Patent Publication Number: US-8986022-B2

Title: Pivoting face receptacle

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/661,854 filed Jun. 20, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Receptacles are usually installed in walls, for electrically connecting alternating current power supplies to power plugs. Although different types of receptacles can have different configurations, many receptacles still receive a plug at an orientation that is perpendicular to the surface of the wall. This configuration sometimes interferes with placement of furniture and can lead to gaps between the furniture and the wall, as the cord attached to the plug has to bend 90 degrees behind a desk, a bed, a cabinet, a dresser, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments described herein and, together with the description, explain the embodiments. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective front/side view of an exemplary pivoting face receptacle in a closed configuration according to one implementation; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric perspective bottom/side view of the pivoting face receptacle in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric perspective bottom/rear view of the pivoting face receptacle in the open configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the pivoting face receptacle, an electrical box, and a wall in which the pivoting face receptacle and the electrical box are installed according to one implementation; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the pivoting face receptacle, the electrical box, and the wall in which the pivoting face receptacle and the electrical box are installed; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric perspective view of the pivoting face receptacle installed in an electrical box according to another implementation; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the pivoting face receptacle, the electrical box, and a wall in which the pivoting face receptacle and the electrical box are installed; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the pivoting face receptacle, the electrical box, and the wall in which the pivoting face receptacle and the electrical box are installed; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process that is associated with installing and using the pivoting face receptacle; and 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric perspective front/side view of an exemplary pivoting face receptacle in a closed configuration according to another implementation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
     As described herein, a pivoting face receptacle includes a female plug that can rotate 90 degrees. Such a pivoting face receptacle has many applications. When the pivoting face receptacle is mounted in a wall, the female plug of the pivoting face receptacle can be pivoted. This eliminates the cable bend of the cord plugged into the pivoting face receptacle and prevents the cord from obstructing furniture placement. When the pivoting face receptacle is mounted within a while-in-use electrical box, the female plug of the pivoting face receptacle eliminates the cable bend inside the while-in-use electrical box. Accordingly, the cover of the electrical box can be made unobtrusive. 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective front/side view of an exemplary pivoting face receptacle  100  in a closed configuration according to one implementation. As shown, pivoting face receptacle  100  includes receptacle module  102  and receptacle housing  104 . In one implementation, receptacle module  102  is rectangular in shape, and the bottom of receptacle module  102  is affixed to or joined to the top of receptacle housing  104 . 
     Receptacle module  102  includes receptacle frame  106  and female plug  108 . Receptacle frame  106  provides a support structure in which female plug  108  can be placed and pivoted. In another implementation, receptacle frame  106  may provide a support structure in which multiple pivoting female plugs are placed therein (see female plugs  108  and  158  in  FIG. 10 ), such that the the female plugs can pivot about one axis. Female plug  108  may include a receptacle for receiving a male plug. Depending on the implementation, female plug  108  may receive one of many types of plugs (e.g., 3-prong plug, 2-prong plug, etc.). 
     Receptacle frame  106  includes a side wall  112 - 1 , top wall  112 - 2 , side wall  112 - 3  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), and a base  110 . Walls  112  and base  110  surround a box-like space, into which female plug  108  is placed in the closed configuration (the configuration in which female plug  108  is not pivoted relative to the front face of receptacle module  102 ). Top wall  112 - 2 , at its center, includes a bump  113  that protrudes slightly into the space defined by walls  112 . 
     Female plug  108  is shaped to fit into the space formed by walls  112 . The top portion of female plug  108  is shaped to have ridges  206 - 1  and  206 - 2  (see  FIG. 2 ) such that the top portion accommodates/receives bump  113 . 
     Female plug  108  includes contact holes  114 - 1 ,  114 - 2 , and  114 - 3  for receiving prongs of a male plug and providing electrical paths from the prongs to wires/other portions of pivoting face receptacle  100 . Although female plug  108  is illustrated as having three holes  114 , in other implementations, receptacle frame  106  may include two holes for receiving other types of plugs. 
     With female plug  108  in the space formed by walls  112  and base  110 , near the interface between female plug  108  and base  110  of receptacle frame  06 , female plug  108  and base  110  include a hinge portion  116  and hinge/shoulder portions  118 - 1  and  118 - 2 , respectively. Hinge portions  116 ,  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  form a hinge, about which female plug  108  can be pivoted. 
