Concealed Electrical Connection Holder with Sliding Cover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for concealed electrical connections require manual intervention and protruding covers, which are not flush with the surface, making them aesthetically and functionally suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
A holder with sliding covers that use torsion springs for automatic opening and compression springs for button operation, allowing covers to slide within the surface plate, enabling automatic access while maintaining a flush surface appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If manual sliding covers are used to conceal electrical connections, then the electrical connections are hidden when not in use, but the covers necessarily protrude from the surface requiring manual grip to slide
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is equipped with a button that, when pressed, automatically triggers the cover to slide open without requiring manual gripping or sliding. The elastic means store energy that is released upon button activation, causing the cover to move automatically to its open position.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic means (springs) are pre-loaded in the holder to store mechanical energy. This preliminary action allows the cover to be rapidly deployed when needed, transitioning from a static concealed state to an active open state upon button activation.
2Ease of operation
If protruding covers are used to allow manual gripping, then the covers can be easily opened manually, but they do not maintain a flush appearance with the surface
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the cover to protrude for manual gripping, the system uses a button mechanism that automatically opens the cover when activated. This eliminates the need for the cover to protrude beyond the surface for operational purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening mechanism transitions from requiring lateral protrusion (horizontal dimension) to using a vertical button press dimension. The button can be pressed from the front surface while the cover opens horizontally, separating the activation dimension from the movement dimension.
3Reliability
If completely manual cover opening is used, then the mechanism is simple and reliable, but the user must manually grip and slide the cover which reduces accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The holder system serves itself by using pre-loaded elastic means to automatically open the cover when the button is pressed. The stored elastic energy performs the work of opening the cover without requiring the user to manually grip and slide it.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic means are pre-loaded during assembly or initial operation to store mechanical energy. This preliminary action enables the automatic opening function while maintaining mechanical simplicity, as the same spring mechanism provides both the stored energy and the opening force.
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
The solution reduces manual intervention and keeps covers flush with the surface, providing easy and reliable access to electrical connections while maintaining a sleek appearance.
Implementation Method 1
which is elastically loaded to move away from the covering position of the electrical connection by means of a torsion spring
Implementation Method 2
The button is loaded elastically toward the initial position by means of a compression spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Holder (1) for concealed electrical connections that comprises at least one sliding cover (4a, 4b) which is adapted to cover at least one electrical connection (5a, 5b), the cover (4a, 4b) being adapted to be superimposed on the electrical connection in a covering position and to be moved away by sliding from such covering position so as to expose the electrical connection (5a, 5b) to the outside; the cover (4a, 4b) is elastically loaded to move away from the covering position by way of respective first elastic means (6); at least one button (7a, 7b) is provided, which can move between a raised position and a lowered position, respectively associated with the cover (4a, 4b) and adapted to release at least part of the elastic energy stored in the first elastic means (6) when the button (7a, 7b) passes from the raised position to the lowered position.