Hinged Outlet Safety Plug Assembly That Stays Attached
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety plug assemblies for electrical outlets often fail to remain coupled to the outlet when not in use, leading to a high risk of not being reinstalled after use, which can result in increased safety hazards due to exposed electrical contacts.
Innovation Solution
The safety plug assembly comprises a connector that is inserted behind the front plate of an electrical outlet, featuring a first body member with a central axis and radially extending second body members, along with a safety plug that can be inserted into the outlet's contact opening. The assembly includes an arm with a hinge assembly that allows the safety plug to fold when inserted, ensuring it remains coupled to the outlet even when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the safety plug is designed to be removable from the electrical outlet, then the outlet can be accessed for use, but the safety plug may be misplaced or forgotten, increasing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The safety plug assembly is divided into two functional parts: a connector that remains permanently installed in the electrical outlet and a safety plug that can be removed and reattached. This segmentation allows the outlet to be accessed for use while ensuring the safety plug remains available at the outlet location, preventing misplacement and maintaining consistent safety coverage.
2Reliability
If the safety plug remains permanently attached to the electrical outlet, then it cannot be misplaced, but it blocks access to the outlet when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly separates the permanent mounting function (connector) from the removable safety function (safety plug), allowing the safety plug to be temporarily removed for outlet access while remaining attached during non-use periods, thus resolving the conflict between accessibility and consistent safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety plug transitions between a fixed attached state (when not in use) and a removable state (when outlet access is needed). This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt between safety coverage and accessibility requirements based on operational needs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the connector includes multiple body members extending radially, then it provides stable mounting behind the front plate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple body members extending radially from a central first body member are merged into a single integrated connector structure. This combining of multiple support elements into one unified component provides stable mounting behind the front plate while avoiding the complexity of assembling separate parts, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety plug assembly includes a connector configured to be inserted behind a front plate of an electrical outlet, wherein the connector includes a first body member including a first body member including a central axis, a first side, and a second side radially opposite the first side with respect to the central axis, a second body member extending radially from the first body member and including a fixed end connected to the first side of the first body member and a free end, opposite the fixed end, that is insertable between a surface along which an electrical outlet is installed and a front plate of the electrical outlet, and a safety plug coupled to the connector, wherein the safety plug includes a plug member that is configured to be inserted within a contact opening of the electrical outlet.