     Receptacle housing  104  includes front portion  120  and rear portion  122 . Coupled together, front portion  120  and rear portion  122  form a rectangular, block-like structure. The block-like structure, and therefore, receptacle housing  104 , includes side wall  124 - 1 , top wall  124 - 2  (perpendicular to side wall  124 - 1 ), side wall  124 - 3  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), and bottom wall  124 - 4  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Front portion  120  partially covers the front of receptacle housing  104  (a portion not covered by receptacle module  102 ). Front portion  120  extends beyond the top of receptacle housing  104  as a top flange  130 - 1  and beyond the bottom of receptacle housing  104  as a bottom flange  130 - 2 . Flanges  130 - 1  and  130 - 2  may be used to couple/affix pivoting face receptacle  100  to another device/component (e.g., an electrical box), to a surface (e.g., a wall), or to pass a screw or bolt for coupling other components. 
     Flange  130 - 1  includes a support  132 - 1  and a fan  134 - 1 . Support  132 - 1  includes a hole  136 - 1  though which a screw may be inserted to couple receptacle housing  104  (and therefore pivoting face receptacle  100 ) to an electrical box. Support  132 - 1  extends away from housing  104  into fan  134 - 1  that includes holes  136 - 2 ,  136 - 3  and  136 - 4 . Holes  136 - 2  and  136 - 3  are spaced symmetrically about the center of fan  134 - 1 . Screws may be inserted through holes  136 - 2  and  136 - 3  and into a wall to fix/install pivoting face receptacle  100  to the wall. Hole  136 - 4  is for passing a screw there through and coupling a face plate to pivoting face receptacle  100  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Flange  130 - 2  includes a support  132 - 2  and fan  134 - 2 . Support  132 - 2  includes a hole  138 - 1  through which a screw may be inserted to couple receptacle housing  104  (and therefore pivoting face receptacle  100 ) to an electrical box. Support  132 - 2  extends away from housing  104  into fan  132 - 2  that includes holes  138 - 2 ,  138 - 3 , and  138 - 4 . Holes  138 - 2  and  138 - 3  are spaced symmetrically about the center of fan  134 - 2 . Screws may be inserted through holes  138 - 2  and  138 - 3  and into a wall to fix/install pivoting face receptacle  100  to the wall. Hole  138 - 4  is for passing a screw there through and coupling a face plate to pivoting face receptacle  100  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     As mentioned above, receptacle housing  104  includes side wall  124 - 1 , top wall  124 - 2 , side wall  124 - 3 , and bottom wall  124 - 4 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , side wall  124 - 1  includes, near the bottom and rear of receptacle housing  104 , indentation  126 - 1  for accommodating the head of a contact screw  128 - 1 . Contact screw  128 - 1  is inserted into receptacle housing  104  in the area of indentation  126 - 1 . Contact screw  128 - 1  is electrically coupled to a contact within contact hole  114 - 1  (or alternatively, contact hole  114 - 2  or  114 - 3 ), via a conducting wire and/or another type of conducting path inside receptacle housing  104 . 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric perspective bottom/side view of pivoting face receptacle  100  in an open configuration. In  FIG. 2 , a number of parts/portions of pivoting face receptacle  100  are not labeled for simplicity. Because  FIG. 2  is a view of pivoting face receptacle  100  from a different perspective than that in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  shows a number of features that are not illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     As discussed above, hinge portion  116  of female plug  108  and hinge portions  118 - 1  and  118 - 2  form a hinge. The approximate area of the hinge is shown as area  204 . To have pivoting face female plug  108  in the open position, female plug  108  may be pulled from the planar position illustrated in  FIG. 1  and rotated about pivot area  204  in the direction of arrow  201 . Once in the open position, front face  202 - 1  of female plug  108  is approximately perpendicular to the front face of receptacle module  102 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , female plug  108  is shown to include front face  202 - 1 , side surface  202 - 2 , and arcing top surface  202 - 3 . Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , female plug  108  may also include side surface  202 - 4  (parallel to surface  202 - 2  and not shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a bottom surface  202 - 5  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). Surfaces  202 - 1  though  202 - 5  enclose a pie/wedge-like volume of space of female plug  108 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 2 , arcing surface  202 - 3  includes two ridges  206 - 1  and  206 - 2 , at the outer edges (of surface  202 - 3 ) near surfaces  202 - 4  and  202 - 2 , respectively. Ridges  206 - 1  and  206 - 2  are shaped such that arcing surface  202 - 3  fits in to the space formed by top wall  112 - 2  (see  FIG. 1 ). Bump  113  on the top wall  112 - 2  and ridges  206 - 1  and  206 - 2  prevent lateral displacement as female plug  108  pivots out of the space enclosed by walls  112  and base  110 . 
