Abstract:
Embodiments of electric plugs and related methods are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/111,373, filed on Nov. 5, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an electrical plug and, more particularly, to an electrical plug having a low profile housing and a rotatable electrical cord. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional electrical plugs can be undesirable because they typically include a housing designed to protrude a substantial distance from the outlet surface, such as, for example a wall when the plug is inserted into a wall outlet contained with the wall. This protrusion causes the plug to be susceptible to unintentional disengagement by: objects moving near the wall outlet, such as, for example persons or objects a person may be carrying; objects being placed close to the wall, such as, for example furniture, computing equipment, consumer electronics and the like; or any such other objects that may come into close proximity to a wall outlet. 
         [0004]    Many varieties of electrical plugs have been developed which have low profile housings. These electrical plugs with low profile housings are advantageous because they have a reduced housing profile in comparison to conventional electrical plugs. As such, electrical plugs with low profile housings can be less susceptible to unintentional disengagement and may permit objects to be placed closer to a wall outlet, and therefore its associated wall, than is possible with conventional plugs. 
         [0005]    Most electrical plugs with low profile housings include a power cord that exits the plug perpendicular to the prongs of the plug so as to decrease the profile of plug&#39;s housing. Therefore, when the plug is inserted into a wall outlet, the power cord exits the plug housing parallel to the face of the wall outlet. Unfortunately, this configuration may prove undesirable because it is possible for the cord to block other receptacles in the outlet after it exits the low profile housing. Blocking receptacles prevents additional plugs from being inserted into the outlet. This is even more of a problem with polarized plugs or plugs incorporating a ground prong since these plugs can only be inserted into the wall outlet in a single orientation. Additionally, many current solutions involving lower profile housings include numerous moving parts that increase the cost of the plug device as well as introduce additional failure points into the power distribution system. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a need exists in the art to develop electrical plugs with low profile housings, higher reliability and include a reduction in cost, and related methods thereto that address such limitations of the current technology. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description of examples of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric top view of an embodiment of an exemplary rotatable electric plug, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric partially-exploded right side view of the rotatable electric plug of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric interior view of the bottom housing portion of the rotatable electric plug of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric translucent right side view of the rotatable electric plug of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a procedure of providing a rotatable electric plug. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements. 
         [0014]    The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus. 
         [0015]    The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. 
         [0016]    The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but not mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical, electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. 
         [0017]    “Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include coupling involving any electrical signal, whether a power signal, a data signal, and/or other types or combinations of electrical signals. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include mechanical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In one embodiment, an electric plug can include: (a) a housing having: (1) a top piece having an interior surface and an exterior surface and including a first opening; (2) a bottom piece having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the bottom piece in mechanical communication with the top piece and forming a cavity defined by the interior surface of the top piece and the interior surface of the bottom piece, the cavity including a second opening; (3) a rotatable plug assembly substantially rectangularly configured and having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first portion of the rotatable plug assembly associated with the bottom surface located within the cavity, a second portion of the rotatable plug assembly protruding from the first opening; and (4) a blade array including a plurality of plug blades, each plug blade of the plurality of plug blades having an outlet end and a connector end, the connector end of each plug blade located within the rotatable plug assembly, a portion of a remainder portion of each plug blade exiting the top surface of the rotatable plug assembly; and (b) a power cord configured to pass through the second opening of the cavity, the power cord having a plurality of wires, each wire the plurality of wires including an end, the end of each wire located within the rotatable plug assembly and configured to mechanically couple to and be in electrical communication with the connector end of an associated one of the plurality of plug blades. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, an electric plug can include: (a) an electrically insulative top shell, the electrically insulative top shell including a circular opening; (b) an electrically insulative bottom shell mechanically coupled to the electrically insulative top shell, the coupling of the electrically insulative top shell and the electrically insulative bottom shell forming an interior cavity and a power cable hole; (c) a dynamic plug assembly means within the interior cavity, the dynamic plug assembly means in rotatable communication with the circular opening of the electrically insulative top shell and configured to receive a power cable and facilitate the coupling of the power cable to a plurality of plug blades partially located within the dynamic plug assembly; (d) a blade array including the plurality of plug blades, each plug blade of the plurality of plug blades having an outlet end and a connector end, the connector end of each plug blade located within the dynamic plug assembly means, a portion of a remainder portion of each plug blade exiting a top surface of the dynamic plug assembly means; and (e) the power cable configured to pass through the power cable hole into the interior cavity, the power cable having a plurality of wires, each wire of the plurality of wires including an end, the end of each wire located within the dynamic plug assembly means and configured to mechanically couple to and be in electrical communication with the connector end of an associated one of the plurality of plug blades. 
