Abstract:
An electrical outlet includes an outlet housing having an outer support arm and an inner support arm, the outer and inner support arms defining a socket receptacle; the inner and outer support arms having a rotational support member and a fixed electrical contact assembly; a rotary socket having at least one plug receiver for receiving an electrical plug and a rotary contact plate attached thereto; wherein the rotary contact plate is rotationally supported by the rotational support member, and the rotary contact plate maintains electrical contact with the fixed electrical contact assembly through a predetermined range of rotation of the rotary socket. Rotation control functions of the rotary contact plate to limit the range of rotation and provide adjustable angles of rotation are also described.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to an electrical outlet, and, particularly, to an electrical outlet with adjustable rotary sockets. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electrical outlets having multiple sockets are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The use and need for multiple sockets has increased with increased usage of electrical equipment. For example, in the home and office, multiple socket electrical outlets are widely used to power multiple pieces of computer equipment, audio/visual equipment, kitchen equipment, and the wide variety of consumer electronics. These electrical outlets are commonly referred to as surge protectors or electrical strips. 
     Similarly, as the use of mobile devices has proliferated so has the need for mobile electrical power. The wide variety of consumer electronics includes cellular telephones, laptop computers, e-readers, tablets, portable music players and other items and the average consumer has several of these items. However, many of these items require alternating current. Inverters are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and are used to convert direct current, such as from a conventional battery, to alternating current, such as required by many consumer electronics. Various electrical outlets having an inverter include multiple sockets. However, there remains a need for an electrical outlet having rotary sockets and adjustable to a desired angle of rotation. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrical outlet comprises: an outlet housing having an outer support arm and an inner support arm, the outer and inner support arms defining a socket receptacle; the inner and outer support arms having a rotational support member and a fixed electrical contact assembly; a rotary socket having at least one plug receiver for receiving an electrical plug and a rotary contact plate attached thereto; wherein the rotary contact plate is rotationally supported by the rotational support member, and the rotary contact plate maintains electrical contact with the fixed electrical contact assembly through a predetermined range of rotation of the rotary socket. 
     According to another embodiment, an adjustable rotary socket assembly comprises: a housing having a fixed electrical contact assembly and an upwardly urged detent; a socket having a first side, a second side, a rotary contact plate affixed to each side thereof, and an upper casing having at least one plug receiver; the plug receiver having at least one terminal contact; the rotary contact plates are electrically connected to the at least terminal contact and the fixed electrical contact assembly; wherein the rotary contact plates are rotationally supported by the housing, limit a range of rotation of the rotary socket, and have at least one indent; and wherein the detent is received by the at least one indent at an angle of rotation within the range of rotation of the rotary socket. 
     Further aspects, objectives, and advantages, as well as the structure and function of embodiments, will become apparent from a consideration of the description, drawings, and examples. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rotary socket assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lower housing of the rotary socket assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fixed electrical contacts assembled with the lower housing of the rotary socket assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rotary sockets assembled in the assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the rotary sockets; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear exploded view of rotary sockets and lower housing of the rotary socket assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotary socket assembled with upper and lower housing assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other equivalent parts can be employed and other methods developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a rotary socket assembly  1  which generally comprises rotary sockets  3 , a lower housing  5  and an upper housing  7 . The lower and upper housings  5 ,  7  form rotary socket receptacles  9  between support members  11 ,  13 , and  15 . The rotary socket assembly  1  may be integrated with a battery housing, a DC-to-AC inverter, or other type of circuit board (not shown) for connecting to a power source (not shown). According to the embodiment of the present invention shown on  FIG. 1 , a partial view of the inverter is shown in combination with the rotary socket assembly  1 . As shown, the inverter assembly may be integral with the rotary socket assembly. Alternatively, the rotary socket assembly  1  may be separate from the inverter assembly. The rotary sockets  3  have at least one plug receiver  17  for receiving an electrical plug (not shown). As known to one having ordinary skill in the art, the plug may include receivers for live, neutral, and/or ground connections. The rotary sockets  3  rotate within the rotary socket assembly  1  about a rotational axis A, as shown in  FIG. 7 . It is foreseen that the assembly may be modified to include only one rotary socket or more than two rotary sockets. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower housing  5  is shown. The lower housing  5  generally comprises support arms  21  and  23  for rotatably supporting the rotary sockets  3 . Each outer support arm  21  forms a socket receptacle  9  with the middle support arm  23 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outer support arms  21  are substantially identical but in mirror image. The lower housing  5  is formed with female connectors  27  for receiving male connectors  29  of the upper housing  7 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Advantageously, the male/female connectors properly align the lower and upper housings  5 ,  7  to facilitate rotation of the rotary sockets  3 . Additionally, the lower housing  5  includes alignment means  31  such as a groove and lip for further aligning and securing together the lower and upper housings  5 ,  7 . It is foreseen that other methods may be used to align the lower and upper housings such as, for example, a tongue and groove connection. 
