Electrical Claw With Plastically Deformable Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical installation devices face issues with claw stability, material breakage due to over-tightening, and complex assembly processes, as well as difficulties in disassembly and material wastage.
Innovation Solution
An electrical installation device with a claw featuring a plastically deformable material and a screw with a projection between the screw head and thread, where the claw's gap width is tailored to prevent slipping and provide immediate feedback on tightening force, enhancing stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-elastic arms are used in the claw, then the claw can be adjusted by the screw, but the screw must be tightened more firmly to ensure secure hold as materials age, and over-tightening can cause the arms to break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from spring-elastic to plastically deformable material. This allows the claw to be adjusted by the screw without requiring excessive tightening force, as the plastic deformation provides permanent shape change rather than elastic recovery. The material deforms plastically when the screw is tightened, securing the claw without risking arm breakage from over-tightening.
2Ease of operation
If the expanding claw has a wide slot to allow pivoting, then the claw can pivot in the direction of the screw, but the claw may slip out of the receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gap in the second leg of the claw that is positioned specifically to engage with the screw's insertion area. This localized gap design allows the claw to pivot during adjustment while the screw engagement prevents the claw from slipping out of the receptacle. The gap is not uniformly distributed but strategically placed to provide both movement freedom and retention security.
3Reliability
If a locking element is added to prevent the claw from slipping out, then the claw retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retention function into the existing claw structure by forming a gap in the second leg that engages with the screw. Instead of adding a separate locking element, the claw's own geometry is designed to provide retention through the gap-screw interaction. This integration eliminates the need for additional locking components while maintaining reliable retention.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a stiffening element is added to improve stability, then the claw stability is improved, but the design becomes more complex with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the plastically deformable material property to provide stability without rigid stiffening elements. The material's plastic deformation characteristic allows it to maintain stable shape after adjustment while accommodating the necessary flexibility during installation. This eliminates the need for separate stiffening components like indentations or reinforcement elements.
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 solution improves claw stability against bending forces, reduces the risk of material breakage, and simplifies the assembly and disassembly process while maintaining secure engagement with the screw.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the claw is plastically deformable, thus improving the stability of the claw against bending forces. In particular, elastic deformation when the two legs are compressed is reduced, which has a positive effect on plastic deformation when the two legs are compressed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrical installation device, such as a socket, switch, or push button, with a support ring (1) that has at least one receptacle (2) for mounting a claw (3) by means of a screw (4). The screw (4) has a projection (12), and an insertion area (13) for mounting the claw (3) is formed between the screw head and the projection (12). The claw (3) has an L-shaped configuration with two legs (5, 6). At least one point (8) is formed at the free end of a first leg (6), and the second leg (6) is forked with two spaced-apart prongs (14).A gap running between the prongs (14) is formed such that a first section (9) is formed at the free end of the second leg (6), the width of which is smaller than the diameter of the insertion area (13) of the screw (4), and in a second section (10) adjoining the first section (9) in the direction of the bending area (7), the gap widens and is greater than or equal to the diameter of the insertion area (13) of the screw (4) and smaller than the diameter of the projection of the screw (4) and smaller than the diameter of the screw head, wherein the insertion area (13) of the screw (4) is arranged in the second section (10). Adjoining the second section (10) of the gap in the direction of the bending area (7), a full-surface support section (11) of the second leg (6) made of solid material is arranged, connecting the second section (10) of the gap to the bending area (7).Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such an electrical installation device.