One-Piece Ceiling Drop Brace for Adjustable Electrical Box Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling fan and luminaire braces are cumbersome to install and often fail to provide adequate support for electrical boxes, leading to installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece mounting brace with integrated rails and channels allows for easy connection to a bracket, which is removably attached to the brace, providing stable support for electrical boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional multi-piece braces are used for ceiling fan and luminaire support, then the structural strength may be sufficient, but the installation process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate brace components into a single integrated one-piece brace structure that includes built-in mounting plates and attachment features. This merging eliminates the need to assemble multiple pieces during installation, directly resolving the contradiction by making installation easier while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated design.
2Reliability
If traditional braces are used for electrical box support, then they may provide basic support, but they often fail to provide adequate and adjustable support positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable positioning features into the brace design, allowing the mounting plates and attachment points to be positioned at various locations along the brace length. This dynamic adjustability enables the brace to adapt to different electrical box positions and support requirements, resolving the contradiction between providing reliable support and offering positioning versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex multi-component mounting assemblies are used, then comprehensive support functions can be achieved, but the installation time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates mounting plates, attachment features, and support elements into the brace structure during manufacturing, rather than requiring their assembly during installation. This preliminary action of pre-integrating components eliminates time-consuming assembly steps on-site while maintaining comprehensive mounting functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and installation time.
Data Source
AI summary
A brace for mounting an electrical box between supports includes a central body with a pair of elongated sides each having a first end and a second end. The central body also includes a top surface connected between each first end. Rails are connected to each second end and extend substantially along the length of the pair of elongated sides. The brace also includes a first connecting end connected to a first end of the central body and a second connecting end connected to a second end of the central body. The central body, the first connecting end, and the second connecting end are integrally formed in a one-piece construction. Each rail is spaced apart from at least one of the first connecting end and the second connecting end to form a mounting space.