       FIG. 2  also shows side wall  124 - 3  and bottom wall  124 - 4  of receptacle housing  104 . As shown, near the corner where bottom wall  124 - 4  and side wall  124 - 3  adjoin, side wall  124 - 3  includes an indentation  126 - 3  for accommodating the head of contact screw  128 - 3 . Contact screw  128 - 3  is electrically coupled to a contact within contact hole  114 - 2  via a wire and/or another type of conducting path inside receptacle housing  104 . 
     Bottom wall  124 - 4  is shown as including indentation  126 - 2 , near where wall  124 - 4  adjoins a rear wall  124 - 5  (not shown), toward the center of bottom wall  124 - 4 . Indentation  126 - 2  may accommodate the head of contact screw  128 - 2 . Contact screw  128 - 2  is electrically coupled to a contact within contact hole  114 - 3  via a wire and/or another type of conducting path inside receptacle housing  104 . 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric perspective bottom/rear view of pivoting face receptacle  100  in the open configuration.  FIG. 3  shows rear wall  124 - 5 , which is not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In addition,  FIG. 3  shows all three contact screws  128 - 1 ,  128 - 2 , and  128 - 3  in corresponding indentations,  126 - 1 ,  126 - 2 , and  126 - 3 , respectively. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a face plate  402 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , an electrical box  404 , and a wall  406  in which pivoting face receptacle  100  and electrical box  404  are installed according to one implementation. When assembled, face plate  402 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , electrical box  404 , and wall  406  appear similar to a typical electrical outlet, except that the socket/receptacle can be pivoted. 
     Face plate  402  includes a front panel  408 , top wall  410 - 1 , side wall  410 - 2 , bottom wall  410 - 3 , and side wall  410 - 4  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). Walls  410  are perpendicular to front panel  408 . Walls  410  are of sufficient height to accommodate the extent to which front portion  120  of receptacle housing  104  edges/protrudes out from wall  406 , such that when face plate  402 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , and electrical box  404  are installed on wall  406 , face plate  402  covers receptacle housing  104  with little or no spacing between the edges of walls  410  and wall  406 . 
     Front panel  408  includes window  412  in its center, top hole  414 - 1  near top wall  410 - 1  and bottom hole  414 - 2  near bottom wall  410 - 2 . Window  416  is sufficiently large enough to pass receptacle module  102  there through when face plate  402  is moved in the direction to arrow  418  to cover receptacle housing  104  and to abut wall  406  during an assembly. During the assembly, top hole  414 - 1  and bottom hole  414 - 2  may pass screws  416 - 1  and  416 - 2  there through, respectively. 
     Electrical box  404  includes a side wall  420 - 1 , top wall  420 - 2 , side wall  420 - 3 , and bottom wall  420 - 4 . Walls  420  and a rear panel  420 - 5  ( FIG. 5 ) enclose a space to receive receptacle housing  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , top wall  420 - 2  includes a tubular portion  422 - 1  attached thereto on the middle of its interior surface, running height-wise in the direction of arrow  428 . Similarly, bottom wall  420 - 4  includes tubular portion  422 - 2  attached thereto on the middle of its interior surface, running height-wise in the direction of arrow  428 . Tubular portions  422 - 1  and  422 - 2  include holes  424 - 1  and  424 - 2 , respectively, for receiving screws  416 - 1  and  416 - 2 , respectively. At the middle of exterior surface of top wall  420 - 2 , a semicircular groove  430 - 1  is height-wise, as does a semicircular groove  430 - 2  at the middle of exterior surface of bottom wall  420 - 4 . 
