Electrical Box Support Plate With Built-In Conduit Offsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical box and conduit support systems fail to efficiently accommodate various orientations and meet national/local electrical code requirements for conduit attachment spacing, leading to inadequate support and potential movement of electrical junction boxes and conduits.
Innovation Solution
The development of one-piece electrical box and conduit support plates with built-in offsets, hanger tabs, and clip mounting apertures, allowing for flexible orientation and secure attachment of conduits within specified spacing requirements, using a combination of bendable hanger tabs and clip mounting apertures for conduit clamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional separate mounting methods are used for electrical boxes and conduits, then installation flexibility is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical box mounting plate and conduit support plate into a single integrated one-piece support structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting operations and reduces the number of components, thereby improving installation flexibility while actually reducing overall system complexity despite the increased manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-piece support plate is designed to perform multiple functions: mounting the electrical box and supporting conduits within code-compliant spacing. The universal design allows it to accommodate various orientations and conduit configurations, enhancing adaptability without requiring multiple different components.
2Manufacturing precision
If fixed orientation support plates are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate incorporates adjustable features such as positionable conduit support arms and configurable mounting hole patterns that allow the structure to adapt to different orientations and installation scenarios. This dynamic configurability maintains manufacturing precision for each specific configuration while providing overall adaptability across multiple orientations.
3Device complexity
If conduit clamps are not pre-positioned, then device complexity is reduced, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-piece support plate is manufactured with pre-positioned conduit support arms and pre-drilled mounting holes at code-compliant locations. This preliminary positioning of conduit attachment points eliminates the need for measurement and positioning during installation, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining precise code-compliant spacing.
4Reliability
If code-compliant conduit spacing is enforced, then electrical code compliance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate design incorporates fixed conduit support arms positioned at predetermined distances that satisfy electrical code requirements for conduit spacing from electrical boxes. By embedding these code-compliant parameters directly into the manufacturing specifications of the one-piece structure, compliance is ensured without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms or multiple components.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides improved electrical box and conduit support plates that allow for central mounting of an electrical box to a support plate and mounting of electrical conduits for suspended installations in various orientations. The support plate includes a body having a plurality of built-in offsets, a plurality of built-in hanger tabs, and a plurality of clip mounting apertures that may be arranged as pairs. Each built-in offset preferably has two side walls extending from the body and a mounting arm between the side walls. Each mounting arm includes a plurality of clamp mounting apertures used to attach a conduit clamp to the mounting arm. Each of the plurality of built-in hanger tabs are preferably bendable relative to the body. Box and conduit support kits that includes a body and a plurality of hanger clips are also provided.