Abstract:
A multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor which includes a plug assembly for connecting to a power source, a multiple outlet module rotatably coupled to the plug assembly so that an electrical connection is maintained as the plug assembly is rotated relative to the outlet module and a light assembly coupled to the outlet module for providing a visual indication that the plug is connected to a power source. The swivel outlet adaptor has three orthogonally oriented outlet adaptors designed to reduce the potential for tangling of power cords and maintains a low profile equivalent to the thickness of a plug.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention is generally directed to a multiple outlet adaptor and, in particular, to a swiveling three outlet adaptor which includes a light which identifies when the outlet adaptor is plugged into a live outlet visible from both sides.  
           [0002]    In the past there have been many outlet adaptors which are fixed and provide the ability to plug multiple electronic devices into a single wall outlet. Generally, these multiple outlet adaptors stick straight out from the socket into which they are plugged and occupy significant space. Particularly when they are to be used on walls which have furniture, there is a need to provide for the ability to swivel an adaptor so that it can occupy less space. Currently, there are swivel tabs which usually include multiple outlets on one surface of the swivel tab and the surface can generally swivel along one axis so that the outlets can either face upward, outward or downward. However, there is a need for a particularly low profile swivel adaptor which is narrower against the wall outlet to allow the furniture to be placed closer to the wall without interfering with the connection of electronic devices to the swivel outlet adaptor. There is also a need for the outlet adaptor to have outlets in different directions to allow easier access from different angles and to include a light which is visible whether the swivel adaptor is rotated upwards or downwards, exposing opposite sides of the swivel tab adaptor.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The invention is generally directed to a thin profile three outlet swivel adaptor with lights on both sides which is able to swivel 180 degrees and includes outlets in three directions, thereby providing easier access to the connectors from different angles. The three separate connector outlets provide for wires of the electrical devices to come out of three different directions, thereby enhancing the neatness of the wires and avoiding tangling of the wires. As a result of the swivel nature of the outlet adaptor, two three-outlet swivel adaptors can be plugged into a single standard, two-outlet wall socket without problems.  
           [0004]    The invention is also directed to a very low profile (about 1 inch clearance only) outlet adaptor which allows furniture to be placed much more closely to the wall and has lights visible from both sides to show if power is present at the outlets.  
           [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved swivel outlet adaptor.  
           [0006]    Another object of the invention is to provide an improved swivel outlet adaptor which includes a light showing power flowing into the outlets, whether the swivel outlet adaptor is swivelled in one direction or the opposite direction.  
           [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved swivel outlet adaptor which separates the outlets in a fashion which enhances the tangle-free connection of multiple electrical devices to the swivel outlet adaptor.  
           [0008]    Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved lighted swivel outlet adaptor which provides a continuous reliable electrical connection as the outlet adaptor is swivelled about its axis of rotation.  
           [0009]    Still other objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the specification.  
           [0010]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction as hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top elevational view similar to FIG. 1 in which the plug is rotated relative to the body of the multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a top elevational view similar to the view of FIG. 2 in which the light cover is removed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor of FIG. 1, showing the swivelling feature;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of a multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor showing the way in which power cords are connected to the adaptor;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor of FIG. 1 and a prior art swiveling outlet adaptor; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a prior art swiveling outlet adaptor.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    Reference is first made to FIGS.  1 - 5  wherein a multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor  100 , constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted. Adaptor  100  includes a main body  101  and a swiveling plug section  102  with plugs  103 . Main body  101  includes three connecting adaptors  105 ,  106  and  107 , which are oriented 90 degrees from each other and adaptors  105 ,  107  are also 90 degrees from plug  102  in its flat state, as shown in FIG. 1. Adaptor  106  is 180 degrees separated from plug  102 . When plug  103  is rotated, as seen in FIG. 2, so that the plugs  103  are perpendicular to the plane of main section  101  as rotating members  108  and  109  interact to allow plug section  102  to rotate relative to main section  101 , there is still the same orthogonal relation between adaptors  105 ,  106  and  107 .  
         [0020]    Window  104 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is present on both sides of main body  101  adjacent to rotating members  108  and centrally located to adaptors  105 ,  106  and  107 . These sides or surfaces on the top and bottom of main body  101  containing windows  104  are generally parallel to each other. The lighting device, a light-emitting diode  120 , as best seen in FIG. 3, is centrally located in the center of body  101  inside opening  110  and proximate support member  111 . Light-emitting diode  120  includes wires which are used for connecting to an electrical circuit in conventional fashion to indicate that plugs  103  are connected into a power source and that current is flowing. Only a very small amount of current is used through light-emitting diode  120 . Other low-current lighting applications may be similarly utilized in place of light-emitting diode  120 .  
