Patent Publication Number: US-8118616-B1

Title: Electrical outlet adaptor device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an electrical outlet plug adaptor, more particularly to a plug adaptor with an upside-down plug configuration and hinged side plugs, allowing for a more convenient and versatile means of plugging of devices into the electrical outlet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many individuals utilize a plurality of electrical devices on a daily basis. In some cases, electrical outlets may be scarce or the number of electrical outlets in a home or building may simply be insufficient. Many standard electrical outlets comprise two separate outlets. However, these outlets are commonly placed close together (and in the same orientation) such that if a bulky plug is inserted into one, the other becomes blocked. Power strips may be used as a means of adding additional outlets, but they can be unsightly and bulky, and become tangled in other cords or even people&#39;s feet (e.g., if used under a desk for example). 
     The present invention features an adaptor device for an electrical outlet that provides an alternate configuration for the electrical outlet (e.g., upside down configuration) in addition to additional outlets. Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the adaptor device of the present invention is advantageous because is easy to use and makes the electrical outlet more versatile by allowing devices to be plugged into the outlet via a different (and move convenient) configuration. The device of the present invention also provides additional outlets for plugging in additional devices. There is no need for counter to use the device of the present invention, and the device is compact, practical, and aesthetically appealing. The device may offer larger sized outlets to accommodate chargers and other large household appliance plugs. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the adaptor device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the base unit plug of the adaptor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the adaptor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the adaptor device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use view of the adaptor device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention features an adaptor device  100  for an electrical outlet that provides an alternate configuration for one of the units of the electrical outlet (e.g., upside down configuration). The device  100  of the present invention makes the electrical outlet more versatile by allowing devices to be plugged into the outlet via a different (and move convenient) configuration. For example, reversing the face of the outlet allows a device to be plugged in upside down, thereby preventing the plug from blocking the other electrical outlet of the unit. The device  100  of the present invention also provides additional outlets for plugging in additional devices. 
     The adaptor device  100  of the present invention comprises a base plug unit  110 . The base plug unit  110  may be similar in appearance to a standard electrical outlet adaptor, which is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, such electrical outlet adaptors are commonly used by travelers in foreign countries to allow their personal electrical devices to be plugged into foreign electrical sockets. The base plug unit  110  has a front surface, a back surface, and an inner cavity, wherein standard electrical outlet components are housed in the inner cavity. 
     Disposed in the front surface of the base plug unit  110  are a first slot  120   a , a second slot  120   b , and a third slot  120   c . The slots  120  are adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical device plug. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first slot  120   a  is smaller than the second slot  120   b . The third slot  120   c  is generally rounded. The first slot  120   a  is positioned near the bottom surface and near the first side of the base plug unit  110  (e.g., a first corner). The second slot  120   b  is positioned near the bottom surface and near the second side of the base plug unit  110  (e.g., a second corner). The third slot  120   c  is positioned near the top surface of the base plug unit  110  between the first side and the second side (e.g., in the middle area). 
     Disposed on the back surface of the base plug unit  110  are a first prong  130   a  and a second prong  130   b  (see  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ). In some embodiments, the base plug unit  110  comprises a third prong  130   c  (see  FIG. 2 ). The third prong  130   c  may be optional since not all electrical outlets have three slots. The prongs  130  are standard electrical prongs, which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The first prong  130   a  is larger than the second prong  130   b . The third prong  130   c  is generally rounded. 
     The first prong  130   a  is positioned near the top surface and near the first side of the base plug unit  110 . The second prong  130   b  is positioned near the top surface and near the second side of the base plug unit  110 . The third prong  130   c  is positioned near the bottom surface of the base plug unit  110  between the first side and the second side (e.g., in the middle area). The configuration with the slots  120  of the base plug unit  110  being opposite that of the prongs  130  effectively reverses the orientation of the electrical socket  101  that the device  100  is plugged into (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ). 
     A first side plug unit  210  is pivotally attached to the first side of the base plug unit  110  via a first pivot component. A second side plug unit  220  is pivotally attached to the second side of the base plug unit  110  via a second pivot component. The side plug units  210 ,  220  are similar to the base plug unit  110 , for example the side plug units  210 ,  220  each comprise the set of slots  120 . However, the side plug units  210 ,  220  lack the prongs  130 . The side plug units  210 ,  220  are operatively connected to the base plug unit  110  so as to draw power. This operative connection is similar to that of extension cords and other electrical adaptors with multiple outlet sockets, which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The pivot components of the side plug units  210 ,  220  allow the side plug units  210 ,  220  to be operatively connected to the base plug unit  110  (e.g., electrical connection components travel through the pivot components). The pivot components (e.g., hinge components) may be coated and/or insulated for protection. Such electrical connections are well known by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the side plug units  210 ,  220  can pivot with respect to the base plug unit  110 . This can help the side plug units  210 ,  200  accommodate electrical devices in some cases. In some embodiments, the pivot angle (e.g., angle between the side plug unit and the base plug unit  110 ) is between about 0 to 30 degrees. In some embodiments, the pivot angle is between about 0 to 60 degrees. In some embodiments, the pivot angle is between about 0 to 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the pivot angle is more than about 90 degrees. 
     The device  100  of the present invention may be constructed from a variety of materials (e.g., durable plastic, metal) and in a variety of sizes. For example, in some embodiments, the base plug unit  110  is between about 1 to 2 inches in width, e.g., 1.5 inches, as measured from the first side to the second side. In some embodiments, the base plug unit is more than about 2 inches in width. In some embodiments, the base plug unit  110  is between about 1 to 2 inches in length, e.g., 1 inch, as measured from the front surface to the back surface. In some embodiments, the base plug unit  110  is more than about 2 inches in length. In some embodiments, the base plug unit  110  is between about 1 to 2 inches in height, e.g., 1.75 inches, as measured from the bottom surface to the top surface. In some embodiments, the base plug unit  110  is more than about 2 inches in height. 
     The base plug unit  110  may be constructed in a variety of shapes, for example generally rectangular (e.g., square), rounded, circular, oval, irregular in shape, and/or the like. The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned shapes or the shapes shown in the figures. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention features an adaptor device  100  comprising only the base plug unit  110 . In some embodiments, the adaptor device  100  of the present invention comprises surge suppressors (e.g., like surge protector power strips). 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the base plug unit  110  is about 2 inches in height includes a base plug unit that is between 1.8 and 2.2 inches in height. 
     The following disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,134; U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,410; U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,798; U.S. Pat. No. 7,435,091; U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,102; U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,953. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.