Active Cover Plate Spring Clips Adapt Outlet Terminals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in creating an active cover plate that can efficiently interface with various outlet bodies and switch devices, as the location of screw terminals on these devices varies significantly across different types and manufacturers, making it difficult to design a universal cover plate that fits most outlets and switches.

Innovation Solution

The active cover plate incorporates spring clips with insulating tabs and flexible conductive portions that can adapt to different terminal positions, ensuring reliable electrical contact and power extraction from screw terminals, while preventing arcing and unwanted contact with external materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a universal cover plate design is attempted to fit various outlet bodies and switches, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to varying screw terminal locations across different devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to various outlet bodies and switchesVSAvoidprecision of electrical contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spring clips are designed to be flexible and resilient, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and contact pressure to accommodate varying screw terminal locations on different outlet bodies and switches while maintaining reliable electrical contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring clips can change their physical state from a relaxed position to a compressed state, altering their contact force and position to adapt to different terminal configurations, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision across various device types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If spring clips are used to accommodate varying terminal positions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components like insulating tabs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to interface with various outlet bodiesVSAvoidcomplexity of cover plate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating tab and conductive portion are merged into a single integrated spring clip component, combining insulation and conduction functions in one element to reduce overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring clip with integrated insulating tab serves multiple functions: providing electrical contact, preventing arcing, and isolating from external materials, thereby reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If flexible conductive portions are used to reach varying terminals, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential arcing and unwanted contact with external materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility to contact different terminal positionsVSAvoidelectrical safety and contact reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating tab acts as an intermediary between the flexible conductive portion and the external environment, preventing unwanted contact with external materials and isolating the conductive path to ensure reliable and safe electrical contact only with the intended screw terminals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design allows the active cover plate to effectively draw power from a wide range of outlets and switches, ensuring consistent functionality and safety by preventing electrical shorts and arcing, thus providing a versatile and reliable solution for various electrical devices.

Implementation Method 1

spring clips with insulating tabs and flexible conductive portions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

insulating tabs and flexible conductive portions that can adapt to different terminal positions, ensuring reliable electrical contact and power extraction from screw terminals, while preventing arcing and unwanted contact with external materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS9882361B2Active cover plates

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 SNAPRAYS LLC

AI summary

An active cover plate is disclosed. The active cover plate may include a face plate, a back plate; an electrical load, at least one clip may extend rearward from the face plate and a wall may extend rearward from the back plate, where the wall may cover at least a part of a rear of the clip, and an electrical connection may connect the electrical load to the clip.