Mains Plug Stowage in Appliance Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical household appliances face challenges with mains plugs and cables that are cumbersome and obstructive, making them difficult to store, package, and handle, as they often protrude and get in the way, leading to increased storage and packaging requirements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a receptacle within the appliance's housing that allows the mains plug to be stowed away, with the contact pin designed to fit like a socket, providing protection and reducing the external dimensions, and optionally including a clamping structure to secure the mains cable, thus minimizing protrusion and enhancing handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the power plug and cable are stored outside the device, then the device structure remains simple, but the plug and cable obstruct user workflows and increase packaging requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The power plug is nested within a receptacle that is integrated into the device housing. The receptacle is positioned such that the plug can be stored inside the device's external dimensions, eliminating protrusion and obstruction while maintaining structural simplicity through the integration of the receptacle into the existing housing.
2Reliability
If the power plug is stored in a separate compartment, then the plug is protected, but the device volume and packaging space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle for storing the power plug is merged with the device housing, forming an integrated structure. The receptacle is positioned within the external dimensions of the device, combining the storage function with the existing housing structure rather than adding a separate external compartment, thus protecting the plug without increasing overall device volume.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the power cord is secured with cable ties, then the cord is held in place, but additional materials and packaging complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The need for external cable ties and separate packaging materials is eliminated by integrating the cord retention function directly into the device housing. The housing structure itself provides the means to secure and position the power cord, removing the requirement for additional consumable materials like cable ties and reducing packaging complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The electric household appliance (100) has a housing (120), a power plug (210) which comprises electrical contact pins (230-1,230-2) on a front surface (220). The power plug is formed to supply the electric household appliance with electrical energy for consumption by the electric household appliance for its intended use. A receptacle (250) for the power plug is provided in or on the housing, such that the power plug with the front surface is inserted in the receptacle.