FIGS. 1-6  illustrate one embodiment of a child safety plug lock  1 . The plug lock  1  includes a body portion  10  which extends longitudinally along the x-axis, as shown in  FIG. 1 . A through-hole  15  is positioned along the body portion  10 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , through-hole  15  is positioned to align with a central screw-receiving hole in a standard faceplate  52  of an electrical outlet  50 . Preferably, a screw  35  may be used to secure the plug lock  1  to the outlet  50 , as this is the standard mechanism for securing the faceplate  52  to the outlet  50  in most standard outlets. However, other structures could be used for this purpose, as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0022]    Thus, as can best be seen in  FIG. 6 , when affixed to an electrical outlet  50 , the body portion  10  is typically positioned between the electrical sockets  56 . It is noted that some outlets  50  include faceplates  52  with two screw-holes  54  positioned at the top and bottom of the faceplate  52 , rather than a single screw-hole  54  positioned at the middle of the faceplate  52 . With such a faceplate  52  and outlet  50 , the body portion  10  would be positions above or below the electrical sockets  56 . For ease of reference, plug lock  1  will be described herein as installed on a standard outlet  50  with a faceplate  52  having a central screw-hole  54 , and as oriented to interact with a plug  40  when plugged into an upper electrical socket  56 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , an embodiment of the plug lock  1  includes left and right arm portions  20 A which extend from the left and right ends, respectively, of body portion  10 . Each arm portion  20 A includes three sections: a first section  22 , a second section  24 A and a third section  26 . As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , first section  22  preferably extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal length of the body portion  10  in the y-axis, i.e. upwardly toward the upper socket  56  as installed. The first section  22  thus extends to its distal end from the body portion  10 , such that the distal end is approximately even with upper socket  56 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5A , second section  24 A extends perpendicularly outward in the z direction from the distal end of the first section  22 . As installed, second section  24 A extends generally outwardly from outlet  50 , approximately even with the upper socket  56 , to the distal end of the second section  24 A. Third section  26  then extends from the distal end of the second section  24 A laterally in the x direction. As installed, the third section  26  extends laterally away from the upper socket  56  at a height above but substantially parallel with the faceplate  52 . A flange  30  is preferably positioned on the second section  24 A near where the second section  24 A extends from the distal end of the first section  22 . 
         [0024]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5A , the left and right arm portions  20 A oppose and mirror one another, and define a space  28  therebetween for receiving an electrical plug  40 . Preferably, as best seen in  FIG. 5A , the inward face of each second section  24 A, which faces the opposing arm portion  20 A, tapers as second section  24 A extends outward along the z-axis. Thus, the space  28  for receiving electrical plug  40 , which is defined by arm portions  20 A, is initially wider but becomes narrower approaching the outlet  50 , so as to help guide electric plug  40  for engagement with a socket  56 . Additionally, at least the second sections  24 A of the left and right arm portions  20 A are flexible so as to be capable of flexing in a direction generally away from socket  56 , and then rebound back to substantially its original position. 
         [0025]    In operation, once the plug lock  1  has been installed on an outlet  50 , a user may insert an electrical device&#39;s plug into the socket  56  with which the plug lock  1  is associated. As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 A and  5 B, flanges  30  on the second sections  24 A of arm portions  20 A initially extend into the space  28  such that the space  28  becomes too narrow for a standard plug  40  to fit through. Thus, when a plug  40  is pushed into the space  28 , the plug pushes laterally on the inside of second arm sections  24 A and/or flanges  30 , so as to cause second arm sections  24 A to flex laterally away from socket  56 . By flexing in this way, the movement of second arm sections  24 A causes the distance between the two flanges  30  to increase. Thus, plug  40  is able to pass therebetween for engagement with socket  56 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , once the widest part of plug  40  passes between flanges  30 , the arm portions  20 A rebound to substantially their original positions. The flanges  30  thereby extend over the top of at least a part of plug  40  to make removing plug  40  from socket  56  much more difficult. 
         [0026]    When removing the plug  40  from socket  56  is desired, a user may depress (i.e., apply pressure in the z direction) the third arm sections  26 . As above, the second arm sections  24 A are flexible, and the pressure on the third arm sections  26  again causes the second arm sections  24 A to flex laterally away from socket  56 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , by flexing in this way, the movement of second arm sections  24 A again causes the distance between the two flanges  30  to increase such that plug  40  is able to be extracted back therethrough. Releasing the third arm sections  26  again allows the second arm sections  24 A to rebound back to substantially their original positions. It is also recognized that the plug  40  may be inserted into outlet  50  by first depressing the third arm sections  26  so as to provide sufficient space for the plug  40  to clear the flanges  30  during the insertion process. 
         [0027]    An alternative embodiment of a plug lock  100  is shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 A, and  8 B. This embodiment is substantially the same as plug lock  1  discussed above, except that instead of having three arm sections  22 ,  24 A and  26 , plug lock  100  includes only two such aim sections. First aim section  22  of arm portions  20 B of plug lock  100  is substantially the same as with plug lock  1 . However, second arm section  24 B of plug lock  100  replaces second and third arm sections  24 A,  26  of plug lock  1 . In plug lock  100 , second arm section  24 B extends perpendicularly outward in the z direction from the distal end of the first section  22 . A flange  30  is positioned on second arm section  24 B in substantially the same location as on second arm section  24 A in plug lock  1 , and at least a part of the internal face of second arm section  24 B tapers similarly to that shown in second arm section  24 A of plug lock  1 . 
         [0028]    However, second arm section  24 B preferably extends farther than does second arm section  24 A, such that an end tab  25 B is formed at the distal end of each second arm section  24 B. In operation, a plug  40  may be inserted into socket  56  in essentially the same way as described above. The plug  40  pushes on second arm sections  24 B and/or flanges  30 , causing second arm sections  24 B to flex laterally away from socket  56  so as to allow the plug  40  to pass therebetween. As can be seen in  FIG. 8A , once the widest part of plug  40  passes between flanges  30 , the arm portions  20 B rebound to substantially their original positions. The flanges  30  thereby extend over the top of at least a part of plug  40  to make removing plug  40  from socket  56  much more difficult. 
         [0029]    When removing the plug  40  from socket  56  is desired, a user may apply lateral pressure (i.e., apply pressure in the x direction) on end tabs  25 B of second arm sections  24 B. As above, the second arm sections  24 B are flexible, and the pressure on the end tabs  25 B again causes the second arm sections  24 B to flex laterally away from socket  56 . As shown in  FIG. 8B , by flexing in this way, the movement of second arm sections  24 B again causes the distance between the two flanges  30  to increase such that plug  40  is able to be extracted back therethrough. Releasing the end tabs  25 B again allows the second arm sections  24 B to rebound back to substantially their original positions. 
         [0030]    Alternatively, it is recognized that instead of or in additional to flexible arm portions  20 A,  20 B, a plug lock may include a hinge or living hinge or the like. Regardless, the arm portions  20 A,  20 B are preferably biased toward a position in which a plug  40  cannot fit between flanges  30 . 
         [0031]    Thus, there has been shown and described an embodiment of a novel child-resistant plug lock. 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.