Outlet Cover Plate With Concealable Label Panel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for providing information on electrical receptacle or switch cover plates are either aesthetically unpleasing when written on the front or require removal of the cover to access information written on the back.
Innovation Solution
A cover plate with a concealable panel that can be stowed within a pocket, allowing information to be written on a visible surface that can be easily accessed by sliding the panel from a stowed to an open position, maintaining aesthetic appeal while providing easy access to information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If information is written on the front of the cover plate, then information accessibility is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The panel containing the writing surface is nested within a pocket on the cover plate. When not in use, the panel is concealed inside the pocket, maintaining aesthetic appearance. When information access is needed, the panel can be pulled out from the pocket to display the writing surface, thus resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and information accessibility.
2Shape
If information is written on the back of the cover plate, then aesthetic appearance is maintained, but information accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The panel with the writing surface is nested within an accessible pocket on the front of the cover plate. This allows the panel to be easily pulled out for information access without requiring removal of the entire cover plate, thus improving accessibility while maintaining aesthetic appearance when the panel is stowed.
Solution Approach 2:
The information-bearing surface is segmented from the main cover plate body by placing it on a separate panel that can be independently accessed. This segmentation allows the cover plate to maintain its aesthetic appearance while providing easy access to information through the removable panel.
3Ease of operation
If the cover plate is removed to access information, then information accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The information-bearing panel is segmented from the main cover plate, allowing it to be accessed independently. Users can pull the panel out from the pocket without removing the entire cover plate from the electrical outlet, thus improving information accessibility while avoiding the complexity of complete cover plate removal and reinstallation.
Data Source
AI summary
An outlet cover plate comprises a fastener aperture for a fastener to mount the outlet cover to a receptacle that includes associated hardware. Further, the outlet cover plate includes a face with a pocket that includes a catch along with an aperture for access to the associated hardware. A concealable panel has a writing surface and a projection that corresponds to the catch. The concealable panel fits in the pocket where it can be positioned in a first position where the concealable panel is stowed within the pocket and a second position where the writing surface is viewable outside the pocket. The pocket is located below the aperture such that a user can pull down on the concealable panel to put the concealable panel from the first position to the second position. The protrusion and catch keep the concealable panel in the first position until the concealable panel is pulled.