Ultra Shallow Floor Box with Sloped Cable Exit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floor boxes are not suitable for ultra-shallow floors due to their height, creating a trip hazard and failing to accommodate electrical fixtures without being completely installed above the floor surface.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a floor box with a pivoting/retractable cable lid and an ultra-shallow configuration featuring a sloping cord exit, allowing for recessed mounting and reducing the profile to prevent tripping hazards while accommodating electrical fixtures in shallow spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional floor boxes are installed in ultra-shallow floors, then the electrical device must be completely installed above the floor surface, but this creates a trip hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The floor box body is designed with an ultra-shallow depth dimension, allowing the electrical device to be recessed into the floor while maintaining a low profile. The cover extends slightly above the floor surface to enclose the device, changing the vertical dimension arrangement to eliminate trip hazards while enabling recessed installation in shallow floors
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed with a pivoting/retractable cable lid that can dynamically adjust its position. The lid pivots to accommodate cable insertion and then retracts to maintain a low profile, allowing the floor box to adapt between enclosed and open states while preventing tripping hazards
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional floor boxes are used, then the outlet face is parallel to the floor surface, but this cannot accommodate ultra-shallow floor configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The floor box design changes the depth parameter to ultra-shallow dimensions, enabling adaptation to thin floor constructions. The outlet face remains parallel to the floor surface through the cover design, while the shallow body depth allows installation in floors that cannot accommodate conventional deeper boxes
3Ease of operation
If the floor box has a sloping cord exit, then cable exit is parallel with and tangent to the finished floor, but this increases the complexity of the cover structure
Solution Approach 1:
The cover incorporates a sloping cord exit with a curved transition surface that guides cables from the floor box body to a parallel exit alignment with the finished floor. This curved geometry provides a smooth cable path while maintaining aesthetic appearance and functional cable management
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a floor box for electrical connectors, having: a body defined by a base and a perimetrical side wall, the body configured for partially recessed mounting into a floor, the body having an upper opening and a portion of the perimetrical side wall that are raised above the floor; and a cover having a cover body and a cover lid, the cover configured to enclose the upper opening and the raised portion of the perimetrical side wall to define a cable well therein, the cover closing over the upper opening and the perimetrical side wall to provide a sloped gradient to a surface of the floor, wherein the body is adapted for accommodating electrical fixtures.