Spring-Loaded Terminal Outlet Assembly for Tight Space Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and replacement of electrical outlets are challenging due to the narrow spaces between the outlet box and the outlet, posing risks of electric shock and requiring time-consuming connections and removals, with existing solutions being unsatisfactory and often requiring specialized boxes.
Innovation Solution
An electrically charged outlet assembly with a rectangular outlet box featuring multiple apertures and terminal fasteners that allow power wires to pass through, enabling easy connection and disconnection of neutral, hot, and ground wires, allowing the outlet to snap in and out without direct wire connection, made from plastic or steel using injection molding or metal stamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical outlets are installed in narrow spaces, then the outlet can be securely mounted, but the installer faces difficulty connecting wires to terminals and increased risk of electric shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spring-loaded terminal mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the wire and the outlet connection. The spring-loaded terminal automatically engages with the wire when the outlet is inserted into the box, eliminating the need for manual wire-to-terminal connections in tight spaces. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing safe automatic connection (improving reliability) while requiring minimal installer intervention (improving ease of operation).
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet is pre-configured with spring-loaded terminals that are ready to engage wires automatically upon insertion into the outlet box. This preliminary preparation of the connection mechanism eliminates the need for time-consuming manual wire connections during installation, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining connection reliability through the pre-engineered spring mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional electrical outlets are removed from tight spaces, then the outlet can be replaced, but the process is time-consuming and difficult due to limited wire play
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical outlet system into a modular design where the outlet unit with spring-loaded terminals is separated from the outlet box. This segmentation allows the outlet to be quickly removed and replaced as a single unit without manipulating wires in tight spaces, thereby improving ease of replacement while minimizing time loss through the simple snap-in/snap-out mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded terminals are designed to automatically disengage from wires when the outlet is pulled from the box, eliminating the need for manual wire disconnection during replacement. This self-service feature allows installers to quickly remove and replace outlets without time-consuming wire manipulation, directly addressing the contradiction between ease of replacement and installation time.
3Ease of operation
If specialized electrical outlet boxes are used to facilitate installation, then wire connection becomes easier, but the cost and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the outlet box to facilitate wire connection, the patent places the intermediary spring-loaded terminal mechanism directly on the outlet itself. This approach maintains the simplicity of the standard outlet box while achieving easy wire connection through the outlet's built-in spring mechanism, thereby improving ease of wire connection without increasing box complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the complex spring-loaded terminal mechanism only at the specific location where wire connection is needed (on the outlet terminals), rather than making the entire outlet box complex. This localized application of complexity resolves the contradiction by providing easy wire connection exactly where needed while keeping the overall system and box design simple.
Data Source
AI summary
An outlet box in which the electrical supply is directed to slots located within the periphery of the box is provided. The slots are configured to allow positive, negative and ground connection screws of an outlet to merely occupy each respective slot to be in electrical communication with the electrical supply.