Fixture Plate With Compound Profile Support Arms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Previous destination dispatch fixtures require field mechanics to hold them while wiring, making the process cumbersome and challenging, as they lack a secure attachment method for hands-free operation.
Innovation Solution
A fixture plate with a compound profile design featuring support arms and securing hooks that allow the housing to be pivoted and secured, enabling attachment to a holding implement for hands-free wiring, along with a service orifice for electrical wires and a grounding connector for secure installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fixture is held in hand during wiring, then the fixture can be securely positioned, but the operation becomes cumbersome and challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holding implement as an intermediary tool between the installer and the fixture. The support arm with hook portion engages with the holding implement, allowing the fixture to be suspended and positioned without requiring the installer to hold it manually. This mediator enables hands-free operation while maintaining secure positioning during wiring tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture plate design allows the fixture to be self-supported through the support arm and hook portion mechanism. Once engaged with the holding implement, the fixture automatically maintains its own position and orientation, eliminating the need for continuous manual holding and positioning by the installer.
2Reliability
If the fixture is held in hand during wiring, then positioning can be maintained, but the risk of damage increases and ergonomics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The holding implement serves as a mediator that transfers the fixture from manual hand-holding to a supported, suspended state. The support arm with hook portion provides a reliable connection point that reduces the risk of damage by eliminating the need for installers to manually hold and maneuver the fixture during wiring operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture plate's support arm and hook portion enable the fixture to support itself during installation. The self-supported design reduces physical strain on installers and eliminates the need for continuous manual positioning, thereby improving ergonomics while maintaining reliability during wiring tasks.
3Ease of operation
If support arms are added for hands-free operation, then wiring can be performed without holding the fixture, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm is divided into distinct functional segments: a pivot section for articulation, a support section with support base for positioning, and a hook portion for engagement with the holding implement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall structural simplicity and enabling hands-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support, enables pivoting for positioning adjustment, and interfaces with the holding implement for hands-free operation. The hook portion can engage with various holding implements, making the design universally applicable to different installation scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a fixture plate comprising a back plate defined by a member extending in a widthwise (W) direction and a height-wise (H) direction, a plurality of support arms including a first support arm and a second support arm connecting proximate a bottom edge of the back plate and spaced in the widthwise direction by a distance W1, each of the plurality of support arms comprising a compound profile defining a pivot section and a support section the pivot section extending arcuately downward along the height-wise direction to a first distal end, the support section comprising a first portion forming a support base, the support base extending perpendicularly away from the back plate to a second distal end, and a second portion that forms a hook portion, the hook portion extending upwardly along the height-wise direction to a third distal end to from a free end of the support section.