Swivel electrical connection

Oct. 25, 1938.

A. E. CALDWELL

2,134,355

SWIVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

Filed July 9, 1934

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2134355A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US2134355A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US2134355A_D0003.tif" />

Oct. 25, 1938.

2,134,355

A. E. CALDWELL

SWIVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

Filed July 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2134355A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US2134355A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US2134355A_D0006.tif" />

£. Ca/c/i^eti

2,134,355

Oct 25, 1938,

A. E. CALDWELL SWIVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

Filed July 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2134355A_D0007.tif" />

<img file="US2134355A_D0008.tif" />

<img file="US2134355A_D0009.tif" />

I/Wtenhr: effliertH'. Catdtcreil· |JLnM)L

Oct. 25, 1938

2,134,355

A. E. CALDWELL

SWIVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

Filed July 9, 1934

4-Sheets-Sheet 4

<img file="US2134355A_D0010.tif" />

Patented Oct. 25, 1938

2,134,355

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,134,355

SWIVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Albert E. Caldwell, Galesburg, Ill., assignor to Eby Inventions, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania

Application July 9, 1934, Serial No. 734,308

Claims.

This invention relates to swivel electrical connectors and more particularly is directed to such connectors as employed to effect detachable electrical connection between an outlet and an elecr> trically operated appliance, such as the connections between a flexible conductor and a wall socket or outlet, or a flexible conductor and the appliance which is supplied with current thereby.

In my copending application, Serial No.

621,079, filed July 6, 1932, which has matured into Patent No. 2,055,999 on Sept. 29, 1936, I have disclosed one form of a swivel connector’of this type, commonly called a push plug or prong plug having extending contact prongs adapted ¹⁰ to be engaged within a receptacle such as a wall socket or the like, and which in turn is provided with contact members adapted to be engaged by a second contact plug carried by the flexible conductor, the contact members being rotatably car20 ried by the cover of the push or prong plug to provide a swivel connection between the plug connected to the cord and the prong plug.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a swivel connector of a basic 25 design that may be incorporated in a plurality of different types of swivel connectors, and which provides a free swiveling connection having relatively small frictional resistance to rotation so that connection thereto and subsequent rotation 30 of the connector means may be facilitated.

In the development of modern portable electrical appliances, it has become customary to provide a flexible connector or conduit extending· from the appliance to an adjacent electrical out35 let. However, in the use of such appliances as trouble lamps, electric irons, vacuum cleaners ordinary portable lamps and the like, these flexible conductors have a tendency to become kinked or twisted, and to remedy this undesirable sit40 uation I have provided a swivel electrical connector which is capable of automatically rotating to accommodate any twisting or kinking tendencies of the cord. Further, wall outlets are sometimes so situated as to be inconvenient of 45 access, or disposed in a relatively dark location where the position of the openings for receiving the contact prongs cannot be readily ascertained By the provision of a swivel connector of the type disclosed in the present invention, the insertion 50 of the contact prongs connected to the electrical cord is facilitated by a cooperating rotation of the cover of the connector, whereby the openings are brought into register with the contact prongs by application of axial pressure to the 55 prongs, and the cord can thus be readily con(Cl. 173—324) nected without turning it Into a predetermined position to align it with the contact prong-receiving openings of the receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a swivel connector having bearing sur- ί faces about which the rotation occurs, which surfaces are also employed for carrying the electrical circuit through the device. By this construction I provide a wiping contact surface which is always maintained clean and bright by K3 the rotation effected during connection and operation of the device, and which therefore reduces the electrical resistance through the device.

A distinct advantage secured by the present invention is the adaptability of the basic con- 15 struction for use in a plurality of different types of connector devices, including the connectors between the current conductors or cord and the appliance, so that, if desired, swivel connections may be provided at each end of a flexible con- o_nductor or cord. Also, threaded plug connectors for use in connection with threaded outlet sockets may be provided with the swiveling means of the present invention.

