Recessed Electrical Box With Retractable Slide-Away Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector boxes do not efficiently accommodate multiple low voltage connectors, and their covers often restrict access and pose safety hazards when open.
Innovation Solution
A recessed, in-wall electrical connector box with a flip-up cover that can be retracted into the box, featuring a body with removable elements for various connector sizes and a pivotable cover with a sliding mechanism for easy access and alignment, allowing for unrestricted access and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover is attached to the electrical box with a hinge and latching mechanism to protect the interior, then protection is improved, but access to the interior is restricted and operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to be movable between a closed position (providing protection) and an open position (providing access). The hinge mechanism enables dynamic movement, allowing the cover to transition from protecting the interior components to allowing easy access when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly is segmented into the cover itself and the electrical box body, connected by a hinge. This segmentation allows the cover to be independently movable, providing both protection when closed and access when opened, without compromising the structural integrity of the box.
2Ease of operation
If an open cover is used to allow access, then accessibility is improved, but safety issues arise and the cover can be damaged if inadvertently contacted
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism allows the cover to be securely held in the open position when access is needed, preventing accidental closure or damage. When not in use, the cover can be securely latched closed to prevent inadvertent contact and safety hazards, dynamically adapting to operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism provides preliminary securing of the cover in either open or closed position, preventing accidental movement that could lead to safety issues or damage. The mechanism anticipates and prevents harmful actions by ensuring the cover remains firmly in the desired position.
3Reliability
If separate boxes or supports are used for each connector to protect low voltage connectors, then protection is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical box is designed with a single unified structure that can accommodate multiple low voltage connectors simultaneously. The box includes multiple mounting locations and apertures for different connector types, eliminating the need for separate boxes or supports for each connector, thus reducing complexity while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical box is designed as a multi-functional unit that can house various types of low voltage connectors (data, voice, signal transmission) within a single enclosure. This universal design provides protection for all connectors while simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical box and cover that includes a body having a back wall, a face plate and a perimeter wall which define an interior and an exterior for the body. The back wall has one or more removable elements for forming apertures that can be used to mount connectors. The faceplate has an opening for accessing the interior that extends beyond the perimeter wall to expose a slot. The cover is connected to the body by one or more hinges and is pivotably movable between an open and closed position. When the cover is in the open position, it can be retracted into the housing. A housing extending from the rear of the face plate on the exterior of the body receives the cover. The cover can include a rail on the interior surface and the perimeter wall can include a track that receives the rail when the cover is retracted into the box.