Active Outlet Cover Plate With Front Conductive Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active cover plates face installation complications due to difficult wiring conditions and pose a risk of electric shock during installation, as they draw power from screws and wires on the outlet sides, which are often bent and hard to connect.
Innovation Solution
The active cover plate design includes conductive slots and non-conductive slots that align with standard appliance prongs, allowing power extraction from a power outlet without direct contact, using dongles or appliance prongs to safely connect and energize built-in micro-circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If active cover plates use rearwardly extending prongs to connect to screws on the outlet sides, then electrical power can be extracted from the outlet, but the installation becomes complicated due to bent wires and small spaces, and the artisan is exposed to electric shock risk
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending prongs backward to reach the screws on the outlet sides, the patent inverts the approach by having conductive elements extend forward from the cover plate front surface. These forward-extending conductive elements make contact with the outlet slots when the cover plate is installed, allowing power extraction without requiring access to the rearward screw connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the forward-extending conductive elements serve as mediators between the cover plate and the power source. These elements make contact with the outlet slots through the cover plate opening, providing a safe intermediate connection point that eliminates direct exposure to high-voltage screws while still enabling power extraction.
2Use of energy by moving object
If active cover plates use rearwardly extending prongs to connect to screws on the outlet sides, then electrical power can be extracted from the outlet, but the wiring connection becomes difficult due to bent wires and limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the connection approach by having conductive elements extend forward from the cover plate rather than backward. This reversal allows the conductive elements to naturally align with and contact the outlet slots through the cover plate opening, eliminating the need to navigate bent wires and tight rearward spaces during installation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the artisan installs active cover plates by connecting to voltage-bearing screws, then power can be extracted, but the artisan is directly exposed to 110 volts of potential difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces forward-extending conductive elements as intermediaries that make contact with the outlet slots through the cover plate opening. This intermediary connection mechanism allows power extraction while keeping the artisan's hands and tools away from the high-voltage screw terminals, significantly reducing electric shock risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power connection function from the rearward screw terminals and relocates it to forward-extending conductive elements that contact the outlet slots. This extraction removes the dangerous rearward connection point from the artisan's reach while preserving the power extraction capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy and safe installation by eliminating the need for direct wiring connections, reducing the risk of electric shock and simplifying the process of powering built-in features like LED lights and sensors.
Implementation Method 1
The left conductor defines a first conductive slot sized to receive a left electrical prong from an electrical appliance... when a left prong and a right prong of an electrical appliance are inserted through the left conductive slot and the right conductive slot to make contact with the left conductor and the right conductor respectively, electrical power is extracted from the power outlet to energize the load
Data Source
AI summary
An active cover plate is described for covering a power outlet, comprising a perimeter structure to cover a power outlet; a left conductor attached to the perimeter structure and defining a first conductive slot sized to receive a left electrical prong from an electrical appliance; a right conductor attached to the perimeter structure and defining a second conductive slot sized to receive a right electrical prong from an electrical appliance; a load attached to the perimeter structure, the load being electronically connected to the left conductor and the right conductor; when a left prong and a right prong of an electrical appliance are inserted through the left conductive slot and the right conductive slot to make contact with the left conductor and the right conductor, and thence are inserted into a power outlet, electrical power is extracted from the power outlet to energize the load.