Mounting Strap Connector for Electrical Fixture Wiring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Installers face difficulties in quickly and easily connecting electrical wiring from a junction box to a lighting fixture due to limited space and the need to hold the fixture with one hand, making the process cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An electrical fixture design that includes a mounting surface and support which connects to a cover plate that secures to the junction box, allowing for simultaneous electrical connection of hot and neutral lines, with a separate ground connection, enabling the fixture to be mounted without holding it, thus simplifying the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the installer holds the lighting fixture with one hand to connect wiring, then the wiring connection can be made, but the installer's other hand is occupied and limited space is available for working with the wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wiring connection process with the mounting process by integrating wire access features directly into the mounting strap and cover plate structure. The mounting strap includes a cutout that exposes the wire, allowing the installer to connect wiring while the fixture is being mounted, eliminating the need to hold the fixture separately for wiring connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting strap acts as an intermediary element between the junction box and the lighting fixture. It provides a platform that holds the fixture while simultaneously exposing the wiring through its cutout design, allowing the installer to work with both the fixture and wiring without needing to hold the fixture with one hand.
2Reliability
If the installer connects wiring while holding the fixture, then the electrical connection is made, but the installation time increases due to the need to maintain fixture position
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting strap is pre-configured with a cutout that exposes the wire before the fixture is fully installed. This preliminary preparation allows the installer to access and connect the wiring immediately upon mounting the fixture, without needing to adjust or reposition the fixture during the wiring process, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining connection reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wiring is of predetermined length, then the wiring is ready for connection, but the installer must work in limited space due to the fixed wire length
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting strap features a localized cutout at the specific position where wire access is needed. This local modification creates adequate workspace area exactly where the wiring connection is required, allowing the installer to work with predetermined length wiring without being constrained by limited space, while leaving the rest of the mounting strap structure intact.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical fixture includes an electrical fixture housing having a mounting surface, an electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface, and an electrical fixture support. A corresponding cover plate or mounting strap includes an electrical connector configured to electrically connect to hot and neutral lines from a junction box and the corresponding electrical connector disposed on the mounting surface of the electrical fixture. An electrical fixture ground connection separate from the fixture electrical connector electrically connects to an electrical ground from the junction box.