In addition, the present invention is capable 05 of providing a unitary wall outlet construction having the swiveling means of the present invention incorporated therein, whereby no additional swiveling connectors need be provided for attachment of a flexible cord thereto. «θ

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of resilient means for spacing the cover of the connector device a slight distance away from the defining edge of the receptacle, to decrease the frictional resistance to rotation, the resilient means being independent of the electrical circuit extending through the device.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a compact and simplified construction in which all of the current conducting parts may be economically formed and assembled, the contact-engaging and conducting members being preferably formed from metal stampings. Another advantage secured by reason of this construction resides in the feature of having all of the rotatable elements carried by ° the swiveling member, and mounted upon a single centrally extending post which forms a part of the electrical circuit, whereby the swiveling contact members may be readily assembled in position upon, the post, together with the cover, and ° this structure may then be secured to the receptacle in order to form the complete contact connector.

Other objects and advantages of the present 55

2,134,355 invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a push or prong type of plug constructed according to the 10 present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the plug shown in

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the plug, taken substantially on the line 3—3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the plug taken substantially on the line 4—4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a contact finger employed in the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the contact member which extends the electrical circuit from a contact finger to one of the prongs of the plug;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an intermediate current-carrying member employed in the 25 plug construction;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a threaded type of plug embodying the present invention;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the plug as shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 10—10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a double outlet wall receptacle constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 12 is a sectional view of one of the contact units of the structure shown in Figure 11, taken substantially on the line 12—12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a plan view of a swivel connector 40 employed in connection with the terminal connector for an electrical iron or the like;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 14—14 of Figure 13, showing in detail the internal construction of the swivel 45 connector;

Figure 15 is an elevational view of the swivel connector construction shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a contact connector shown in Figure 14;

₆0 Figure 17 is a perspective detail of one of the elements of the connector construction shown in Figure 14;

Figure 18 is an elevational view of a socket for a trouble lamp or the like, provided with a 55 swivel connector constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 19 is an elevational sectional view of the socket shown in Figure 18, taken substantially on the line 19—19 thereof;

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 20—20 of Figure 18, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 21 is a plan view of the insulating member shown in Figure 19.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the plug shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a receptacle or casing 5, formed of insulating material, such as a molded phenol condensation product or the like, and which is pro70 vided with a pair of projecting contact prongs 6 and 7, extending in spaced relation from the lower end thereof, the prongs 6 and 7 being adapted to enter through suitable openings in a wall socket or the like to effect electrical contact 75 with the contacts disposed within such an outlet. Mounted for rotation within the receptacle 5 is a swivel cover 8, which also is formed of suitable insulating material, such as molded or pressed phenol condensation material or the like. 6

The cover 8 is provided at its center with a boss portion shown at 9, having a recess 10 of hexagonal or other suitable polygonal shape formed therein. Disposed upon opposite sides of the boss 9 are a pair of openings 12, which 10 are adapted to receive the contact prongs of a plug connector carried by a flexible cord or the like. The openings 12 are located a considerable distance below the upper surface of the cover 8, and are separated by a defining ridge 13 which 15 extends from the outer periphery of the cover 8 inwardly to the central boss 9. This ridge is provided with opposed sloping surfaces (4, which extend downwardly toward the openings 12.

The peripheral surface of the cover 8 is pro- 20 vided with a rounded or concaved depressed portion 15 which forms a camming surface for guiding the prong plugs or the like into the openings 12, cooperating with the surfaces 14 formed by the ridge 13. This provides a substantially 25 dished or concaved surface leading to each of the openings 12, so that regardless of the angular position of the cover 8 with respect to a pair of prong members which are to be inserted therein, the camming surfaces will effect rotation of the cover 8 to align the openings 12 in position with respect to the prong members which are to be inserted therethrough.

The cover 8 is rotatable about a centrally extending post or stud member IB, which at its 35 upper end is provided with a frusto-conical bearing surface 17 adapted to engage over a corresponding surface formed in a retaining nut 18 having its outer peripheral surface formed to correspond to the periphery of the opening 10, 40 in the present embodiment being hexagonal in shape. Thus, the nut member 18 rotates with the cover 8, and has bearing engagement about the outwardly flared surface 17 of the post 18.

