Power Strip Adapter Assembly for Built-In Kitchen Appliance Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Converting a kitchen from a slide-in or drop-in appliance to built-in appliances is costly due to the need for extensive wiring modifications and upgrades, which involves high labor and material costs, as well as additional electrical infrastructure requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and assembly that utilize a power strip apparatus with a range plug and multiple sockets, allowing built-in kitchen appliances to be integrated into existing countertops and cabinetry, connecting to a standard range receptacle without requiring extensive rewiring, using a flexible electrical cable and metal cable protector to comply with safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If built-in kitchen appliances are installed with separate wiring to the circuit breaker box, then design flexibility and user-friendliness are improved, but conversion cost and installation complexity increase due to extensive rewiring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power strip apparatus as an intermediary device between the existing range receptacle and multiple built-in appliances. This power strip contains a range plug that connects to the single existing circuit, and multiple range sockets that accommodate plugs from multiple appliances. This intermediary solution eliminates the need for extensive rewiring while enabling multiple appliances to operate simultaneously, thus resolving the contradiction between design flexibility and installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The power strip apparatus serves multiple functions: it acts as a circuit adapter, a power distribution hub, and a mounting structure for multiple appliances. By making this single device multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate wiring for each appliance while maintaining the ability to install multiple built-in appliances, thereby reducing installation complexity without sacrificing adaptability
2Reliability
If separate wiring and circuit breakers are installed for each built-in appliance, then reliability and safety are improved, but conversion cost increases due to electrician costs and labor costs
Solution Approach 1:
The power strip apparatus serves as a certified intermediary that maintains electrical safety standards while enabling cost-effective conversion. By using a UL-listed power strip with proper grounding and circuit protection built into its design, the system achieves reliable and safe operation without requiring expensive separate wiring for each appliance, thus resolving the contradiction between electrical safety and conversion cost
Solution Approach 2:
The power strip creates a replicated electrical connection structure where multiple appliance plugs connect to the power strip sockets, which in turn connects to the single range receptacle. This copied connection architecture maintains the safety and reliability of the original range receptacle connection while enabling multiple appliances to be powered safely without the cost of separate wiring
3Reliability
If the main breaker box is accessed for wiring modifications, then proper electrical connections are achieved, but labor time and conversion cost increase due to distance from existing wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical connection function from the distant main breaker box by utilizing the existing range receptacle that is already connected to the circuit. The power strip apparatus is installed locally at the kitchen location, eliminating the need to access and modify wiring at the distant breaker box, thus maintaining reliable electrical connections while significantly reducing labor time and conversion cost
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method of converting a kitchen having one of the slide-in and the drop-in appliance electrically coupled to a range receptacle, to a kitchen having built-in appliances. The method includes removing the one of the slide-in and the drop-in appliance from the range receptacle. The method includes installing at least two kitchen appliances into at least one of preexisting countertops and cabinetry of the kitchen. Each of the kitchen appliances includes a range plug. The method includes providing a power strip apparatus comprising a range plug and a power strip having a plurality of range sockets electrically coupled to the range plug of the power strip apparatus. The method includes inserting the range plug of the power strip apparatus into the range receptacle and inserting the range plugs of the kitchen appliances into respective ones of the range sockets of the power strip.