Luminaire Driver Mounting Bracket for Flexible Snap-Fit Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional light fixtures require specific fastener holes to mount drivers, limiting the ability to securely attach drivers with varying configurations, which restricts compatibility and flexibility in mounting internal components.

Innovation Solution

A mounting bracket with a channel-shaped body, featuring flanges and tabs that provide a snap-fit or friction-fit engagement with drivers of different sizes and configurations, allowing secure attachment without relying on precise fastener hole alignment, and enabling thermal management through an open design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If specific fastener holes are constructed in the housing for mounting drivers, then drivers can be securely mounted to the housing, but drivers with different configurations cannot be mounted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different driver configurationsVSAvoidhousing construction requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A mounting bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the housing and the driver. The bracket features a channel-shaped body with flanges that can accommodate drivers of various configurations, while attaching to the housing through standardized fastener holes. This mediator allows different driver types to be mounted without modifying the housing construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting bracket is designed with universal compatibility to accommodate multiple driver configurations (30W, 60W, and 96W drivers) through its channel-shaped body and adjustable flange positioning. The same bracket design can securely mount different driver types, eliminating the need for housing-specific modifications for each driver configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If fasteners extend through fastener holes in the driver to attach to the housing, then drivers can be firmly secured, but assembly time increases due to precise hole alignment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachment of driverVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket is pre-assembled with the driver before installation into the housing. The channel-shaped body and flanges are configured to hold the driver in the correct position, and fasteners are partially pre-installed on the bracket. This preliminary assembly reduces the need for precise real-time alignment during final installation, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If drivers are mounted directly to the housing interior surface, then the mounting structure is simple, but thermal management is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting structureVSAvoidthermal management
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket transitions the mounting approach from a two-dimensional surface attachment to a three-dimensional channel structure. The channel-shaped body with flanges creates a volumetric mounting solution that provides both mechanical support and thermal pathways, allowing heat to dissipate through multiple directions rather than relying solely on the interior housing surface.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3992470A1Mounting bracket
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD
  • EP3992470A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3992470A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3992470A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a mounting bracket for mounting a driver to a housing of a luminaire, generally comprising a base member configured for attaching the mounting bracket to the housing of the luminaire and a pair of flanges extending laterally from the base member, each flange defining a clamp portion for engaging the driver to releasably attach the driver to the mounting bracket for mounting the driver to the housing of the luminaire