Hinged Cover Power Strip with Edge Notches for Dust Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power strips with exposed receptacles are prone to dust accumulation and electrical shock accidents, especially under wet conditions, due to the exposure of receptacle end faces.
Innovation Solution
A power strip design featuring a hinged cover with notches on its edges, which can be closed to prevent dust entry and include separate power switches for receptacles and USB output interfaces, ensuring secure closure and preventing foreign substances from entering the receptacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the receptacle end face is exposed for easy access and use, then the ease of operation is improved, but dust accumulation and foreign substances can enter the receptacles causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be opened when access to receptacles is needed and closed when protection is required. This dynamic structure enables the power strip to switch between accessible and protected states, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and protection from harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
A cover structure is introduced to physically shield the receptacle end face from dust and foreign substances. The cover acts as a protective barrier that can be opened or closed, preventing harmful factors from entering the receptacles while maintaining accessibility when needed.
2Reliability
If a cover is added to protect the receptacles from dust and foreign substances, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged cover design allows for a simple yet effective protection mechanism. Instead of a complex sealed structure, a single hinged cover that can be opened or closed provides the necessary protection while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of use.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover is made fully enclosed to prevent dust entry, then the protection from harmful factors is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed as a dynamic component that can be opened or closed as needed. This allows full protection when closed and easy access when opened, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility by enabling the user to switch between these two states based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover structure is divided into sections with notches that correspond to the positions of receptacles and USB interfaces. This segmentation allows selective access to specific components while maintaining overall protection, enabling users to access only the needed parts without exposing the entire receptacle end face.
Data Source
AI summary
A plug strip. A cover capable of covering receptacles is hingedly connected to a receptacle end face; and a first notch and a second notch are respectively provided at both side edges of the cover. During use, an electrical wire passes through the first notch or the second notch to be plugged into the receptacle or a USB output interface, so that the cover can be kept closed. Therefore, dust pollution and occurrence of an electric shock accident due to long-time use can be effectively prevented.