At its lower end, the post 16 is provided with a portion of reduced diameter, indicated at 19, which projects through an opening formed in the base of the receptacle 5, the receptacle 5 being provided with a raised boss portion 20 through which the portion 19 of the stud 16 extends. 55

A suitable recess is formed In the outer surface of the base of the receptacle 5, and is adapted to receive the normally extending portion 22 of the prong 6, which lies within this recess, to prevent rotation of the prong with respect to the 55 receptacle, and the outer projecting end of the stud 16 is beaded or spun over, as shown at 23, for rigidly securing the post in position within the receptacle 5, and at the same time clamping the prong 6 in nonrotative and fixed eo position with respect to the receptacle.

The cover 8, adjacent the opening 10, is provided with a depending central portion indicated at 24, which Is suitably recessed, as indicated at 25, to provide an annular chamber about the stud 55 16 in which is disposed a spring member 26, which bears at its upper end against the lower surface of the nut member 18, and at its lower end is biased against a sleeve member 27 extending upwardly about the stud 16, and having an 70 upwardly flared portion cooperating with a corresponding reduced portion of the recess 25 for securing it in position with respect to the depending portion 24 of the cover 8.

The lower end of the sleeve 27 is spaced a slight 75

2,134,366 3 distance above the boss 20 formed in the receptacle5, as shown at 28 in Figure 4, and, by reason of the resiliency of the spring member 26, allows a slight relative movement of the cover 5 member 8 axially with respect to the stud 16, the amount of this movement being limited by the space between the lower end 28 of the sleeve 27 and the upper end of the boss 20. This provides for spacing the cover 8 a slight distance 10 away from the peripheral edge 29 of the receptacle 5, whereby its frictional resistance to rotation is materially decreased.

Considering now in detail Figure 3, a pair of contact fingers, formed from resilient metal 15 stampings, are indicated at 30 and 32, respectively, the contact finger 30 being shown in detail in Figure 5. This contact finger is provided with a doubled back portion indicated at 30α, which is adapted to have wiping contact engage20 merit with a prong member inserted through the opening 12. The main portion of the contact finger 30 extends downwardly along the outer surface of the depending portion 24 of the cover 8, being spaced away therefrom by a laterally bent 25 portion 33, and having a supporting flange or tab 34 extending normal thereto and engaging . about the lower end 28 of the sleeve member 27. the flange 34 being apertured to have relatively tight fit over the outer surface of the sleeve mem30 ber 27 and bearing against the projecting portion 28 thereof. It is therefore apparent that an electrical circuit can be traced from the contact prong which enters the opening 12 and engages the portion 30α of the contact finger 30, through 35 the contact finger 30 and the sleeve 27 to the post or stud 16, and then downwardly through the. post or stud to the portion 22 of the contact prong 6.

The opposite contact finger 32 is formed in sub40 stantially the same manner, but is insulated from the post 16 by reason of the depending portion 24 of the cover 8, and the insulating member 31, the contact finger 32 having a relatively large opening extending about portion 24 of the cover. 45 Disposed immediately above the inner extending flange portion 35 of the contact 32 is a contact clip indicated in detail in Figure 7.

This contact clip has bearing engagement on its lower surface with the upper surface of the 50 flange portion 35 of the contact finger 32, the clip 36 having an aperture 37 formed therein which engages about the lower end of the depending portion 24 of the cover. Formed integrally with the clip 36, and extending laterally 55 and upwardly therefrom are a pair of tongue members 38, which are provided with rounded and downturned end portions 39, as shown in detail in Figure 7. The under surfaces of the laterally and downwardly turned ends 39 are 60 adapted to receive the upper projecting ends 40 of a second contact clip member 41, shown in detail in Figure 6. The contact clip member 41 is adapted to extend downwardly, having an outwardly flared .central portion provided with a 65 raised frusto-conical surface 42. Ulis frustoconical surface 42 is adapted to extend over a corresponding frusto-conical surface 43 formed upon a laterally extending portion 44 of the prong 7. This frusto-conical portion 43 of the 70 prong 7 engages about and is secured in contact with the extending boss 20 of the receptacle 5, and the inner surface of the raised portion 42 of the contact clip 4i has rotative bearing engagement thereabout, thereby extending a circuit 75 from the contact finger 32, flange portion 35 thereof, first contact clip 36 and its extending arms 38 to the arms 40 of the contact clip 41, and thence downwardly through the frusto-conical bearing surfaces 42 and 43 to the terminal prong 7. ₅

