Plumbing Outlet Box Assembly With Rotationally Symmetric Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plumbing outlet boxes require separate connectors and mounting brackets for multiple installations, leading to increased tooling and manufacturing costs, inventory complexities, and complicated installation processes, especially when multiple boxes need to be positioned next to each other.
Innovation Solution
The design of plumbing outlet boxes with integral receiving features and mounting tabs allows for attachment without separate connectors or brackets, enabling engagement and secure fastening of multiple boxes regardless of orientation, using a universal configuration that accommodates various connection types and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate connectors and mounting brackets are used for multiple plumbing outlet box installations, then the boxes can be securely mounted, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate mounting brackets and connectors into integral mounting features that are molded directly into the plumbing outlet box housing. The mounting tabs and receiving features are formed as single-piece integrals with the box body, eliminating the need for separate mounting components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining secure mounting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal mounting features that can accommodate multiple mounting scenarios. The receiving features and mounting tabs are configured to work with various stud orientations and positions, allowing the same box design to be used for different installation configurations without requiring different mounting hardware
2Reliability
If separate connectors and mounting brackets are used for multiple plumbing outlet box installations, then the boxes can be securely mounted, but manufacturing costs and inventory complexities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting features are molded as integrals with the box housing in a single manufacturing process, eliminating the need to separately manufacture and inventory mounting brackets and connectors. This reduces tooling requirements, simplifies production, and lowers overall manufacturing costs while maintaining secure mounting functionality
Solution Approach 2:
A single universal box design with integrated mounting features can serve multiple installation scenarios, reducing the need to manufacture and stock multiple specialized box variants for different mounting configurations, thereby simplifying inventory management and reducing manufacturing complexity
3Device complexity
If conventional plumbing outlet boxes are used without integrated mounting features, then the box design is simple, but the installation process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated mounting tabs and receiving features enable the plumbing outlet boxes to self-align and self-attach during installation. The complementary geometries of the mounting tabs and receiving features guide proper positioning and provide automatic mechanical interengagement, simplifying the installation process without requiring complex alignment procedures or additional mounting hardware
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.