Tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit

• US 7,497,740 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Da-Peng Mei, Tzu-Chiang Mei
• Original Assignee: Da-Peng Mei, Tzu-Chiang Mei
• Inventors: Mei, Tzu-Chiang, Mei, Da-Peng
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US11/808,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20080305693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 439/651, 439/11, 439/13, 439/652, 200/51.R, 200/51.07, 200/51.12
• US Class Current: 439/652
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit is provided. The unit includes a primary receptacle having a housing, an electric plug with an electric cord disposed at the front end of the housing, and a first slot set formed at the rear side of the primary receptacle for the output of power. The unit further includes at least one tandem connection receptacle having a blade set at the front side of the housing, the blade set being fixed at a round seat. The blades of the blade set are each coupled to a conducting wire electrically coupled to a conducting piece of a first slot set at the rear end of the tandem connection receptacles. The tandem connection receptacle further includes a second slot set at a side wall and a projecting rib provided at the circumference of the round seat, whereby the round seat can be rotated about the round seat for adjusting the direction of a second slot set at the side wall of the housing.

Claims

1. A tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit, comprising:

a) a primary receptacle having a housing, an electric plug with an electric cord being disposed at a front end of the housing for obtaining power to enable the function of the primary receptacle, a first slot set being formed at a rear side of the primary receptacle for the output of power; and

b) at least one tandem connection receptacle, the tandem connection receptacles each having a blade set at a front side of a housing for an electric plug-in connection to the first slot set of the primary receptacle, the blade set being fixed within a round seat, such that an internal end thereof is disposed within the housing, the blades of the blade set each being coupled to a conducting wire, the conducting wires each being electrically coupled to a conducting piece of a first slot set at a rear end of the tandem connection receptacles, the tandem connection receptacle further having a second slot set at a side wall perpendicular to the first slot set, a projecting rib being provided at a circumference of the round seat and fitting into an annular groove at the corresponding place of the housing, whereby the round seat is reversibly rotatable for adjusting the second slot set at the side wall of the housing in orientation;

wherein the tandem connection receptacle further includes a transverse locking pin provided within the first slot set, and wherein one end of the transverse locking pin projects from one side wall of the housing to create a push-button portion, and wherein another end is disposed within the housing and a spring is mounted on the end of the transverse locking pin, and wherein the transverse locking pin includes two n-shaped indentations corresponding to the blade set, and wherein an engaging groove is formed at a top end and a bottom end of the blade set corresponding to the transverse locking pin, and wherein, when the tandem-connected blade sets are inserted into the first slot sets, the two n-shaped indentations are located beside the blade set due to the influence of the resilience of the spring in such a way that the transverse locking pins are engaged into the engaging grooves of the blade sets so that the tandem-connected receptacles are locked to one another.

2. The tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the tandem connection receptacles further includes an on-off switch to control the connection or disconnection between the second slot set and the conducting wire.

3. The tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the tandem connection receptacles are coupled together either in a front to rear longitudinal direction or in front to side lateral direction.

4. The tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the conducting wire coupled to the blade set is twisted into a coiled shape.

5. The tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit as recited in claim 1, wherein a positioning piece formed to project from the round seat of the tandem connection receptacles for restricting the rotation of the housing within a range of 360°

.

6. The tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary receptacle further includes a second slot set and an on-off switch.

7. The tandem-connected rotatable receptacle unit as recited in claim 1, wherein each slot set of the primary receptacle and the tandem connection receptacles have two or three slots.