Abstract:
A reorientable electrical outlet having a housing cavity in a stationary housing and a rotatable electrical female receptacle seated therein is disclosed. Preferably, the rotatable female electrical receptacle includes a set of electrical conductors situated in electrical isolation from one another, arranged one above the other. In one embodiment, the housing cavity has a set of annular conductive structures formed one above the other to support provide a set of electrically conductive pathways along which slideable contacts rotateably track. Another embodiment places annular conductive structures on the female receptacle. Such structures slideably track on fixed contacts in the housing cavity.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of electrical outlets, and in particular, to a reorientable electrical outlet.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     As the number of electrical appliances in the average household grows, the need for convenient access to numerous electrical outlets grows. Electrical outlets are, of course, well known in the art and typically comprise a face plate, multiple female sockets, and an outlet body.  
         [0003]     In a typical residential electrical outlet, the female electrical sockets are fixed in orientation. Such fixed orientation of the socket can reduce the flexibility of the electrical outlet. In some applications, the fixed socket orientation effectively reduces a two-socket outlet to a single-socket outlet.  
         [0004]     A variety of techniques have been devised to increase the flexibility of power delivery sockets and plugs. For example, a species of low profile male plugs has been developed that orient the power cord off the axis of the male plug prongs. Rather than extending perpendicularly away from the wall in which the socket is mounted, such power cords extend off to a side or angle and consequently reduce power cord intention into living space or interference with furniture. Such low profile male plugs can, however, reduce the flexibility of the outlet. For example, in polarized socket and plug arrangements, the required directional orientation dictates that the plug be inserted in only one direction. In some cases, particularly in four socket outlets, this can result in power cord interfere with access to other sockets in the same outlet.  
         [0005]     There are prior techniques to ensure that the power cord does not overlay other outlet receptacles. Examples of such designs are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,376 to Dickie and U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,075 to Mason. Some of these problems may be resolved by a male plug design in which the cord rotates with respect to the prongs. An example of a rotatable male plug is purportedly shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,618 to Straka. Many of these designs allow free movement between the male plug and power cord around a 360 degree path. The plugs are not, however, designed to be set or held at any particular angular position.  
         [0006]     Socket interference can become particularly acute when a transformer for low voltage devices is integrated with a male power socket for direct insertion in a wall outlet. Such box-like transformers may directly block access to other sockets in the outlet face plate.  
         [0007]     A conventional electrical outlet ordinarily allows only symmetrical positioning of the multiple female electrical receptacles. Thus, when an integrated male plug-transformer is plugged into one female electrical receptacle of an electrical outlet, an adjacent socket is typically blocked. To mitigate this interference, a multiplug adapter may be inserted into a female electrical receptacle to accommodate multiple male plugs in a given female electrical receptacle of the electrical outlet. Such multiple adapters may present, however, an electrical hazard, in addition to an unsightly mess.  
         [0008]     Electrical wiring codes may vary in different parts of a country or from country to country. Some electrical codes require female receptacles in the same electrical outlet box to be positioned horizontally with respect to one another, while other codes require female electrical receptacles in the same electrical outlet box to be positioned vertically with respect to one another. In some instances, electrical appliances can be readily accommodated by an electrical outlet of a certain orientation but may not be suitable for use with electrical outlets oriented at 90 degrees from the given orientation.  
         [0009]     Consequently, there is a need for an angularly reorientable electrical socket to accommodate male plugs of a variety of configurations and combinations while remaining substantially fixed at a selected angular orientation.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     A reorientable electrical outlet having a housing cavity in a stationary housing and a rotatable electrical female receptacle seated therein is disclosed. Preferably, the rotatable female electrical receptacle includes a set of electrical conductors situated in electrical isolation from one another, arranged one above the other.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment, the housing cavity has a set of annular conductive structures formed one above the other to support provide a set of electrically conductive pathways along which slideable contacts rotateably track. Another embodiment places annular conductive structures on the female receptacle. Such structures slideably track on fixed contacts in the housing cavity. The rotatable female electrical receptacle further includes a set of apertures on a exterior top surface aligned with the electrically conductive sleeves for allowing a set of prongs of a male plug to extend through to acquire electrical contact with the electrically conductive pathways via the electrically conductive sleeves. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment devised in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional depiction of a female electrical receptacle, the cross section taken along the direction marked “A” in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a conductive sleeve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a top view of a female electrical receptacle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a bottom portion of a housing of an outlet according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional depiction of the portion depicted in  FIG. 5 , the cross section taken along the direction marked “D”.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts a portion of a housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional depiction of the portion depicted in  FIG. 7 , the cross section taken along the direction marked “E”.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts conductive fittings according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10A  depicts another conductive fitting according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10B  depicts another conductive fitting according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  depicts a top conductive plate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 12A  depicts a female electrical receptacle according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 12B  depicts an exploded view of the female electrical receptacle of  FIG. 12A .  
