Universal Plug Holder

Jonathan RajkowskiBenjamin Dean

Jonathan Fitzwater

Problem Statement

Electrical appliance users in the US are potential victims of short circuiting, injuries, fires, and possibly death caused by the misuse or exposure of the prongs of an electrical plug by dislodging it from the electrical socket

Statement of Purpose

The purpose is to create a mechanism which prevents the dislodging of a plug from an outlet

Justification

Approximately 4,900 electrical fires, 3,900 injuries, 360 deaths, and the loss of $995 million occur each year

The Universal Cord Holder can prevent these occurrences from happening

Survey Results

20% of survey participants were unaware that nearly 5,000 electrical fires occur each year due to plugs

100% utilize appliances with plugs on a regular basis

89% stated they have found a plug partially dislodged from the socket

71% would be willing to purchase a solution to the problem

33% would spend 6-10 dollars on this solution

Existing Solutions

Patent No. 8,021,174- Cord Securing Cover for an Electrical Outlet◦Utilizes a hinged cover over each outlet which

contains a single prong that holds the plug in place when the cord is pulled

Existing Solutions (cont.)

Patent No. 3,838,383- Device for Preventing Disengagement of Electrical Cord from Wall Outlet◦A stopper is held in place next to the

existing plugs on an outlet face and the cord is looped into a hole in the metal prongs which functions to keep the plug connected to the wall when the cord is pulled

Requirements/Specifications

Needs to hold plug in wall when force is unintentionally put onto it

Needs to be cost efficient in order to be purchased by anyone

Needs to be safe and easy to useMust fit regular faceplate dimensionsMust hold twenty pounds of force

Decision Matrix

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Potential Cost 2 2 4 1 2 2 4 2 4 3 6 2 4 1 2 2 4 2 4

Durability 3 1 3 2 6 2 6 2 6 3 9 2 6 3 9 2 6 3 9

Ease of Use 3 3 9 2 6 3 9 1 3 2 6 2 6 2 6 3 9 2 6

Appeal 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2

Potential Effectiveness 4 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 3 12 1 4 3 12

Safety 2 0 0 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 2 4 2 4 2 4

                                       

                                       

                                       

TOTAL     27   30   35   28   37   31   35   29   37 

Top 3 Solutions

Two hooks are attached to side of faceplate to hold plug in by holding cord

Top 3 Solutions (continued)

Three prongs “snap” the plug into place

Top 3 Solutions (continued)

Plastic clamps encase the plug and hold in into the socket

Chosen Solution

Sketches

Prototype Construction

Prototype Construction (continued)

Consumer Instruction Manual

Universal Plug Holder Instruction Manual Step 1: Shut off electricity for chosen outlet.

Step 2: Remove previous faceplate.

Step 3: Screw hooks into new faceplate.

Step 4: Install new faceplate.

Step 5: Plug appliance into electrical outlet.

Step 6: Place wire in the hook.

Testing Procedure

Test Procedures

1. Attach faceplate to test site. (one-hooked) 2. Hook force sensor to faceplate hook. 3. Pull with steadily increasing force, watching the amount of force. 4. Once the faceplate breaks, record the value. 5. Remove broken faceplate from site. 6. Repeat steps 1.-4. using new faceplate on lower bank. 7. Attach faceplate with both hooks to test site. 8. Choose the ¼” two prong cord. 9. Wrap cord firmly around force sensor handle. 10. Plug cord into outlet/ test site. 11. Hook cord around hook of product. 12. Pull with steady, increasing force until the allotted force ( 20 lbs.) is reached of the product fail

point, meaning the cord is unplugged from the outlet. 13. Record maximum value of force required to cause failure, or that it exceeds the designated

value. 14. Unplug cord, unwrap from the force sensor. 15. Repeat steps 8.-14. for the other six cords.

