Intermediate Adapter for Adjustable Connector Pin Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exchangeable plug systems require bulky appliance housings or adjustable prong orientations to accommodate various country-specific connectors, leading to increased product variety and space inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate adapter with a base plate featuring first and second contact elements oriented at non-zero angles, allowing for adjustable pin orientation of the connector unit relative to the appliance, thereby reducing bulkiness and maintaining flexibility across different connector types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If appliance housings with differently oriented universal inputs are manufactured, then multi-directional plug orientation is achieved, but product variety increases
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate adapter is introduced as a mediator component between the appliance and the connector unit. The adapter includes a base plate with contact elements that can be oriented at different angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) relative to the appliance housing, allowing the connector unit to be attached in multiple orientations without requiring multiple appliance housing variants. This single adapter design resolves the contradiction by providing orientation flexibility while maintaining a unified appliance product line.
2Adaptability or versatility
If connector units with adjustable prong orientation are used, then multi-directional plug orientation is achieved, but the connector units become bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into three independent components: the appliance housing, the intermediate adapter, and the connector unit. The orientation adjustment functionality is isolated to the intermediate adapter, which acts as a separate segment between the fixed appliance and the standard connector unit. This segmentation allows the connector unit to remain compact and simple while the adapter provides the necessary orientation flexibility through its rotatable or adjustable contact elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If appliance housings are made bulky to accommodate various connectors, then compatibility is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate adapter serves as a mediator that enables various country-specific connector units to be compatible with a standardized appliance housing. Instead of enlarging the appliance housing to accommodate different connector types and orientations, the adapter is attached to the housing's universal input and provides the necessary adaptation. This approach maintains a compact appliance design while achieving broad connector compatibility through the intermediary adapter component.
Data Source
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AI summary
An intermediate adapter (100) for attaching a connector unit (200) to an appliance (300), the intermediate adapter comprising: a base plate (102) having an appliance portion (104) which is connectable to the appliance (300) and comprises at least two first contact elements (404, 504), and a connector portion (106) which is connectable to the connector unit (200) and has at least two second contact elements (406, 506); at least two electrically conductive leads (402, 502) interconnecting said first and second contact elements; wherein said first contact elements (404, 504) form a first connection arrangement having a first orientation with respect to a rotation axis of the base plate (102) and said second contact elements (406, 506) form a second connection arrangement having a second orientation with respect to the rotation axis, and the second connection arrangement is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to the first connection arrangement.