Adjustable Right Angle Plug with Interchangeable Prong Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional right angle electrical plugs are not adaptable for use with both 50 Hz and 60 Hz outlets, requiring inconvenient and potentially damaging changes to the prongs, and using adapters offsets the plug's purpose.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable right angle electrical plug with a hollow casing, interchangeable plug assembly, and resilient contacts allows easy switching between 50 Hz and 60 Hz receptacles by using flat or cylindrical prongs, ensuring compatibility without needing multiple plugs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the prongs on a conventional right angle electrical plug are changed to adapt to different receptacles, then compatibility with different frequency receptacles is improved, but the plug structure is damaged and the operation becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into two separable parts: a fixed right angle body and an interchangeable prong assembly. The prong assembly can be detached and replaced without affecting the main plug structure, allowing users to switch between 50Hz and 60Hz configurations easily without damaging the plug body.
Solution Approach 2:
The right angle electrical plug is designed to perform multiple functions by accepting different prong assemblies. The universal right angle body can accommodate both 50Hz flat blade prongs and 60Hz cylindrical prongs, making a single plug adaptable to different frequency receptacles worldwide.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an adapter is used to achieve compatibility with different receptacles, then adaptability is improved, but the right angle plug's purpose is defeated due to offset positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The plug design incorporates a rotatable prong assembly that can be dynamically adjusted between two positions: one for straight insertion into standard receptacles and another for right angle insertion into specialized receptacles. This dynamic adjustment maintains the right angle configuration while adapting to different receptacle types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the prongs are changed on a conventional right angle electrical plug, then compatibility with different frequency receptacles is improved, but the plug structure is easily damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into two separable parts: a fixed right angle body and an interchangeable prong assembly. The prong assembly can be detached and replaced without affecting the main plug structure, allowing users to switch between 50Hz and 60Hz configurations easily without damaging the plug body.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable right angle electrical plug with an interchangeable plug assembly has a casing, an interchangeable plug assembly and an electric cord. The casing is hollow and has a base, a cover and two resilient contacts. The cover is mounted on the base and has a plug recess. The plug recess is symmetric. The resilient contacts protrude into the plug recess. The interchangeable plug assembly is mounted detachably in the plug recess has a body, two prongs and a bottom cover. The body is hollow, corresponds to the plug recess and has an open bottom. The prongs are mounted through and protrude from the body and may be flat blades or cylindrical prongs. The bottom cover has two curved contacts. Each curved contact extends through the bottom cover at two places separated by 90°, makes contact with one of the resilient contacts and is connected to one of the prongs.