Reversible Leveling Ring for Electrical Floor Box Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional leveling rings are limited to mounting covers with a single bolt-hole pattern, which restricts their compatibility with variously patterned covers from different manufacturers, causing inconvenience and increasing inventory requirements.
Innovation Solution
A reversible leveling ring with multiple bolt-hole patterns on each side, allowing it to accommodate covers with different bolt-hole patterns by flipping between two sets of arms with distinct bore patterns, enabling the use of a single ring with multiple cover styles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional leveling rings are designed with a single bolt-hole pattern, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adaptability to different cover plates is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling ring is divided into two distinct sets of arms: a first set of arms with bores for a first bolt-hole pattern, and a second set of arms with bores for a second bolt-hole pattern. This segmentation allows each set to be optimized for its specific pattern while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The leveling ring is designed to perform multiple functions by accommodating different bolt-hole patterns through its dual set of arms. The ring can be oriented in different positions to match various cover plate patterns, making a single ring universal for multiple cover types and eliminating the need for multiple specialized rings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple leveling rings with different bolt-hole patterns are maintained in inventory, then adaptability to various covers is improved, but inventory complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single leveling ring design incorporates both a first set of arms with bores for a first bolt-hole pattern and a second set of arms with bores for a second bolt-hole pattern, enabling one ring to serve multiple cover plate types from different manufacturers. This universality eliminates the need to maintain multiple separate ring variants in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple separate leveling rings (each designed for a specific bolt-hole pattern) into a single integrated ring structure. By combining different arm sets with different bore patterns into one ring, the invention reduces inventory requirements while maintaining compatibility with various cover plates.
3Quantity of substance
If a single leveling ring design is used for all cover plates, then inventory is simplified, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to mismatched patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The ring structure is segmented into distinct arm sets with different bore patterns, allowing the installer to select the appropriate orientation that matches the cover plate pattern. This segmentation maintains ease of operation by providing clear visual and structural cues for proper installation while simplifying inventory to a single ring type.
Data Source
AI summary
A reversible leveling ring for an electrical floor box. Multiple bolt-hole patterns to enable the leveling ring to accommodate more than a single style of floor box cover. The leveling ring includes a ring body having an inner periphery and a plurality of arms extending from the inner periphery. A first set of arms includes bores extending from a first side of the ring and a second set of arms includes bores extending from a second side of the ring. The bores in the first set of arms match a circular bolt-hole pattern that is of a different diameter than the bolt-hole pattern in the second set of arms thereby enabling an installer to flip the leveling ring in order to accommodate cover plates having two bolt-hole patterns.