Rotating plug adapter with integral two blade and grounding post receptacle

• US 7,462,074 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Southwire Company
• Inventors: Devlin, Thomas E., Favaloro, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US12/026,936
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 439/101, 439/104, 439/638, 439/640, 439 11- 30
• US Class Current: 439/640
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/30 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A rotating two blade plug and grounding post adapter includes a housing including a top and bottom coupled to freely rotate about a rotary cap disposed between the housing top and bottom. Right and left electrical spades and a grounding post extend from the rotary cap and a receptacle integral to the periphery of the housing accepts a two blade and grounding plug that may be oriented at a wall receptacle by rotating the adapter housing and receptacle to a desired orientation. Internal flanges define grooves in which rotary electrical contacts are maintained through rotation of the housing and integral receptacle.

Claims

1. An electrical plug adapter comprising:

a housing including a top, bottom and outer periphery;

a cap rotatably mounted between the top and bottom of the housing;

a first spade mounted in the cap, wherein the first spade includes a first spade rotary contact rotatably abutting a first housing rotary contact;

a second spade mounted in the cap, wherein the second spade includes a second spade rotary contact slidably abutting a second housing rotary contact;

a grounding post mounted in the cap, wherein the grounding post includes a grounding rotary contact slidably abutting a housing grounding rotary contact;

a plug receptacle integral to the outer periphery of the housing and rotatable around the rotary cap, wherein the plug receptacle includes

a first receptacle opening including a portion of the first housing rotary contact mounted therein;

a second receptacle opening including a portion of the second housing rotary contact mounted therein; and

a grounding post receptacle opening including a portion of the housing grounding rotary contact mounted therein.

2. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a rotary ratchet spring mounted between the top and bottom of the housing.

3. The adapter of claim 2 wherein the rotary cap includes a plurality of teeth and the ratchet spring includes one or more wings rotatable between a pair of teeth to lock the ratchet and housing with the plug receptacle facing a desired position.

4. The adapter of claim 3 further comprising:

a sleeve of the first spade rotary contact covering a post of a first housing rotary contact; and

the second spade rotary contact and second housing rotary contact each include a slip ring.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the portion of the first housing rotary contact mounted in the first receptacle opening includes a flat contact for abutting a flat blade of a plug and the portion of the first housing rotary contact mounted in the first receptacle opening includes a flat contact for abutting a flat blade of a plug.

6. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve of the first spade rotary contact covering a post of a first housing rotary contact; and

the second spade rotary contact and second housing rotary contact each include a slip ring.

7. The adapter of claim 6 wherein the portion of the first housing rotary contact mounted in the first receptacle opening includes a flat contact for abutting a flat blade of a plug and the portion of the first housing rotary contact mounted in the first receptacle opening includes a flat contact for abutting a flat blade of a plug.

8. The adapter of claim 7 further comprising one or more springs mounted between the top and bottom of the housing to maintain contact between the second spade rotary contact and second housing rotary contact.

9. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising one or more springs mounted between the top and bottom of the housing to maintain contact between the second spade rotary contact and second housing rotary contact.

10. The adapter of claim 3 further comprising one or more springs mounted between the top and bottom of the housing to maintain contact between the second spade rotary contact and second housing rotary contact.

11. The adapter of claim 5 further comprising one or more springs mounted between the top and bottom of the housing to maintain contact between the second spade rotary contact and second housing rotary contact.

12. The adapter of claim 11 wherein the rotary ratchet spring is integral to the housing grounding rotary contact.

13. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the rotary ratchet spring is integral to the housing grounding rotary contact.

14. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the rotary ratchet spring is integral to the housing grounding rotary contact.

15. The adapter of claim 5 wherein the rotary ratchet spring is integral to the housing grounding rotary contact.

16. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the top of the housing is flat and low profile.

17. The adapter of claim 2 wherein the top of the housing is flat and low profile.

18. The adapter of claim 3 wherein the top of the housing is flat and low profile.

19. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the top of the housing is flat and low profile.

20. The adapter of claim 5 wherein the top of the housing is flat and low profile.