Electrical Box Cover With Keyhole Fastening for Wiring Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical box covers are inefficient and costly, failing to provide quick installation and removal during construction phases, risking damage to electrical wiring and requiring additional labor to repair such damage.
Innovation Solution
Temporary electrical box covers with quick connect means, such as keyhole openings, tapered pins, or pliable push pins, that attach to inwardly projecting protrusions of electrical boxes, allowing easy installation and removal during construction phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional methods (routers or knives) are used to cut through wall board to access electrical boxes, then access to electrical boxes is achieved, but the wiring inside the electrical boxes is at risk of being nicked or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing protective covers on electrical boxes before the wall board is cut. The covers are placed in advance to prevent damage before the harmful action (cutting) occurs, eliminating the need to repair wiring after damage happens
Solution Approach 2:
The protective covers serve as beforehand cushioning by providing a physical barrier between the cutting tools (routers or knives) and the electrical wiring. This protective layer absorbs or deflects the harmful effects of cutting operations before they can reach the vulnerable wiring inside the electrical boxes
2Ease of operation
If wall board is cut to expose electrical boxes, then access is regained, but plaster and paint can enter the electrical box opening and contaminate the wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The protective covers are installed before wall board installation and cutting operations. This preliminary action prevents plaster and paint from entering the electrical box opening during construction activities, eliminating the need for later cleaning or removal of contaminants
Solution Approach 2:
The covers act as a protective barrier that prevents harmful substances (plaster, paint) from reaching the wiring inside the electrical boxes during the wall finishing process, cushioning the wiring against contamination before it can occur
3Reliability
If temporary electrical box covers are used to protect wiring during construction, then wiring protection is improved, but additional components and assembly steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is merged with the electrical box by directly attaching it to the box structure. This integration combines the cover and box into a single assembly, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying installation while maintaining effective wiring protection
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover serves multiple functions: it protects wiring from physical damage during cutting operations, prevents contamination from plaster and paint, and provides a reusable protective barrier throughout construction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate protective measures
4Reliability
If existing electrical box covers are used, then some protection is provided, but installation and removal are time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is designed as a segmented, modular component that can be easily attached and detached from the electrical box. This segmentation allows for quick installation and removal without requiring complex tools or procedures, reducing time loss during construction phases
Data Source
AI summary
A protective cover to cover an opening of an electrical box having a threaded bore on inwardly projecting protrusions. In one approach the protective cover may have a back panel and four side panels together defining an interior cavity; a flange connected to a free edge of the side panels; wherein the flange has a pair of keyhole shaped bores defining a pair of openings along a center longitudinal axis of the flange; and wherein the keyhole openings are configured to allow a head of a screw to extend from the threaded bore and through a rounded portion of the keyhole opening and to allow a threaded shaft of the screw to slide along the length of an elongated narrow portion of the keyhole opening, the narrow portion being narrower than the diameter of the screw head.