Compact Seven-Outlet Power Strip With Cord-Wrap Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power strips with seven outlets and surge protection in a traditional form factor face challenges in shipping and storage due to their bulkiness, necessitating a design that reduces the form factor without compromising the number of outlets.
Innovation Solution
A power strip design with a reduced form factor, featuring a body portion and a power cord that wraps around the perimeter, a storage outlet for the input plug, and a housing volume less than 500 cm³, allowing it to fit into standard packaging dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a power strip with seven outlets is designed in a traditional form factor, then it provides sufficient outlets and surge protection, but it increases shipping and storage volume
Solution Approach 1:
The power cord is wrapped around the body portion of the power strip, nesting the cord within the overall form factor. This reduces the external dimensions required to accommodate both the outlets and the cord, achieving a housing volume of less than 500 cm³ while maintaining seven outlets
Solution Approach 2:
The power strip utilizes a compact three-dimensional arrangement where the top surface and bottom surface extend beyond the four corners of the body portion, creating an optimized spatial configuration that reduces overall volume while preserving outlet accessibility
2Volume of stationary object
If the power strip form factor is reduced to improve shipping and storage, then shipping and storage efficiency improves, but the number of outlets may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter of the body portion includes a storage outlet with added resistance specifically for the input plug, creating a localized functional area that enables compact cord storage without affecting the seven power outlets on the top surface
Solution Approach 2:
The body portion serves multiple functions: it houses the seven power outlets, provides surge protection, accommodates the wrapped power cord, and includes the storage outlet for the input plug, achieving compact volume while maintaining full functionality
3Volume of stationary object
If the power cord is wrapped around the perimeter, then the form factor is reduced for better storage, but the input plug needs a specialized storage outlet with added resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The outlets are segmented into two functional types: seven standard power outlets on the top surface for device connections, and one specialized storage outlet on the perimeter for the input plug, allowing differentiated functionality within a compact form
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a power strip, in particular, a power strip with seven outlets with a reduced form factor for improved shipping and/or storage. The power strip comprises a power cord with an input plug and a top surface and a bottom surface separated by a body portion with a perimeter and four corners. The top surface has at least seven power outlets. The perimeter has a storage outlet with added resistance for the input plug when inserted when the power strip is in a storage configuration. The top surface and the bottom surface extend beyond the four corners of the body portion such that the power cord is wrapped twice around the perimeter when the power strip is in the storage configuration. The power strip has a housing volume less than 500 cm3.