         [0026]      FIG. 13  depicts a housing according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exploded view of outlet depicting how the receptacles fit into the housing according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 15  depicts an portion of a female electrical receptacle according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Reorientable electrical outlet  20  is preferably formed of nonconductive material such as plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In some embodiments, outlet  20  may be manufactured using resins containing high impact amorphous polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) terpolymer blends, such as Cycoloy® CY6120 from GE Plastics. By varying the ratio of PC to ABS in the resin, outlet  20  may be tailored for residential or industrial use. Further, the overall cost of outlet  20  may be reduced by employing regrind, or powdering, techniques. Preferably, no more than 15% regrind is employed. Outlet  20  is comprised of a plate  30  having a faceplate portion  35  and a receptacle housing  40  having two housing cavities  45 A and  45 B. Screw holes such as countersunk screw holes  50  receive screws for mounting reorientable electrical outlet  20  in a desired surface, such as an electrical box or wall.  
         [0030]     Two female electrical receptacles  60 A and  60 B (collectively, “60”) are accommodated in respective receptacle housing cavities  45 A and  45 B through circular apertures  70 A and  70 B. Each of female electrical receptacles  60 A and  60 B exposed surfaces  73 A and  73 B, respectively.  
         [0031]     Circular apertures  70 A and  70 B having annular conductive contacts  12  (“contacts  12 ”, “annular contacts  12 ”) shown in the cutaway view of  FIG. 1 . Annular contacts  12  are preferably made of a metallic conductor such as copper or brass. Preferably, annular contacts  12  disposed about the inner wall of circular apertures  70 A and  70 B in a manner devised to provide electrical connection to electrical contacts on receptacles  60 A and  60 B. Such connection will be further described with regard to later-referenced Figures. In such an embodiment, annular contacts  12  may present a fixed inner surface for connection to contacts  205 ,  210 , and  215 , respectively, on receptacles  60 A and  60 B ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0032]     Annular contacts  12  may instead be part of receptacles  60 A and  60 B. In such an embodiment, annular contacts  12  present a rotating surface to fixed contacts on the inner wall or circular apertures  70 A and  70 B.  
         [0033]     Female electrical receptacles  60 A and  60 B each further include apertures  80 ,  90 , oriented for insertion of a power plug. The depicted apertures  80  and  90  are generally of different size and shape as may be determined by a specific electrical code and/or standard. Each depicted female electrical receptacle  60 A and  60 B further includes respective ground apertures  100 .  
         [0034]     In a preferred embodiment, female electrical receptacle  60 A with common aperture  80 , power aperture  90 , and ground aperture  100  forms a female electrical receptacle subassembly. Female electrical receptacle  60 A subassembly fits into circular aperture  70 A. The diameter of the aperture  70 A is slightly larger than the diameter of the female electrical receptacle  60 A subassembly.  
         [0035]     The female electrical receptacle  60 A and  60 B subassemblies are preferably constructed in layers held together by axial screws  120 . In a preferred embodiment, axial screws  120  are inserted from the bottom of electrical receptacles  60  and terminate under the surface of an insulative cover plate.  
         [0036]     In operation, when male plug  95  is plugged into reorientable electrical outlet  20 , it can be easily reoriented to a desired angular position by modifying the angular orientation of rotatable female electrical receptacle  60 A, thereby allowing an easy deployment of different orientations of a variety of electrical male plugs having varying sizes and configurations.  
