Sealed Electrical Box With Integrated Peripheral Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical boxes for hollow partitions often suffer from airtightness issues due to mismatched dimensions between the box and the opening in the wall, leading to air leakage between the box and the wall edge.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral seal is integrated into the electrical box, molded onto the side wall and support collar, ensuring a captive and effective seal that adapts to various wall thicknesses and shapes, preventing air passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrical box is installed in a hollow partition opening, then the electrical equipment can be mounted and connected, but air leakage occurs between the box edge and the opening edge due to dimension mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
A peripheral seal made of flexible material is integrated into the electrical box structure. This seal comprises a first portion molded on the external face of the side wall and a second portion molded on the rear face of the support flange, creating a continuous flexible sealing element that adapts to dimensional variations between the box and opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical box combines rigid structural components (side wall, support flange) with a flexible sealing material to create a composite structure. This allows the box to maintain structural integrity while providing adaptive sealing capability against air leakage.
2Reliability
If a peripheral seal is added to ensure airtightness, then air passage is blocked, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral seal is merged with the electrical box as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. The seal is molded directly onto the side wall and support flange during manufacturing, creating a unified structure that eliminates the need for separate sealing components or assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral seal serves multiple functions: it provides airtight sealing, compensates for dimensional variations in openings, and maintains structural continuity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall device design.
3Ease of operation
If the opening dimensions are larger than the box dimensions, then installation is easier, but air leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral seal provides dynamic adaptation to opening dimensions. The flexible material allows the seal to deform and conform to variations in opening size and shape, maintaining effective sealing across a range of dimensional tolerances without requiring precise matching between box and opening.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable airtight seal without increasing installation complexity or costs, effectively blocking air passage between the box and the wall edge, even with imperfectly cut openings.
Implementation Method 1
A peripheral seal is integrated into the electrical box, molded onto the side wall and support collar
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical box (1) for embedding in a wall, comprising a body (10) which includes a side wall (20) at least partially bordered at the front by a support collar (40). According to the invention, the electrical box includes a peripheral seal (60) which is at least partially overmolded onto the external face of the body and which runs along the support collar all around the body.