Rain-Shielded Mounting Box With Notched Shoulders for Water Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rain shielded mounting boxes fail to effectively divert water flowing down the vertical sides of exterior building walls, allowing water to penetrate between the siding and sheathing, causing damage to the structural framework.
Innovation Solution
A mounting box design featuring downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulders with notches on the top surface and a rain drip flange at the bottom surface, which deflects water onto the sides and directs it harmlessly away from the wall, combined with a universal electrical base for secure installation and water management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mounting box is used to shield against rain entry, then protection against rain is improved, but water still flows around the flange and enters the region between sheathing and cladding
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting box is divided into functional segments: a nailing flange for attachment, a box-shaped structure for housing, downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulders for water deflection, and a rain drip flange for final water discharge. Each segment performs a specific water management function, collectively providing complete rain shielding protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoulders are designed to extend downwardly and outwardly from the top surface, creating a three-dimensional water deflection system. This dimensional extension allows water to be redirected along the inclined surfaces away from the wall, preventing penetration between siding and sheathing.
2Ease of operation
If vertical channels are formed between spaced apart flanges for water to run down, then water diversion is improved, but water still flows around the flange and into the region between sheathing and cladding
Solution Approach 1:
The rain drip flange acts as an intermediary element that receives water from the shoulders and directs it away from the wall. This intermediate structure prevents water that has been deflected by the shoulders from flowing around the flange and entering the vulnerable region between sheathing and cladding.
3Ease of operation
If a tab extends from partway down the nailing strip at an inclined angle towards an outside flange, then water running along the tab is improved, but there is nothing to divert water flowing to the sides along the top of the mounting box down to the tab
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulders are positioned to deflect water away from the wall before it can reach the level of any tabs or flanges. This preliminary water deflection action prevents water from flowing down the sides of the mounting box and eliminates the need for additional water diversion features at lower levels.
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
The solution provides complete rain shielding protection by constraining water to flow down the sides of the mounting box, preventing it from entering the gap between the sheathing and cladding, with the notched surfaces intercepting nearly 100% of rain, ensuring effective water diversion and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulders... which deflects water onto the sides and directs it harmlessly away from the wall
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting box for installation on an exterior wall of a building. The mounting box has a box-shaped structure having a substantially horizontally disposed top surface when in situ, a nailing flange around a perimeter of the box-shaped structure, a downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulder on each side of the top surface, the shoulders each having a shoulder surface and a plurality of notches along an outer edge of the shoulder surface which attract and constrain the flow of water along the shoulders.