I’m generally interested in the type of work that packaging engineers do. I enjoy unboxing a product and taking in how they were able to take a product and all it’s parts, fit it into a box that must be fit precisely into larger boxes, which must fit precisely into shipping containers, and all the while successfully navigate all the hazards that can occur during shipping.
Last night, it was with this wonder that I opened up a new George Foreman Grill that was purchased to replace my old one, which I had broken. Upon opening the box, I saw something that left me curious; and as the hours have ticked away since then, and I have pondered the reasons behind it, it has left me perplexed, confounded, and flummoxed.
Why does the power plug have a tie-wrap wrapped between the holes of the two prongs? What purpose does it serve? It’s expected to be cut before first use, but why is it there in the first place? Does it help prevent the prongs from getting bent apart in manufacturing and transit? If so, why not use a protector that also prevents the prongs from being bent together, which this tie-wrap would not do? If it needs protection during shipping, why pack it so close to the top, without adequate protection, and I really don’t see what protection that little tie-wrap provides.
If you know or have a theory about why that tie-wrap is there and the purpose that it serves, please let me know.
Something in the assembly / packing line needs an easy way to grab hold of that plug. That’s my guess.
Maybe it’s not for packaging, rather the manufacturing process. This way, the bloke in China only has to pick one piece from the supply basket when installing the prongs.
Plugs in England usually have a plastic covering you have to remove. This is to ensure you read the little card underneath the plastic that tells you about how it’s wired. Up until a few years ago, when you bought something that needed a plug, you would have to buy the plug separately and wire it up yourself!
It could be a visual status indicator of some sort. We use VSI’s all the time where I work, usually to indicate that some sort of inspection has taken place. Maybe they put that on the prongs to indicate that the unit has been tested ans passed QA inspetion.
Dude, it’s a safety thing. Keeps the plug from being unintentionally plugged in. It’s sort of a Lock-Out/Tag-Out device.
I believe it is there so that during manufacture the appliance can not be plugged it.
After looking at the photographs and reading everyone else’s comments, I have a slightly different take on the reason that the tie wrap is there between the prongs.
It indicates whether or not the purchaser has attempted to use the product, either with or without removal of the rest of the packaging. Thus the presence or absence of this tie would indicate whether or not the product could be returned for a refund as “unused”.
Aside from that, the tie wrap between the prongs of the power plug prevents the unwary from simply attempting to plug the item into the wall and serves as a small reminder to first think about removing that tie… as well as all of the other packaging. Of course, this begs the question as to whether or not a user who even thinks of attempting to plug in such a utensil without removing all the packaging in the first place is actually responsible enough to own and operate said utensil. But that is not for me to say.
Thanks everyone for the theories. They all make sense in some way, but some more than others. I have emailed George Foreman Grill customer support to see if they can give me a definitive answer.
Joe/Jeff: The tie wrap is pretty tight, which indicates to me that it was put on when the prongs were in their final positions. Additionally, and I have no real knowledge of this, I would think that the plug production is automated since the same plug (with different length cords) are used on all American-bound products.
Victor: I thought of that, but usually there is some indication of inspection like the # of the inspector, or “Passed” or something to indicate to the potentially confounded end-user that it was inspected.
Tim/Steve: That’s interesting, and does make sense. However, I assume they have to test the product in its finished state, so I assume they have to plug it in in some way. This tie wrap would be applied after that point, which I would assume, is the final stop before packaging.
ignatz: I like the idea of a “used” indicator. It could be applied after the testing of the product and would indicate that the end-user probably used the product, although in my case, if I wasn’t so curious about it, I would have removed it as soon as I removed the product from the box, and I still haven’t used it.
I believe that multiple needs are met with this tie wrap. In
addition to solutions listed,I believe it helps deter in-store
testing of the unit.But what I am even more curious about is
why do plugs have holes in them at all?
It’s a plug in protector, I believe it’s there to prevent “demonstration” in store. So all customers will receive the same brand new “virgin” device.
Plugs have holes in them because:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/two-flat-prong-plug…
I heard back from customer service, and got this reply:
Again, not really sure what sort of protection they provide, but there ya’ go.
serves more than one purpose including idiots who allow children to open boxes from getting Kentuckey Fried Kids
Hey Josh,
I’m not entirely clear on why the tie is on the plugs, but I bought a Black and Decker blender today from the Super Target down the street from my house in Madison, WI and it had them, too. Here’s some pictures:
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
I’m not sure how much this adds, but I thought of this when I saw it and thought I’d throw it up.
The answers no far make no sense. I have bought appliances which had a plastic "protector" on the prongs, easily removable and easy to put back also, so it cannot serve as a usage indicator. Others have had the tie wrap.