Tamper Resistant Shutter for Electrical Receptacle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Common electrical receptacles lack protective features to prevent foreign objects from being inserted into their openings, leading to potential electric shock or electrocution hazards, as existing shutter mechanisms can open when a foreign object is inserted into only one opening, exposing users to shock hazards.
Innovation Solution
A protective shutter mechanism within the electrical receptacle frame, comprising two sliding shutter members with ramp members and resilient components, ensures that both hot and neutral openings are blocked unless plug blades are inserted simultaneously, preventing foreign objects from entering and reducing the risk of electric shock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring element pushes a plastic chock block element to shutter the openings, then the receptacle openings are blocked to prevent foreign object insertion, but the shutters will open when a foreign object is inserted into only one opening, exposing users to shock hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate shutter members (first shutter member and second shutter member) into a unified mechanism where both must be actuated simultaneously to open the receptacle openings. The resilient members connect both shutters to a common frame, creating an integrated system where force applied to one shutter is distributed to both, ensuring that neither shutter opens unless both are pressed at the same time with sufficient force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces resilient members as intermediary elements between the shutter members and the frame. These resilient members act as mediators that transmit and distribute force between the two shutter members, ensuring that force applied to one shutter is communicated to the other, thereby preventing unilateral opening and requiring simultaneous dual activation.
2Ease of operation
If shutter members are made resilient to allow opening, then legitimate plug insertion is enabled, but foreign objects can potentially trigger shutter opening and create hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent requires excessive action in the form of simultaneous force application to both shutter members to trigger opening. This partial or excessive action threshold ensures that normal plug insertion (which naturally applies force to both sides simultaneously) works smoothly, while foreign object insertion (which typically affects only one side) cannot trigger opening, as the force is distributed through the resilient members to both shutters.
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 mechanism effectively prevents the insertion of foreign objects into electrical receptacle openings by ensuring both openings must be engaged simultaneously, thereby reducing the risk of electric shock and electrocution hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a first resilient member disposed between the first shutter member and the frame and a second resilient member disposed between the second shutter member and the frame
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments are directed to a apparatus that includes a frame and a shutter device located within the frame, the shutter device being configured to simultaneously block openings for at least a hot connector element and a neutral connector element of an electrical receptacle when forces are unequally applied to the shutter device through openings corresponding to the at least hot and neutral connector elements.