Rotating Electrical Connector for Appliance Cable Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric household and tool cables tend to twist and become tangled during use, leading to mechanical stress, wear, and the risk of insulation layer tearing, which can result in electrical shock and restricted movement.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a rotatable male connector with a pin and ring design seated within a female receptacle using retaining springs, allowing continuous rotation and protected by a protective body to prevent cable damage from flexing and twisting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cable is connected rigidly to the electric household appliance or electric tool, then electrical connection is stable, but the cable cannot accommodate spatial movements and becomes tangled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidfreedom of movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the connector rotatable within the receptacle. The male connector can rotate continuously (360 degrees) while maintaining electrical contact, allowing the cable to accommodate spatial movements without tangling. This dynamic rotation capability resolves the contradiction between stable electrical connection and freedom of movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the cable is allowed to move freely during spatial movements, then freedom of movement is improved, but mechanical stress causes wear and insulation layer tearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreedom of movementVSAvoidcable integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary protective structure between the cable and the external environment. The protective body encloses the cable entry point, and the rotating connector mechanism serves as an intermediary that manages mechanical stress through controlled rotation rather than rigid connection or free movement. This intermediary structure prevents direct transmission of bending stresses to the cable insulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a protective structure is added to prevent cable wear, then cable integrity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable protectionVSAvoidconnection device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The protective body is combined with the receptacle housing, and the rotating connector mechanism is integrated into the electrical connection system. This merging approach provides cable protection and rotation capability without adding separate complex protective devices, thus minimizing increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2258028B1Rotating device for electrically connecting electric household appliances and electric tools
Publication Date: 2016.08.31 SORESINA CLAUDIO
  • EP2258028B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2258028B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2258028B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (1) for electrically connecting electric household appliances or electric tools, comprising a female receptacle (2) provided with two seats (8a, 8b), a male connector (3) which can be inserted inside said female receptacle (2), where said male connector (3) is provided with electrical contact means (4a, 4b) concentric with each other, so as to allow rotation of the male connector (2) with respect to the female receptacle (3).