Socket With Movable Press Plate For Plug Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sockets are impractical for use with various international plug types, particularly for European electrotechnical equipment, as they require frequent adapter changes and can be difficult to insert, especially for people with reduced vision or functional abilities, and lack effective child safety features.
Innovation Solution
A socket with an axially movable press plate and angular displacement mechanism that aligns contact holes with terminals, providing tactile feedback and child safety by limiting angular insertion, allowing easy insertion of predefined plugs and reducing the risk of child contact with live terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional socket with fixed contact holes is used, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to insert plugs for people with reduced vision or functional abilities
Solution Approach 1:
The socket incorporates a movable press plate that can shift axially between a first position (receiving contact pins) and a second position (exposed to child). This dynamic element allows the socket to adapt its state based on operational needs, providing tactile feedback during plug insertion while maintaining structural simplicity when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The press plate is preliminarily positioned to guide contact pins into the correct alignment with contact holes before electrical connection is established. This preliminary guiding action facilitates easy plug insertion for people with reduced vision by providing tactile cues, while the press plate remains unobtrusive when not needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If contact holes are directly accessible in a traditional socket, then electrical connection is established easily, but children can accidentally contact live terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The press plate dynamically transitions between a first position that facilitates plug insertion and a second position that exposes contact holes to children. When a plug is inserted, the press plate moves to the first position, allowing contact pins to engage contact holes. When no plug is present, it moves to the second position, covering the contact holes and preventing child access to live terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The press plate provides tactile feedback to users during plug insertion, confirming proper alignment and engagement. This feedback mechanism ensures that people with reduced vision can successfully insert plugs while the press plate simultaneously maintains child safety by covering contact holes when not in use.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a press plate with axial movement is added to the socket, then child safety is improved by limiting angular insertion, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The press plate is designed with axial movement capability along the socket's central axis, transitioning between a first position (plug insertion) and a second position (child protection). This single-degree-of-freedom movement provides child safety functionality without requiring complex multi-axis mechanisms, maintaining relative simplicity while achieving the safety goal.
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
Facilitates the use of standardized plugs across different countries, enhances usability for individuals with disabilities, and improves child safety by preventing accidental contact with live terminals through angular displacement and tactile feedback.
Implementation Method 1
The contact holes and the contact pin-guides are disposed on a press plate, which is axially movable along the well face between an outer position, wherein the press plate is biased outwardly by a spring
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A socket (100) comprising a cover (120) with a cylindrical well face (130) having greater diameter than an enveloping cylinder (230) about an existing, predefined plug (200), at least two contact holes (121) adapted to receive contact pins (211) for transmitting electrical power, wherein each contact hole (121) is located at the bottom of a concave contact pin- guide (141, 142). The contact holes (121) and the contact pin-guides (141, 142) are disposed on a press plate (140) which is axially movable along the well face (130) between an outer position, wherein the press plate is biased outwardly by a spring (145), and an inner position, wherein contact pins (211) and ground contacts (212, 250) on the plug (200) inserted into the socket (100) are electrically connected to their respective terminals (111, 112) adapted for fixed connection to a power supply network. If desirable, the press plate can be angularly displaced such that the contact holes (121) are not aligned with the live terminals (111; L, N) when the press plate (140) is in its outer position.