Hinged Swivel Cover Assembly for Ceiling-Access Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swivel connector assemblies for suspending electrical devices like ceiling fans and luminaires are cumbersome to assemble and often interfere with ceiling panels when accessing the electrical box.
Innovation Solution
A swivel cover assembly with a pivotally mounted door that easily assembles to the base, allowing the swivel connector to be suspended vertically, featuring a mounting plate with a hinged cover door that pivots downward by gravity for easy access without interference from the ceiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid strap is pivotally connected to the stationary cover section and fixed to the movable cover section, then the swivel connector can be suspended, but the assembly becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is divided into a stationary cover section and a movable cover section that can be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation allows each section to be simplified in design while maintaining overall suspension reliability through their coordinated arrangement.
2Ease of operation
If an access door is slidably connected to the mounting plate in a radial direction, then access to the electrical box is provided, but the door interferes with ceiling panels when opening
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sliding the access door radially outward from the mounting plate (which causes ceiling interference), the door is configured to slide radially inward toward the center of the mounting plate. This inverted direction of movement eliminates interference with ceiling panels while maintaining full accessibility to the electrical box.
3Ease of operation
If the cover door pivots downward by gravity to the open position, then easy access is enabled, but additional hinge members increase assembly parts
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge members are integrally formed with both the stationary cover section and the movable cover section, merging what would traditionally be separate components into unified structures. This reduces the total number of discrete parts while enabling the door to pivot downward by gravity for easy access.
4Reliability
If the door is sized to cover the opening in the closed position, then secure coverage is provided, but the door becomes large and may interfere with ceiling structures
Solution Approach 1:
The access door utilizes a vertical sliding dimension rather than a horizontal radial dimension. By moving the door vertically along the mounting plate, it achieves full coverage of the opening when closed without extending far enough horizontally to interfere with ceiling panels or structural 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
Facilitates easy assembly and access to the electrical box without interference, ensuring secure suspension of electrical devices on inclined ceilings with minimal parts and interference-free operation.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge member to allow the cover door to pivot about an axis parallel to a plane of the mounting plate
Implementation Method 2
The cover door is able to swing away from the mounting plate to allow access to the electrical box without interference from the ceiling panel
Data Source
AI summary
A swivel cover assembly includes a mounting plate with an opening and a door closing the opening for supporting a swivel hanger. The mounting plate forms a socket for suspending the swivel hanger. The door is hinged to the mounting plate to pivot downwardly from the mounting plate about an axis parallel to the plane of the mounting plate. A hinge member is integrally formed with the mounting plate and door. A fastening member latches the door in the closed position. The fastener can be a screw or a bendable tab that is manually bent to hold the door closed.