Compact Three-Pole Adapter Set with Hybrid Safety Plug
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adapters are limited in their ability to connect three-pole plug sockets and plugs across various standards, including safety sockets and plugs, and often have a large size due to the inclusion of safety plugs on both the plug and socket parts, which restricts compatibility and increases dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A compact adapter set design where the safety plug is exclusively formed on the socket part, allowing the plug part to have multiple three-pole plug contacts of different standards without a safety plug, and utilizing a hybrid safety plug on the socket part for compatibility with both German and French standards, with displaceable pins for nested arrangement and a sliding ground pin for stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If safety plugs are included on both the plug part and socket part to ensure compatibility with safety sockets, then compatibility with safety sockets is improved, but the overall size and complexity of the adapter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety plug function is extracted from the plug part and placed exclusively on the socket part. The plug part contains only the multi-way plug contacts for different standards, while the socket part contains the safety plug that can be inserted into safety sockets. This separation eliminates the need for safety plugs on the plug part, reducing overall size and complexity while maintaining compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is divided into two separate parts: a plug part with multi-way plug contacts and a socket part with the safety plug. These parts can be used separately or combined, allowing the safety plug functionality to be isolated in one component rather than distributed across both parts, thereby reducing the overall volume required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different plug contacts of various standards are included on the plug part, then compatibility with different plug standards is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug part is designed as a universal multi-way adapter that can accommodate multiple plug standards (EU, UK, US, AU, IT) through a single device. Instead of creating separate adapters for each standard, one plug part integrates all necessary contacts and configurations, reducing the number of different devices needed while maintaining broad compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The different plug contacts are arranged in a nested or compact configuration within the plug part housing. The contacts for different standards are positioned to fit within the same physical space, with mechanisms to select or activate the appropriate contact configuration, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multiple standards support.
3Volume of moving object
If the adapter is designed to be compact by eliminating safety plugs from the plug part, then the overall size is reduced, but compatibility with safety sockets may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The socket part acts as an intermediary component that bridges the plug part and safety sockets. When compatibility with safety sockets is needed, the socket part with its integrated safety plug is connected to the plug part, providing the necessary safety plug interface without requiring the plug part itself to contain safety plug functionality, thus maintaining compact size while ensuring compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an adapter set (11). The adapter set is made up of a plug part (13) and a socket part (15). The plug part (13) is provided with at least one three-pole plug contact (20,30,40,50) of a particular country standard at one end and a three pole safety plug socket (17) at the other end of the adapter set (11). The socket part (15) is provided with a three-pole safety plug (19) and a three-pole multi-way plug socket (16). The adapter set (11) comprises one single safety plug (19), namely the plug formed on the socket part (15). It is provided that the polarity of the multi-way plug socket matches the polarity of the plug contacts.