Configurable Wall Plate Connectors for Terminal Alignment Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall plates lack functionality and pose health and safety risks due to variations in electrical outlet terminal placements, leading to potential misalignment and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A configurable wall plate system with adjustable terminal connectors and power rails that can be aligned with various in-wall device terminal configurations, ensuring secure and safe electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wall plates are used to cover electrical outlet holes, then aesthetic coverage is provided, but functionality remains very limited and safety risks arise from terminal misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The wall plate incorporates adjustable terminal connectors that can be repositioned along the power rails to match different terminal configurations of in-wall devices. This dynamic adjustability ensures reliable electrical connections while maintaining safety across various device types, resolving the contradiction between limited functionality and safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall plate system provides multiple functions: aesthetic coverage, electrical power transmission, and adaptive connection to different device terminal configurations. By integrating power rails, adjustable terminal connectors, and device mounting capabilities, the wall plate transforms from a purely decorative element to a multi-functional safety component.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed terminal connectors are used in wall plates, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to various electrical outlet terminal placements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal connection system is segmented into modular components: power rails, adjustable terminal connectors, and connection points. This segmentation allows the terminal connectors to be independently positioned along the power rails to match different terminal configurations, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal connectors are designed to be adjustable along the power rails, transforming the connection system from fixed to dynamic. This enables the wall plate to adapt to various terminal placements without requiring multiple specialized wall plate designs, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving adaptability.
3Manufacturing precision
If wall plates are designed for specific terminal configurations, then connection precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple wall plate variants
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal wall plate design incorporates adjustable terminal connectors that can be configured to match multiple terminal placements. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized wall plate variants while maintaining precise terminal alignment through the adjustable connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal connectors are made adjustable along the power rails, allowing a single wall plate design to achieve precise alignment with different terminal configurations. This dynamic adjustment capability replaces the need for multiple fixed-design wall plate variants, reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A wall plate system having a wall plate adapted to accommodate one or more devices that draw power from power terminals of an in-wall device and may comprise wall plate connectors to couple with power rails in a configurable frame. The configurable frame to attach to the in-wall device. the configurable frame comprising: one or more power support members coupled with terminal connectors to provide a force towards the in-wall device to maintain electrical connections between contacts of the terminal connectors and the power terminals: two or more power rails electrically connected to the contacts of the terminal connectors: and two or more contacts coupled with one or more power support members. the two or more contacts to couple with wall plate connectors in response to connection of the wall plate to the configurable frame.