Tamper-Resistant Shutter Assembly for Electrical Receptacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical receptacles lack effective safety measures to prevent unintentional or undesired insertion of conductive objects, which can lead to electrical shock.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-resistant shutter assembly for electrical receptacles, comprising a base, rotating shutters, and a slider assembly with blocking portions, ensures that only proper electrical plugs can access the receptacle contacts by requiring both shutters to be in the correct position for access, thereby preventing single probe member insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional open receptacle design is used, then ease of operation is improved, but safety against unintentional insertion of conductive objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter assembly performs preliminary protective action by maintaining shutters in a closed position that blocks access to electrical contacts before any conductive object can be inserted. The shutters are pre-positioned to cover the openings, and only move to an open position when properly actuated by a correctly oriented plug, thereby preventing unintentional insertion before safety conditions are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the external environment and the electrical contacts. It mediates access by requiring specific conditions (correct plug orientation and insertion force) to transition from a blocking state to an accessible state, thereby preventing direct exposure to electrical contacts while allowing legitimate plug insertion.
2Reliability
If shutter assembly with multiple slider members is used, then safety against single probe insertion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple slider members into a single integrated slider assembly that performs the functions of what would traditionally require multiple separate sliders. This single slider member incorporates blocking portions that interact with both shutters simultaneously, reducing the total number of moving parts while maintaining the dual-shutter safety mechanism that prevents single probe insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The single slider member is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a blocking mechanism and a coordination element between the two shutters. It universally handles the safety requirements for both openings by having blocking portions that can engage with either shutter, thereby replacing what would traditionally require multiple specialized slider members.
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter assembly is for an electrical receptacle. The electrical receptacle has a base. The shutter assembly includes a first shutter and a second shutter each structured to be coupled to the base and rotate between a FIRST position and a SECOND position, and a slider assembly having a number of slider members each structured to be coupled to the base. The number of slider members includes only one single slider member structured to slide between a THIRD position and a FOURTH position and engage each of the first shutter and the second shutter. Rotation of both of the first shutter and the second shutter from the FIRST position to the SECOND position cooperatively drives the one single slider member from the THIRD position to the FOURTH position in order to provide access through the base.