Foldable Prong Power Adapter With Safety Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power adapters lack compact and safe designs, particularly for engaging various types of electrical outlets and providing voltage conversion, which can lead to safety hazards and inefficiencies in power delivery.
Innovation Solution
A foldable power adapter with pivotable prongs that can retract within the adapter, featuring a channel design to prevent finger contact and a spring-latch mechanism for easy extension, along with integrated power conversion circuitry to convert AC to DC and adjust voltage, compatible with multiple outlet types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power adapter uses fixed extended prongs to engage outlets, then it can reliably obtain electrical power, but it increases the risk of finger contact with exposed connectors and reduces portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the prongs movable rather than fixed. The prongs can pivot between an extended position for outlet engagement and a retracted position for safety. This dynamic mechanism allows the adapter to adapt its form based on operational state, resolving the contradiction between reliable engagement and finger contact prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nesting principle by designing the prongs to retract into the body of the adapter housing. When not in use, the prongs are stored within the adapter's interior space, eliminating exposed connectors and preventing finger contact while maintaining the ability to extend when needed for power connection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the power adapter uses foldable retractable prongs, then it improves safety by preventing finger contact, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic pivoting mechanism allows the prongs to move between extended and retracted positions. This single degree of freedom movement provides the necessary safety function without requiring complex multi-stage mechanisms, achieving a balance between safety and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism provides automatic extension of the prongs when the adapter is inserted into an outlet. The spring force naturally pushes the prongs into the extended position, eliminating the need for manual operation or complex control systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the power adapter includes spring-latch mechanism for automatic prong extension, then it improves ease of operation, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-latch mechanism is designed to automatically extend the prongs when the adapter is inserted into an outlet. The spring stores potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy to push the prongs into the extended position, providing self-service operation without requiring user intervention or complex electronic controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded during manufacturing to provide the necessary extension force. This preliminary action prepares the mechanism in advance, so that when the adapter is inserted, the prongs automatically extend without requiring additional user action or complex real-time control systems.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the power adapter channel is designed to narrowly accommodate prongs, then it prevents finger contact, but it reduces ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is designed with different local qualities: a narrow first portion for safety and a wider second portion for manufacturing. The narrow section specifically accommodates the prongs to prevent finger contact, while the wider section facilitates easier manufacturing and assembly, resolving the contradiction between safety and manufacturability through spatial differentiation.
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 provides a compact, safe, and versatile power adapter that efficiently engages outlets, prevents finger contact, and ensures reliable power conversion, enhancing user safety and adaptability to different electrical systems.
Implementation Method 1
a spring applying a force to the plunger assembly when in a first position comprising one of the retracted position or the extended position
Implementation Method 2
a latch to selectively retain the plunger assembly in the first position or, when released, allow the spring to apply the force to the plunger assembly to cause the plunger to move in to a second position comprising the other of the retracted position or the extended position
Implementation Method 3
prongs comprising a set of electrical connectors pivotably attached to the power adapter; a second set of electrical connectors configured to engage a device and provide electrical power thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A power adapter is disclosed with retractable prongs to engage an outlet and obtain power therefrom, when extended, and be partially or entirely within the housing of the power adapter when retracted. To ensure safe operation, a channel is provided within the power adapter to accommodate the prongs when retracted and to accommodate the prongs travel as they pivot between extended and retracted. The channel is width-limited and/or has a length to make it impossible or, at least, exceptionally difficult for a human finger to come into contact with the prongs while the prongs are extended and sufficiently engaged with an outlet to obtain power therefrom.