         [0020]    Other embodiments include a method of providing an electric plug. The method can include: providing plug elements; coupling wires of a power cable to blade contacts; forming a rotatable plug assembly having a blade array including the blade contacts and plug blades; passing a top surface of the rotatable plug assembly through a first opening of a top piece of a housing; positioning a bottom surface of the rotatable plug assembly over a bottom piece of the housing that includes an enclosure configured to receive the bottom surface of the rotatable plug assembly and a tab stop configured to limit a rotation of the rotatable plug assembly; and coupling the bottom piece of the housing to the top piece of the housing so that a second opening is formed between the bottom piece of the housing to the top piece of the housing so that the power cable passes through the second opening. 
         [0021]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric top view of an embodiment of an exemplary rotatable electric plug system  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the subject matter described herein. System  100  is merely exemplary and is not limited to embodiments presented herein. System  100  can be implemented in many different embodiments or examples not presented herein. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 1 , rotatable electric plug system  100  includes rotatable electric plug head  110  that includes rotatable electric plug head  120  and power cable  130 . Rotatable electric plug head  120  includes a housing  121 , a rotatable plug assembly  122 , a blade array  123  and strain relief  124 . 
         [0023]    Housing  121  includes a cavity and an opening configured to receive power cable  130 . Strain relief  124  is configured to reduce strain on power cable  130  at the point where power cable  130  enters housing  121 . Housing  121  additionally include a second opening that is configured to receive a portion of rotatable plug assembly  122 . Rotatable plug assembly  122  is slidably coupled to and in rotatable communication with housing  121 . 
         [0024]    Blade array  123  is contained within rotatable plug assembly  122  with a portion of each of the blades of blade array  123  protruding from rotatable plug assembly  122  and configured to mechanical couple to and be in electrical communication with a power outlet. Each blade of blade array  123  is additionally configured to mechanical couple to and be in electrical communication with an associated portion of power cable  130  (detailed below). In some embodiments, this mechanical coupling occurs within rotatable plug assembly  122 . Because rotatable plug assembly  122  is in rotatable communication with housing  121 , blade array  123  includes a freedom of rotation of between approximately 270-300 degrees to interface with the aforementioned electric outlet (detailed below). 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric partially-exploded right side view of rotatable electric plug system  200 , in accordance with one embodiment of the subject matter described herein. System  200  is merely exemplary and is not limited to embodiments presented herein. System  200  can be implemented in many different embodiments or examples not presented herein. Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  above function in a substantially similarly way. 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 2 , rotatable electric plug head  110  includes top housing  221  having an opening that is disposed to contain rotatable plug assembly  122 , and bottom housing  222  configured to mechanically couple to top housing  221  and thereby form a cavity to at least partially contain rotatable plug assembly  120  (via top opening  226 ) as well as a connecting end portion of power cable  130  (via side opening  223 ) within strain relief  124 . 
         [0027]    As described above, rotatable plug assembly  122  is located within the cavity formed by top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  and is further configured to contain a portion of blade array  123 . Rotatable plug assembly  122  is configured to slidably fit within top opening  226  of top housing  221  and is further configured to occupy a portion of the cavity formed by top housing  221  and bottom housing  222 . In one embodiment, the opening of top housing  221  is delimited by housing flange  225 , where housing flange  225  is complementary with a top assembly flange  125  at the perimeter of rotatable plug assembly  122  to thereby restrict rotatable plug assembly  122  from exiting through top opening  226  of top housing  221 . In other embodiments, rotatable plug assembly  122  includes a bottom assembly flange  126  to maintain alignment within bottom housing  222  (detailed in  FIG. 3 , below). In these embodiments, bottom assembly flange  126  can include a rotation limiting tab  127  that reduces the amount rotatable plug assembly  122  can rotate. 
