Alignment Plate for Ganged Wall Control Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-gang installations of wall-mounted control devices like keypads, the buttons of neighboring devices often fail to align perfectly, leading to an unsightly appearance, especially when the faceplate does not provide spacing between buttons.
Innovation Solution
An alignment plate with vertically aligned tabs and recesses is used to removably attach and align adjacent control devices, ensuring their buttons are flush with the faceplate and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing, flat surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If control devices are mounted using traditional mounting brackets with oval holes, then installation is simple and quick, but the buttons of neighboring devices become misaligned creating an unsightly appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment plate as an intermediary component between the mounting bracket and the control devices. This alignment plate features precisely positioned recesses that guide the mounting screws, ensuring that multiple control devices are installed at the correct spacing and alignment. The alignment plate acts as a mediator that transforms the simple but imprecise traditional mounting process into a precise alignment system without complicating the overall installation procedure.
2Shape
If a multi-gang faceplate is used to cover mounting screws, then the appearance is improved, but button misalignment between devices remains visible
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment plate performs the alignment function before the faceplate is installed. By pre-positioning the control devices with precise button alignment through the alignment plate's guided mounting system, the subsequent installation of the faceplate becomes purely cosmetic without needing to compensate for misalignment. This preliminary alignment action ensures that when the faceplate is installed, the buttons are already properly aligned, eliminating the visual defect.
3Area of stationary object
If control devices are closely spaced or have no spacing between buttons, then space is optimized, but misalignment becomes more noticeable and unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment plate serves as a critical intermediary that enables close spacing of control devices while maintaining precise button alignment. The plate's precisely engineered recesses ensure that even when devices are mounted adjacently with minimal spacing, the buttons remain perfectly aligned. This mediator component allows the system to achieve both space optimization and visual aesthetics simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, system, and method for ganging a plurality of wall mounted control devices, such as keypads. Particularly, an assembly of ganged control devices is provided comprising a pair of adjacently positioned control devices each adapted to control at least one function of at least one associated load. Each control device comprises a housing assembly and at least one button attached to the housing assembly. The housing assembly comprises a pair of oppositely disposed side surfaces each comprising a pair of vertically aligned recesses. Each recess comprises a tapered inner side wall. The assembly further comprises an alignment plate comprising a vertical wall adapted to be positioned in between the pair of control devices and a pair of vertically aligned tabs traversely extending from oppositely disposed side surfaces of the vertical wall. Each tab comprises a tapered outer side wall. The tabs are sized, shaped, and positioned to be inserted into the recesses such that the tapered outer side walls of the tabs form a friction fit with the tapered inner side walls of the recesses to removably attach and align the pair of control devices.