TESTINGSuccess

TESTING

TESTINGFailure

TESTING

Test Results

ControlTest Number Plug Length (inches) Number of Prongs Wire Thickness (inches) Trial One (lbs.) Trial Two Trial Three Average5 1 5/8 2 5/16" 6 8 6 6.671 1 2 1/4"x1/8" 8 5 6 6.332 1 7/8 2 1/4" 5 5 5 56 1 3/4 2 3/8" 6.5 7 6 6.54 1 3/4 3 5/16" 7.5 7.25 7.5 7.423 1 3/8 3 5/16"x1/8" 9.5 9.5 10 9.677 2 1/4 3 3/8" 9 8.5 8.5 8.67

With ProductTest Number Plug Length (inches) Number of Prongs Wire Thickness (inches) Trial One(Ibs.) Trial Two Trial Three Average3 1 5/8 2 5/16" max* max* max* max*4 1 2 1/4"x1/8" 14 13 12 136 1 7/8 2 1/4" max* max* max* max*2 1 3/4 2 3/8" max* max* max* max*5 1 3/4 3 5/16" max* max* max* max*7 1 3/8 3 5/16"x1/8" max* max* max* max*1 2 1/4 3 3/8" max* max* max* max*

Breaking Point (lbs.)Upper Hook 50+Lower Hook 50+

Breaking Point for Faceplate

Secure Outlet Faceplate Data 5/4/2012

*Due to the high breaking point of our product, we have established the maximum force required for the success of our product to be 20 lbs.

Extraneous Issues

Can’t hold plug lengths less than 1 ½ inches

Can’t fit wire thickness of more than a half inch

Hook does deform slightly (1/16 of an inch) with repeated testing at 50 lbs. of force

With continuous force, faceplate pulls away from the wall

Data Analysis

All but one type of wire was tested successfully when using the product

Wire plug needs to be longer than 1 1/2” in order to properly work

Some deformation does occur to the faceplate, but goes back to normal after a few moments

Product takes 50 lbs. of force to completely break

Cost of Materials

2 hooks= one dollarFaceplate= 56 centsCost of product should be around $5.56,

yielding $4 profit per item.This costs less money than the amount

the majority of the survey takers said they would pay.

Conclusion

Testing was a success in finding the points at which the product works and fails

It was determined that it works for almost all plugs and will remain sturdy for continual use within 50 lbs. of force

If more time was allotted, product would have been altered so that the force was on the screw rather than on the faceplate

Product was successful in solving problem

Gantt Chart

Task Assigned to

2/15/201

2

2/1

6/2012

2/17/201

2

2/21/201

2

2/22/201

2

2/23/201

2

2/24/201

2

2/27/201

2

2/28/2012

2/29/2012

3/1/2012

3/5/2012

3/6/2012-

3/9/2012

3/12/2012-3/16/2012

3/19/2012-3/23/2012

3/26/2012-3/30/2012

4/9/2012-

4/13/2012

4/16/2012-4/120/20

12

4/23/2012-4/27/2012

4/30/2012-5/4/2

012

5/7/2012-

5/11/2012

5/14/2012-5/18/2012

5/21/2012-5/25/2012

Possible Problems All

Finalize Top 3 Problems All

Entertainment Chair Research Ben

Rechargeable Heating Thermos Research Jon R

Anti-Unplug Socket Cover Research Jon F

Finalize Problem All

Further Anti-Unplug Socket Cover Research All

Create Problem Statement All

Anti-Unplug Socket Cover Market Research All

Brainstorming Solutions All

Refining Solutions (Decision Matrix) All

Selecting Solution (Sketches) All

Technical Drawings All

Business Plan (Materials, Cost, Tools, Etc.) All

Plan Prototype All

Build Prototype All

Develop Testing Procedures All

Test Prototype All

Improve Prototype All

Retest Prototype All

Determine Conclusion All

Documentation and Presentation All

References

http://www.arkansaselectricenergylaw.com/tags/electricity/

http://www.picturesof.net/pages/100112-052670-735042.html

http://students.clipart.com