     The lower housing  5  further includes rotational support members  33 ,  35 . The middle support arm  23  forms an inner rotational support member  33  for each socket receptacle  9 . The inner rotational support members  33  are semi-circular, substantially semi-circular, or partially circular in profile in order to facilitate rotation of the rotary sockets  3 . The outer support arms  21  each form outer rotational support members  35 . Similar to the inner rotational support members  33 , the outer rotational support members  35  are semi-circular, substantially semi-circular, or partially circular in profile in order to facilitate rotation of the rotary sockets  3 . A detent receiver  37  is formed in the surface of the outer rotational support members  35  and extends outwardly therefrom, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Additionally, structural supports  39  and  41  are formed in the lower housing  5 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , fixed electrical contact assemblies  51  and  53  are shown assembled with the lower housing  5 . The middle fixed electrical contact assembly  53  is supported by middle structural supports  41  on support member  23 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The middle fixed electrical contact assembly  53  comprises two electrical contact plates  55  and a connection eyelet  56 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical contact plates  55  may be arcuate in profile in order to mate with electrical contacts of the rotary sockets  3  over a range of rotation, as explained in more detail below. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the middle fixed electrical contact assembly  53  provides an electrical contact plate  55  facing both receptacles  9 , for connection with respective rotary sockets  3 . This configuration, for example, allows for each rotary socket to share a common ground. 
     The outer fixed electrical contact assemblies  51  comprise fixed support structure  57  and electrical contact plates  59 . The fixed support structures  57  comprise a base  61  and face plate  63 . The base  61  of the fixed support structures  57  are supported on outer structural supports  39  on outer support members  21  of the lower housing  5 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, reinforcement webs  65  are provided between the base  61  and face plate  63  to generally provide structural support and, more particularly, to provide structural support against outwardly acting forces, such as, for example, by rotary sockets  3 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcement webs  65  maintain the base  61  and face plate  63  at a generally perpendicular angle relative to each other. 
     The face plates  63  include slots  67  for receiving eyelets  71  of the electrical contact plates  59  therethrough. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the face plates  63  have four slots  67  corresponding to the electrical contact plates  59  having two eyelets  71  each. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the face plate  63  may include more or fewer slots  67  depending on the type of electrical contact plate or number of electrical contact plates needed for each rotary socket  3 . Upon assembly with the lower housing  5 , the eyelets  71  of the contact plates  59  are connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) or other electronic device (not shown) with wires or other methods as known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The PCB or other electronic device, such as, for example, an inverter, may be integrated with the rotary socket assembly  1 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical contact plates  59  may be arcuate in profile in order to mate with electrical contacts of the rotary sockets  3  over a range of rotation, as explained in more detail below. 