The spring 26 presses against the sleeve 27, and the lower end of the sleeve 27 is spaced away from the boss 20 by reason of the contact clip 4 i bearing upon the surface 43. Thus, the spring pressure serves to press the surface 42 against the 10 surface 43 to maintain a positive wiping contact therebetween to insure good electrical conduction across these surfaces. The friction of rotation of the cover 8 with respect to the receptacle 5 is taken up between the contact surfaces 42 and 43, 15 and about the outwardly flared surface 17 which engages the nut member 18. Since the surfaces are smooth, there is relatively little frictional resistance to rotation, inasmuch as the area of the surfaces is maintained small with respect to the 20 peripheral extent thereof, and consequently the cover 8 rotates freely about the stem 16, and, with the grooves formed in the corner, is capable of readily rotating and positioning itself to accommodate contact prongs extending into the 25 openings 12. The contact fingers 30 and 32, which rotate jointly with the cover, will thus always be disposed in alignment with the opening 12, whereby they may be readily engaged by the contacts extending therethrough. 30

Referring now to Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, the same swiveling construction as provided by the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, is disposed herein, but is shown as applied to a threaded plug instead of a contact prong or push 35 plug. The cover member 45 shown in Figures 8 and 10 corresponds in design to the cover member 8 of the previous embodiment. This cover member is provided with corresponding openings, for the reception of prong contacts, and has cor- 40 responding contact fingers 30 and 32 disposed therein and rotatable therewith for extending the electrical circuit from the contact fingers of a push type or end connection plug of an electric cord to the connector. The receptacle 46, shown 45 in section in Figure 10, is substantially cupshaped in form, and is provided with an outwardly extending shoulder portion extending under and aligned with the cover 45. About the cylindrical portion of the receptacle 46 is disposed a n> metallic shell member 47 having threads formed thereon adapted to be engaged in suitable threads formed in a wall socket or the like. This is of standard construction, and needs no specific description. _M

Adjacent the lower end of the receptacle 46, and extending thereacross is an insulating washer 48, which is centered about the extending portion 49 of the stem 16'. A flanged cup-shaped member 50 formed of metal, Is disposed in in- eo verted position on the insulating washer 48, and solder or the like is poured therein, and secures the head 51 of the expending portion 49 of the stud 16' to the metal cup 50, forming one terminal of the plug. The other terminal comprises ¢5 the laterally extending portion 44' of a terminal contact similar to the prong 7 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, which is bent upwardly at 52 within a suitable cut-out portion of the receptacle 46, and is soldered or sweated to the inner periph- 70 ery of the metallic threaded cylinder 47 to extend the electrical circuit from contact 32 to the threaded member 47 providing the other terminal of the plug. The washer 48 is secured against rotation by interlocking engagement with two ex- 75

2,134,365 tending tongue portions 53 formed at the lower end of the receptacle 46. The operation of the structure is the same as described in connection with the previous embodiment, the only varia5 tion from the structure shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, being the formation of the terminal portions of the member, since the prongs 6 and 7 are replaced by the terminals 51 and 47.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in 10 Figures 11 and 12, this shows a duplex type of wall socket or receptacle provided with swiveling connections of the type previously described. A pair of rotatable cover members 55, corresponding in design and construction to the covers 8 15 and 45 of the previous embodiment, are provided, and are mounted upon a pair of extending stud members 56 and 57 secured in a single housing 58 which extends behind the wall plate or facing plate 58'. The extending ends of the studs 56 20 and 57 are joined by a substantially T-shaped connecting member 60, which member has a down-turned portion 6i provided with a screw or terminal lug 62 for securing a conductor thereto. This construction is shown in detail in Fig25 urel2. The other terminal, indicated at 63, corresponds to the terminals 44 and 44' of Figures 3 and 10, but is extended between the two studs 56 and 57, the housing 58 being provided with cutout portions indicated at 64, which accommo30 date the insertion of the terminals 63 thereinto.

