Plumbing Outlet Box Mounting Tabs for Flexible Multi-Box Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plumbing outlet boxes require separate connectors or mounting brackets for multiple installations, leading to increased costs, complexity, and potential misconfiguration issues when accommodating different types of connections and orientations within a wall.
Innovation Solution
The design of plumbing outlet boxes with integrated mounting tabs and receiving features allows for attachment without separate fasteners or accessories, enabling flexible orientation and configuration to accommodate various connections by engaging corresponding tabs and features, thereby simplifying installation and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate connectors or mounting brackets are used for multiple plumbing outlet box installations, then secure connections and proper orientation are achieved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting features (tabs and receiving features) are integrated directly into the plumbing outlet box housing structure, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or connectors. This merging of functions reduces the number of components while maintaining secure connection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated mounting tabs and receiving features are designed to accommodate multiple installation orientations and configurations using a single component design. The universal mounting system can secure outlet boxes in various positions without requiring different specialized hardware.
2Reliability
If separate connectors or mounting brackets are used for multiple plumbing outlet box installations, then secure connections and proper orientation are achieved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the mounting features with the outlet box housing as an integrated structure, the patent eliminates the need to manufacture, inventory, and install separate mounting brackets or connectors, thereby reducing overall installation cost while maintaining connection security.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet box housing itself provides the mounting capability through integrated tabs and receiving features, making the housing self-sufficient for installation purposes without requiring additional specialized hardware components.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional plumbing outlet boxes are used without integrated mounting features, then manufacturing is simpler, but installation requires additional hardware and potential misconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting features are merged into the housing structure during the manufacturing process, so that what appears to be an integrated design is actually a unified manufacturing process that doesn't significantly complicate production while dramatically improving installation ease.
Data Source
AI summary
Plumbing outlet boxes, such as for connecting washing machines, ice makers, and other plumbed appliances to plumbing systems, are provided that can be attached to each other without the use of separate connectors or mounting brackets. In particular, plumbing outlet boxes are described that include receiving features and mounting tabs extending outwardly from the side walls. The receiving features and mounting tabs are arranged such that the plumbing outlet box has rotational symmetry. In this way, receiving features may be engaged with mounting tabs of an adjacent plumbing outlet box regardless of the relative orientation of the mating plumbing outlet boxes.