Hollow Wall Box Tilting Latch for Secure Cable Tube Fixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hollow wall boxes face challenges in securely fixing electrical cables and cable protection tubes of varying diameters, leading to slippage and difficulty in installation, especially when multiple boxes are installed in close proximity or larger components are accommodated within the limited dimensions of standard cavity walls.

Innovation Solution

The hollow wall box incorporates a tilting element with a latching sector and hinge mechanism that allows for mechanical actuation to snap into a groove, ensuring secure fixation of cable protection tubes, and features a support flange design that maximizes internal space without exceeding standard dimensions, along with adjustable fastening means and guide edges for precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If an enlarged support flange is used to provide screwing holes for electrical installations, then the fastening capability is improved, but the diameter of the assembly opening is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening capabilityVSAvoiddiameter of assembly opening
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow wall socket is divided into two functional parts: the support flange for fastening and the dosing body for cable access. The support flange extends radially outward with four diagonally arranged fastening holes, while the dosing body maintains a standardized diameter. This segmentation allows the fastening function to be enhanced without increasing the overall assembly opening diameter, as the support flange utilizes the radial space outside the dosing body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If cable protection pipes of varying diameters are inserted into the hollow wall box, then the adaptability is improved, but the cable may slip out or fail to reach the correct position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different cable diametersVSAvoidcable positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A tilting element with a latching sector is pre-positioned in the floor area of the hollow wall socket. The latching sector is designed to engage with a groove in the cable protection pipe at a predetermined location. When the cable protection pipe is inserted, the tilting element automatically tilts and the latching sector snaps into the groove, preventing the cable from slipping out or failing to reach the correct position. This preliminary action ensures reliable cable positioning regardless of the cable diameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple hollow wall boxes are installed in close proximity or larger components are accommodated, then the functionality is improved, but the installation space is constrained by standard cavity wall dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of multiple boxes and larger componentsVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support flange extends radially outward from the dosing body, utilizing the radial dimension rather than increasing the axial depth or outer diameter. This allows the fastening holes to be positioned in the radial direction, maximizing the use of available space within standard cavity wall dimensions. The dosing body maintains a standardized diameter, while the support flange provides the necessary fastening capability without exceeding standard dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If the tilting element with latching sector is used to secure cable protection pipes, then the cable fixation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable fixationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tilting element is designed to move dynamically from an initial position to a latched position. The element can tilt about a hinge axis, allowing the latching sector to engage with the groove in the cable protection pipe. This dynamic mechanism provides reliable cable fixation while maintaining a relatively simple structure, as the tilting motion is achieved through a single hinge connection and elastic recovery, without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4277062A1Hollow wall box with a simplified cable protective tube fixing
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 HSB WEIBEL AG
  • EP4277062A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4277062A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4277062A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a cavity wall box 1 for building services installations, in particular electrical installation devices, with a box body 5 made of plastic formed by a base area 2, a surrounding wall 3 and a mounting opening 4 opposite the base area 2. The cavity wall box 1 also has a support flange 6, means 7, 24, 25, 26 projecting radially outwards for fixing the cavity wall box 1 in a box opening and at least one cable entry 8, 40, 41, 42 arranged in the base area 2, wherein a grooved cable protection conduit 9 can be inserted into the box body 5 from the outside through the at least one cable entry 8, 40, 41, 42.In the base area 2 of the cavity wall box 1, at least one tilting element 10, 34, 35, 36 is attached, wherein the at least one tilting element 10, 34, 35, 36 has a locking sector 11, 37, 38, 39, in particular in the form of at least one tooth, wherein the locking sector 11, 37, 38, 39 is designed such that, when the at least one tilting element 10, 34, 35, 36 is moved by mechanical actuation, it can be locked into a groove of the cable protection tube 9 inserted into the box body 5 through the at least one cable entry 8, 40, 41, 42, and thus fixes the cable protection tube 9 in the box body 5 with respect to a translational movement perpendicular to the cable entry 8, 40, 41, 42.