       FIG. 4  shows the rotary sockets  3  installed in the lower housing assembly of  FIG. 3 . The rotary sockets  3  are supported by the inner and outer rotational support members  33  and  35 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , the rotary socket  3  is described in more detail. The rotary socket  3  comprises an upper socket casing  81  and a lower socket casing  83 . The upper socket casing  81  includes at least one socket opening  17  for receiving male contacts of an electrical plug (not shown). As known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the socket openings  17  generally include contacts for live, neutral, and/or ground. Terminal plates  87  are received in and form the live, neutral, and/or ground contacts of the socket openings  17 . Upon assembly of the socket body  3  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the terminal plates  87  extend downwardly into the lower socket casing  83 . Terminal openings  89  are formed through sidewalls  91  of the lower socket casing  83 . Rotational support members  93  having a circular or substantially circular outer surface  95  extend outwardly from the sidewalls of the lower socket casing at the perimeter of the terminal openings  89 . The inner surfaces  97  of the rotational support members  93 , shown in  FIG. 5 , are generally non-circular and receive male portions  109  of the first and second rotary contact plates  111 ,  113 , respectively, to prevent relative rotation therebetween. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface  97  of the rotational support member  93  includes substantially circular segments interrupted by hole portions  115  formed on the inner surface  97  thereof. The male portions  109  of the first and second rotary contact plates  111 ,  113  are formed to generally match the contour of the inner surface  97  of the rotational support member  93  and to fit therein thereby preventing relative rotation therebetween. It is foreseen that other methods may be used to prevent relative rotation between the surfaces such as, for example, with adhesives. 
     The first and second rotary contact plates  111  and  113  comprise the male portions  109 , as described above, and contact plate portions  117 ,  119 , respectively. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact plate portion  119  of the second rotary contact plate  113  is circular or substantially circular. A receptacle  121  is formed on contact plate portion  117 , and a similar receptacle (not shown) is formed on contact plate portion  119 , for affixing a rotary contact  123  thereto. An eyelet  125  of the rotary contact  123  extends inwardly through an opening in the second rotary contact plate  113  and the terminal opening  89 . Similarly, two receptacles are formed on the contact plate portion  117  of the first rotary contact plate  111  for affixing two rotary contacts thereto. Eyelets  125  of the rotary contacts  123  extend inwardly through an opening in the first rotary contact plate  111  and the terminal opening  89 . Each eyelet  125  of the respective rotary contacts  123  are electrically connected to a respective terminal plate  87  according to live, neutral, or ground. The electrical connection between the rotary contacts  123  and terminal plates  87  may be made by methods well known to one of ordinary skill in the art such as, for example, through wire connection or plate-to-plate contact. 
     The first and second rotary contact plates  111  and  113  further include securing means for securing the rotary contact plates  111  and  113  to the lower socket casing  83 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , holes  127  are formed through the rotary contact plate portions  117  and  119 . When the first and second rotary contact plates  111  and  113  are assembled with the lower socket casing  83 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 4, and 6 , the holes  127  of the rotary contact plate portions  117  and  119  align with hole portions  115  of the rotational support member  93 . The holes  127  and hole portions  115  may be threaded in order to receive a threaded connector (not shown) to secure the first and second rotary contact plates  111  and  113  to lower socket casing  83 . Alternatively, the first and second rotary contact plates  111  and  113  may be secured to lower socket casing  83  by other ways known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as, for example, an interference fit. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , upon assembly of the rotary socket  3  in to the lower housing  4 , the rotary contacts  123  contact the middle contact face  55  and outer fixed electrical contact plates  59 . As the rotary socket  3  rotates, direct contact between the rotary contacts  123  and the fixed contact faces  55  and the fixed contact plates  59  is maintained because of the arcuate shape of the fixed contact faces  55  and fixed contact plates  59 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 , the first rotary contact plate  111  includes features to control rotation of the rotary socket  3 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , first rotary contact plate portion  117  includes a first radius portion  141 , a second radius portion  143 , and a third radius portion  145 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radius of each respective portion may be different. The first radius portion  141  is sized to accommodate an upwardly biased detent  147  and otherwise not obstruct rotation of the rotary socket  3  notwithstanding the detent for adjusting the rotary socket to a desired position. For example, no portion of the first radius portion  141  obstructs rotation of the rotary socket relative to the lower housing  5 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radius of the first radius portion  141  may be equal to or less than the radius of the rotational support member  35 . The interface between the detent  147  and the first radius portion  141  will be described in more detail below. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radius of the second radius portion  143  may be equal to or greater than the radius of the first radius portion  141 . The radius of the third radius portion  145  is greater than the radius of the first and second radius portions  141  and  143  and greater than the radius of the rotational support member  35 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the arc of the third radius portion  145  is defined by a first end  149  and a second end  151  where the arc of the third radius portion  145  is discontinuous with the arc of the second radius portion  143 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the arc of the third radius portion  145  spans approximately 90 degrees but may vary depending on the desired range of rotation, such as approximately less than or equal to 180 degrees or greater than 0 degrees, as explained in greater detail below. 
