Socket Contact Structure With Sliding Isolation Against Electric Shock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sockets are prone to electric shock accidents, especially in environments with water vapor, and their anti-electric shock and waterproofing features are inadequate, leading to inconvenience and potential short circuits.

Innovation Solution

An anti-electric shock structure featuring oppositely arranged conductive contact pieces with sliding mechanisms and elastic pieces, along with an insulating shell and guide rails, which prevents electric shocks by ensuring conductive pieces remain disconnected with non-standard objects and provides effective waterproofing through inclined chutes and partitioned cavities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If movable baffle plates are arranged at outer jacks to prevent electric shock from misplug, then anti-electric shock performance is improved, but plugging and unplugging becomes difficult and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-electric shock performanceVSAvoidplugging and unplugging convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic piece is pre-configured in a compressed state within the housing, storing elastic potential energy. When a plug is inserted, the elastic piece automatically extends to make contact with the conductive piece, establishing electrical connection before the plug fully engages. This preliminary action ensures safety without requiring manual operation of baffle plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic piece transitions from a static compressed state to a dynamic extended state during plugging, and reverses during unplugging. This dynamic mechanism automatically adapts to the plugging/unplugging cycle, providing continuous electrical connection when needed and automatic disconnection when the plug is removed, eliminating the need for fixed or manually operated baffle plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If waterproof boxes are configured to cover jacks when not in use, then waterproof performance is improved, but plugging and unplugging becomes inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof performanceVSAvoidplugging and unplugging convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A waterproof film is stretched across the interior of the housing, forming a flexible barrier that seals the electrical components. This film remains intact during normal use and automatically conforms to the space available, providing continuous waterproof protection without requiring rigid covers that would interfere with plug insertion and removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution effectively prevents electric shocks from misplugged objects and ensures safe operation even in wet conditions by maintaining disconnection with non-standard conductive objects and providing automatic water drainage, enhancing user safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

Each conductive contact piece includes a jack part and an elastic piece part. The elastic piece part is connected to the front end of the jack part and can extend to the front of the jack part.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The sliding mechanism includes a correction sliding block and an insulating pushing piece. The front side of the insulating pushing piece is pressed against the elastic piece parts. The rear side of the insulating pushing piece is pressed against the correction sliding block. The correction sliding block is arranged on the guide rails of the insulating shell in a sliding manner.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4037110B1Anti-electric shock structure and socket
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 ZHENJIANG ELECTRICS (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP4037110B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4037110B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4037110B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An anti-electric shock structure comprises two conductive contact pieces (1) that are arranged oppositely, a sliding mechanism, and conductive pieces (4) corresponding to the two conductive contact pieces (1), wherein each conductive contact piece (1) comprises a jack part (11) and an elastic piece part (12); the elastic piece part (12) is connected to the front end of the jack part (11 ) and can extend to the front of the jack part (11 ); in a non-conductive state, the two conductive pieces (4) are respectively arranged in front of the elastic piece parts (12) of the two conductive contact pieces at intervals; a first socket (111) is formed in the jack part (11); the front side of the sliding mechanism is pressed against the elastic piece parts (12) of the two conductive contact pieces; the rear side of the sliding mechanism extends to the position below the first socket (111) of one of the conductive contact pieces;and when a plug is plugged into the first sockets (111), one plug blade of the plug extrudes the sliding mechanism to push the two elastic piece parts (12), so that the two elastic piece parts can touch the conductive pieces (4).