Integral Ground Terminal for Multi-Standard Plug Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment plugs for different electrical standards require multiple components and complex assembly steps, leading to potential conductivity issues due to resin attachment during molding.
Innovation Solution
An attachment plug with an integral ground terminal and housing design, featuring a closing unit formed by injection molding, which prevents resin flow into the terminal areas and ensures stable conductivity across various standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate ground pieces and ground frames are provided for different plug receptacle standards, then compatibility with multiple standards is achieved, but the number of components and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ground terminals for different plug receptacle standards (German, French, etc.) into a single integrated ground terminal structure. This ground terminal includes multiple contact portions that can simultaneously or selectively contact ground electrodes of different receptacle types, eliminating the need for separate ground pieces and ground frames, and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining multi-standard compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The ground terminal is designed with multi-functional capability to work with various plug receptacle standards. It includes a first ground terminal portion for German-style receptacles and a second ground terminal portion for French-style receptacles, allowing a single attachment plug to universally connect to different national standards without requiring separate components for each standard
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate ground pieces and ground frames are provided for different plug receptacle standards, then compatibility with multiple standards is achieved, but the conductivity stability deteriorates due to resin attachment during injection molding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ground terminals from the injection-molded resin body and makes them separable components. The ground terminal is inserted into the housing after injection molding, and its contact portions are positioned to contact ground electrodes without being embedded in resin. This extraction prevents resin attachment to the ground terminal surfaces, ensuring stable electrical conductivity while maintaining multi-standard compatibility
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ground terminals are assembled, then compatibility with different standards is achieved, but the manufacturing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ground terminal functions into a single integrated ground terminal component that can serve multiple plug receptacle standards. This reduces the number of parts to be assembled and simplifies the manufacturing process, improving productivity while maintaining the ability to connect to different national standards through the multi-functional ground terminal design
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 reduces the number of components and assembly steps, ensuring stable conductivity and ease of assembly while being compatible with different electrical standards.
Implementation Method 1
an outer cover member formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin, the outer cover member covering an area ranging from the housing to the cover body of the power cord
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The present invention provides an attachment plug 120 that includes a decreased number of components and is commonly usable for plug receptacles of different standards. The attachment plug 120 is connectable to a plug receptacle 200 of the German standards and a plug receptacle 300 of the French standards. The attachment plug 120 includes a ground terminal 30 formed of an integral body including a first terminal 32, which is a German ground terminal 35, and a second terminal 33 including a German ground terminal 37 and a French ground terminal 38. The housing 40 has a first opening 46 into which the first terminal 32 is inserted and a second opening 47 into which the second terminal 33 is inserted. The ground terminal 30 includes a first flat plate 36 and a second flat plate 39 respectively closing the first opening 46 and the second opening 47.