Retractable Universal Wall Outlet with Nesting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical wall outlets typically have only two power ports, which are insufficient for accommodating multiple devices with diverse power requirements, leading to the need for additional power strips that create a messy and costly setup.
Innovation Solution
A retractable universal electric wall outlet with multiple ports, including USB, DSL/LAN, cable, and telephone jacks, housed within the wall, featuring a movable member that can be extended to expose additional ports, along with a power switch, safety switches, and a digital display for amperage and temperature monitoring, capable of handling 110 or 240 volts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wall outlets with only two power ports are used, then the device structure remains simple and cost-effective, but the outlet cannot accommodate multiple devices with diverse power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a retractable mechanism where additional power ports are nested within the wall cavity behind the outlet face. When not in use, these ports remain concealed inside the wall structure. When needed, a movable member is extended to expose the additional ports, allowing the outlet to transform from a simple two-port configuration to a multi-port configuration without permanently increasing the outlet's physical footprint or visual complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a movable member that can be extended and retracted to dynamically change the number of accessible power ports. This dynamic mechanism allows the outlet to adapt its functionality based on user needs, transitioning between a compact two-port mode and an expanded multi-port mode, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional power strips or distributors are acquired to accommodate more devices, then the power port availability increases, but the setup becomes messy and incurs additional costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power ports of different types (AC outlets, USB ports, telephone jacks, cable jacks, DSL/LAN ports) into a single integrated wall outlet unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate power strips or distributors, as all required connections are available directly at the wall outlet face, thereby maintaining visual cleanliness and organizational simplicity while providing comprehensive power and data connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal wall outlet that can accommodate various device types through multiple port types (AC power, USB, telephone, cable, DSL/LAN). This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized devices or adapters, allowing users to connect different devices directly to the wall outlet without requiring additional power strips or distributors, thus maintaining ease of operation and visual appearance.
3Ease of operation
If multiple power ports are provided in a single wall outlet, then the need for additional power strips is eliminated, but the outlet structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent conceals the complexity of multiple power ports by nesting them within the wall structure. The additional ports are housed in a retractable mechanism that remains hidden when not in use, preserving the simple appearance of a conventional two-port outlet. This nesting approach allows the outlet to provide multiple power ports and data connections without permanently increasing structural complexity or visual clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the outlet functionality into a base unit (visible two AC ports) and an extendable unit (additional ports hidden in the wall). This segmentation allows the outlet to maintain visual simplicity while providing access to complex multi-port functionality when needed, effectively hiding the structural complexity behind a simple interface.
Data Source
AI summary
The retractable universal electrical wall outlet is a wall outlet unit that is designed to include multiple ports for providing power to a variety of devices. The ports may include a telephone jack, a USB port, a DSL/LAN port, and a cable jack. The unit also incorporates therein a power switch, a safety switch, and a digital screen for displaying the amperage consumption and the temperature at the unit's location. A retractable member may be deployed to expose additional ports.