Adjustable Partition Communications Box for Turf and Track

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication boxes for athletic fields are not interchangeable between artificial turf and track surfaces, leading to confusion, economic loss, and time delays during installation, as they require distinct covers that cannot be exchanged.

Innovation Solution

A communications box design that accommodates both artificial turf and track covers, featuring an adjustable partition and cover bracket system, allowing the same box to be used under either surface with appropriate covers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate communication boxes are used for artificial turf and track surfaces, then each box can be optimized for its specific surface type, but construction confusion occurs and installation time increases due to misplacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrect box selectionVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communication box is designed with a universal base structure that can accommodate both artificial turf covers and track surface covers. The base includes adjustable partition means and cover retaining means that can be positioned to suit different cover types, allowing a single box design to serve multiple surface applications without misplacement errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition means within the communication box are made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing repositioning to accommodate different cover thicknesses and types. The cover retaining means can also be adjusted in position along the top edge, enabling the same box to dynamically adapt to different installation requirements for turf versus track surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate communication boxes are used for artificial turf and track surfaces, then each box can be optimized for its specific surface type, but economic loss occurs due to digging up and replacing misplaced boxes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrect box selectionVSAvoideconomic loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The communication box is designed with a universal base structure that can accommodate both artificial turf covers and track surface covers. The base includes adjustable partition means and cover retaining means that can be positioned to suit different cover types, allowing a single box design to serve multiple surface applications without misplacement errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding a communication box when it is mistakenly installed for the wrong surface type, the design allows recovery and reuse by simply exchanging covers and adjusting internal components. This eliminates the economic loss associated with removing and replacing boxes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If separate communication boxes with non-interchangeable covers are used, then each cover can be optimized for its specific surface type, but the inability to exchange covers complicates the installation process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover compatibilityVSAvoidcover installation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The communication box is designed with a universal base structure that can accommodate both artificial turf covers and track surface covers. The base includes adjustable partition means and cover retaining means that can be positioned to suit different cover types, allowing a single box design to serve multiple surface applications without misplacement errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition means within the communication box are made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing repositioning to accommodate different cover thicknesses and types. The cover retaining means can also be adjusted in position along the top edge, enabling the same box to dynamically adapt to different installation requirements for turf versus track surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8016149B2Communications box

Publication Date: 2011.09.13 SPORTSFIELD INTELLECTUAL LLC

AI summary

A communications box for use beneath the surface of a track or artificial turf in an athletic field. The communications box has includes a base two major sides, and two minor sides. A partition is located between the major sides and generally parallel to the minor sides. The partition is secured to partition brackets. A cover bracket is located below the top edge of the major sides. Stud nuts are affixed to the outside of the major sides and minor sides. Stud bolts which engage the stud nuts retain the cover bracket and the partition bracket in place. Bolt holes for the stud bolts in the cover bracket are in pairs to permit the partition and the cover bracket to be raised and lowered for use with a turf cover under artificial turf and with a track cover under a track.