Cushion-Mounted Outlet Assembly Without Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for convenient access to electrical power outlets in various locations, particularly for portable electronic devices that require frequent charging, but existing solutions often require fasteners and are not easily relocatable or adaptable to different furniture thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
A cushion-mountable electrical outlet assembly that uses gravity and friction to secure high voltage AC and low voltage DC outlets, featuring a deformable flat body that can be bent to accommodate different cushion thicknesses and adjust outlet height, allowing for easy repositioning and reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical outlets are mounted using fasteners, then the outlets are securely fixed to the furniture, but the outlets cannot be easily relocated or reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet assembly uses its own weight and the friction between its flat body and the cushion surface to secure itself, eliminating the need for external fasteners. The deformable region allows the assembly to self-adjust to different cushion thicknesses, enabling easy relocation and reconfiguration while maintaining secure attachment.
2Strength
If the outlet assembly is made rigid, then the structure is stable and durable, but the assembly cannot accommodate different cushion thicknesses or adjust outlet height
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet assembly is divided into a rigid portion (housing the electrical outlets) and a deformable region (flat body portion). This segmentation allows the rigid outlet housing to maintain structural integrity while the deformable flat body adapts to different cushion thicknesses and configurations through plastic deformation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the outlet assembly is made easily relocatable without fasteners, then the assembly can be reconfigured for different furniture, but the securing strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly utilizes changes in physical parameters including its own weight (gravitational force) and the friction coefficient between the flat body and cushion surface. By optimizing these parameters, the assembly achieves sufficient securing strength through gravity and friction alone, enabling easy relocation while maintaining reliable attachment during use.
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
Provides convenient and adaptable access to electrical power at various furniture locations without the need for mechanical fasteners, allowing users to easily relocate and reconfigure the outlets to suit different furniture configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable region below the upright distal end portion... plastically deformable metal in the deformable region
Implementation Method 2
The electrical outlet assembly is held in place by gravity and friction
Implementation Method 3
The electrical outlet assembly is held in place by gravity and friction
Data Source
AI summary
A cushion-mountable electrical outlet system for furniture includes a generally flat body having a lower portion that is positionable beneath a cushion of a furniture article. The flat body has an upper portion configured to be positioned along a side edge of the cushion, and an electrical outlet assembly mounted at the upper portion of the flat body. The electrical outlet assembly is positionable so as to be accessible to a user on the cushion. The flat body is plastically deformable so that the lower portion can be angled obliquely relative to the upper portion.