         [0037]     Although the depicted preferred embodiments of the invention employ two grounded female electrical receptacles, the invention is usable for a variety of female electrical receptacles including those that employ a single receptacle. It should also be recognized that the apertures  80 ,  90 , and  100  in female electrical receptacles  60  can be replaced by any type of similar female socket that allows proper insertion and contact with a mating male-type conductive prongs of a male plug. Moreover, the invention is not limited to use with 110-220 V AC-type or DC-type appliances.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional depiction of a female electrical receptacle  60 , the cross section taken along the direction marked “A” in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, receptacle  60  has conductive sleeves  205  and  210  contained in body  61 . Conductive sleeves  205  and  210  are accessible through apertures  80  and  90 , respectively ( FIG. 1 ). A third conductive sleeve  215  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . Conductive sleeves  205 ,  210 , and  215  (“the depicted conductive sleeves”) are comprised of a conductive metal such as copper or brass. The depicted conductive sleeves may be made by combining two or more pieces of metal with a fastener. Preferred embodiments of sleeves  205  and  210  are made with two metal pieces.  
         [0039]     In this embodiment, sleeves  205  and  210  have conductive contacts paths  206  and  211 , respectively. Conductive contacts paths  206  and  211  (“contacts”), which each form a conductive path away from the center C of female receptacle  60 . Conductive contact paths  206  preferably traverse or extend across at least a small distance radially, away from the center of receptacle  60  toward the annular contacts  12  which are, in this embodiment, disposed around the outer sides of receptacle  60 . Other embodiments may have annular conductive contacts disposed toward the center of receptacle  60 , with receptacle  60  rotating about such contacts. The outside is preferred. Contact  206  slideably contacts, or leans on, annular contact  12 C. The two portions of the depiction labeled  12 C are opposing portions of the same annular contact  12 . In this embodiment, contact  206  extends across a distance radially from conductive sleeve  205  to annular contact  12 C. Such extension may or may not point in a straight radial direction. Contact  206  is disposed at least partially at the vertical level of annular contact  12 C.  
         [0040]     Sleeve  210  has conductive contact path  211  traversing, or extending, radially from conductive sleeve  210  to annular contact  12  B. Such a path may or may not point in a direct radial direction. Conductive contact path  211  is disposed at least partially at the vertical level of annular contact  12 B in a manner devised to avoid mechanical interference with other conductive contact paths or annular rings when female receptacle  60  is rotated about its center C. Preferably, there is no limit to such rotation and receptacle  60  may be rotated a full 360 degrees. Preferably, sleeves  205  and  210  are formed together with conductive contact paths  206  and  211  by bending their constituent metal pieces.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  depicts a conductive sleeve  215  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, conductive sleeve  215  is accessible through aperature  100  ( FIG. 1 ), which typically corresponds to the ground connection of socket  20 . Conductive sleeve  215  has conductive contact path  216  preferably arranged to traverse a radial distance away from center C of receptacle  60 . In this embodiment, conductive contact path  216  is at the vertical level of the top annular contact  12 A ( FIG. 2 ). Outer contact surface  217  is positioned to slideably contact or lean on annular contact  12 A in a manner devised to allow rotation of receptacle  60  inside of annular contacts  12 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  depicts a top view of a female electrical receptacle  60  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Apertures  80  and  90  present openings in conductive sleeves  205  and  210  upward for receiving plug prongs. Aperture  100  similarly presents the open top of conductive sleeve  215 . In a preferred embodiment, an insulative cover plate is placed over the exposed portions of conductive sleeves  205 ,  210 , and  215  depicted in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  depicts a bottom portion  502  of housing  40  of outlet  20  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional depiction of the portion  502  depicted in  FIG. 5 , the cross section taken along the direction marked “D”.  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a housing  40  in this embodiment is constructed in layers with the bottom layer being portion  502 . Portion  502  expresses the lower part of housing cavities  45 A and  45 B, which cavities have floors  506 . The depicted portions of cavities  45 A and  45 B each have a ledge  510  for holding an annular conductive contact  12 . Line  602  is shown to indicate the presence, in this embodiment, of slot  504  in the middle of portion  502 . Cavity  45 A is depicted with annular conductive contact  12 C inserted to present a conductive ring portion of the wall of cavity  45 A.  