The two terminals 63 of the duplex socket are joined by an integral tongue 65, which is provided with a terminal nut 66 for connecting an electrical conductor thereto.

The internal construction of each of the outlet sockets formed in the receptacle shown in this embodiment is the same, and is identical with the construction shown in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 8. Thus, two contact fingers 30 40 and 32 are provided, and are alined for rotation with the openings 12 formed in the cover members 55 for engaging contact prongs inserted through these openings. Also, the bearing engagement between the contact clip 41 and the raised bearing surface 43 is the same as previous- . ly described, and extends the circuit from the contact finger 32 to the terminal 65. In the same manner, the circuit from the contact finger 30 is extended through the sleeve 27 to the stud members 56 and 57, and thence through the ⁵⁰ terminal member 60 to the terminal lug 62.

It will be noted that in each of the three embodiments described, the construction of the swivel connector structure and cover is identical, __ being embodied in three different types of re⁵ ceptacles. It is thus apparent that the swiveling connection means of the present invention may be equally well applied to a separate contact plug of the push type or of the threaded socket type, or may be formed within a wall outlet or recep^bU taele of either single or duplex construction.

In Figures 13 to 17, inclusive, I have shown a swivel connector of the present invention as applied to the connection between an electric cord _G5 and an electric iron or similar electrically operated appliance. The ordinary type of insulated handle or similar disconnect means is shown at 67, having oppositely disposed finger portions 68 and 69. Depending from a recessed portion 70 thereof is a relatively strong helically coiled spring member 70, within which extends the two conductors 71 and 72 which extend the circuit to the electrically operated mechanism within the appliance, there ordinarily being a terminal sock75 et carried by the resilient spring means 70 and which extends over a pair of contact plug terminals secured to the appliance.

A flexible electrical cord is indicated at 73, and has the conductors 74 and 76 disposed therein in insulated relationship. This cord 73 Is adapted 5 to enter into a cup-shaped socket 76 through a resilient supporting means, comprising a spring member 77 provided with an upper flanged cap member 78 forming a smooth guideway for the cord 73, to prevent abrasion of the insulation 10 thereof.

The insulated handle 67 is provided with a recess 79, and the base portion of the recess 79 is provided with a raised boss portion 80 corresponding to the boss portion 20 of the embodi- 15 ment shown in Figures 1 to 12, inclusive. A stud member 82, corresponding to the stud member 16, is supported in this raised boss portion, and at its lower end is connected to a terminal member 83 having an outwardly extending portion 84 20 to which the conductor 71 is soldered or otherwise suitably mechanically and electrically connected. The stud member 82 at its upper end has an outwardly flared head portion 85, which is engaged by a locking nut member 86 in the 25 same manner as described in connection with the previous embodiment. A rotatable insulating member 87, corresponding to the cover members 8, 45 and 55 of the previously described embodiment, is provided with openings 88 through 30 which the bared ends of the conductors 74 and 75 extend. A spring member 89 is provided for biasing the nut member 86 upwardly against the flanged end of the stud 82, and for pressing downwardly upon a sleeve 90 corresponding to 35 the sleeve 27 of the previous embodiment.

A pair of resilient contact fingers 92 and 93 are provided, the contact finger 92 being shown in detail in Figure 16, and comprising a base portion extending substantially normal to the 40 stud member 22 and having an enlarged opening 94 therein which is adapted to extend about the sleeve member 90 and to bear against the flange 95 formed at the lower end of the sleeve member. At its upper end, the contact finger member 92 45 is provided with a notch or similar cutout portion 96, which is adapted to extend over and receive the bared end of the conductor. It is to be understood that any suitable conductor engaging means may be provided at the free end ₅₀of the contact finger.

