Flush-Mounted Light Bracket with Central Cable Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light fitting brackets are cumbersome and time-consuming to install due to the need to bend electrical cables around them and often result in misalignment or the requirement to drill additional apertures, leading to potential damage and unsightly installations.
Innovation Solution
A light fitting bracket with a central portion and elongated arm portions that allow the bracket to be flush-mounted over the electrical cable, featuring elongated channels for secure fastening without the need for additional apertures, providing structural strength and alignment for symmetrical installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional strap bracket is used to attach a light fitting to the ceiling, then the bracket can be fastened to the ceiling structure, but the bracket extends parallel to and over the central aperture, requiring the electrical cable to be bent around it which makes installation cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the bracket parallel to and over the cable aperture as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the approach by positioning the bracket perpendicular to the aperture with arms extending sideways. The cable passes through a central aperture in the bracket body, eliminating the need to bend the cable around the bracket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design transitions from a linear strap configuration to a perpendicular arm configuration. The arms extend laterally from the central body rather than extending along the cable path, changing the spatial dimension of the bracket's relationship to the aperture and simplifying cable installation.
2Ease of operation
If the strap bracket extends parallel to the central ceiling aperture but not over it, then the cable can pass through easily, but the entire light fitting becomes off-center with respect to the original light fitting position, affecting symmetry and uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than positioning the bracket parallel to the aperture which causes off-center mounting, the invention inverts to a perpendicular orientation where the central body aligns with the aperture and arms extend symmetrically sideways, ensuring the light fitting remains centered.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fastener apertures in the ceiling do not align to the apertures within the conventional strap bracket, then the installer must either drill a fresh aligned aperture or fasten with a single fastener, but drilling additional apertures is unsightly and using one fastener causes stress concentrations and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates adjustable arms that can be positioned at different angles and locations. This dynamic adjustability allows the fastener apertures to be aligned with existing ceiling apertures even when they don't perfectly match the bracket's standard positioning, maintaining both adaptability and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design allows for parameter changes in arm position and orientation. By adjusting the angular and positional parameters of the arms, the fastener apertures can be aligned with varying ceiling aperture locations without requiring additional drilling or compromising structural strength.
4Ease of operation
If only one fastener is used to attach the light fitting bracket, then alignment issues are avoided, but stress concentrations upon that single fastener due to the weight of the light fitting and forces applied by electrical cables can cause damage to the ceiling plasterboard and result in the light fitting pulling away
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable arm mechanism allows the bracket to be dynamically configured to engage multiple ceiling apertures. This enables the distribution of load across multiple fasteners while maintaining ease of installation through flexible positioning that adapts to the ceiling aperture layout.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket 1 for attaching a light fitting to a ceiling or wall. The bracket 1 has a main body 2 to be directly applied to the ceiling or wall and to be flush with the ceiling or wall. The main body 2 has a central portion 3 with a central aperture 4 for the passage of the electrical cable 12 coming out from the ceiling or wall. The central aperture 4 being sized so that the electrical cable 12 can easily pass through it.