Sliding Socket Panel Structure for Thin Retractable Outlets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sockets require full insertion of plug pins, resulting in a larger overall thickness and mounting space, making them inconvenient to carry and occupy excessive mounting space.
Innovation Solution
A socket design featuring a sliding socket panel and transmission member that allows the panel to retract into the shell when not in use, reducing thickness and saving space, and extend for full plug insertion when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the socket panel is fixed and extends fully, then the plug pins can be fully inserted for stable power connection, but the overall thickness and mounting space of the socket increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket panel is designed to be movable rather than fixed, capable of sliding between retracted and extended positions. This dynamic structure allows the socket to adapt its thickness according to usage needs, being thin when not in use and thick enough to accommodate plug pins when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket panel can be retracted into the shell's accommodating chamber, creating a nested configuration where the functional elements are stored within the main body. This nesting principle reduces the overall thickness to minimal dimensions when the socket is not in use.
2Length of stationary object
If the socket panel is retracted to reduce thickness, then mounting space is saved, but the plug pins cannot be fully inserted for stable connection
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission member converts the horizontal sliding motion into vertical motion of the socket panel, enabling the panel to dynamically extend to the required depth for stable plug connection when needed, while returning to a retracted position when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the horizontally sliding component and the vertically moving socket panel. It mediates the motion transfer, converting lateral displacement into the vertical extension needed for reliable plug insertion.
3Length of stationary object
If a transmission mechanism is added to enable panel retraction, then mounting space is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is divided into distinct functional segments: a horizontally sliding member, a transmission portion with interlocking protrusions and grooves, and the vertically moving socket panel. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission member combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides the horizontal sliding motion, contains the transmission portions that convert motion direction, and guides the socket panel's vertical movement. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A socket is disclosed. The socket comprises a shell (10), a socket panel (20), and a transmission member (30); the shell (10) has an accommodating chamber (11) and an opening (12) in communication with the accommodating chamber (11); the socket panel (20) is arranged on the shell (10), can slide relative to the shell (10) along an axial direction (L2) of the opening (12), and is provided with an insertion hole (21); the transmission member (30) is located in the accommodating chamber (11) and is in sliding connection to the shell (10) along a first direction (L1), the transmission member (30) is provided with a first transmission portion (34), the socket panel (20) is provided with a second transmission portion (22), and the first transmission portion cooperates with the second transmission portion (22); when a pin (201) is inserted into the insertion hole (21), the pin (201) drives the transmission member (30) to slide relative to the shell (10) along the first direction (L1), so that the first transmission portion (34) slides relative to the second transmission portion (22), and the socket panel (20) is driven to slide along the axial direction (L2) of the opening (12) to extend out of the accommodating chamber (11).