     When face plate  402 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , and electrical box  404  are being installed on wall  406 , a rectangular hole  426  may be made on wall  406  for inserting electrical box  404  therein. Electrical wires may be run through electrical box  404  and attached to contact screws  128 . Thereafter, pivoting face receptacle  100  may be placed into electrical box  404 , with holes  136 - 1  and  138 - 1  of flanges  130  of receptacle  100  being aligned to holes  424 - 1  and  424 - 2  of tubular portions  422 - 1  and  422 - 2  of electrical box  404 , respectively. Screw  432 - 1  may pass through hole  136 - 1  and into hole  424 - 1  (partially), and screw  432 - 2  may pass through hole  138 - 1  and into hole  424 - 2 . Screws  432  may secure pivoting face receptacle  100  to electrical box  404 . Electrical box  404 , with pivoting face receptacle  100  attached thereto, may then be inserted into rectangular hole  426  of wall  406 . Additional screws (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be run through holes  136 - 2 ,  136 - 3 ,  138 - 2 , and  138 - 3  to secure pivoting face receptacle  100  to wall  406 , and therefore, electrical box  404  to wall  406 , by the virtue of electrical box  404  having been attached to pivoting face receptacle  100  via screws  432 . 
     After securing pivoting face receptacle  100  and electrical box  404  to wall  406 , face plate  402  may be placed over pivoting face receptacle  100 , with receptacle module  108  passing through window  412  of face plate  402 , and with holes  414 - 1  and  414 - 2  of face plate  402  being aligned to holes  136 - 4  and  138 - 4  of flanges  130 , respectively. Screw  416 - 1  may then be inserted though holes  414 - 1  to secure face plate  402  against flange  130 - 1  via hole  136 - 4 . Similarly, screw  416 - 2  may be inserted through holes  414 - 2  to further secure face plate  402  against flange  130 - 2  via hole  138 - 4 .  FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional side view of face plate  402 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , electrical box  404 , and wall  406  after pivoting face receptacle  100  and electrical box  420  are installed in wall  406 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric perspective view of pivoting face receptacle  100  installed in an electrical box assembly  602  according to another implementation. Electrical box assembly  602  may include a while-in-use electrical box that can be installed indoors or outdoors. As shown, electrical box assembly  602  includes an electrical box  604  and electrical box  404 . In  FIG. 6 , electrical box  404  is illustrated as being the same electrical box  404  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . However, in other implementations, electrical box  404  may be different than that illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Electrical box  604  includes housing  606  and cover  608 . Housing  606 , together with electrical box  404 , may enclose pivoting face receptacle  100  when pivoting face receptacle  100  is installed in electrical box  604 . As shown, receptacle module  104  (including female plug  108 ) may occupy the space enclosed by housing  606 , while receptacle housing  104  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) may occupy the space enclosed by electrical box  404 . Cover  608  provides a protective covering over the space enclosed by housing  606 . 
     Cover  608  includes front panel  610 , top wall  612 - 1 , side wall  612 - 2 , side wall  612 - 3 , and bottom wall  612 - 4  that form a shallow box-like structure to couple/cover the open side of housing  606 . Front panel  610  is perpendicular to walls  612 , a number of which may include claws for coupling cover  608  to housing  606  when cover  608  is dosed over housing  606 . In  FIG. 6 , top wall  612  includes claws  614 - 1  and  614 - 2 , and side wall  612 - 2  includes claws  614 - 3  and  614 - 4 . Each of the claws&#39; fingers are pointed in the direction perpendicular to front panel  610 , and may grip a bar-like member (e.g., bar-like member  616 ) attached to one of the walls  618 - 1  through  618 - 4  of housing, to act as a hinge. For example, in  FIG. 6 , claws  614 - 1  and  614 - 2  and bar-like member  616  on wall  618 - 1  act as a hinge, about which cover  608  may be rotated to open or close over housing  606 . 
     For locking cover  608  to housing  606  when cover is closed over housing  606 , wall  612 - 3  includes a snap-on/latch  620 . When cover  608  is closed, latch  620  catches/latches a pin  622  on wall  618 - 3  of housing  606 . To open cover  608 , snap-on/latch  620  may be unhooked from pin  622  and cover  608  pulled open away from housing  606 . 
