Trailer Light Plug Cover with Elastic Strap Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plug covers for vehicle trailer lights tend to get lost when the plug is connected to the vehicle, as they are not securely held to the cord, making them difficult to find and reuse when the plug is disconnected.
Innovation Solution
A cover with a strap and a cover-retainer structure that snaps onto the plug's cord, featuring an elastic loop and a resilient C-shaped clip-on connector, ensuring the cover remains attached to the cord when the plug is connected and can be easily reattached when disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple plug cover is used, then the manufacturing cost is low and the structure is simple, but the cover gets lost when the plug is connected to the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the plug cover with a retention strap and snap connector system into a single integrated unit. The strap wraps around the plug cord and the snap connector attaches to the plug housing, creating a merged assembly that prevents the cover from separating or getting lost during vehicle connection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention strap is nested within the plug assembly structure, wrapping around the cord and integrating with the plug housing. The cover itself is nested within the strap-retainer system, creating a hierarchical nested structure where each component contains or supports the next, ensuring the cover remains attached to the plug throughout use.
2Reliability
If a secure retention system is added to prevent the cover from getting lost, then the cover retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system is segmented into distinct functional components: a strap for wrapping around the cord, a snap connector for attaching to the plug housing, and the cover itself. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity. The modular nature of the segmented design prevents excessive complexity by clearly defining the role of each part.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap connector automatically engages with the plug housing when the strap is wrapped around the cord, providing self-retention without requiring additional fastening steps. The elastic or resilient nature of the strap allows it to self-adjust and maintain tension, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms. This self-service capability reduces device complexity while ensuring reliable retention.
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 solution securely holds the cover to the cord, preventing it from getting lost and ensuring it is readily available to cover the plug when needed, thus addressing the issue of conventional covers being misplaced.
Implementation Method 1
the end of the strap has an elastic loop, such as a circular loop or other suitable shape that fits over the plug, in order to keep the loop around the cord
Implementation Method 2
the top of the cover includes an elongated resilient C-shaped clip-on connector, which is sized and configured to securely connect the cover to the cord next to the plug
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that includes an elastic sleeve; an integrally formed top cover that completely (or at least substantially completely) covers one end of the elastic sleeve; an integrally formed elongated clamp feature that extends outward from across a top surface of the top cover, wherein the elongated clamp feature has a C-shaped cross section; an integrally formed elongated strap that is connected at a proximal end to an edge of top cover and that has an elastic loop formed at a distal end of the elongated strap.