Retrofit Wall Insert With Sealed Additional Housing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface-mounted switches and sockets lack enhanced functionality and flexibility, particularly in enabling additional electrical or electronic components without requiring replacement of the installation device.
Innovation Solution
A wall insert with an additional housing that can be retrofitted to existing devices, providing a sealed closure and accommodating components like lighting elements, radio adapters, or motion detectors, while maintaining protection against moisture through a sealing cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard wall insert is used for sealed closure, then the housing recess is sealed, but the functionality of the installation device remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing an additional housing inside the installation device housing, which contains further sub-components like lighting elements or electronic components. This nested structure allows multiple functional layers within a single device without requiring separate external components, thereby expanding functionality while maintaining a unified structural appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall insert is designed as a multi-functional component that combines both sealing function and additional functional housing. The additional housing can accommodate various components (lighting, electronics, etc.), making the single wall insert structure serve multiple purposes: sealing the housing recess, providing structural support, and housing additional functional elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are integrated into the installation device, then functionality is expanded, but the original device must be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the installation device into modular components: the original installation device housing, the wall insert with sealing function, and the additional functional housing. This segmentation allows the additional functionality to be added as a separate module (the additional housing within the wall insert) rather than requiring replacement of the entire original device, enabling cost-effective retrofitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall insert with the additional housing is pre-configured during manufacturing with the capability to house various functional components. This preliminary preparation allows the device to be retrofitted with different functional elements (lighting, electronics, etc.) later without requiring complex modifications, as the structural framework is already in place.
3Ease of operation
If components are exposed in the installation device, then functionality is accessible, but protection against moisture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sealing elements (flexible membranes/shells) that create protective barriers between the internal components and the external environment. These sealing elements allow the device to maintain protection against moisture while still enabling controlled access to components through the sealed structure, such as via removable covers or access panels that maintain the seal when closed.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A wall insert for an electrical installation device for closing a housing cutout, which is open on one side, in a sealed-off manner has a functional element which is integrally formed on said wall insert.