Power Outlet Cover Guidance for Easy Removal and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power outlets with fastening frames that hide fastening means inside the mechanism box make it difficult to adjust or remove the outlet, leading to potential misalignments and jams, and require intervention in the mechanism box for correct cover movement.
Innovation Solution
The power outlet features guide pins and slots in the sub-assembly casing to guide the axial movement of the cover, with projections and stops to limit movement, allowing for a more robust and compact design that can be assembled and disassembled without direct intervention in the mechanism box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the fastening means are arranged inside the mechanism box to be hidden after fastening the sub-assembly, then the outlet appears more compact and aesthetically pleasing, but it becomes difficult to subsequently adjust or remove the outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is divided into separate components: a mechanism box and a sub-assembly that can be independently removed. The sub-assembly includes the cover, shutter, and guide pins, which can be detached from the mechanism box without affecting the fastening frame, enabling easy adjustment and removal while maintaining a compact appearance when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening means are extracted from the sub-assembly and placed solely in the mechanism box. The sub-assembly includes guide pins that engage with slots in the mechanism box, allowing the sub-assembly to be removed independently while the mechanism box remains fastened to the wall, providing both compact appearance and ease of adjustment.
2Reliability
If the guide pins are arranged to interact with claws inside the mechanism box, then the cover movement is controlled, but the configuration becomes less robust and adaptable
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins are designed with a universal configuration that can adapt to different outlet types. The pins engage with slots in the mechanism box through a standardized interface, allowing the same guide pin design to work across various outlet configurations while reliably controlling cover movement through the slot-guided path.
Solution Approach 2:
The slots in the mechanism box act as intermediaries between the guide pins and the cover movement. The slots guide the guide pins along a predetermined path, providing reliable cover movement control while allowing the guide pins to maintain a simple, adaptable configuration that can work with different outlet types.
3Reliability
If the outlet requires intervention in the mechanism box for correct cover movement, then the cover can be properly guided, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins on the sub-assembly automatically engage with the slots in the mechanism box during assembly, providing self-guiding for the cover movement. The guide pins and slots are positioned such that proper engagement occurs naturally during the assembly process without requiring additional intervention or adjustment in the mechanism box.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pins are pre-positioned on the sub-assembly and the slots are pre-configured in the mechanism box to ensure proper alignment during assembly. This preliminary arrangement of guiding elements eliminates the need for complex intervention during the assembly process, as the components self-align through the guide pin-slot interaction.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrical power outlet comprising a sub-assembly with an axially movable cover. The axially movable cover includes several guide pins that are guided in corresponding slots of a casing of the sub-assembly with an outer side guide stop. The axial movement of the cover is also delimited by two projections included in the cover itself and a stop on the casing of the sub-assembly.