Post-Mounted Power Strip Housing With Weather-Protected Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outdoor buildings often lack provisions for powering electronic devices, necessitating on-site installation of electrical infrastructure which can be inconvenient and expose electrical components to environmental elements.
Innovation Solution
A power delivery assembly comprising a housing with a pivotable cover and deployable shelf, integrated with a power strip that can be secured to a vertical post, providing protected and accessible electrical sockets for charging devices while allowing easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical infrastructure is installed on-site in conventional outdoor buildings, then power delivery capability is improved, but installation complexity and exposure to environmental elements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery system is divided into separate modular components: a power delivery assembly with housing and power strip, and a separate mounting bracket. This segmentation allows the power strip to be pre-assembled and tested independently, then easily mounted to the pergola post without complex on-site electrical infrastructure installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power strip and electrical components are extracted from the building structure itself and placed into a separate, portable power delivery assembly that can be mounted externally on pergola posts. This extraction eliminates the need to modify building electrical infrastructure and allows the power delivery capability to be added as a discrete, easily installable component.
2Ease of operation
If electrical components are exposed in outdoor buildings, then power accessibility is improved, but protection from environmental elements worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The power strip is nested within a protective housing that encloses the electrical components. The housing acts as a protective container that shields the power strip from rain, dust, and other environmental elements while still allowing electrical functionality. The mounting bracket further nests the entire assembly onto the pergola post, providing additional structural protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves as a flexible protective shell that encloses the power strip components. This shell provides environmental protection while maintaining access to electrical sockets through designed openings or apertures, allowing power delivery functionality while shielding internal components from harsh outdoor conditions.
3Reliability
If permanent electrical infrastructure is installed, then power delivery reliability is improved, but installation time and flexibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The power strip and housing are pre-assembled and configured as a complete power delivery assembly before being mounted to the pergola post. This preliminary assembly allows quality control and testing to be performed beforehand, ensuring reliability, while the pre-prepared nature of the assembly dramatically reduces on-site installation time compared to installing electrical infrastructure from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, permanent building infrastructure to a dynamic, movable power delivery assembly that can be easily installed and removed. The modular design with separate housing and mounting bracket allows the assembly to be dynamically repositioned or relocated as needed, providing flexibility while maintaining reliable power delivery through secure mounting options.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for supporting a power strip is provided and includes a housing. The housing extends between an upper end and a lower end. The housing includes front and rear enclosures. The front enclosure includes a front wall and an interior wall. The front wall defines a front aperture. The interior wall extends from the front wall and at least partially defines an interior receptacle that is configured to receive a body of a power strip. The interior wall and the rear enclosure cooperate to enclose a body of a power strip within the interior receptacle.