Outlet Encasing Hood with Segmented Locking for Child Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for securing electronic plugs to outlets are either aesthetically unpleasing, require permanent attachment to the plug, or necessitate multiple devices for each outlet, failing to provide a convenient and safe solution for preventing unintended unplugging, especially by children.
Innovation Solution
The development of receptacle covers and individual encasing hoods that attach to outlets, allowing for easy installation and removal, with optional key pin or elastic locking mechanisms, enabling secure and reusable attachment of plugs, and providing remote unlocking via an electronic release mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is placed over the entire electrical plate to prevent access to outlets, then child safety is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates and outlet accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the outlet protection system into individual outlet encasements rather than a single cover over the entire plate. Each outlet can be independently secured with its own hood, allowing selective access and maintaining aesthetic appearance while ensuring child safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies protection only where needed - individual outlets that require child safety measures are encased, while other outlets remain accessible. This localized approach maintains overall aesthetic appearance and functional accessibility while addressing safety concerns specifically.
2Reliability
If a lock in plug device is permanently attached to the plug, then security against unintended unplugging is improved, but device versatility deteriorates requiring a new device for each plug
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attaching the locking mechanism to the plug (mobile element), the invention attaches the encasing hood to the outlet (stationary element). This inversion allows the same hood to secure different plugs over time, maintaining security while enabling versatility and reusability.
Solution Approach 2:
The encasing hood is designed to be reusable across multiple outlets and different plugs. A single hood can be removed from one outlet and attached to another, providing universal protection against unintended unplugging without requiring a dedicated device for each plug.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover encases both outlets to prevent unplugging, then child safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring cover removal to access any outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the outlet protection into individual encasements for each outlet rather than a single unified cover. This allows selective access to specific outlets by simply removing the hood from that outlet, maintaining child safety while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The encasing hoods are designed to be dynamically removable and reattachable individual units rather than a fixed permanent cover. Adults can easily remove and reattach hoods as needed, providing flexible access to outlets while maintaining safety when hoods are attached.
Data Source
AI summary
An article and method for securing electric and data connection plugs to an outlet are disclosed. The article includes an outlet cover with anchoring points and an encasing hood containing a plug with engagement mechanisms to engage with the anchoring points. In an alternate embodiment the article includes a flexible elastomeric device with open portions to secure a plug and cord and cross portions to secure to anchoring points on the outlet cover. The methods include releasably securing the articles to the outlet cover.