         [0046]     One alternative embodiment has no floors  506 , and thereby allows connection of a conductive member to a lower portion of annular conductive contact  12 .  
         [0047]     In this embodiment, portion  502  has slot  504  formed in its upper side for insertion of conductive member  902  ( FIG. 9 ). In this embodiment, conductive member  902  forms electrical connection to annular conductive contacts  12 , and presents screw holes  904  for attaching electrical wiring. In one preferred sequence of construction, portion  502  is formed and then annular conductive contacts  12  are inserted with an interference fit. Conductive portion  902  is soldered or welded to annular conductive contacts  12 . Conductive portion  902  may instead be connected to contacts  12  with only an interference fit, or portion  902  may also be formed with contacts  12  as one piece.  
         [0048]      FIG. 7  depicts a portion  702  of housing  40  of outlet  20  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional depiction of the portion  702  depicted in  FIG. 7 , the cross section taken along the direction marked “E”.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a housing  40  in this embodiment is constructed in layers with two interior layers being formed each with a portion  702 . Portion  702  expresses upper portions of housing cavities  45 A and  45 B. The depicted portions of cavities  45 A and  45 B each have a ledge  710  for holding an annular conductive contact  12 . Portion  702  has slot  704  formed in its upper side for insertion of conductive member  902  ( FIG. 9 ). In this embodiment, conductive member  902  forms electrical connection to annular conductive contacts  12 , and presents screw holes  904  for attaching electrical wiring. In one preferred sequence of construction, portion  702  is formed and then annular conductive contacts  12  are inserted to fit on ledge  710  with an interference fit. Other embodiments may glue or otherwise fasten conductive contacts  12  into place.  
         [0051]      FIG. 9  depicts conductive fittings according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0052]      FIG. 10A  depicts another conductive fitting  1002  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]      FIG. 10B  depicts another conductive fitting  1004  according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, annular conductive contacts  12  are combined with conductive fitting  1004  in a single piece. Conductive fitting  1004  may fit into a slot  504  above lower portion  502 . Slot  504  may also be positioned underneath lower portion  502  in a manner devised to allow conductive fitting  1004  to be extend underneath portion  502  to present screw holes  1006  for attachment of electrical wiring.  
         [0054]      FIG. 11  depicts a top conductive plate  1102  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Plate  11  has contact  1104  for screw attachment of electrical wiring.  
         [0055]     Referring to the preceding Figures, one preferred sequence of assembling a socket  20  according to the present invention is as follows. A bottom portion  502  is provided with annular conductive contacts  12 C which are connected to a conductive member  902  placed in slot  504 . A first portion  702  is placed atop the bottom portion  502  and provided with annular conductive contacts  12 B. A conductive member  902  is placed in the slot  704 , in electrical connection with the annular conductive contacts  12 B. A second portion  702  is placed atop the first portion  702  and provided with annular conductive contacts  12 A. A conductive member  1002  is paced in slot  704  of the second portion  702 , and electrically connected to annular conductive contacts  12 A. Such connection forms a housing with openings  45 A and  45 B of each of portions  502  and  702  aligning to form housing cavities.  
         [0056]     A first and a second female electrical receptacle assembly  60  are placed in the housing cavities  45 A and  45 B respectively. Respective electrical connections are made between contacts on assembly  60  and the annular conductive rings as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Next, a top conductive plate  1102  is placed atop the assembled socket, in electrical connection with the conductive member  1002 . A face plate is connected over the top conductive plate.  
         [0057]     The various conductive components employed in the depicted embodiment of the present invention are preferably of brass. However, as persons skilled in the art will recognize, any suitable conductive material can be employed for this purpose. For example, use of brass, copper, steel alloys, and other alloys is prevalent. The employed nonconductive components of the depicted embodiment of the present invention can be of any suitable nonconductive or insulative material including plastic and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable nonconductive or insulative material may be employed. For clarity of the present exposition, a simple exemplary reorientable electrical outlet  20  is illustrated, although those skilled in the art will appreciate, reorientable electrical outlet  20  described here is adaptable to a variety of models, configurations and may be devised to include many other types of female electrical receptacles and adapters. For example, the present invention may be embodied in an adapter devised to convert a fixed socket to a reorientable facility.  
