Switching type electrical receptacles having selectively orientable plug-receiving contact carriers
US5484299A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R2103/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrical receptacle includes a nonconductive contact carrier that mounts a set of female electrical contacts that are configured to receive and conductively engage plural conductive prongs of a male plug. The carrier has a generally cylindrical outer wall that is received within a generally cylindrical chamber that is defined by a nonconductive housing. The housing mounts the carrier for rotation about a center axis that extends centrally through the chamber. When the carrier is rotated about the center axis relative to the housing to an "on" position (that resides within a relatively wide angular range of "on" positions), housing-carried electrical contacts that extend through housing-defined passages engage carrier-carried electrical contacts that extend through carrier-defined passages. When the carrier is rotated about the center axis relative to the housing to an "off" position, electrical connection is interrupted between selected pairs of the housing-carried and carrier-carried contacts. A detent preferably is interposed between the carrier and the housing for releasably retaining the rotatable carrier in its "off" position. The rotatability of the carrier while remaini…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.