         [0028]    As described above, rotatable plug assembly  122  additionally includes blade array  123  having a plurality of plug blades. The plug blades are sized to be received within rotatable plug assembly  122 , and configured such that a portion of each blade in blade array  123  is retained within the cavity formed by top housing  221  and bottom housing  222 . Rotatable plug assembly  122  also includes components to mechanically couple each of the plug blades of blade array  123  to an associated wire of wiring harness  131  (detailed in  FIG. 4 , below). Power cable  130  includes the aforementioned wiring harness  131  that is located at an end portion of power cable  130  and includes a plurality of wires capable of providing power received from the plug blades of blade array  123  to a device in communication with another end portion of power cable  130 . The excess portion of wiring harness  131  forms a service loop. Wiring harness  131  and the service loop are detailed below. In operation, each wire of wiring harness  131  is mechanically coupled to a portion of an associated plug blade of blade array  123  (detailed in  FIG. 4 , below). 
         [0029]    As described above, the cavity formed by top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  additionally includes side opening  223  in communication with an upper strain relief area  228  configured to receive a portion of strain relief  124 . Additionally, side opening  223  is sized to receive an end portion of power cable  130  passing through strain relief  124 . Power cable  130  is configured to be slidably coupled to strain relief  124  and strain relief  124  is configured to allow power cable  130  to pass through it. In some embodiments, strain relief  124  is configured as a flexible tube including a cable securing portion configured to receive the exterior portion of power cable  130  such that power cable  130  is in slidable communication with the interior of strain relief  124 . In such embodiments, strain relief  124  further includes a housing securing portion configured as a yoke to mechanically couple to the exterior of power cable  130  and to a point within the cavity formed by housing  221  and bottom housing  222 , such that power cable  130  is in slidable communication with the interior of strain relief  124 . In these embodiments, portions of power cable  130  are able to slide back-and-forth through strain relief  124  while strain relief  124  provides protection to power cable  130  when power cable  130  is pulled in a direction away from rotatable electric plug head  120 . 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  are coupled together using an ultrasonic welding methodology that is further secured by screws  224  passing through entry holes  227  in top housing  221  and anchoring within bottom housing  222  (described in  FIG. 3 , below). In other embodiments, top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  are coupled using an adhesive methodology that is further secured by screws  224  as described above. In still other embodiments, top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  are coupled using a thermal methodology, such as using a hotplate or laser technique, that is further secured by screws  224  as described above. In another embodiment, screws  224  are used without any welding, adhesive, or thermal techniques, or such welding, adhesive, and/or thermal techniques are used without screws  224 . Top housing  221 , bottom housing  222 , and strain relief  124  can be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as, for example flame rated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, as available from General Electric Co. In other examples, top housing  221 , bottom housing  222 , and strain relief  124  can be manufactured from any other rigid or semi-rigid flame rated thermoplastic materials, such as, for example, flame rated polycarbonate plastic or polystyrene plastic. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric interior view of a portion of rotatable electric plug system  300 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. System  300  is merely exemplary and is not limited to embodiments presented herein. System  300  can be implemented in many different embodiments or examples not presented herein.  FIG. 3  details bottom housing  222  portion of rotatable electric plug  110  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 and 2  above function in a substantially similarly way. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 3 , bottom housing  222  includes cavity  301  containing rotation limiting tab stop  320 , service loop enclosure  330 , screw attachment points  331  and lower strain relief area  311 . Rotation limiting tab stop  320  includes rotation limiting tab stop facings  321 . Screw attachment points  331  are configured to receive screws  224  via entry holes  227  within top housing  221  ( FIG. 2 , above). Lower strain relief area  311  is configured to form the strain relief area with upper strain relief area  228  of top housing  221  ( FIG. 2 , above). In one embodiment, when top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  are coupled together the strain relief area is configured to receive strain relief  124  ( FIG. 2 , above) that is slidably coupled to power cable  130  ( FIG. 2 , above). 
         [0033]    Service loop enclosure  330  is configured to receive bottom assembly flange  126 , to contain and protect service loop portion of wiring harness  131  ( FIG. 2 , above) associated with power cable  130 , and to allow rotatable plug assembly  122  ( FIG. 2 , above) to rotate within the cavity defined by top housing  221  and bottom housing  222  to the extent permitted by the length of the service loop portion of wiring harness  131  and the positioning of rotation limiting tab stop facings  321  within bottom housing  222 . In some embodiments, rotation limiting tab stop  320 , rotation limiting tab stop facings  321 , screw attachment points  331  and service loop enclosure  330  are manufactured as part of bottom housing  222 . In these embodiments, the elements described immediately above can be manufactured as described above with respect to bottom housing  222 . 
