Power Outlet Safety Shutter Using Nested Elastic Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power outlets with safety covers face challenges in reducing volume due to the need for extra space for springs and complex structures, which affect symmetry and increase manufacturing costs and insertion force.
Innovation Solution
A power outlet design featuring a shell body, a base with posts, and a sliding element with inclined blocks and a through hole that contains an elastic element, allowing for reduced space usage and improved safety features like location blocks and hooks to prevent object insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is disposed on one side of the safety shutter, then the safety shutter can be biased, but the total volume of receptacle safety device increases and symmetry of appearance is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element is nested within the through hole of the sliding element, allowing the spring to be contained within the existing structure rather than adding external space. This nesting approach maintains the biasing function while eliminating the need for additional disposal space on one side of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The through hole of the sliding element is combined with the elastic element, merging the structural component (sliding element) with the functional component (spring). This integration allows the elastic element to be disposed within the sliding element's through hole, reducing overall device volume while maintaining symmetry.
2Reliability
If two shields and a middle-layer support are used, then safety coverage is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding element combines multiple functions into a single component: it acts as both the safety cover and the structural support that contains the elastic element. This merging eliminates the need for separate middle-layer support and multiple shields, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides safety coverage for the outlet holes, contains the elastic element, and acts as a structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If two shields with two-way sliding are used, then safety is improved, but insertion force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cover is segmented into multiple outlet holes rather than requiring two shields to slide. This segmentation allows objects to be blocked at different locations (first outlet hole or second outlet hole) without requiring high insertion force to move entire shields, thereby reducing the force needed while maintaining safety.
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 design reduces the total volume of the power outlet, simplifies the structure, and enhances safety by minimizing the insertion force required and maintaining symmetry, while effectively preventing objects from being inserted into the wrong outlets.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element is disposed between the first post and the second post
Data Source
AI summary
A power outlet having safety cover, the power outlet comprises a shell body, a base fixed in the shell body, a sliding element disposed between the shell body and the base; the shell body has at least one first outlet hole and at least one second outlet hole; the base has a first post, a third outlet hole and a fourth outlet hole; one side of the sliding element has a first inclined block, the middle of the sliding element has a through hole, another side of the sliding element has a second inclined block and a second post; an elastic element is disposed between the first post and the second post; wherein the through hole can contain the first post, the second post and the elastic element; a distance between the first inclined block and an inner wall of the base is smaller than the length of the elastic element.