Low Profile Electrical Box with Pivoting Lid for Wall Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wall mountable outdoor electrical boxes and covers protrude significantly from the wall, making them prone to damage and contamination, especially when accessed for maintenance or by individuals passing by.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile electrical box design with a housing that includes a device plate dividing it into two sections, where the first section houses the electrical device and the second section provides access, with a lid that pivots to minimize depth and prevent damage, allowing the box to lie flatter against the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard electrical box and cover are mounted separately on the wall, then the electrical device can be housed and accessed, but the combined box and cover protrude significantly from the wall making them prone to damage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical box and cover into a single integrated unit where the cover forms part of the housing structure. The cover is molded as one piece with the box, eliminating the need for separate mounting and reducing the overall protrusion depth while maintaining protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, allowing dynamic access to the electrical device. The lid pivots on hinges integrated into the housing, enabling the user to open the lid from the front or side without removing the entire cover, thus maintaining a low profile while providing access capability.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is made movable to provide access to the electrical device, then ease of operation is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, allowing dynamic access to the electrical device. The lid pivots on hinges integrated into the housing, enabling the user to open the lid from the front or side without removing the entire cover, thus maintaining a low profile while providing access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is segmented into a fixed portion forming the housing and a movable lid portion. This segmentation allows the lid to be opened independently for access while the main housing remains stationary and compact, reducing overall complexity compared to a completely removable cover design.
3Reliability
If the device plate is positioned to house the electrical device securely, then the device is protected, but access to the device becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, allowing dynamic access to the electrical device. The lid pivots on hinges integrated into the housing, enabling the user to open the lid from the front or side without removing the entire cover, thus maintaining a low profile while providing access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into a secure enclosed section for the electrical device and an accessible section. The device plate securely mounts the electrical device in the enclosed section, while the movable lid provides access without requiring removal of the entire housing, maintaining both security and accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A while-in-use electrical box including a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two opposed side walls. The housing has a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the box between the two side walls. The housing has a transverse axis extending from the back wall to the front wall. A device plate is disposed within the housing dividing the housing into a first section and a second section. The first section of the housing is enclosed and adapted to house an electrical device and the second section forms an electrical device access area. The device plate has a first panel forming a face plate for receiving a face of the electrical device. The second section is spaced from the first section along the longitudinal axis, and the face plate is in a non-parallel, non- perpendicular alignment with the housing transverse axis.