TisMe this might be right down your alley.  I have developed an
inexpensive child-proof outlet-cover, that has 4 separate features and
I need help deciding which feature to "lead with". The fact that it
prevents electrocution when there is nothing plugged in, and when the
outlet is empty.

The two other features are as follows, 1. If your computer or other
critical devices are plugged in, you will not need to be concerned
that the dog or the maid may inadvertently pull the plug on you.  2.
If your outlet were located behind the couch, and your House-Keeper,
were fresh out of an outlet to plug in the vacuum cleaner, she would
not have any trouble deciding which plug holds the alarm clock, or any
other critical device, because this outlet-cover provides labels for
whatever is occupying a given outlet.

So the big question is: which of these features has the highest
Pulling Power.  Not talking electric power now:)

I have an idea, if anyone sends me a S.A.S.E. I could forward one free
providing they will tell me which feature is most treasured.

I could be a big tipper if provoked:)

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Request for Question Clarification by tisme-ga on 05 Jun 2003 19:13 PDT

I want to be sure I understand all four features properly: 

Please elaborate on Feature #2 as I am not sure how/why this is a
feature because it sounds just like Feature #3. Also make sure that I
understand all the features. :)

FEATURE #1 - Prevents Electricution when nothing is plugged in by
preventing anything from being plugged in? (except in case of Feature
#4).
FEATURE #2 - Prevents Electricution when something is plugged in by
________
FEATURE #3 - Prevents Someone from accidently plugging out a critical
component because the device makes this hard/impossible to do.
FEATURE #4 - Allows certain outlets to be on a temporary basis
(example vacuum cleaner), while ensuring that the outlet is safe in
the meantime.

Finally, do you want me to pick the Feature that is the best, or do
you want to know what is more dangerous to a child  -- an occupied or
unoccupied outlet. (or maybe you want to know both?)

I look forward to your response!

tisme-ga

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Clarification of Question by toughlover-ga on 05 Jun 2003 21:11 PDT

You are right, I goofed on the explaination about the second feature.

Ok let me try once more.  Feature no. 1 should have read when the
outlet has no device plugged in.  While the second featuer with a
device plugged in, prevents a kid from inserting any metal fork,
spoon, knife, hairpin etc. between the plug and the wall and bridging
the prongs of the plug to cause a shock and or burn to the kid or pet.
 Not that the pet would bother to employ the utensil:) Feature 1. is
not novel, inthat it currently exists on the market.  Featuer 4
provides  means to label each socket in a multi plug outlet so that
one does not need to guess at what device is plugged in if the outlet
is located behind some piece of furniture that blocks line of sight
from the outlet to the device.

---

Request for Question Clarification by tisme-ga on 05 Jun 2003 22:22 PDT

Hello toughlover, 

After searching on Google with search such as: 

electric outlet cover "most dangerous"
electric outlet cover
electric shock prevention child OR children
danger electric outlet children

I still have not found a source that has been definitive. My personal
take would be to go with the features in the order of: #1, #2, #3,
#4... but am 50/50 on switching spots with #2 and #3.

I think that you should go with feature #1 because this is what
Electric Companies, Government Agencies etc. tell parents to buy to
protect their children. You can continue with the other features which
they will probaby read after you have them hooked. I really think you
should make all the features really stand out on the packaging or in
any advertising, as this is what will differentiate your product from
all the others. I frankly think it will be a great product and would
recommend it to parents and get a few for myself as there are often
children where I live. I am curious if this device would also work on
surge protectors (those long white bars with more plugins). I really
think the market could use something with your features for surge
protectors as well.

Researchers cannot give out our personal addresses (we must stay
somewhat anonymous). I might be able to order one if you get it to a
store that sells to Canada and give you my personal opinion (as well
as a few parents opinion). I definately think you have a great product
there! I only hope you have patented it and will be finding a good
distributor with a great marketing team.

Since I do not think (yet again on one of your questions) that this
merits an official answer, I did not post this as an answer.

PS: I posted a comment earlier for you on Question 211285. I had
forgotten about that one but this one reminded me.

All the best,

tisme-ga

---

Clarification of Question by toughlover-ga on 09 Jun 2003 01:34 PDT

To TisMe:
Yes TM I do have a patent on the device.

By the way feature #3 provides meens to strap the plug down such that
one has to use an impliment to cut it loose if one wants to remove the
plug, hence this provides another remedy for those loose plugs that
are inclined to shake loose.

Please snoop on my comment to Angy-ga...

As soon as you feel the comments have seased, you should re-submit
your material as an answer...Later I'll let you evaluate my
web-site...

I have to say, the labelling feature is the one I like and that seems
new to me. That is, I would buy this over other safety devices because
of the ability to label.

Thank you Angy for that feedback,the label is more of a convenience
feature but it really comes in handy when the outlet is behind some
piece of furniture that blocks the visual tracing of the cord from the
socket to the devices that are plugged in.  I used to jerk a cord and
ask my wife to tell me which one moves.

This is for TisMe to over hear:  While the first feature is common and
does render some protection to kids, it does not seem to me to be as
effective as the second feature and here is my theory:  when there is
a plug in an outlet, the two prongs that interfaces with the
electricity brings the danger from inside the socket to the outside. 
If the kid tugs at the cord and puts any metal object across the two
prongs, it will do its dirty deed.  Note that when the socket is
unoccupied, you cannot produce a spark by inserting anything in just
one of the slots, though if you stuck a metalic object into the live
side and manage to ground yourself, you could receive a shock.  Aslo
while almost any metal object can be used to bridge the two prongs
between the plug and the wall, there are fewer objects that fits into
the socket slots (holes) when the outlet is unccupied.  The
"authorities" only recommend the remedy that they know exist on the
market.  Yes TisMe the device is patented.

Where are you TisMe, why are you not re-working your findings as an answer?