Exit Light Plug-In Housing with Snap-Fit Mounting Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency light fixtures in public and commercial buildings are difficult and expensive to replace due to their location and the need for high-voltage electrical connections, posing a challenge for installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A quick-change lighting assembly with a snap-fit mounting system and modular design that allows for easy installation and removal without requiring high-voltage connections, featuring a housing with a compartment for battery replacement and a mounting plate with snap-fit features for secure electrical connections to a junction box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hard-wired emergency light fixtures are used, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but installation and replacement become difficult and expensive requiring licensed electricians
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device is divided into separate modular components: a lighting assembly containing the light emitter and battery, and a separate power supply assembly with electrical connectors. This segmentation allows the lighting assembly to be easily installed and replaced without electrical work, while the power supply remains fixed and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting plate with integrated electrical connectors serves as an intermediary component between the lighting assembly and the power supply. The mounting plate includes a connector that interfaces with a corresponding connector on the power supply, providing reliable electrical connection while enabling easy attachment and detachment of the lighting assembly.
2Ease of operation
If modular design with connectors is used, then ease of installation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides mechanical mounting attachment to the ceiling or wall, integrates the electrical connector for power connection, and serves as the interface between the lighting assembly and power supply. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate is designed as a universal interface that simultaneously handles mechanical attachment and electrical connection functions. The same mounting plate structure provides both the physical mounting feature for securing the device and the integrated electrical connector for power transfer, eliminating the need for separate mounting hardware and electrical connectors.
3Ease of manufacture
If integrated housing design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but battery replacement difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a main housing containing the light emitter and a separate battery compartment with its own access cover. This segmentation allows the battery compartment to be independently accessed and serviced without disassembling the entire housing, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling easy battery replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery compartment is pre-configured with its own separate access cover and mounting features during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of the battery compartment as a distinct accessible unit allows end-users to easily replace batteries without requiring technical expertise or disassembly of the main housing, while the manufacturer can produce the components using standard integrated housing techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device includes a housing and a light emitter coupled to the housing. A mounting plate is coupled to the housing and includes a front surface facing the housing and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The rear surface includes a snap-fit mounting feature and a rear connector portion. A first connector is coupled to the rear connector portion and operatively coupled to the light emitter.