Reversible universal serial bus (USB) device and connector

A reversible plug for coupling with a USB A-type standard receptacle, the standard receptacle having a hollow section, a fixed set of four electrical contacts disposed on one side of the hollow section and an electrically conducting shield disposed on three sides of the hollow section, the reversible plug comprising:

• (a) a first block having a first set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard receptacle when the reversible plug is in a first coupling orientation relative to the standard receptacle;
• (b) a second block having a second set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard receptacle when the reversible plug is in a second coupling orientation relative to the standard receptacle;
• wherein said first and second blocks are slidably mounted adjacent to each other and configured for independently sliding between an operative position and a retracted position such that, when the reversible plug is engaged with the standard receptacle in the first coupling orientation, said second block slides to said retracted position and said first block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard receptacle, and when the reversible plug is engaged with the standard receptacle in the second coupling orientation, said first block slides to said retracted position and said second block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard receptacle.

A reversible receptacle for coupling with a USB A-type standard plug, the standard plug having a hollow section, a fixed set of four electrical contacts disposed on one side of the hollow section and an electrically conducting shield disposed on three sides of the hollow section, the reversible receptacle comprising:

• (a) a first block having a first set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard plug when the reversible receptacle is in a first coupling orientation relative to the standard plug;
• (b) a second block having a second set of four electrical contacts deployed for mechanical connection to the set of electrical contacts of the standard plug when the reversible receptacle is in a second coupling orientation relative to the standard plug;
• wherein said first and second blocks are slidably mounted adjacent to each other and configured for independently sliding between an operative position and a retracted position such that, when the reversible receptacle is engaged with the standard plug in the first coupling orientation, said second block slides to said retracted position and said first block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard plug, and when the reversible receptacle is engaged with the standard plug in the second coupling orientation, said first block slides to said retracted position and said second block assumes said operative position for insertion into the hollow section of the standard plug.