         [0034]    In operation, a combination of rotation limiting tab stop facings  321  of rotation limiting tab stop  320  within bottom housing  222  interacting with rotation limiting tab  127  ( FIG. 4 , below) of rotatable plug assembly  122  allows rotatable plug assembly  122  to rotate approximately 270-300 degrees within the cavity created by bottom housing  222  and top housing  221 . In other embodiments, rotation limiting tab stop facings  321  and/or rotation limiting tab  127  ( FIG. 4 , below) have a different configuration to allow rotatable plug assembly  122  to rotate a different amount, such as, for example, approximately 90 degrees, approximately 180 degrees, or any other angle. 
         [0035]    Because the wires of wiring harness  131  ( FIG. 2 , above) are mechanically coupled to the top portion of rotatable plug assembly  122 , the wires of wiring harness  131  are substantially perpendicular to the angular movement of rotatable plug assembly  122  within the cavity created by bottom housing  222  and top housing  221 . Additionally, because the service loop portion of wiring harness  131  ( FIG. 2 ) is located within service loop enclosure  330  and because the rotation of rotatable plug assembly  122  is limited by rotation limiting tab  127  and rotation limiting tab stop facings  321 , a large angular rotation is achieved as well as a reduction of strain on the wires of wiring harness  131  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric translucent right side view of rotatable electric plug system  400 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. System  400  is merely exemplary and is not limited to embodiments presented herein. System  400  can be implemented in many different embodiments or examples not presented herein. Elements in  FIG. 4  that are similarly numbered in previous Figures perform in substantially similar ways. 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 4 , rotatable plug assembly  122  is illustrated as a transparent element and includes plug blades  441 - 443  and blade contacts  421 - 423 , wherein each blades of the plug blades  441 - 443  is mechanically coupled and in electrical communication with an associated one of blade contacts  421 - 423 . Additionally, rotatable plug assembly  122  includes a contact carrier  425  including slots for receiving plug blades  441 - 443  and associated blade contacts  421 - 423 . In some embodiments, contact carrier  425  is configured to receive plug blades  441 - 443  and associated blade contacts  421 - 423 , which are stamped and formed so as to pass through contact carrier  425  via the aforementioned slots. In some examples, blade contacts are cylindrical in shape. In other examples, blasé contacts  421 - 413  are a shape other than cylindrical. In such embodiments, contact carrier  425  defines a physical location for each of the plug blades  441 - 443  and each associated blade contact  421 - 423  within rotatable plug assembly  122 . Further to the embodiments, the wires of wiring harness  131 , which can include wires  431 - 433 , are mechanically coupled to and in electrical communication with each associated blade contact  421 - 423  for communicating a power signal from rotatable plug assembly  122  to power cable  130 , wherein an excess of the wires of wiring harness  131  form the aforementioned service loop. 
         [0038]    In still other embodiments, each of plug blades  441 - 443  and associated blade contacts  421 - 423  is manufactured as a single piece element within rotatable plug assembly  122 . In other embodiments, each of plug blades  441 - 443  and associated blade contacts  421 - 423  are manufactured as separate elements and then are electrically and mechanically coupled together prior to insertion through contact carrier  425 . Plug blades  441 - 443  and blade contacts  421 - 423  can be manufactured from any suitable electrically conducting material, such as, for example, copper alloys including brass and bronze alloys. Contact carrier  425  can be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as, for example flame rated ABS plastic, but also could be manufactured from other rigid or semi-rigid flame rated thermoplastic materials, such as, for example, flame rated polycarbonate plastic or polystyrene plastic. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, rotatable plug assembly  122  of the rotatable electric plug is constructed as follows: plug blades  441 - 443  and associated blade contacts  421 - 423  are inserted within contact carrier  425  via slots in contact carrier  425 ; the wires of wiring harness  131  are electrically and mechanically coupled to an associated one of blade contacts  421 - 423 ; a portion of length of the wire of wiring harness  131  are positioned to form a service loop; and rotatable plug assembly  122  (including rotation limiting tab  127  and top assembly flange  125  and bottom assembly flange  126 , as seen in  FIG. 2 ) is formed using an overmold methodology to mold rotatable plug assembly  122  around plug blades  441 - 443 , blade contacts  421 - 423 , and contact carrier  425  to encapsulate all or a portion of plug blades  441 - 443 , blade contacts  421 - 423  and contact carrier  425 . In other embodiments, rotatable plug assembly  122  does not include contact carrier  425 . In such embodiments, rotatable plug assembly  122  (including rotation limiting tab  127  and top assembly flange  125  and bottom assembly flange  