Power Socket Cover and Shutter Design for Contact Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power sockets lack a simple and efficient mechanism to protect electrical terminals from accidental contact, particularly when the aesthetic cover is removed, and often require complex or cumbersome cover mechanisms that are costly and prone to misplacement.
Innovation Solution
A base part with a movably suspended housing containing shutter means and a drive member that operates a movable cover without a separate drive mechanism, combined with an aesthetic cover that facilitates easy attachment and alignment, ensuring protection regardless of the cover's presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual caps or lids are placed in the insertion well to protect electrical terminals, then protection against accidental contact is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome manual removal and re-insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable cover member that automatically moves between a front position (flush with the aesthetic cover) and a rear position (next to the rear end of the insertion well). This dynamic mechanism eliminates the need for manual removal and re-insertion of protective covers, resolving the contradiction between protection reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is spring-loaded to automatically return to the front protective position when the power plug is removed from the socket. This self-service mechanism ensures continuous protection without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining both high protection reliability and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If a movable cover member with spring loading is used to protect electrical terminals, then protection against accidental contact is improved, but device complexity increases due to many moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective mechanism into two independent components: a movable cover member for the aesthetic cover and a separate housing with shutter means for the base part. This segmentation allows each component to have a simple, dedicated function, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a housing as an intermediary structure that contains the shutter means and provides a fixed protective barrier. This housing acts as a mediator between the base part and the aesthetic cover, offering protection that does not rely on complex moving parts within the aesthetic cover itself.
3Reliability
If shutter means are integrated into the movable cover member, then protection against accidental contact is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the shutter means from the movable cover member and integrates them into a distinct housing structure. This segmentation simplifies both components individually and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the protective function through the housing's fixed shutter mechanism.
4Reliability
If electrical terminals are placed in a recessed insertion well to protect against contact, then protection against accidental contact is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable cover member that dynamically adjusts its position: it moves to the rear position when a power plug is inserted (facilitating ease of operation) and returns to the front position when the plug is removed (maintaining protection). This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
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 reliable and efficient protection against accidental contact with electrical terminals, maintaining safety without the need for complex mechanisms and ensuring usability even without an aesthetic cover.
Implementation Method 1
The base part or the housing is provided with at least one drive member, for applying a force to the housing that is directed towards the insertion end of the base part
Implementation Method 2
A front surface of the housing is adapted to be in contact with the back side of a freely movable cover of an aesthetic cover that receivable in the base part, for imparting a force on the movable cover, targeted to flush align the movable cover with the front plate of the aesthetic cover
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
A power socket arrangement (100) comprises a base part (102) and an aesthetic cover (150). A housing (118) comprising shutter means (120) is arranged at a bottom end (108) of the base part (102), for selectively blocking or permitting access to electrical terminals (110) likewise arranged at the bottom end (108). The housing (118) is movably suspended in the base part (102), the suspension permitting a linear movement of the housing (118) between a position at or near the bottom end (108) of the base part (102) and a position near the insertion end (106) of the base part (102). The base part (102) or the housing (118) is provided with a drive member (112), for applying a force to the housing that is directed towards the insertion end (106). The aesthetic cover (150) has an insertion well (154) for a power plug and a movable cover (156) that is supported force-free inside the insertion well (154), and that is pushed towards a front plate (152) of the aesthetic cover (150) by the housing (118).