Extendable Socket Collar Actuated by Plug Pins for Contact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric sockets with movably mounted collars lack efficient mechanisms for extending the collar upon insertion of a mains plug, leading to potential safety risks and inefficient contact protection.
Innovation Solution
An extending mechanism engages between the collar and the path of motion of the contact pins, using a lever arm to extend the collar from a rear end position to a front end position upon plug insertion, ensuring contact protection and electrical connectivity only when fully inserted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the collar is extended using a resiliently biased mechanism with detent catch, then the collar can be temporarily locked in retracted position and extended by tapping, but the mechanism becomes complex and requires multiple components (springs, detent catch, tapping action)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex resilient biasing mechanism, detent catch, and tapping requirement from the collar extension system. Instead, the collar is extended automatically by the direct mechanical action of the inserted contact pin pushing against the lever arm, which in turn pushes the collar forward. This extracts the unnecessary components while maintaining the essential function of contact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar extension mechanism performs itself automatically through the insertion action of the plug. The contact pin, when inserted, directly actuates the lever arm which automatically extends the collar without requiring external springs, detent catches, or tapping actions. The system uses the energy from the plug insertion itself to extend the collar, making the mechanism self-servicing.
2Ease of operation
If the collar remains in rear end position, then the front face of base remains accessible, but contact pins are exposed and electrical connectivity is unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is extended in advance of the contact pins reaching the contacts. The lever arm is positioned such that when the contact pins are inserted, they immediately push the lever arm which extends the collar before the pins reach the electrical contacts. This preliminary extension of the collar provides safety by enclosing the pins before electrical connectivity occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever arm serves as an intermediary mechanism between the contact pin insertion and the collar extension. The lever arm converts the linear motion of the contact pin into the extension motion of the collar, mediating the interaction to ensure the collar extends at the appropriate moment to protect the contacts while allowing accessibility when retracted.
3Reliability
If the collar is extended by inserted contact pin through lever arm, then contact protection is enhanced, but the mechanism requires precise engagement between lever arm and contact pin path
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm is designed to be swivel-mounted on the base, allowing it to rotate dynamically as the collar extends and retracts. This dynamic mounting allows the lever arm to automatically adjust its position and maintain proper engagement with the contact pin path throughout the motion range, reducing the need for extremely precise fixed positioning while ensuring reliable contact protection.
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
Provides enhanced contact protection and ensures safe and reliable electrical connectivity by extending the collar to enclose the contact pins fully, preventing unsafe exposure and ensuring contacts are current-carrying only when the plug is fully inserted.
Implementation Method 1
the extending mechanism comprises a lever arm which is swivel mounted on the base and which at one end acts upon the collar, in particular is joined thereto by articulation, and at the other end protrudes into the path of motion of the at least one contact pin
Implementation Method 2
the collar can be moved from the rear end position into the front end position against the action of a restoring force, in particular in the form of a restoring spring, and has therefore been biased into the rear end position
Implementation Method 3
the electrical connection between at least one of the contacts and an associated terminal contact of an electric socket housing comprises an electrical switch which is actuated by the collar or by the extending mechanism and which is open in the rear end position of the collar and closed at least in the front end position of the collar
Data Source
AI summary
An electric socket for a mains plug with two contact pins includes a base with a front face having two holes with two contacts arranged behind the holes for electrical contacting a contact pin inserted through. A collar is mounted on the base to be movable from a rear end position into a front end position where the collar protrudes further forwards beyond the front face of the base than in the rear end position and surrounds the front face of the base. An extending mechanism acts at least in the rear end position of the collar and engages between the front face and the contacts in the path of motion of at least one of the two contact pins and is designed to extend the collar out of the rear end position into the front end position by means of the at least one inserted contact pin. Once in the extended position the collar would serve to protect the plug.