     Upon assembly of the rotary socket  3  into the lower housing  5 , the third radius portion  145  is rotated away from the outer rotational support member  35  such that the third radius portion  145  is in an upward position facing away from the lower housing  5  and the first radius portion  141  is in a downward position facing towards the lower housing  5 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , as the rotary socket  3  is rotated, one of the first or second stops  149 ,  151  will abut a stop edge  153  of the lower housing  5 . Similarly, as the rotary socket  3  is rotated in the opposite direction, the other of the first or second stops  149 ,  151  will abut the other stop edge  153  of the lower housing  5 . In this manner, the range of rotation of the rotary socket  3  is limited. It is foreseen that the range of the rotation may be adjusted by varying the arc of the third radius portion  145  to span either greater or less than 90 degrees, such as, for example less than or equal to 180 degrees or greater than 0 degrees. Preferably, the range of rotation is between 75 degrees and 105 degrees. Even more preferably, the range of rotation is approximately 90 degrees. Although the first, second, and third radius portions are shown only on the first rotary contact plate  111 , it is foreseen that the second rotary contact plate may be modified to include these features, as well. 
     Within the range of rotation, as explained above, discreet degrees of rotation of the rotary socket  3  may be desired. According to an embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a detent  147  is provided to fix the rotary socket  3  at a desired angle of rotation. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the detent receiver  37  receives the detent  147  with an upwardly urging spring bias  161 . The first rotary contact plate portion  117  and the outer surface of the rotational support members  95  form mating partial-circular indents  163 ,  165 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the indents  163 ,  165  are both semi-circular so as to evenly distribute loading of the detent between the rotary contact plate portion  117  and the outer surface of the rotational support members  95 . The mating indents  163 ,  165  form a circular indent for receiving the upwardly biased detent  147  when the rotary socket  3  is assembled with the lower housing  5 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the installed rotary socket  3  is shown in partial cross-section. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the indents  163 ,  165  of the rotary contact plate portion  117  and the outer surface of the rotational support member  95  may be formed at 30 degree angles relative to each other and within the range of rotation as defined by the arc of the third radius portion. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an indent  163 ,  165  may be formed directly opposite one or each of the first or second stops  149 ,  151 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , four indents  163 ,  165  are formed at 30 degree angles within a 90 degree range of rotation. It is foreseen that more than or less than four indents may be formed. It is further foreseen that the indents may be formed along any of the ranges of rotation explained above. As a user rotates the rotary socket  3 , the detent  147  will snap into the downwardly facing indent  163 ,  165  to hold the rotary socket  3  at the desired angle. When the user desires to further rotate the rotary socket  3 , applied rotational force to the rotary socket  3  will cause the angular surface of the indent  163 ,  165  to push the detent  147  into the detent receiver  37 . As rotation of the rotary socket  3  continues, another indent  163 ,  165  will rotate to face the detent  147  and the detent  147  will snap into the newly downwardly facing indent  163 ,  165 . 
     Although the detent is shown only with respect to the first rotary contact plate  111 , it is foreseen that the second rotary contact plate and associated lower housing may be modified to include these features, as well. 
     The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.