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A reusable protective cover provides a means for sealing off an opening leading into the interior chamber of an electrical outlet box during construction activities to prevent foreign material from entering the chamber. The temporary protective cover has a flat rectangular back plate, a rectangular

A reusable protective cover provides a means for sealing off an opening leading into the interior chamber of an electrical outlet box during construction activities to prevent foreign material from entering the chamber. The temporary protective cover has a flat rectangular back plate, a rectangular collar with independently-flexing wall sections, and a flange.

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1. A reusable protective cover for temporarily covering an opening leading into the interior chamber of an electrical outlet box during construction activities, the protective cover comprising:a flat rectangular back plate; a rectangular collar extending outward from the back plate comprising four i

1. A reusable protective cover for temporarily covering an opening leading into the interior chamber of an electrical outlet box during construction activities, the protective cover comprising:a flat rectangular back plate; a rectangular collar extending outward from the back plate comprising four independently-flexing wall sections, wherein at least two of the wall sections are sloped outward to frictionally engage interior surfaces of the electrical outlet box and accommodate different sizes of electrical outlet box openings; and a flange connected to an outer rim of the rectangular collar, wherein the flange is sized to overlap edges of the outlet box opening and seal off the chamber to prevent foreign material from entering the chamber. 2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the flange is made up of four independent flange sections, each one being connected to one of the wall sections.3. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the rectangular collar has a pair of indented portions to receive a pair of ribs in the electrical outlet box.4. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein a gap located at each corner of the rectangular collar spaces each of the four independently-flexing wall sections from adjacent independently-flexing wall sections.5. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the rectangular collar has one or more holes to receive a tool for removing the protective cover from the electrical outlet box.6. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the flange has a rectangular outer perimeter.7. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is a single piece of sheet metal.8. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is plastic or rubber.9. A temporary protective cover for sealing off front openings of different size mud rings located on electrical outlet boxes, the temporary protective cover comprising:a rectangular back plate; a rectangular collar extending outward from the rectangular back plate comprising four wall sections and at least one gap that spaces adjacent wall sections from each other, wherein at least two of the wall sections slope outward to frictionally engage an inner rim of the mud ring front opening; and a flange connected to an outer portion of the rectangular collar, wherein the flange is sized to overlap an outer rim in the front opening of the mud ring. 10. The temporary protective cover of claim 9, wherein the at least one gap comprises a gap located at each corner of the rectangular collar spaces each of the wall sections from adjacent wall sections and allows each wall member to flex independent of the other wall sections.11. The temporary protective cover of claim 9, wherein the rectangular collar has one or more holes to receive a tool for removing the temporary protective cover from the mud ring.12. The temporary protective cover of claim 9, wherein the flange has an outer perimeter that is rectangular.13. The temporary protective cover of claim 9, wherein the temporary protective cover is a single piece of sheet metal.14. The temporary protective cover of claim 9, wherein the temporary protective cover is plastic or rubber.15. A temporary protective cover for covering the front opening of an electrical outlet box having outward edges and a pair of ribs with threaded screw holes, the temporary protective cover comprising:a back plate; a rectangular collar projecting outward from the back plate, the rectangular collar comprising: four wall sections that can flex independent of each other; dimples protruding from outer portions of the wall sections to frictionally engage interior sidewalls in the electrical outlet box; a pair of indented portions in the wall sections, wherein the indented portions are sized to receive the pair of ribs; one or more holes formed in the wall sections to receive a tool for removing the protective cover from the electrical outlet box; and a flange connected to an outer rim portion of the rectangular collar, wherein the flange is sized to seal off the outlet box opening and prevent foreign matter from entering the outlet box. 16. The temporary protective cover of claim 15, wherein a gap between adjacent wall sections is disposed at each corner in the rectangular collar.17. The temporary protective cover of claim 16, wherein at least two of the wall sections are sloped outward to frictionally engage interior sidewalls of the electrical outlet box.18. The temporary protective cover of claim 15, wherein the temporary protective cover is single piece of sheet metal.19. The temporary protective cover of claim 15, wherein the temporary protective cover is plastic or rubber.20. A removable protective cover for shielding an interior chamber of an electrical outlet box and the contents contained therein, the removable protective cover comprising:a flat rectangular back plate; a rectangular collar extending outward from the back plate and terminating at an outer rim, the rectangular collar comprising four independently-flexing wall sections, wherein at least two of the wall sections are sloped outward to frictionally engage surfaces in communication with an opening leading into the interior chamber of the electrical outlet box, the sloped wall sections allowing the rectangular collar to fit different-sized openings; and a flange connected to the outer rim of the rectangular collar, wherein the flange is sized to overlap a lip framing the opening and seal off the opening. 21. The removable protective cover of claim 20, wherein the surfaces that are frictionally engaged by the sloped wall sections are formed by the interior walls of the electrical outlet box.22. The removable protective cover of claim 20, wherein the opening is a front opening in a mud ring and the surfaces that are frictionally engaged by the sloped wall sections are formed by edges defining the front opening of the mud ring.23. The temporary protective cover of claim 20, wherein a gap, located at each corner of the rectangular collar where adjacent independently-flexing wall sections meet, spaces each of the four independently-flexing wall sections from adjacent independently-flexing wall sections.24. A protective cover for temporarily covering an opening leading into an interior chamber of an electrical outlet box during construction activities, the protective cover comprising:a rectangular back plate; a rectangular collar extending outward from the back plate and terminating at an outer rim, the rectangular collar comprising four independently-flexing wall sections, wherein at least two of the wall sections are sloped outward to frictionally engage surfaces in communication with the opening leading into the interior chamber of the electrical outlet box to secure the protective cover inside the opening; and a plurality of gaps, wherein each gap is located between two of the independently-flexing wall sections. 25. The protective cover of claim 24, wherein the rectangular backplate is flat.26. The protective cover of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of gaps is located at a different corner of the rectangular collar.27. The protective cover of claim 24, wherein the protective cover has four gaps.28. The protective cover of claim 24, wherein the protective cover has at least one hole formed therein to receive a tool for removing the protective cover from the electrical outlet box.29. The protective cover of claim 24, wherein two of the wall sections each have an indented portion to receive a pair of ribs located on the electrical box proximate to the front opening and having threaded screw holes.30. The protective cover of claim 24 further comprising:a flange connected to the outer rim of the rectangular collar, wherein the flange is sized to overlap at least one edge of the electrical outlet box opening.