Hollow Wall Frame Cable Routing Accessory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for routing conductive elements, such as electrical cables, within hollow partitions are inefficient due to obstacles posed by the metal framework, making it difficult to navigate wires to the desired height and reducing the rigidity of the partition.

Innovation Solution

A connection accessory that can be interposed between sections of the metal frame's vertical uprights, allowing conductive elements to pass through at a desired height, facilitating the connection of equipment to the supply network by linking sections of the frame and providing a passage for conductive elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vertical uprights have reduced thickness to allow cable passage, then cable routing is facilitated, but the rigidity of the framework is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable routingVSAvoidframework rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The vertical upright is divided into two separate sections that are joined by a connection piece. This connection piece contains the cable passage, so the upright sections maintain their full thickness and rigidity while the connecting element provides the routing path for cables.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separate connection piece acts as an intermediary element between two upright sections. This mediator contains the cable passage and joins the uprights, allowing cables to pass through without requiring the uprights themselves to be thinned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the metal framework obstacles are maintained for structural integrity, then framework strength is preserved, but cable routing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframework strengthVSAvoidcable routing
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable passage function is extracted from the upright sections themselves and placed in a separate connection piece. This allows the uprights to maintain their full structural integrity while the connection element provides the routing path, separating the structural function from the cable routing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2688166B1Accessory for connecting two sections of a side rail of a hollow wall frame
Publication Date: 2014.11.05 LEGRAND FRANCE SA
  • EP2688166B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2688166B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2688166B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The accessory (100) has a central part (110) for delimiting a passage (111) of a conducting element. Two end parts (120) are extended on two sides of the central part and adapted to immobilize two sections (11, 12) of a side rail (10) in an axis from each other. The central part and the end parts together form a single-piece part, where the end parts are brought back on the central part via a complementary assembly unit. The passage delimited by the central part comprises a closed contour.