Socket Outlet Adapter Mechanical Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing socket outlet adapters fail to reliably prevent incorrect operation and ensure user safety, as protection covers or sliders often jam and can be opened inadvertently, allowing small plugs to expose other sockets, which compromises the protective function.
Innovation Solution
The socket outlet adapter features mechanically locked protective elements, where one element's open position automatically locks the other, ensuring only one socket can be used with a fitting plug, utilizing a locking mechanism with protrusions and a slotted guide to prevent shifting and jamming, thereby maintaining safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection covers or sliders are used to prevent incorrect operation, then user safety is improved, but the protective function is compromised when covers jam or can be opened inadvertently
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is pre-configured with protrusions that automatically engage with the movable protective element when it shifts to the open position. This preliminary arrangement ensures that as soon as one socket is opened, the other is automatically locked without requiring additional user action, preventing the jamming and inadvertent opening problems of prior art
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated locking element with protrusions acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two movable protective elements. This intermediary component mediates the interaction between the protective elements, ensuring that when one opens, the other is reliably locked through the mechanical engagement of protrusions, eliminating the reliability issues of direct interaction systems
2Object-affected harmful factors
If protection covers are designed to be opened only with correct plugs, then safety is improved, but small plugs can still expose other sockets by opening one cover
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-arranges the locking element with multiple protrusions positioned to engage with the movable protective element at different locations. When the protective element shifts even slightly due to a small plug insertion, the protrusions automatically engage to lock the other socket, preventing exposure before harmful effects can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is segmented into discrete protrusions on the locking element that can independently engage with the movable protective element. This segmentation allows the locking function to be distributed across multiple contact points, ensuring reliable locking even when only partial opening occurs due to small plug insertion
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric socket outlet, in particular an electric socket outlet adapter (11) comprising a housing (13), a socket zone that is located on the housing (13) and includes a first socket (15) and a second socket (17) for accommodating plugs of a first standard and a second standard, the first and second sockets being provided with first and second plug holes. The socket outlet (11) also comprises a first movable protective element (19) which can cover the first plug holes as well as a second movable protective element (21) which can cover the second plug holes. In the closed position, the first or the second protective element (19, 21) is mechanically locked when the other protective element (19, 21) is in the open position.