Adjustable Bracket With Slidable Rails For Electrical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting brackets for electrical devices lack flexibility and adjustability to accommodate varying distances between studs, leading to limitations in securely positioning electrical boxes and devices.
Innovation Solution
A bracket design featuring interlocking legs with parallel rails that are slidable relative to each other, allowing for adjustable distance between end portions to accommodate different stud spacings, and a method of forming elongated members with deflectable portions to create rails and tabs for secure coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length bracket is used to mount electrical devices, then the bracket structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate varying distances between studs
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates slidable rails that allow the distance between end portions to be dynamically adjusted. The rails can move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, enabling the bracket to adapt to different stud spacings while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is divided into multiple segments including end portions, rails, and connecting portions. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the rail positions while keeping each component simple in design, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bracket is designed to span various distances between studs, then it enhances positioning flexibility, but may increase material requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket utilizes thin, deflectable rails that can be bent during installation to achieve different lengths. This allows the bracket to span various distances between studs without requiring multiple brackets of different sizes, thereby reducing overall material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the rails is changed from rigid to flexible during installation, allowing them to be deflected to the required length. This parameter change enables a single bracket design to accommodate multiple stud spacings without increasing material requirements.
3Ease of operation
If traditional mounting brackets are used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but flexibility and adjustability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rails are pre-formed with connecting portions that include tabs and slots for easy assembly. This preliminary preparation of connection features simplifies the manufacturing process while enabling easy adjustment of the bracket length during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design allows for self-adjustment during installation through the slidable rail mechanism. The interlocking tabs and slots enable workers to adjust the bracket length without requiring specialized tools or complex assembly procedures, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket for supporting at least one electrical device includes a pair of legs engaging one another in an interlocking manner. Each of the legs includes an end portion and a pair of rails connected to the associated end portion, and each end portion is configured to be secured to a support member. Each pair of rails extends from the associated end portion in a parallel orientation, and the rails are laterally spaced apart from one another. The pair of rails of one leg is coupled to the pair of rails of the other leg and the pair of rails of the one leg is slidable relative to the pair of rails of the other leg to change the distance between the end portions.