Electrical Socket With Partitioned Contact Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bathrooms often lack suitable electrical sockets and power connections to supply low voltage to sanitary items, such as shower toilets, and require versatile maintenance solutions due to increasing complexity and integration with IoT systems.

Innovation Solution

An electrical socket with a housing that divides into two areas, featuring a partition with a receptacle for inserting additional electrical contact elements, allowing for flexible use and maintenance without the need for specialized electricians, and includes a plumbing installation with an electrical pipe and mounting frame for secure connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an electrical connection device with a simple hole in the mounting frame is used, then the installation is simple, but the versatility and adaptability for various applications is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidapplication versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection device incorporates multiple contact elements (first and second contact elements) with different connection types (screw connections, clamp connections, push-in connections) within a single device, enabling it to handle various electrical connection tasks universally without requiring multiple separate devices or specialized electricians

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical connection device is divided into separate contact elements that can be independently selected and combined based on application requirements, allowing the same basic structure to serve multiple functions while maintaining ease of installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed electrical connection structure is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the ease of maintenance and serviceability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection device incorporates removable and replaceable contact elements that can be easily exchanged during maintenance without requiring complete disassembly or specialized electrician intervention, transforming a static fixed structure into a dynamically serviceable system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Individual contact elements can be extracted and replaced independently from the mounting frame, allowing maintenance personnel to service specific connection points without affecting other parts of the electrical system, thereby improving maintainability while keeping the overall structure simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electrical contact elements are integrated into the partition, then the adaptability for various applications is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuse flexibilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple contact elements with different connection types are integrated into a single partition structure, allowing the device to handle various electrical connection requirements (mains power, low voltage, data) without requiring separate devices, thereby achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Different types of electrical contact elements (screw connections, clamp connections, push-in connections) are merged into a single integrated partition, consolidating multiple functions into one structure and avoiding the need for multiple separate components that would increase overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3975359A1Electrical socket
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3975359A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3975359A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3975359A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electrical box (1) for a sanitary installation (2) with a sanitary article comprises a housing (3) with an interior (4) accessible via a front opening (18) and a partition wall (5) located in the interior (4), which divides the interior (4) into a first room area (6) and a second room area (7), wherein an electrical contact element (8) is arranged in the partition wall (5), which has a first connection point (9) facing the first room area (6) for connection to a building-side electrical installation, such as a mains power installation and/or a building management system installation, and which has a second connection point (10) facing the second room area (7), and wherein a receptacle (11) is provided in the partition wall (5) into which a further electrical contact element (12) can be inserted.