Snap-On Receptacle Faceplate With Resilient Latches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a cost-effective and easy-to-install faceplate for electrical receptacles, especially in modular office furniture settings where receptacles need to be safely and conveniently located, and existing solutions do not adequately address the requirement for versatility and ease of installation.
Innovation Solution
A snap-on faceplate design with a frontside and backside, featuring a plurality of resilient latches and slots that extend from the frontside to the backside, allowing it to be securely coupled to an electrical receptacle housing, providing a tamper-resistant mechanism that prevents unauthorized access and can be used on multiple versions of receptacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If faceplates are screwed to the receptacle to hold the faceplate in position, then the faceplate is securely attached, but the installation process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical screw-fastening system with a resilient latch mechanism that uses elastic deformation and snap-fit engagement. The resilient latches flex during installation and then lock into place on the receptacle housing, providing secure attachment without requiring threads, screws, or threading operations. This substitution of mechanical fastening systems directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability while eliminating installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient latches are designed to automatically engage and lock the faceplate to the receptacle housing through their own elastic properties. During installation, the latches flex as the faceplate is inserted and then snap into the locked position without requiring external fasteners or additional components. The faceplate essentially installs itself through the self-actuating resilient latch mechanism, eliminating the need for screws and complex assembly procedures.
2Manufacturing precision
If a faceplate is designed for specific receptacle versions, then it provides precise fit and function, but it reduces versatility and increases the number of parts needed
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latch mechanism is designed with universal compatibility across multiple receptacle versions and configurations. The latches engage with standardized features on the receptacle housing that are consistent across different receptacle types, allowing a single faceplate design to fit multiple receptacle versions. This universality is achieved while maintaining precise fit through the resilient nature of the latches, which can accommodate minor dimensional variations between different receptacle versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient latches utilize elastic deformation as a key parameter to achieve compatibility across different receptacle versions. By allowing the latch material to flex and deform within elastic limits, the faceplate can accommodate variations in receptacle housing dimensions and tolerances. This parameter change approach enables a single faceplate design to adapt to multiple receptacle configurations while maintaining secure attachment and precise fit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The faceplate offers a cost-effective and easy installation solution that can be used on various receptacle configurations, ensuring secure attachment and tamper resistance, enhancing safety and convenience in workplace settings.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of resilient latches extend from the backside
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical receptacle faceplate couplable to an electrical receptacle housing, the electrical receptacle faceplate including a frontside, a backside, and a plurality of resilient latches. There are a plurality of slots extending from the frontside through the faceplate to the backside. The plurality of resilient latches extend from the backside of the faceplate.