Pivoting face receptacle

• US 8,986,022 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Dinh, Cong T., Drane, Mark R., Norwood, Bobby N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US13/791,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20130344721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/142, 439/144, 439/534
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts

Abstract

A pivoting face receptacle may include a receptacle module. The receptacle module may include a hinge and a receptacle attached to the hinge. The receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a retracted position in which a face of the receptacle is parallel to a front of the receptacle module, to an extended position in which the face of the receptacle is substantially perpendicular to the front the receptacle module and protrudes from the face of the receptacle module. The pivoting face receptacle may also include a receptacle housing. The receptacle housing, having a front affixed to a rear of the receptacle module, may include a plurality of contacts on exterior faces of the receptacle housing. The receptacle housing may be configured to receive the receptacle into a space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the receptacle is in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A pivoting face receptacle comprising:

a receptacle module including;

a hinge; and

a receptacle attached to the hinge, wherein the receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a retracted position in which a face of the receptacle is parallel to a front of the receptacle module, to an extended position in which the face of the receptacle is substantially perpendicular to the front of the receptacle module and protrudes from the face of the receptacle module; and

a receptacle housing, having a front wall affixed to a rear wall of the receptacle module, that includes a plurality of contacts on exterior faces of the receptacle housing,

wherein the receptacle housing is configured to receive the receptacle into a space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the receptacle is in the retracted position; and

wherein the contacts are electrically coupled to the receptacle,

wherein when in the retracted position, the face of the receptacle is open to and faces outside of the receptacle housing, such that an electrical connector external to the receptacle housing can be plugged into the receptacle in the retracted position, and

wherein when in the extended position, the face of the receptacle is open to and faces outside of the receptacle housing, such that an electrical connector external to the receptacle housing can be plugged into the receptacle in the extended position.

2. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts include at least two electrical contacts.

3. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 2, wherein each of the contacts is electrically coupled to one of holes, in the receptacle, for receiving prongs of a plug.

4. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle housing further includes:

flanges having holes, through which screws are inserted to;

affix the receptacle housing to an electrical box, wherein the electrical box is dimensioned to enclose the receptacle housing; and

affix a face plate having a window to the front wall of the receptacle housing, wherein the affixed face plate covers the receptacle housing and the window exposes the front of the receptacle module.

5. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 4, wherein the screws are further inserted to:

affix the receptacle housing to a wall.

6. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle housing further includes:

flanges having holes, through which screws are inserted to;

affix the housing to an electrical box, wherein the electrical box is dimensioned to enclose the receptacle housing; and

affix a plate, having a window, of a while-in-use electrical box to the front of the receptacle housing, wherein the plate covers the receptacle housing and the window exposes the front of the receptacle module to inside of the while-in-use electrical box.

7. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 6, wherein the while-in-use electrical box includes a cover that closes completely over a plug inserted into the receptacle when the receptacle is in the extended position.

8. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes contact holes for receiving one of:

a two-pronged plug;

or a three pronged plug.

9. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle module includes:

a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base that surround a space for the receptacle in the retracted position.

10. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 9, wherein a portion of the receptacle and a portion of the base form the hinge.

11. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 9, wherein the top wall includes a bump into the space for the receptacle, and

wherein the receptacle includes a surface with a groove, to fit into the space for the receptacle.

12. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle module further includes:

another receptacle attached to the hinge, wherein the other receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a retracted position in which a face of the other receptacle is parallel to the front of the receptacle module, to an extended position in which the face of the other receptacle is substantially perpendicular to the front the receptacle module and protrudes from the face of the receptacle module, and

wherein the receptacle housing is further configured to;

receive the other receptacle into the space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the other receptacle is in the retracted position.

13. The pivoting face receptacle of claim 12, wherein the plurality of contacts on the exterior faces of the receptacle housing are electrically coupled to the other receptacle.

14. A system comprising:

a pivoting face receptacle comprising;

a receptacle module including;

a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base that surround a space, wherein the base includes a first portion of a hinge; and

a receptacle placed in the space, wherein the receptacle includes a second portion of the hinge, and wherein the receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a closed configuration in which a face of the receptacle is parallel to a front of the receptacle module, to an open configuration in which the face of the receptacle is approximately 90 degrees relative to the front the receptacle module; and

a receptacle housing whose front is affixed to a rear of the receptacle module, that includes a plurality of contacts on exterior faces of the receptacle housing,

wherein the contacts are electrically coupled to the receptacle,

wherein the receptacle housing is configured to receive the receptacle into a space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the receptacle is in the closed configuration,

wherein when in the closed configuration, the face of the receptacle is open to and faces outside of the receptacle housing, such that an electrical connector external to the receptacle housing can be plugged into the receptacle in the closed configuration, and

wherein when in the open position, the face of the receptacle is open to and faces outside of the receptacle housing, such that an electrical connector external to the receptacle housing can be plugged into the receptacle in the open configuration.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an electrical box and a face plate having an opening,

wherein the receptacle housing further includes:

flanges having holes, through which screws are inserted to;

affix the receptacle housing to the electrical box, wherein the electrical box is dimensioned to enclose the receptacle housing; and

affix the face plate to the front of the receptacle housing, wherein the affixed face plate covers the receptacle housing and the opening exposes the front the receptacle module.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a while-in-use electrical box, wherein the receptacle housing further includes:

flanges having holes, through which screws are inserted to;

affix a plate, having an opening, of a while-in-use electrical box to the front of the receptacle housing, wherein the plate covers the receptacle housing and the opening exposes the front of the receptacle module and the receptacle to inside of the while-in-use electrical box.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the while-in-use electrical box includes a cover that closes completely over a plug inserted into the receptacle when the receptacle is the open configuration.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the receptacle includes contact holes for receiving one of:

a two-pronged plug;

or a three pronged plug.

19. A method comprising:

running wires through an electrical box;

attaching the wires to a plurality of contacts of a pivoting face receptacle wherein the pivoting face receptacle comprises;

a receptacle module including;

a hinge; and

a receptacle attached to the hinge, wherein the receptacle is configured to pivot, about the hinge, from a retracted position in which a face of the receptacle is parallel to a front of the receptacle module, to an extended position in which the face of the receptacle is substantially perpendicular to the front of the receptacle module and protrudes from the face of the receptacle module; and

a receptacle housing, having a front wall affixed to a rear wall of the receptacle module, that includes the plurality of contacts on exterior faces of the receptacle housing, wherein the receptacle housing is configured to receive the receptacle into a space enclosed by the receptacle housing when the receptacle is in the retracted position; and

wherein the contacts are electrically coupled to the receptacle;

placing the pivoting face receptacle inside the electrical box;

affixing the electrical box to the pivoting face receptacle; and

installing the pivoting face receptacle and the electrical box to a wall,

wherein when in the retracted position, the face of the receptacle is open to and faces outside of the receptacle housing, such that an electrical connector external to the receptacle housing can be plugged into the receptacle in the retracted position, and

wherein when in the extended position, the face of the receptacle is open to and faces outside of the receptacle housing, such that an electrical connector external to the receptacle housing can be plugged into the receptacle in the extended position.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

affixing one of a face plate or a second electrical box to the pivoting face receptacle.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising cutting a hole in the wall, wherein installing the pivoting face receptacle and the electrical box to the wall includes:

inserting the electrical box with the pivoting face receptacle placed therein, into the hole;

affixing the pivoting face receptacle to the wall.