Split Lid Electrical Outlet Cover With Hinged Swingable Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional covers for electrical device boxes fail to prevent inadvertent access to electrical conductive elements while allowing for the insertion of electrical connectors, and they do not effectively protect against environmental conditions like rain, snow, and dust when in use.
Innovation Solution
A split lid electrical device cover with a base and a swingable lid section hinged to the base, featuring a biasing mechanism and a cord port that allows for the insertion of electrical connectors while maintaining environmental protection, which can be mounted in various orientations and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional cover is used to protect the electrical outlet, then environmental protection is improved, but access to the electrical outlet becomes blocked and cannot be easily opened during use
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is made swingable rather than fixed, allowing it to move between closed (protected) and open (accessible) states. The hinge mechanism enables the lid to swing open for connector insertion while maintaining environmental protection when closed, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is divided into a base and a separate lid portion that can move independently. This segmentation allows the lid to be opened for access while the base remains stationary and provides the mounting structure, enabling both protection and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is designed to allow connector insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but environmental protection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The swingable lid provides dynamic access: the lid can be opened to allow connector insertion, then closed to restore environmental protection. This resolves the contradiction by providing temporary access only when needed, rather than a permanent opening that would compromise protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cord port is pre-configured in the lid to guide cords through the cover structure. This preliminary design allows connectors to be inserted through the closed lid via the port, maintaining environmental protection while enabling ease of operation for connector insertion.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed cover is used, then environmental sealing is improved, but the ability to accommodate cord access while maintaining seal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The swingable lid with integrated cord port provides adaptability: the lid can swing to different positions while the cord port maintains sealing when closed. This dynamic design accommodates various cord access configurations while preserving environmental sealing, resolving the contradiction between sealing and adaptability.
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
Enables secure and protected access to electrical outlets by allowing connectors to be inserted while the cover is closed, effectively sealing out environmental factors and providing user-friendly operation.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing mechanism configured to bias the split lid to a closed position. The biasing mechanism may comprise a spring and a spring mount.
Data Source
AI summary
A split lid while-in-use electrical device cover is disclosed, including a base configured to couple to an electrical outlet, the electrical outlet being disposed within a wall, the base including an edge adjacent to the wall, and the edge including at least one hinge; a split lid configured to enclose the electrical outlet and including at least one swingable lid section, the swingable lid section joined to the base via the at least one hinge and swingable upon the at least one hinge; and a cord port in the split lid. The cord port may be a downwardly opening cord port or a rearwardly opening cord port. The device may also include a tab for opening and closing the device, a biasing mechanism for biasing the device closed, and a seam. Also disclosed is a method of protecting an electrical outlet using the split lid while-in-use electrical device cover.