The contact finger 92 therefore extends an electrical connection from the conductor 75 through the contact finger, through the sleeve 90, and the stud 82 to the terminal 83, and thence 55 to the conductor 7i. The contact finger 93 is similar to the contact finger 92, but is provided with an enlarged opening of greater diameter than the opening 94 of the contact finger 92. This contact finger is mounted about an extend- 60 ing portion of the member 87, which is formed of insulating material, and is spaced from the contact finger 92 by an insulating member indicated at 97. The insulating member 97 corresponds generally to the insulating member 31 55 interposed between the contact fingers 30 and 32 in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 12, inclusive.

The upper surface of the inwardly extending portion of the contact finger 93 is engaged by a 70 contact member indicated generally at 98 in Figure 17, this member having an opening 99 therein fitting over the lower extending end of the member 87, and having a pair of upwardly extending contact fingers 100, which are adapted 75

2,13 to be engaged by corresponding upwardly extending arms (02 formed integral with and carried by a contact member 103 corresponding to the contact member 41 of Figure 6, the arms 102 5 corresponding to the arms 40 shown in this figure. These arms have relative sliding engagement therebetween, the lower end of the member (03 being provided with a raised frusto-conical contact surface 104 adapted to have bearing en10 gagement about a corresponding surface iOS formed on a terminal member (06 which extends downwardly through the opening 107 formed below the recess 79 of the member 67, and which is adapted to be engaged mechanically and electri15 cally by the bared end of the conductor 72.

The contact finger 93 therefore extends an electrical circuit from the conductor 74 through the finger 9ό, and thence through the contact clip 98 and its extending arms 100 to the extend20 ing arms ¢02 of the member 103, and thence through the corresponding contact surfaces (04 and (05 to the terminal ¢06 and conductor 72.

Hie principal features of the construction shown in Figure 14 correspond to the constructs tion shown in Figures 3 and 10, the cup-shaped member 76 being slid downwardly over the member 87 and engaging bowed portions of the contact fingers 92 and 93 to force these fingers into tight contacting engagement with the bared ends 30 of the conductors 74 and 75. The cord 73, the receptacle 76, the member §7, and the contact angers and the member ¢03 are all rotatable about the stud 82, so that any tendency of the _n cord 73 to twist or kink, is eliminated by this 35 swiveling connection. To disconnect the lamp cord, all that is necessary is to slide the member upwardly, which releases the pressure against the contact fingers 92 and 93, and allows the bared ends 7S and 74 of the conductors to be 4© released from the member 87. Ordinarily however, the cord is maintained in connected position, the connection to and disconnection from the appliance being accomplished by the terminal socket disposed below the spring 7Θ, or by a dis45 connect plug carried at the opposite end of the cord 73, which is engaged within a current-connecting receptacle similar to that shown in any of the embodiments described in connection with Figures 1 to 12.

5© In Figures 18 to 21, inclusive, I have disclosed a swivel connection of the construction described previously, adapted for use in a trouble lamp socket or the like.

In this embodiment, a trouble lamp or light M bulb is indicated at I ID and is adapted to be secured within a socket ((2 carried within a substantially cylindrical holder 1(3 having an annular flange i (4 at its upper end. Mounted below the flange 1(4 about the surface of the 60 holder M3 is a clamp member 1(5, which is provided with a plurality of guard members ((6 forming a cage enclosing the bulb 110 and protecting the same from mechanical injury.

The holder 113, below the socket M2, is pro65 vided with a portion M7 of reduced diameter, wliich at its lower end is provided with an annula..· peripheral bead I (8 having a corresponding annular groove ((9 formed on the inner surface thereof. A cup-shaped receptacle (20 is adapted 70 to be inserted into the lower end of the holder 1(3, and is preferably formed of insulating material or the like. This corresponds to receptacle 5 of Figure 1. The member 120 is provided with a raised boss portion (22, through which a stud member 123 extends, the stud member 123 being

1.355 5 provided with an outwardly flared head portion 124 having bearing engagement with a nut member (25. At its opposite end, the stud member (23 extends through the boss (22 of the receptacle (20, and its head portion is secured over 5 and mechanically and electrically connected to a terminal lug (26, which carries an eyelet (27 at its free end, the eyelet 127 being adapted to receive a conductor (28 which is soldered or otherwise secured thereto. The conductor (28 10 extends upwardly and is connected to the terminal 129 of the socket member 1(2.