         [0021]    As seen in FIG. 4, plug member  102  rotates through a 180 degree arc from the position shown as  103  through the position  103 A to position  103 B. As see in FIG. 4, plug  107  includes two polarized slots  140 ,  141 . Depending upon the country in which the adaptor is to be used or the voltage, the actual slots or other connecting elements on adaptor  100  can be varied without affecting the operation of the device.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 shows the way in which cords  210 ,  211  and  212  with plugs  200 ,  201  and  202  can be connected to adaptor  100 . As seen in FIG. 5, the cords for the different devices are positioned in a fashion so that they are unlikely to get tangled. This is contrasted with the prior art construction, generally indicated as  300 , shown in FIG. 7, in which the multiple plugs are on the same surface of adaptor  300  such that the cords can easily become tangled.  
         [0023]    Reference is also made to FIG. 6 wherein a multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor  100  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is plugged into an outlet, as is a prior art swiveling adaptor  300 . Prior art swiveling adaptor  300  includes three adaptors  301  on a single face of the adaptor and a plug  302  which is plugged into the outlet  400 . As seen in FIG. 6, the multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor  100  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention essentially folds flat against the surface of the outlet  400  such that the thickness of adaptor  100  is essentially the width of a plug, which is the smallest dimension that the adaptor can have without using specialized plugs. In contrast, prior art adaptor  300  has a broader dimension and does not have as small a profile as does the multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor  100  in accordance with the invention.  
         [0024]    In current preferred embodiments of the invention, the multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor  100  is constructed of resins or plastics in accordance with current industry norms and conventional materials. Different materials may be utilized depending upon specific applications. Generally, the windows  104  on opposing surfaces of main body  101  are formed of a generally transparent or translucent plastic material which allows the light from light-emitting diode  120  to illuminate them in a fashion which is readily observable. The electrical connections within adaptor  100  are generally conventional in nature. Similarly, the fashion in which plug assembly  102  rotates relative to main block  101  utilizing rounded section  108  of plug  102  and side walls  109  of main section  101  is generally conventional. Obviously, the electrical connection is made so that there is a continuous connection between plugs  103  and adaptors  105 ,  106  and  107 , regardless of the relative rotation of plug section  102  to main section  101 . The rotation and configuration of plug section  102  is such that it rotates so that it is 90 degrees from the primary plane of the main body  101  to minimize the profile of the adaptor  100  when it is used up against a wall, as when furniture rests against the wall. An example of this is where wall outlets exist behind a bed or behind a furniture dresser. With adaptor  100 , any adaptor can be plugged into the outlet and then rotated in a fashion such that three additional powered devices can be connected to the adaptor without moving the furniture or requiring that the space be of more than a plug width from the wall.  
         [0025]    The swivel three-outlet adaptor has the ability to swivel at 180 degrees from a vertical orientation in which the middle outlet is vertical to another vertical orientation where the middle outlet points downward and each point continuously in the arc between these two positions. The three-outlets, as can be seen in FIG. 1, are oriented at a generally 90 degree angle to each other so that the widest possible separation of distance and angle is provided between the three connectors. This is particularly relevant where the outlet adaptor is utilized behind a piece of furniture where it is important that the adaptor itself and the power cords not make connection of the power cords difficult as a result of the orientation. By virtue of the wires coming out at three directions, the wires coming out can also be maintained in a more tangle free fashion. In addition, because of the swivel feature to the outlet adaptor, two units can be placed in a duplex wall socket without difficulty. In addition, because of the way in which the outlets extend in different directions, where an electrical device has a brick-like connector, which is substantially larger than the plug itself, this will not interfere with the ability to connect other electrical devices to the swivel outlet adaptor. In a current preferred embodiment the adaptor  100  has a low profile of about only one inch when it is swivelled as shown in FIG. 6. This is not true in connection with the prior art swivel tab shown in FIG. 7 in which the three outlets are in a line. In this case, the big brick-like adaptor would likely cover more than just the one outlet, thereby reducing the utility of the prior art outlet adaptor.  
         [0026]    In accordance with the construction of the device the swivel outlet adaptor, which has a contact maintained throughout the range of swiveling, allows the adaptor to have an extremely small profile against the outlet. Essentially, the swivel outlet adaptor is, at its thickest points, only as wide as the largest dimension of a standard plug. While the swivel outlet adaptor is shown with a two pin connection in FIG. 1, U.S. electrical connectors of different shapes or configurations of two, three or even four pin connections can be incorporated with the noted structure.  
         [0027]    Finally, the light feature which is implemented utilizing a light emitting diode or other low power lighting device provides a light on both sides of the structure of the swivel outlet adaptor so that the power indication is available whether the swivel adaptor is rotated upwardly or downwardly.  
         [0028]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent in the preceding description, are efficiently obtained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.  
         [0029]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention, herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.