Travel Adapter Plug Layout With Nested Sliding Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing travel adapters have a large overall volume due to separate spaces occupied by first and second standard plug pins, resulting in an elongated and bulky design.
Innovation Solution
A travel adapter design where the first live and neutral wire plug pins are positioned on one side of the plug sleeve, with the ground plug pin on the opposite side, and a telescopic assembly that includes a push tab and sliding mechanism to minimize the overall length and volume by overlapping the space occupied by both sets of pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If first standard plug pins and second standard plug pins are arranged separately in the housing, then both plug pin functions are provided, but the overall length and volume of the travel adapter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The second standard plug pins are nested within the plug sleeve, which is positioned inside or adjacent to the first standard plug pins. The support carrying the second plug pins can slide within the plug sleeve, allowing the second plug pins to be stored within the space occupied by the first plug pins when not in use, significantly reducing the overall volume of the adapter.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional side-by-side arrangement of plug pins to a three-dimensional nested configuration. The plug sleeve and support structure utilize the depth dimension (Z-axis) to house the second plug pins within the spatial envelope of the first plug pins, converting a linear space requirement into a volumetric solution that reduces overall adapter length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If first standard plug pins and second standard plug pins are spaced apart in the length direction, then both plug types can be accommodated, but the housing becomes elongated
Solution Approach 1:
The second standard plug pins are nested within the plug sleeve structure that is positioned within the spatial envelope of the first standard plug pins. The support carrying the second plug pins slides within the plug sleeve, allowing both plug pin sets to occupy overlapping spatial regions rather than requiring separate linear spaces, thereby reducing the overall length of the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention resolves the length issue by utilizing the radial and depth dimensions instead of extending along the length direction. The plug sleeve and sliding support mechanism arrange the second plug pins in a configuration that overlaps with the first plug pins in the length direction while separating them in radial and depth dimensions, effectively reducing the housing length.
Data Source
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AI summary
A travel adapter is disclosed, which includes a housing and first standard plug pins and second standard plug pins mounted to the housing, the first standard plug pins including a first live wire plug pin, a first neutral wire plug pin, and a ground plug pin, the second standard plug pins including a plug sleeve slidably mounted to the housing in a Z-axis direction, where the first live wire plug pin and the first neutral wire plug pin are located on a first side of the plug sleeve, and the ground plug pin is located on a second side of the plug sleeve opposite to the first side. The travel adapter provided in the present application has the feature of compact structure. By arranging the first live wire plug pin and the first neutral wire plug pin of the first standard plug pin on the first side of the plug sleeve and arranging the ground plug pin on the second side of the plug sleeve, the space occupied by the first standard plug pin on the housing coincides with the space occupied by the second standard plug pin on the housing, reducing an overall length of the housing, reducing an overall volume of a product, and facilitating development of miniaturization of the product.