126 , as seen in  FIG. 2 ) is formed using an overmold methodology to mold rotatable plug assembly  122  around plug blades  441 - 443 , and blade contacts  421 - 423  to encapsulate all or a portion of plug blades  441 - 443  and blade contacts  421 - 423 . In some embodiments, the wires of wiring harness  131  are electrically and mechanically coupled to blade contacts  421 - 423  by inserting each wire of wiring harness  131  into an associated one of blade contacts  421 - 423  and crimping portions of blade contacts  421 - 423 . In other embodiments, each wire of wiring harness  131  is electrically and mechanically coupled to an associated blade contact  421 - 423  by inserting each associated wire of wiring harness  131  into an associated one of blade contacts  421 - 423  and soldering each wires of wiring harness  131  to the associated blade contact  421 - 423 . In still other embodiments, each wire of wiring harness  131  is electrically and mechanically coupled to an associated blade contact  421 - 423  by inserting each of wire of wiring harness  131  into an associated one of blade contacts  421 - 423  and using a combination of crimping and soldering to secure the wires of wiring harness  131  to blade contacts  421 - 423 . In some embodiments, rotatable plug assembly  122  (including rotation limiting tab  127  and top assembly flange  125  and bottom assembly flange  126 , as seen in  FIG. 2 ) is formed using an overmold methodology utilizing polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) or other thermoplastic polymer using phthalates as well as other plasticizers. 
         [0040]    In other embodiments, rotatable electric plug  110  is constructed as follows: rotatable plug assembly  122 , power cable  130  and strain relief  124  are maneuvered so that plug blades  441 - 443  of rotatable plug assembly  122  and a portion of rotatable plug assembly  122  pass through top opening  226  ( FIG. 2 , above) of top housing  221  ( FIG. 2 , above); bottom housing  222  ( FIG. 2 , above) is maneuvered so that the wires of wiring harness  131  that form the service loop and bottom assembly flange  126  are located within service loop enclosure  330  ( FIG. 3 , above), and strain relief  124  is located within the cavity formed by lower strain relief area  311  ( FIG. 3 , above) of bottom housing  222  and an associated region of top housing  221 ; and coupling bottom housing  222  to top housing  221  using a methodology described above. 
         [0041]    Advantages of the rotatable electric plug include reducing strain at a location where the wires of wiring harness  131  couple to blade contacts  421 - 423 , while allowing a large angle of rotation of rotatable plug assembly  122  within the cavity created within top housing  221  and bottom housing  222 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a method  500  of providing a rotatable assembly. Method  500  is merely exemplary and is not limited to embodiments presented herein. Method  500  can be implemented in many different embodiments or examples not presented herein. 
         [0043]    Method  500  of  FIG. 5  includes a procedure  510  of providing rotatable plug elements. The rotatable plug elements can include: a top piece of a housing, a bottom piece of the housing, a blade array, and a power cable. The top piece of the housing can be the same as or similar to top housing  221  ( FIG. 2 ); the bottom piece of the housing can be the same as or similar to bottom housing  222  ( FIGS. 2-3 ); the blade array can be the same as or similar to blade array  123  ( FIGS. 1-2 ); and the power cable can be the same as or similar to power cable  130  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ). In some embodiments the power cable can include wires. The wires can be the same as or similar to wires  431 - 433  ( FIG. 4 ). In some embodiments, the blade array can include plug blades and blade contacts. The plug blades can be the same as or similar to plug blades  441 - 443  ( FIG. 4 ); and blade contacts can be the same as or similar to blade contacts  421 - 423  ( FIG. 4 ). In addition, the rotatable plug elements can further include a contact carrier and a strain relief. The contact carrier can be the same as or similar to contact carrier  425  ( FIG. 4 ); and the strain relief can be the same as or similar to strain relief  124  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 ). 
         [0044]    Next, method  500  continues with a procedure  520  of coupling the wires to the contacts. In some embodiments, the contacts can be the same as or similar to the blade contacts. In other embodiments, the contacts can be a contact end of the plug blades, and there are no separate contacts. In some embodiments, the wires are electrically and mechanically coupled to the blade contacts by inserting each of the wires into an associated one of the blade contacts and crimping portions of the blade contacts. In other embodiments, each of the wires is electrically and mechanically coupled to an associated blade contact by inserting each of the wires into an associated one of the blade contacts and soldering each of the wires to the associated blade contact. In still other embodiments, each of the wires is electrically and mechanically coupled to an associated one of the blade contacts by inserting each of the wires into an associated one of the blade contacts and using a combination of crimping and soldering to secure the wires to the blade contacts. 
