Detachable Electrical Outlet Cover with Spring Steel Clasps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical outlets are exposed, posing a risk of accidental electrocution, particularly for children, and lack a reliable safety mechanism without compromising usability.
Innovation Solution
A detachable electrical outlet cover with a face plate and a rectangular box featuring hook-and-clasp apertures, where the box is secured to the face plate using spring steel clasps and metal hooks, providing protection while allowing plug insertion and attachment to the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a detachable cover with hooks and clasps is used to secure plugs to the outlet, then safety against accidental electrocution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into two separate components: a face plate that mounts to the wall and a detachable box that covers the outlet. This segmentation allows the safety function to be added without permanently complicating the wall structure, as the box can be attached or removed as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover design incorporates dynamic elements including spring-loaded clasps that automatically engage with hooks, and a detachable connection system. This allows the cover to transition between open and closed states while maintaining secure protection when closed, balancing safety with ease of access.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is added to protect the electrical outlet, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable box can be easily removed when plug insertion is needed and reattached when safety is the priority. The spring-loaded clasps provide automatic engagement, reducing the effort required to secure the cover. This dynamic design allows users to switch between safety and accessibility as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The face plate is pre-mounted to the wall with hook and clasp attachment points, so that when the box is brought to the outlet, the connection mechanism is already in place. This preliminary preparation simplifies the installation process and makes the cover easy to attach and detach during use.
3Reliability
If spring steel clasps and metal hooks are used to secure the box, then reliability of plug retention is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design uses spring steel for the clasps, which provides elastic deformation capability. This material parameter change allows the clasps to tolerate minor dimensional variations in the hook and clasp interfaces while still maintaining secure retention. The spring action compensates for manufacturing tolerances, ensuring reliable connection without requiring extremely tight precision.
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 effectively secures electrical plugs to the wall outlet, preventing accidental exposure and tampering, thereby enhancing safety without hindering the functionality of the outlets.
Implementation Method 1
The clasps are made of spring steel and when properly affixed to the clasp mount extend from the rear of the box to engage in the clasp aperture of the plate to retain the box by spring force
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical outlet cover assembly can include a plate configured to be connected to an electrical outlet, the plate including at least one outlet aperture configured to receive an electrical socket of the electrical outlet, a pair of rectangular hook apertures disposed through a lower end of the plate, and a pair of square clasp apertures disposed through an upper end of the plate, and a box configured to connect to the plate and cover the electrical outlet, the box including a pair of rigid hooks disposed at a lower end of the box, the pair of hooks being received by the pair of hook apertures, and a pair of spring clasps disposed at an upper end of the box, the pair of clasps being received by the pair of clasp apertures.