Switching type electrical receptacles having selectively orientable

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 remaining within its range of 'on' positions permits a male electrical plug (and an appliance cord or other form of electrical wire that is attached to the plug) to be oriented as desired relative to the receptacle for such purposes as minimizing wear and tear, and/or to accommodate the positioning of furniture at locations near where the receptacle is installed.