Cascadable Socket with Slidable Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connecting multiple electrical devices in parallel within an electrical circuit is time-consuming and prone to errors due to the need for additional wires or jumpers, and disconnecting these devices is also cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A cascadable socket system with a slidable connector that allows for internal electrical connection and disconnection between sockets, eliminating the need for external wires or jumpers, and featuring a visual indicator for connection status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional wires or jumpers are used to connect multiple electrical devices in parallel, then electrical connection between devices is achieved, but installation time increases and errors become more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple connection functions into a single integrated socket unit. Each socket contains multiple terminals and connection means that can simultaneously establish multiple electrical connections, eliminating the need for separate wires or jumpers between devices. This merging of functions directly reduces installation time while maintaining connection accuracy through standardized terminal interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket is designed with universal multi-functionality to accommodate different electrical devices through standardized terminals. The connection means can establish parallel connections between multiple devices simultaneously, serving both as a connection interface and a wiring integration system. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for device-specific wiring arrangements, reducing both time and error risks.
2Reliability
If additional wires or jumpers are used to connect multiple electrical devices in parallel, then electrical connection between devices is achieved, but the number of components and wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wiring functions into the socket structure itself. The connection means integrated within each socket consolidates what would otherwise require separate wires and jumpers, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining stable electrical connections through standardized terminal designs that ensure reliable contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wiring function from external components (wires and jumpers) and incorporates it directly into the socket structure. The connection means within each socket performs the wiring function internally, eliminating the need for external wiring elements and thereby reducing overall system complexity while preserving connection stability.
3Ease of operation
If sockets are designed with internal connection means, then external wiring is eliminated, but the socket structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the connection means within the housing of each socket. The connection means is nested inside the socket structure, allowing the socket to provide both housing and connection functions in a compact integrated unit. This nested design simplifies operation by eliminating external wiring while the modular nested structure manages the inherent complexity through organized internal arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the housing and connection means into a single integrated socket unit. The connection means is merged with the housing structure, creating a compact design that provides both mechanical support and electrical connection functions. This merging improves ease of operation by eliminating separate wiring components while the integrated design manages structural complexity through functional consolidation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a socket and a system of cascadable sockets for insertion therein of electrical devices such as relays, timers or counters. The socket includes device connection means by which an electrical device may be electrically connected to the socket, and may further include terminals providing electrical contacts for connecting the electrical device to an external electrical signal or a circuit. The socket includes socket connection means, for example, in the form of a slidable connector for engaging another socket placed against it. Two or more sockets engaged in this manner may facilitate a parallel electrical connection between the electrical devices each inserted in one of the two or more sockets.