Child-Safety Socket Slider with Inclined Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing child-safety electrical outlets face functional issues due to their small size, leading to inconvenient use and unreliable protection against electrical shocks, especially when a plug is inserted improperly.
Innovation Solution
A child-safety electrical outlet design featuring a spring-loaded slider with inclined surfaces and cams, which rotates and is guided by hooks and tabs to ensure the slider remains in its predetermined position, preventing the release of contacts when only one plug pin is inserted, and securely covers the apertures when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a small-sized slider is used in existing child-safety electrical outlets, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of protection against electrical shocks deteriorates due to functional issues and inconvenient use
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is divided into functionally distinct elements: inclined surfaces for detecting plug insertion, cams for rotational movement control, and guide hooks for positional stability. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function reliably within the compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider is positioned within the housing and rotates on an axis, with the spring mechanism nested within the housing structure. The guide hooks engage with corresponding features in the housing, creating a nested arrangement that maximizes space utilization while maintaining functional reliability.
2Volume of stationary object
If the slider is made small to fit limited construction space, then the volume of the device is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenient plug insertion and unreliable protection
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed to rotate dynamically on an axis within the housing rather than remaining fixed. This rotational movement allows the slider to respond to plug insertion by rotating to an activated position, providing clear mechanical feedback and ensuring reliable operation despite the compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism provides mechanical feedback by exerting force on the slider to maintain it in the deactivated position. When a plug is inserted, the user can feel the spring resistance and the rotational movement, providing tactile feedback that confirms proper operation and enhances ease of use.
3Ease of operation
If the slider is spring-loaded to automatically cover apertures, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically returns the slider to the deactivated position after plug removal without requiring user intervention. The slider self-activates when a plug is inserted by rotating under the plug's influence, and the spring automatically resets it, making the system self-servicing and reducing the need for additional control components.
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 provides reliable protection against electrical shocks and ensures problem-free use by preventing the slider from leaving its correct position, thus reducing the risk of improper use and electrical contact.
Implementation Method 1
a slider (3) is positioned underneath the cover (2), which stands under the influence of a spring (5)
Implementation Method 2
the slider (3) has at least two apertures (31.1, 31.2), which are provided with inclined surfaces (32.1, 32.2)
Data Source
AI summary
A child-safety electrical socket includes a cover having at least two contact introduction apertures, which cover is disposed on a housing, and underneath which cover a slider is positioned, which stands under the influence of a spring, which supports itself on an intermediate bottom in the housing, wherein the intermediate bottom has at least two apertures and the slider has at least two apertures, which are provided with inclined surfaces, and the slider is disposed in the housing so as to rotate. The slider has a plate-like shape and stands in contact with guides on its circumference, which guides are provided on the cover, on the side facing toward the intermediate bottom.