         [0058]     It should also be understood that, the number, form, and structure of female electrical receptacles are merely examples and not to be construed as design limitations required for employment in the present invention. For example, female electrical receptacles  60 A and  60 B could range from typical residential receptacles, both grounded and non-grounded, all the way up through power strip, 220V receptacles, and up through 480V receptacles including 2, 3, 4, or more prong-receptive designs. These devices can allow for prongs of a variety of male plugs to be inserted into the female electrical receptacles and rotated to any desired positions, so as to allow for non-interfering positioning with regards to other male plugs or other types of restrictions which could preclude the use of any given male plug into an adjacent female electrical receptacle.  
         [0059]     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, female electrical receptacles may be devised to include only oppositely disposed apertures oriented for insertion of conventional power and common prongs of an exemplary non-polarized male plug. Such a two-prong male plug-receptive design of the female electrical receptacles requires no outer concentric annular conductor supporting structure component for the absent ground prong, which is present in the case of the three-prong male plug-receptive preferred embodiment.  
         [0060]      FIG. 12A  depicts a female electrical receptacle  60  according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0061]      FIG. 12B  depicts an exploded view of the female electrical receptacle  60  of  FIG. 12A . Referring to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , in this embodiment female electrical receptacle  60  has annular conductive contacts  12 . Contacts  12  are divided are embodied as octagonal brass fittings. In this embodiment, receptacle  60  has only two annular conductive contacts  12 . The upper depicted contact  12  is connected to conductive sleeve  205 . A portion of conductive sleeve  205  has an inverted-L shape to present a conductive path traversing radially to the respective sleeve  12 . The lower depicted contact  12  is connected to conductive sleeve  210 . A portion of conductive sleeve  205  has an “L” shape to present a conductive path traversing radially to the lower sleeve  12 .  
         [0062]     In this embodiment, central support portion  1202  is assembled with conductive sleeves  205 ,  210 , and  215  inserted into the depicted slots, and annular conductive contacts  12  abutting ledge  1208 . Lower portion  1204  fits onto central support portion  1202  to lock the lower depicted contact  12  into place. Similarly, slotted cap  1206  fits onto central support portion  1202  to lock the upper depicted contact  12  into place. In this embodiment, sleeve  215  has lower contact portion  1210  for electrically connecting to conductor  1304  ( FIG. 13 ).  
         [0063]      FIG. 13  depicts a housing  40  according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Contacts  1302  are devised to receive a rotatable receptacle  60 . In this embodiment, contacts  1302  and annular contacts  12  are devised with straightened sections around their circumference. These depicted straight sections may act as stops to provide limit rotational movement of receptacle  60  at certain aligned orientations. Such stops may also be accomplished by, for example, placing indentations or raised bumps or other features Contacts  1302  are electrically connected to selected screws  1306  in a manner devised to support current flow to wires attached to screws  1306 . Conductor  1304  preferably receives a ground wire.  
         [0064]      FIG. 14  depicts an exploded view of outlet  20  of how receptacles  60  fit into the housing  40  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In general, receptacles  60  seat into conductive contacts  1302 . For each receptacle  60 , conductive contacts  1302  preferably convey the different polarities of electrical power. For example, the upper depicted contact  1302  may convey the hot line voltage for receptacle  60  while the lower depicted contact  1302  may convey the neutral line voltage for receptacle  60 .  
         [0065]      FIG. 15  depicts another female electrical receptacle  60  according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, receptacle  60  has slots  1502  for receiving conductive sleeves  205  and  210 . Each of sleeves  205 , and  210  preferably has a conductive contact path  1504  shaped to form a spring portion. The spring portions press against or contact annular conductive contacts  12  to create resistance to rotation. Such resistance may be further enhanced by the use of stop features such as, for example, a bump portions on contact path  1502 , and/or bump portions on annular conductive contacts  12 .  
         [0066]     Although the embodiments herein have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many embodiments taking a variety of specific forms and reflecting changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The described embodiments illustrate the scope of the claims but do not restrict the scope of the claims.