Deformable Electrical Installation Box for Varying Wall Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing installation boxes struggle to fit into wall openings with dimensions that are slightly smaller or larger than their own, due to rigid material constraints and improper center-to-center distances of double holes, requiring laborious adaptations in the wall opening.
Innovation Solution
The installation box incorporates deformable members, such as elastic strips, in its side walls, allowing the center-to-center distance to be adjusted, enabling compression to fit into smaller openings and expansion to match larger openings, ensuring secure mounting without adapting the wall opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid material is used for the installation box, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to fit into varying wall opening dimensions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall sections are designed with deformable members that allow dynamic adjustment of the center-to-center distance between spaces. This enables the installation box to adapt its dimensions to fit various wall opening sizes while maintaining structural integrity through the rigid framework
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable members enable change in the geometric parameters of the installation box, specifically the center-to-center distance between spaces. By adjusting this parameter, the box can accommodate different wall opening dimensions while maintaining overall structural strength
2Manufacturing precision
If the wall opening is made precisely to fit the installation box, then the fit quality is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable members allow the installation box to adjust its center-to-center distance parameter to accommodate wall openings with varying precision. This reduces the strictness of manufacturing precision requirements for the wall opening while ensuring proper fit
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable members provide a form of structural compliance that absorbs dimensional variations in the wall opening. This compliance acts similarly to porous materials absorbing variations, allowing the box to fit into openings with less precise dimensions without requiring additional adaptation work
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
The deformable members allow the installation box to be easily mounted in varying wall dimensions, reducing labor and tolerancing issues, while ensuring a tight fit after installation, as the elastic members return to their original shape.
Implementation Method 1
The side wall sections each comprise at least two side wall parts interconnected by a deformable member allowing the center-to-center distance of the installation box in said side wall direction to be changed
Implementation Method 2
If the wall opening would be too large in said side wall direction, the deformable member may also allow the center-to-center distance of the two spaces of the installation box in the side wall direction to be adapted to the wall opening
Data Source
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AI summary
An installation box comprises a bottom wall and a side wall connected to the bottom wall. The side wall comprises an edge defining an installation box opening. The installation box comprises two spaces integrated to form an interior space. The two spaces have a center-to-center distance. The side wall has two opposite side wall sections each extending in a side wall direction parallel to the bottom wall, The side wall sections each comprise at least two side wall parts interconnected by a deformable member, such as an elastic member, allowing the center-to-center distance of the installation box in said side wall direction to be changed.