Electric Box Mounting Bracket With Height-Setting Spanner Bar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric box mounting systems lack flexibility and efficiency, requiring multiple specific brackets for various box sizes and locations, and often result in slippage or dislodgment of electric boxes during installation, with manual measurement for height setting being prone to error.
Innovation Solution
A universal electric box mounting device with a bracket system that allows attachment to various structural members and heights, featuring flexible locking tabs and a spanner bar for precise height adjustment, enabling secure mounting of electric boxes of different sizes and depths in any desired location without the need for multiple brackets or manual measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specific brackets are used for various box sizes and locations, then the mounting can be adapted to different configurations, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with multiple mounting planes and adjustable features that enable a single bracket type to accommodate various electric box sizes, depths, and wall stud configurations. The bracket can be oriented and configured to mount boxes at different locations including between studs, on studs, and at various heights, eliminating the need for multiple specialized bracket types.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow it to adapt its geometry and mounting configuration dynamically. The mounting planes can be positioned at different orientations and locations, and the bracket can be adjusted to accommodate different box depths and wall configurations, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-design brackets.
2Reliability
If locking devices are added to prevent box slippage, then the reliability of box attachment improves, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking feature is integrated directly into the mounting bracket structure itself, combining the support function and the locking function into a single unified component. The mounting planes and bracket structure provide both support and inherent locking capability through their geometry and attachment method, eliminating the need for separate locking devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design provides self-locking capability through its structural configuration. The mounting planes and attachment mechanism are designed to naturally prevent box slippage and dislodgment through friction, geometry, and the mechanical interlock provided by the bracket structure itself, without requiring additional active locking components.
3Device complexity
If manual measurement is used for height setting, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the measurement precision and installation accuracy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates pre-marked height indicators and positioning features that are established during manufacturing. These pre-established reference points guide the installer to the correct height and position, eliminating the need for manual measurement while maintaining device simplicity. The mounting planes are positioned at predetermined locations that correspond to standard electrical outlet heights.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal bracket is provided for mounting electrical boxes. The bracket includes a generally rectangular first plate having at least one aperture defined within the first plate. The aperture is shaped to provide access to an electrical box mounted to the first plate, and further includes first and second pairs of diagonally opposite corners. A second plate extends rearward and substantially perpendicular to the first plate and located proximate a first side of the aperture. The first plate further includes one or more fastening portions and a plurality of mounting holes disposed about the fastening portions. One or more of the mounting holes are positioned for mounting the bracket to a vertical structural member adjacent either of two opposite sides of the bracket or a horizontal element adjacent a third side of the bracket, maintaining a particular bracket orientation.