         [0045]    Subsequently, method  500  has a procedure  530  of forming a rotatable plug assembly. In some embodiments, the rotatable plug assembly is constructed as follows: the plug blades and the associated blade contacts are inserted within the contact carrier via slots in contact carrier; the wires are electrically and mechanically coupled to an associated one of the blade contacts; a portion of length of the wires are positioned to form a service loop; and rotatable plug assembly (including a rotation limiting tab, which can be the same as or similar to rotation limiting tab  127 , top assembly flange, which can be the same as or similar to top assembly flange  125 , and bottom assembly flange, which can be the same as or similar to bottom assembly flange  126 , as seen in  FIG. 2 ) is formed using an overmold methodology to mold the rotatable plug assembly around the plug blades, the blade contacts, and the contact carrier to encapsulate all or a portion of the plug blades, the blade contacts, and the contact carrier. In other embodiment, rotatable plug assembly  122  does not include contact carrier  425 . In such embodiments, rotatable plug assembly (including a rotation limiting tab, which can be the same as or similar to rotation limiting tab  127 , top assembly flange, which can be the same as or similar to top assembly flange  125 , and bottom assembly flange, which can be the same as or similar to bottom assembly flange  126 , as seen in  FIG. 2 ) is formed using an overmold methodology to mold the rotatable plug assembly around the plug blades and the blade contacts to encapsulate all or a portion of the plug blades and the blade contacts. In some embodiments, the rotatable plug assembly is formed using an overmold methodology utilizing polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) or other thermoplastic polymer using phthalates as well as other plasticizers. 
         [0046]    After procedure  530 , method  500  continues with a procedure  540  of passing a top surface of the rotatable plug assembly through a first opening of the top piece of the housing. As an example, the first opening can be the same as or similar to top opening  226  ( FIG. 2 ). In the same or other examples, the top surface of the rotatable plug assembly can be the surface at which the plug blades are exposed. 
         [0047]    Next, method  500  has a procedure  550  of positioning the bottom surface of the rotatable plug assembly in the bottom piece of the housing. The bottom surface of the rotatable plug assembly can be the surface opposite of the top surface of the rotatable plug assembly. In addition, the bottom portion of the housing can include a service loop enclosure, and a rotation limiting tab stop, which can include rotation limiting tab stop facings. The service loop enclosure can be the same as or similar to service loop enclosure  330  ( FIG. 3 ); the rotation limiting tab stop can be the same as or similar to rotation limiting tab stop  320  ( FIG. 3 ); and the rotation limiting tab stop facings can be the same as or similar to rotation limiting tab stop facings  321  ( FIG. 3 ). The bottom surface of the rotatable plug assembly can be positioned so that the bottom assembly flange of the bottom surface of the rotatable plug assembly can be received by the service loop enclosure. 
         [0048]    Subsequently, method  500  continues with a procedure  560  of coupling the bottom piece of the housing with the top piece of the housing. The bottom piece of the housing and the top piece of the housing can be coupled using ultrasonic welding, adhesives, a thermal methodology, and/or screws. In some embodiments, when the bottom piece of the housing and the top piece of the housing are coupled a second opening is formed. The second opening can be configured to allow the power cable to pass through into the housing. In the same or different embodiments, the second opening can be configured to receive the strain relief, thereby allowing the power cable to slide through the strain relief in the second opening. 
         [0049]    Although  FIG. 5  illustrated various procedures of method  500 , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made to method  500  without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the order of the procedures can be altered. As one example, procedure  530  can occur before procedure  520 ; and/or procedure  550  can occur before procedure  540 . As another example, not all the plug elements described in reference to procedure  510  above need to be provided at one time. It is possible that the bottom piece of the housing may not be provided until procedure  560  is being performed. 
         [0050]    Although aspects of the subject matter described herein have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the subject matter described herein and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the subject matter described herein shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. To one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the devices and method discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and may disclose alternative embodiments. 
         [0051]    All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the subject matter described herein and claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. 
         [0052]    Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.