Electrical connectors – Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use – Movement about axis
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-27
2003-10-28
Gushi, Ross (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use
Movement about axis
C439S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06638074
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical outlets and more specifically to electrical outlets with rotating receptacles which provide variable alignment between the housing of the receptacle and the plug being inserted therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other electrical connection devices designed for rotation. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,901 issued to Kaszuba on Jul. 26, 1977.
Another patent was issued to Foley et al. on Jan. 29, 1980 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,881. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,610 was issued to Le Magourou on Jun. 25, 1985 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 22, 1986 to Blazowich as U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,798.
Another patent was issued to Williams on Jun. 28, 1988 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,600. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,122 was issued to Speyer et al. on Oct. 4, 1994 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 21, 1995 to Schneider et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,093.
Another patent was issued to Chen on Jul. 4, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,518. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,503 was issued to Pittmnan et al, on Jan. 21, 1997 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 18, 2000 to Chiu et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,307.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,901
Inventor: Edward H. Kaszuba
Issued: Jul. 26, 1997
An electrical safety socket in which there is no electrical contact between the socket and a plug inserted in the socket unless the plug is properly inserted in the socket, pushed in, and turned. The plug, once inserted in the socket, cannot be removed unless the reverse sequence of operations are performed. This precludes electrical contact if a child should insert a foreign metal object in the socket when the plug has been removed, or prevents the plug from being removed from the socket once inserted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,881
Inventor: Jeffrey R. Foley et al.
Issued: Jan. 29, 1980
The invention relates to an electrical plug and socket arrangement. There is disclosed a plug and socket arrangement for use as a general purpose domestic electrical power outlet. The socket has a rotatable pin receiving portion which is rotatable from a first position wherein receptacles for receiving pins of the plug are electrically inactive to a second position wherein at least one receptacle is electrically active. The pin receiving portion can only be rotated to the second position when the pins are fully inserted therein because of a unique key arranged on the earth pin. The key also prevents any withdrawal of the plug in the second position, that is, when at least one of the pins is active and thus a completely child-safe plug and socket is provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,610
Inventor: Yves Le Magouroy
Issued: Jun. 25, 1985
A plug and socket connector comprises resilient contacts which are adapted to be engaged in bayonet fashion. Electrical contact between each input terminal and a corresponding socket connector-pin is established by coupling two contact studs, one contact stud being carried by a conductive arm rigidly attached to a connector pin, the other being attached to an electrical supply lead. When a plug and socket are disengaged, the contact studs being coupled are positioned in different relative angular positions with respect to the axis of the plug socket. The contact studs are placed into a position of angular coincidence by rotating the plug with respect to the socket. At the end of the rotation of the plug, each arm is subjected to an abrupt pivoting movement in which it is displaced toward an oppositely acting contact stud as a result of a release of the energy stored during the rotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,798
Inventor: Daniel L. Blazowich
Issued: Apr. 22, 1986
A rotatable electrical connector for preventing twisting and kinking of cords such as telephone and portable appliance cords includes a shell having an open-ended cylindrical bore with a series of contact elements projecting radially inwardly from the wall of the bore and a barrel rotatably received and retained in the bore with the circumference of the barrel having a series of contact rings in alignment with the contact elements. First and second electrical connectors are provided on the ends of the shell and the barrel, respectively, with the corresponding contacts electrically connected through the contact elements and contact rings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,600
Inventor: O. V. Williams
Issued: Jun. 28, 1988
An electrical connector is provided for use with hand tools or the like that are normally joined to drop cords. The connector is placed between the drop cord and the electrical supply cord of the tool and allows the supply cord to be turned in a continuous clockwise or counterclockwise direction without rotation of the drop cord or twisting of the supply cord. The connector of the invention includes a pair of opposing plates which are rotatably connected whereby during rotation electrical current passes through both plates without interruption thus allowing the tool to be continuously used during an eight hour work period with the tool being directed in the same circular motion without concern of twisting or effective shortening of the supply cord.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,122
Inventor: Henning J. Speyer et al.
Issued: Oct. 4, 1994
An electrical connector is formed from two pairs of contacts. One pair of contacts is rotatable with respect to the other pair of contacts. Both pairs are in conductive and frictional engagement throughout a 90 degree rotational distance. One pair of contacts have an arcuate conductive contact surface, each contact being symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of rotation, in opposed relation to one another and separated at each end by a nonconductive space. One pair of contacts are attached to a pair of male electrical prongs. The other pair of contacts are attached to an electrical appliance. The one pair of contacts and the attached pair of male electrical prongs are themselves attached to a nonconductive disk. The nonconductive disk is disposed in a circular groove in a disk holder. The nonconductive disk and the pair of contacts and electrical prongs attached thereto are rotatable within the circular groove. Stops are employed to limit the rotational distance to 90 degree. The electrical connector allows an electrical appliance, such as a night light, attached to the connector to be oriented in a desired direction regardless of whether an outlet is vertically or horizontally disposed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,093
Inventor: Roy J. Schneider et al.
Issued: Mar. 21, 1995
A low profile rotatable electrical plug includes a housing and a set of conductive prongs positioned on one face of the housing for insertion into a conventional wall outlet. A power cord exits the housing in a direction generally perpendicular to the prongs such that the cord parallels the wall when the plug is inserted into a wall outlet. A rotative coupling device mounted within the housing provides a rotative electrical connection between the power cord and the prongs. The rotative coupling device includes first and second sets of conductors carried by respective conductor support plates. The conductors in the first support plate are electrically connected to respective conductors in the power cord, and the conductors in the second support plate are electrically connected to respective prongs. The first support plate is fixedly mounted within the housing and the second support rotates within the housing relative to the first support plate. The prongs extend from the second support plate and through an aperture in the housing for rotation relative to the cord. The plug further includes structure for releasably locking the position of the power cord with respect to the prongs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,518
Inventor: Ken C. Chen
Issued: Jul. 4, 1995
A socket terminal has a shell, two electrodes, a ground and at least one socket member. The shell has a base and a cover which is mounted on the base. The base has a first side which defines two grooves for receiving the electrodes and a second side which defines a channel for receiv
Gushi Ross
Kroll Michael I.
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