Rotating Base Power Strip for Dust Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power strips have exposed sockets that accumulate dust, leading to malfunctions and safety risks, and lack compactness due to their elongated design, interfering with surrounding arrangements.

Innovation Solution

A power strip with rotating bases and pintles that allow sockets to be selectively covered or revealed, using a rotating mechanism to align with a stationary base, ensuring sockets are covered when not in use, preventing dust accumulation and providing a compact configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sockets are always exposed for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and reliability deteriorate due to dust accumulation and water splashing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of socket accessVSAvoidsocket safety and reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power strip employs a rotating base that can dynamically change position between exposed and covered states. The rotating base is mounted rotatably on the stationary base, allowing it to move between a first position where sockets are exposed and a second position where sockets are covered, enabling the system to adapt its state based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If power strip is elongated to accommodate multiple sockets, then functionality is improved, but device compactness deteriorates causing interference with surrounding arrangements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiple socket functionalityVSAvoidpower strip compactness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating base with sockets is nested within or alongside the stationary base structure. When the rotating base is in the covered position, it aligns with or tucks into the stationary base, creating a compact overall form factor while still providing multiple sockets through the rotating component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If rotating mechanism is added for socket coverage, then safety and compactness are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesocket protection from dust and waterVSAvoidrotating mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power strip is divided into distinct segments: a stationary base and a rotating base. The rotating base is a separate component that can be independently rotated to cover or expose sockets, rather than having a complex moving cover mechanism. This segmentation simplifies the overall design while achieving the protection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8157574B2Power strip with covered sockets

Publication Date: 2012.04.17 RITE TECH INDAL

AI summary

A power strip has a stationary base, at least one rotating base, at least one pintle and a power cable. The at least one rotating base is mounted rotatably on the stationary base. Each of the at least one rotating base has a top surface facing along a Z-axis and at least one socket mounted on the top surface and selectively covered by the stationary base by rotating each of the at least one rotating base to align with the stationary base. The at least one pintle faces along the Z-axis and rotatably connects the at least one rotating base to the stationary base. The power cable is mounted on the stationary base. The socket may be covered to prevent malfunction and shorting problems due to dust accumulation on the socket and prevent penetration by objects.