Electrical Box Cable Clamp With Wedge Expansion and Snap Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snap-in electrical box cable clamps with a spring temper steel ring are difficult to remove due to inconsistent ring positioning and require simultaneous deformation of multiple clips or the spring, making removal cumbersome and reuse challenging.
Innovation Solution
A cable clamp design featuring a hollow cylindrical main body with a vertical gap, coplanar flanges, and a clamp arm structure with a wedge shape that enlarges the diameter by moving into the gap, allowing easy installation and secure attachment to an electrical box, facilitated by screws that tighten the clamp arm structure and clips that snap onto the box edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the spring ring is not a continuous loop, then the clamp can be inserted into the box opening, but the ring's position becomes inconsistent making removal difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous spring ring is segmented into multiple discrete clips with consistent spacing and orientation. Each clip is positioned at a predetermined location around the clamp body, ensuring uniform distribution and consistent engagement with the box opening. This segmentation eliminates the positioning inconsistency problem while maintaining the insertion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips are designed with specific local characteristics including curved engagement surfaces, uniform spacing, and consistent orientation relative to the clamp body. These localized quality features ensure that each clip engages the box opening in the same manner, providing consistent positioning throughout the installation process.
2Reliability
If multiple spring clips need to be simultaneously depressed for removal, then the clamp holds securely in the box, but the removal process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into multiple independent clips rather than a single continuous ring. This allows the installer to release clips sequentially one at a time rather than having to simultaneously compress multiple spring elements. The segmentation maintains secure attachment during use while dramatically reducing removal complexity and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips are designed with dynamic characteristics that allow easy activation in one direction (release) while maintaining strong engagement in the other direction (holding). The spring-loaded clips can be quickly depressed to release with minimal force, yet maintain constant pressure for secure attachment during normal operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy installation and secure attachment to electrical boxes, simplifies removal, and reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining a solid and secure engagement with the electrical cable.
Implementation Method 1
an arm portion connected perpendicular to the clamp bar, wherein the arm portion comprises two opposing edges having a pair of opposing, parallel open hems configured to wrap around the outer edges of the pair of flanges, the arm portion further comprising a wedge shape formed therein configured to extend into the gap adjacent the top end
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical box cable clamp with a main body having a gap extending from a top end to a bottom end, a clamp wall, a plurality of clips, and a clamp arm structure having a wedge shape formed therein. The main body is configured to provide a pathway for an electrical cable through a wall opening in a wall of an electrical box. The cable clamp has a screw that is configured to move the clamp arm structure towards the clamp wall to grip the electrical cable. As the clamp arm structure is moved towards the clamp wall, the wedge shape is configured to increase the diameter of the main body, securing the cable clamp in the wall opening. The plurality of clips are configured to snap onto and hold the cable clamp to an edge of the wall opening of the electrical box.