Modular Power Strip

By, William Wise, Nick Hagan,

Evan Kersey
Element A
Problem Statement
Can we make an all purpose power strip that is easily modifiable, as well as
adjustable to fit in the provided space, and be taken anywhere while still being
useable.
 Problem Background
The power stip (or surge prtector) has been a staple of electrical engineering
since its creation in 1972. The power strips purpose is for multiple things to be
plugged into just one wall outlet, allowing for more things that need power to
be used at once. The basic idea of a power strip is it plug into a normal wall
outlet and branches out into multiple outlets (usually 8).
Validation of Problem
We asked in a survey of 40 people do they own a power strip, and do they
believe that the conventional power strip could be improved upon

87.5% said they used a power strip regularly

85% said that the power strip can be innovated

Many electrical engineers and science communicator Greg Landen, have

stated that although the inner workings of the power strip are fine as is, the
design of the product can be greatly improved.
 Existing Products
Other products exist that modify the design of the original power strip but
none that are fully doing what we are trying to accomplish.

Examples include: The global electric flexington line of powerstips Patent #US
34268 D7, And Global 6 outlet power strip US 6586849 B2

Flexington power Strip Globe 6 outlet power strip

Element B documentation and analysis of prior
attempts
As the power strip is such a popular item there have been many companies
who have attempted and some who succeeded in creating advances for the
power strip. Some became magnetic and could stick to walls, and others could
pivot. From this research, we were cemented in our mindset that we cant
really improve the way power strips work but we must focus on the design
aspect of the power strip.
What we have learned from prior solutions
We found that multiple companies in the past have attempted to improve
upon the Power strip. Namely companies that would make a power stip that
would pivot and twist at will. However one company YOUMO developed a
modular power strip that shared some similarities to our product, however
the YOUMO was a failed kickstarter product and failed registering a patent in
their native Germany.
Existing/ competing products
Globe electric flexington line of outlets -24.99

Can flex and bend to use of customer

No modular options and expensive

AmazonBasics 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip 2-Pack, 200 Joule - Black -$10.89

Basic power strip, cheap and effective

No flexibility or modular options

Element C presentation and justification of solution
design requirements
-The design specifications were taken from many of the reviews and answers
from surveys that called for adjustability in the modules, as well as flexibility in
shape of the strip in order for it to be able to fit in different places. Many
surveyors expressed a desire to buy our product.

Parameters

-Modular -Flexible -Portable -Aesthetically pleasing

Gantt chart
Bibliography
Chandler, Nathan. How Smart Power Strips Work. HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 27 July 2009,

science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/smart-power-strip.htm. Accessed 17 Sept. 2017.

Klijn, J. Ongoing 2b/3a inhibition In Myocardial infarction Evaluation. Http://Isrctn.org/>, May 2012, doi:10.1186/isrctn06195297.

Posted by Greg Laden on March 28, 2009. The Problem With Power Strips. Greg Laden's Blog, 28 Mar. 2009,

scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/03/28/the-problem-with-power-strips/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2017.

Bibliography
https://www.google.com/patents/US2199334

https://www.google.com/patents/US4689830