     Housing  606  includes top wall  618 - 1 , side wall  618 - 2 , side wall  618 - 3 , a bottom wall  618 - 4 , and a rear panel  624 . Walls  618 , which are perpendicular to rear panel  624 , and rear panel  624  enclose the space for receiving a plug  626 , which plugs into female plug  108 . Before cover  608  can be placed over housing  606 , female plug  108  must be in open configuration/position, so that cord  628  attached to plug  626  is placed within an opening  630  in bottom wall  618 - 4 . Thus, plug  626  and cord  628  do not obstruct cover  608  from closing over housing  606 . 
     As described above, one of walls  618  (e.g., wall  618 - 3 ) may include a pin (e.g., pin  622 ), over which a snap-on/latch (e.g., snap-on/latch  620 ) may be hooked/latched. Although  FIG. 6  shows electrical box  604  as having latch  620 , pin  622 , claws  614 , and bar-like member  616  for coupling and/or opening and closing cover  608  over housing  606 , in other implementations, different structures may be implemented to serve similar functions. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of rear panel  624 , electrical box  604 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , electrical box  404 , and wall  406  in which the pivoting face receptacle  100  and the electrical box  404  are installed. Pivoting face receptacle  100  is configured and affixed to electrical box  104  and wall  406  in the manner described for  FIG. 4 . 
     To secure/affix electrical box  604  to pivoting face receptacle  100 , rear panel  624  is removed from electrical box  604 . With cover  608  of electrical box  604  open, electrical box  604  may be moved in the rearward direction (shown by arrow  702 ). Although not shown in  FIG. 7 , electrical box  604 &#39;s rear wall  802  ( FIG. 8 ) of housing  606  includes a widow/opening, and therefore, receptacle module  102  protrudes through the opening of rear wall  802  when the electrical box  604  abuts receptacle housing  104 . 
     Rear panel  624  may then be placed rearward, in the direction of arrow  702 , with receptacle module  102  poking through window  704  of rear panel  624 . When rear panel  624  abuts rear wall  802  of electrical box  604 , screws  706 - 1  and  706 - 2  may be inserted through top and bottom holes  708 - 1  and  708 - 2  in rear panel  624 . Holes  708 - 1  and  708 - 2  are aligned with corresponding holes  136 - 4  and  138 - 4  on flanges  130 - 1  and  130 - 2  of pivoting face receptacle  100 , respectively. Turning screws  706 - 1  and  706 - 2  causes the heads of screws  706 - 1  and  706 - 2  to press rear panel  624  against rear wall  702  of electrical box  604 . Accordingly, electrical box  604  is affixed to pivoting face receptacle  100 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of electrical box  604 , pivoting face receptacle  100 , electrical box  404 , and wall  406  in which pivoting face receptacle  100  and electrical box  404  are installed.  FIG. 8  shows cord  628  extending from electrical box  604  via opening  630 . Because opening  630  is downward/sideways, moisture tends to move away (e.g., via cord  628 ) from within electrical box  604 . This allows electrical box  604  to be installed and used outdoors as well as indoors, cleaned with wet cloth, mop, etc. If moisture were to accumulate within electrical box  604 , the moisture could short electrical wires/contacts within pivoting face receptacle  100 . 
       FIG. 8  shows rear wall  802 , which is only partially shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 8 , rear wall  802  of electrical box  604  is sandwiched between rear panel  624  and front portion  120  of receptacle housing  104 .  FIG. 8  also shows screws  706 - 1  and  706 - 2  holding rear panel  624  and rear wall  802  to flanges  130 - 1  and  130 - 2 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , female plug  108  is in the open position. If female plug  108  cannot be pivoted, female plug  108 &#39;s face would be oriented horizontally (e.g., perpendicular to wall  406 ), and cover  608  would need to be much larger to accommodate plug  626  and cord  628 . 
     As described above, pivoting face receptacle  100  includes female plug  108  that can rotate 90 degrees. Pivoting face receptacle  100  has many applications. When pivoting face receptacle  100  is mounted in a wall, female plug  108  can be pivoted. This eliminates the cable bend of the cord plugged into pivoting face receptacle  100 , and prevents the cord from obstructing furniture placement. When pivoting face receptacle  100  is mounted within a while-in-use electrical box, female plug  108  eliminates the cable bend inside the while-in-use electrical box. Accordingly, the cover of the electrical box can be made unobtrusive. 
       FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process  900  associated with installing and using pivoting face receptacle  100 . As shown, process  900  may include cutting a hole  426  in wall  406 , in which pivoting face receptacle  100  is to be installed (block  902 ). Hole  426  may be cut in the shape (e.g., rectangular) to fit electrical box  404  there into, in the desired orientation (e.g., vertical, horizontal, etc.). 
     Electrical wiring may be performed (block  904 ). For example, an electrician/installer may run electrical wires behind/through wall  406 , and then through electrical box  404 . The wires may then be attached to corresponding contact screws  128 - 1 ,  128 - 2 , and/or  128 - 3  of pivoting face receptacle  100 . 
     Receptacle housing  104  may be inserted into electrical box  404  and attached to electrical box (block  906 ). As discussed above, screws  432 - 1  and  432 - 2  may be run through holes  136 - 1  and  138 - 1 , respectively, of flanges  130 - 1  and  130 - 2  of receptacle housing  104 , and then to aligned holes  424 - 1  and  424 - 2  of electrical box  404 . Screws  432 - 1  and  432 - 2  may then be turned to tightly couple receptacle housing  104  to electrical box  404 . 
     Electrical box  404  may be installed in wall  406  (block  908 ). To install electrical box  404 , electrical box  404  may be inserted into hole  426 . Screws may be inserted through holes  136 - 2 ,  136 - 3 ,  138 - 2 , and  138 - 4  in flanges  130 - 1  and  130 - 2  to wall  426 , to affix receptacle housing  104  to wall  406  (block  910 ). 
     At block  912 , either a face plate  402  or while-in-use electrical box  604  may be attached/mounted on pivoting face receptacle  100  (block  912 ). To mount face plate  402 , screws  416 - 1  and  416 - 2  may be passed through holes  414 - 1  and  414 - 2  of face plate  402  and to holes  136 - 4  and  138 - 4  on flanges  130 - 1  and  130 - 2 . To mount while-in-use electrical box  604 , while-in-use electrical box  608  may be moved in the direction of arrow  702  (see  FIG. 7 ) such that receptacle  108  appears, via a hole in rear wall  802  of while-in-use electrical box  604 , in the space enclosed by housing  606  of while-in-use electrical box  604 . Thereafter, screws  706 - 1  and  706 - 2  may be passed through rear panel  624  and rear wall  802  to holes  136 - 1  and  136 - 2 , respectively, to couple while-in-use electrical box  604  to pivoting face receptacle  100 /wall  426 . 
     An electrical plug may be inserted into receptacle  100  in electrical box  604  (block  914 ). To use an electrical device/equipment, the plug of the device/equipment may be inserted into receptacle  100 . Thereafter, receptacle  100  may be rotated 90 degrees, such that its face is in the desired direction (e.g., downward) (block  916 ). Rotating the receptacle  100  may allow the electrical plug and the cord, tier example, to be vertical and thus unobtrusive. Once the plug and cord are flat/parallel against/to rear panel  624  of electrical box  604  (and base  110  of receptacle  100 ), cover  608  may be placed over electrical box  604  and (block  918 ) and locked in place, via a snap-on/latch  620  (on cover  608 ) and pin  622  on housing  606 . 
     The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the teachings. For example, in some implementations, receptacle module  102  may include receptacle  108  that pivots upward or sideways/horizontally (relative to the face of receptacle module  102 ) rather than downward. In addition, in some implementations, receptacle  108  may be configured to pivot less than 90 degrees or more than 90 degrees to allow for less or greater degree of freedom of rotation. The angle of pivoting, in some implementations, may be adjustable. Although  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7 , and  8  show pivoting face receptacle  100  as being installed in the orientation with receptacle  108  facing downward in the pivoted configuration, pivoting face receptacle  100  may be installed in other orientations (e.g., horizontally, upside down, etc.). 
     In the above, while a series of blocks have been described with regard to the process illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the order of the blocks may be modified in other implementations. In addition, non-dependent blocks may represent blocks that can be performed in a different order. 
     Although different implementations have been described above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the implementations may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims. 
     No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the implementations described herein unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.