Single Shutter Tamper Resistant Electrical Receptacle Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tamper-resistant electrical receptacles require two shutter members for effective protection, increasing inventory and costs, and are limited by linear motion, which reduces responsiveness to inserted plug blades.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-resistant assembly with a single shutter member that moves in two dimensions, utilizing a base member with grooves forming obtuse angles to prevent lateral sliding and allow pivoting, ensuring foreign objects cannot be inserted past the shutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two shutter members are used to provide tamper resistance, then protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and inventory costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of two separate shutter members into a single shutter member that performs both blocking and releasing actions. The single shutter member includes a blocking portion that blocks the slot and a cam surface that interacts with the plug blade to trigger the releasing action, thereby merging multiple protective functions into one component and reducing device complexity while maintaining tamper resistance effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The single shutter member is designed to perform multiple functions: it blocks the slot to prevent foreign object insertion, provides a cam surface for interaction with plug blades, and enables the releasing action through its interaction with the spring mechanism. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate shutter members while maintaining comprehensive protection
2Ease of operation
If a shutter member is limited to linear motion, then structural simplicity is maintained, but responsiveness to inserted plug blades is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter member transitions from linear motion to rotational motion about a pivot point. The cam surface on the shutter member interacts with the inserted plug blade to generate a moment that rotates the shutter member about its pivot, thereby opening the slot. This dynamic rotational movement enhances responsiveness to plug blade insertion while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of a fixed pivot point
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter member's motion is changed from one-dimensional linear movement to two-dimensional rotational movement about a pivot point. This dimensional change allows the shutter member to respond more effectively to plug blade insertion by rotating open, thereby improving ease of operation while the pivot constraint maintains structural simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper resistant assembly provides tamper resistance to an electrical receptacle. The tamper resistant assembly includes a base member having first and second grooves. Each groove has a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion. The first portion is substantially perpendicular to a rear wall of the member and the second portion forms an angle with the first portion. A shutter member is slidably and pivotally connected to the base member for movement between open and closed positions. First and second protrusions extend outwardly from the shutter member and are slidably and pivotally received in the first and second grooves, respectively, in the base member. The first and second protrusions are disposed in the first portions of the grooves when the shutter member is in the closed position and prevent lateral sliding movement of the shutter member to prevent insertion of a foreign object past the shutter member, and in the second portions when the shutter member is in the open position by allowing lateral sliding of the shutter member. The first portions prevent lateral movement of the shutter member and allow pivoting movement of the shutter member to positions preventing insertion of a foreign object past the shutter member.