Outlet Box Lid Retention for Easier Access and Position Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outlet boxes face challenges during installation and inspection due to cumbersome lid attachments, potential loss or damage of lids and attaching mechanisms, and difficulties in adjusting their position once mounted, which can delay construction and regulatory inspections.
Innovation Solution
An outlet box design featuring a lid that is releasably attachable in two configurations - open for access and closed for protection, with an external retaining tab allowing for adjustable mounting and tamper-resistant mechanisms to prevent manual rotation, reducing the risk of loss and facilitating easier inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lid is releasably attached to the lid opening of the outlet box, then the internal components are protected from water and weather, but access to the internal space becomes difficult during installation and inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The lid attachment system is segmented into multiple attachment points around the perimeter of the lid opening. This allows the lid to be securely attached for protection while enabling controlled removal and reattachment for access during installation and inspection, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is removed during construction and installation, then easy access to the internal space is achieved, but the risk of loss, damage or misplacement of the lid increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet box is equipped with attachment points and an attaching mechanism prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation enables the lid to be easily reattached after removal during construction and inspection, preventing loss, damage or misplacement while maintaining easy access when needed.
3Reliability
If a tamper-resistant mechanism requiring a tool is used to attach the lid, then security against unauthorized removal is improved, but the complexity of the attaching mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper-resistant function is extracted as a separate feature of the attaching mechanism rather than being integrated into the basic attachment structure. This allows the mechanism to provide tool-based security while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall design, resolving the contradiction between security and complexity.
4Reliability
If holes are drilled and screws or bolts are used to mount the outlet box to a support surface, then secure mounting is achieved, but the ability to adjust the position of the outlet box is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic adjustable position. The outlet box incorporates features that allow the mounting location to be adjusted along the support surface while maintaining secure attachment, enabling both stable mounting and position adaptability for alignment with cables or conduits.
Data Source
AI summary
An outlet box comprises a box body and a lid. The box body defines an internal space and has a lid opening permitting access to the internal space. The lid is releasably attachable to the lid opening of the body in a closed configuration, which prevents access to the internal space, and releasably attachable to an external retaining tab of the body in an open configuration, which permits access to the internal space through the lid opening. An attaching mechanism may optionally be used to releasable attach the lid to the external retaining tab, in the open configuration, and to prevent manual relative rotation of the lid with respect to the lid opening in the closed configuration. A gasket may be co-molded with the lid. The external retaining tab may extend from the base wall and has elongated mounting slots for receiving a mounting mechanism. The elongated mounting slots permit relative movement of the box body with respect to the mounting mechanism when in a semi-tightened position.