Reorientable electrical receptacle
View Patent ↗There is provided systems and methods for a reorientable electrical outlet. In one embodiment, a system includes a housing configured to be coupled to an electrical power source, the housing having a first rotation stop, and an electrical plug receptacle, mountable within the housing, the insert having a second rotation stop, the first and second rotation stops configured to cooperate with each other to limit rotation of the insert within the aperture at a number of degrees, wherein the plug receptacle is configured to receive an electrical plug.
1. An electrical outlet comprising:
a housing comprising an electrical connector for connection of an electrical power source and an opening configured for an electrical plug to engage an electrical plug receptacle disposed in the housing;
a first rotation stop;
an electrical plug receptacle disposed within the housing and having an axis of rotation with respect to the housing extending through the opening in the housing, the plug receptacle comprising
plug contacts engageable by an electrical plug through one or more openings in a surface oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and
a second rotation stop accessible from within the housing and rotatable with the plug receptacle, the second rotation stop configured to selectively contact the first rotation stop and limit rotation of the plug receptacle about the axis at a number of degrees; and
an electrical path connecting the electrical connector to the plug contacts continuously within the limited rotation of the plug receptacle through the number of degrees.
2. The electrical outlet of claim 1 , further comprising a stop ring that comprises the first rotation stop.
3. The electrical outlet of claim 2 , in which the first rotation stop protrudes from the stop ring.
4. The electrical outlet of claim 2 , in which the second rotation stop is configured to rotate in a plane generally parallel to a surface of the stop ring.
5. The electrical outlet of claim 1 , in which the electrical path comprises electrical wire.
6. The electrical outlet of claim 5 , in which the electrical wire is disposed though the stop ring.
7. The electrical outlet of claim 6 , in which the electrical plug receptacle comprises one or more channels configured to receive the electrical wire.
8. The electrical outlet of claim 1 , further comprising a third rotation stop rotated approximately 180 degrees from the first rotation stop within the housing.
9. A method of manufacturing a rotatable electrical outlet, the method comprising:
placing a receptacle having an outer surface and a rotational axis generally perpendicular to the outer surface within a housing, such that a first stopping mechanism rotatable with the receptacle is configured to selectively contact a second stopping mechanism disposed within the housing to limit axial rotation of the receptacle within the housing to a rotational range;
connecting a first wire between the receptacle and the housing; and
connecting a second wire between the receptacle and the housing.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a limit of extension of the first wire corresponds to the rotational range.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein connecting the first wire comprises connecting the first wire to a post within the electrical housing.
12. The method of claim 9 , comprising placing a stop ring comprising the first stop mechanism within the aperture.
13. The method of claim 12 , comprising fastening a plate to the housing.
14. An electrical outlet comprising:
a housing comprising a face, a connector for an external power source, and an internal first stop;
a plug receptacle disposed within the housing and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the face;
a second stop engageable with the first stop to limit rotation of the plug receptacle about the axis; and
an electrical path configured to maintain a power connection between the connector and the plug receptacle within the limited rotation of the plug receptacle about the axis.
15. The electrical outlet of claim 14 , further comprising a stop ring that comprises the first rotation stop.
16. The electrical outlet of claim 15 , wherein the first stop protrudes from the stop ring.
17. The electrical outlet of claim 14 , wherein the second stop extends in a plane that is generally parallel to a plane of the face.
18. The electrical outlet of claim 14 , in which the electrical path comprises electrical wire.
19. The electrical outlet of claim 14 , in which the housing further comprises an internal third stop rotated approximately 180 degrees from the first stop.
20. The electrical outlet of claim 19 , further comprising a stop ring that comprises the first stop and the third stop.