Ceiling Box Mounting Bracket Inversion for Fixture Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of a light fixture or ceiling fan is cumbersome due to the need to hold a heavy fixture with one hand while fastening the mounting bracket to the ceiling box, requiring continuous effort and increasing the risk of accidents if tools or screws are dropped.

Innovation Solution

Placing the mounting bracket on top of the ceiling box's mounting elements instead of under them, allowing the ceiling box to hold the weight of the fixture, thus freeing both hands for secure fastening and enabling the process to be paused.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mounting bracket is placed under the mounting elements of the ceiling box, then the fastening process can be completed, but the installer must hold the heavy LFOCF with one hand while fastening, making the operation difficult and unsafe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fastening operationVSAvoidweight of LFOCF

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional mounting bracket placement from under the mounting elements to on top of the mounting elements. This inversion allows the ceiling box to support the LFOCF weight directly through the mounting elements, freeing the installer's hands for secure fastening operations without having to manually hold the heavy fixture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If the installer holds the mounting bracket and LFOCF continuously during fastening, then the fastening can be completed, but the installer has only one hand free for fastening operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fastening processVSAvoidhand availability for fastening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the mounting bracket placement to sit on top of the mounting elements rather than underneath, the patent enables the ceiling box structure to support the fixture weight. This structural reconfiguration allows the installer to use both hands for fastening operations without continuously holding the bracket or fixture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the installation process must be completed in one continuous step, then the fastening can be finished, but the process cannot be paused or suspended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidsafety against accidents

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inverted mounting bracket placement creates a stable intermediate state where the ceiling box supports the fixture weight through the mounting elements. This preliminary structural support allows the installation process to be paused at any point during fastening without risk of the fixture falling, enabling safer workflow management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11306868B2Ceiling box with mounting bracket

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 ZHAO MINGRONG

AI summary

The present invention is regarding electrical ceiling outlet box and mounting bracket. The mounting bracket will not be placed below the ceiling box as people usually do currently. Instead, it will be placed in the ceiling box, on the top of two mounting elements (ears). Thus installer can hang the mounting bracket and attached light feature or ceiling fan on, have two hands for the installation.