Extending through the base portion of the receptacle (20 is a second eyelet (30, which is adapted to receive the conductor (32, the con- 15 ductor being soldered or otherwise suitably secured therein, and extending upwardly and being connected to the terminal (33 of the socket 1(2. The socket M2 is thereby electrically connected to the stud (23 and to the eyelet (30 20 carried by the receptacle 128'.

Mounted over the boss portion (22, and rigidly secured in position by the eyelet (39 is a termicorresponding to the members (04, 40 and 44 of previous embodiments, and 25 which forms an opposite terminal connection for the conductor ¢32. The trouble latap cord (35 which is connected to a suitable source of elec-’ incal current supply, has the two conductors' 838 and 137 thereof connected respectively to SO the terminals 838 and 839 formed within the cup-shaped terminal socket 84® which surrounds the conductor 835.

_ A cover, member (42, provided with a cylindrical extending portion, is mounted for rotation SS about the stud (23, and the cylindrically extend™ ^portion thereof extends into the receptacle

28. A pair of contact terminals, indicated at 843 and (44, are connected through stud members (45 and 846 to terminal members (47 and 40 H8, which extend the electrical connections xrom the terminals 843 and 844 to the terminals (34 and the stud member (23, .respectively, through the same type of contacting engagement as described in connection with Figures 13 to 17 inclusive. The terminal portions (43 and (44 of the cover member 842 extend outwardly from the cover 842, and are provided with annularly grooved, portions (49, which are adapted to be engaged with suitable camming terminals or plates 150 and ¢5( connected, to the terminal lugs (38 and 839. These camming terminal plates 150 and I5i are so formed that the terminal portions (43 and (44 may first be positioned and extend therethrough as shown in dotted lines in Figure 20. Upon rotation of the member ¢40, which is provided with a shoulder upon which the terminal cam plates (50 and (5( are supported, the terminals (43 and 144 are locked, by means of the annular grooves (49 60 formed therein, in the position shown in full lines in Figure 20, whereby the member (40, together with the conductor (35, is mechanically and electrically connected to the cover 142, and is mounted for conjoint rotation therewith. ⁸⁵Since the cover (42 is rotatable about the stem (23, it is apparent that a swiveling connection is provided, so that the cord 135 will have no tendency to become kinked or twisted. A suitable insulating member (55, shown in Figure 21, is ™ provided with opposed cut-out portions 156 through which the terminals 143 and 144 are adapted to extend down into engagement with the camming plates 150 and !5i, whereby the 75 θ 8,134,860 member- 140, and terminnal lugs 138 and 139, are insulated with respect to the cover 142.

In the assembly of the construction shown in this embodiment, the socket 112 is first mounted 5 in the position shown, with the conductors 132 and 128 connected thereto and being of sufficient length to extend outwardly of the lower end 113 of the holder. The receptacle member 120 is then connected, by means of the eyelets 130 and 10 127, to the conductors 128 and 132, and is then moved inwardly into locking engagement with the peripheral bead 119 of the holder, the conductors 128 and 132 being at the same time forced into the space 157 in the holder.

After the receptacle 120 has been placed in position, the cover 142 being mounted thereon for rotation as previously described, the conductor 135, which has its conductors 136 and 137 connected to the camming plates ISO and 20 151, is locked in position with respect to the terminals 143 and 144 by being inserted over the terminals and then rotated to lock the terminals in the position shown, as previously described. This completes the electrical connection to the 25 light member HO.

It is apparent that the present invention provides a basic construction for a swiveling connection which may be employed in connection with a multiplicity of different types of swivel 30 electrical connections, and which may be disposed either at the wall outlet or receptacle, being formed as a part of the wall outlet, or as a separate and individual prong or push type of plug or socket type of plug, or may be provided 85 for effecting connection between an electric supply cord and an electrically operated appliance, such as a trouble lamp or electric iron or the like.

The principles embodied in the present inven40 tion, as shown, are applicable to a wide variety of uses, of which only a few have been shown and described herein. I therefore do not intend to limit myself to the exact applications of the invention which have been shown and described 45 in detail herein, but only as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.