Patent ID: 7648375

Claim:
An electrical socket safety device, comprising: a base plate for an electrical receptacle exposing a plurality of electrical sockets thereon; a sliding plate slidably engaging the base plate for covering the plurality of electrical sockets, sliding the sliding plate away from the covering position exposing one or more of the plurality of electrical sockets; at least one spring loaded member protruding above the surface of the base plate through a slot therein at the urge of a spring force of the spring loaded member, the protruding portion of the spring loaded member having a first and a second sloped surface for facilitating the depression of the spring loaded member into the slot in the base plate; and at least one concave space on the sliding plate for accommodating the protruding spring loaded member, a first border area of the concave space forcing the first sloped surface to depress the spring loaded member into the slot in the base plate when the sliding plate sliding in a first direction, a second border area of the concave space forcing the second sloped surface to depress the spring loaded member into the slot in the base plate when the sliding plate sliding in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the sliding plate is held in a predetermined position through the engagement of the concave space on the sliding plate and the spring loaded member, sliding the sliding plate alone disengages the concave space on the sliding plate and the spring loaded member by overcoming the urge of the spring force of the spring loaded member through the facilitation of the first or second sloped surface on the spring loaded member, and the overcoming the urge of the spring force of the spring loaded member requires a predetermined force which is significantly greater than a child younger than 6 years of age can exert.