Telescoping Outlet Cover with Expandable Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-use outlet covers are bulky, prone to damage, and unattractive due to their fixed depth, which interferes with plug insertion and protrudes significantly from the wall, making them unsuitable for aesthetic and functional purposes.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable depth telescoping cover assembly that retracts to a shallow depth when not in use and expands to accommodate plug insertion, featuring interlocking telescoping members with curled portions and stoppers, allowing for easy expansion and collapse, and can be configured for various electrical devices using removable adapter plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover base is made deep enough to allow the lid to close without interference with the plug, then the outlet can be used while the cover is closed, but the cover protrudes significantly from the wall and becomes bulky and unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The cover base is designed with an expandable structure that transitions from a shallow retracted state to an expanded state with sufficient depth. The expandable base includes collapsible walls that can be compressed to reduce depth and expanded to increase depth, allowing the cover to adapt its depth dynamically based on whether the outlet is in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The base walls are divided into multiple collapsible sections that can independently compress and expand. Each wall includes inner and outer panels connected by hinges, creating segmented structures that can collapse inward to reduce depth or expand outward to provide sufficient depth for plug accommodation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cover is made with fixed depth to simplify structure, then manufacturing is easier, but the cover cannot adapt to different usage states (in-use vs. not in-use)
Solution Approach 1:
The cover incorporates spring-loaded mechanisms and hinge connections that enable the base walls to automatically expand or collapse based on the presence of a plug. The springs provide the force necessary to expand the base when needed, while the hinge connections allow smooth transitions between expanded and collapsed states.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable base uses spring mechanisms that automatically activate when a plug is inserted, causing the base to expand without requiring manual intervention. When the plug is removed, the springs automatically cause the base to collapse back to its shallow state, providing self-regulating depth adjustment.
3Length of stationary object
If the cover is made shallow to reduce protrusion, then aesthetics improve and damage risk decreases, but the lid cannot close properly when a plug is inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The base depth is made dynamic through expandable walls that can adjust their depth based on usage requirements. When a plug is inserted, the walls expand to provide sufficient depth for the lid to close properly. When not in use, the walls collapse to maintain a shallow profile for aesthetics and reduced damage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible walls are designed with nested inner and outer panels that can slide relative to each other during expansion and collapse. The inner panels nest within the outer panels when collapsed, and expand outward when needed, creating a compact nested structure that transitions to an expanded protective structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A telescoping in-use cover plate that includes at least two inter-fitting members that enable the cover to be retracted to the wall when not in use and expanded to increase the depth of the outlet cover and allow a plug to be plugged into the outlet when the cover is closed. Specific implementations allow for vertical and horizontal mounting and installation, knockouts and/or adapter plates for conversion to alternate electrical configurations.