Locking Socket Housing Cover for Dirt and Moisture Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical box housings, particularly recessed housings, are prone to dirt, foreign objects, and moisture ingress when no plug is inserted, and existing solutions suffer from design complexity, poor sealing, or require complete removal for maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A can housing with a partially closed design featuring a cover that can be locked and unlocked via an operating device, utilizing a spring mechanism for controlled rotation and sealing, allowing easy replacement of parts and minimizing installation depth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a connector is designed to be completely disassembled into separate housing parts for repair, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple parts and assembly requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of repairVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be separated from each other. This segmentation allows the connector to be disassembled into separate parts for repair while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The modular design enables targeted repair of specific sections without requiring complete disassembly of the entire connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If repair methods require complete disassembly of the connector, then thorough repair is possible, but loss of time increases due to extensive disassembly and reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethorough repairVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the housing into separable first and second housing parts, the connector can be partially disassembled to access and repair specific components. This selective disassembly approach allows thorough repair of problematic areas while minimizing the time required compared to complete disassembly, as other functional parts remain assembled and intact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If connector housings are made from thermoplastics for ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness, then ease of manufacture is improved, but heat resistance deteriorates due to melting point limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The connector housing utilizes thermoplastic materials that can be processed using conventional manufacturing methods, maintaining ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness. The patent acknowledges the heat resistance limitation of thermoplastics but addresses it through design considerations that account for the material's thermal properties, ensuring the connector functions appropriately within its thermal constraints while benefiting from the manufacturing advantages of thermoplastics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4289031B1Socket housing, method for operating a socket housing
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 BACHMANN GMBH
  • EP4289031B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4289031B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4289031B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a socket housing (1) and to a method for operating a socket housing (1). The socket housing (1) has an at least partly closed housing (2) and at least one operating device (6), and the housing (2) has at least one interior in which at least one plug socket (8), at least one information connection, and/or at least one switch is accommodated. A cover (3) is arranged on at least one face of the housing (2), said cover covering an interior and having at least one opening (4) that can be closed by a closure (5). At least one opening (4) has a blocking position which closes the opening (4) and a release position which releases the opening, and the cover (3) and/or at least one closure (5) is movably arranged on said face of the housing (2) in order to release or block at least one opening (4). By actuating at least one operating device (6), at least one closure (5) is brought directly or indirectly from a closure position, which closes the opening (4), into a release position, which releases the opening (4), or from a release position, which releases the opening (4), into a closure position, which closes the opening (4), wherein the cover (3) is a single part or is made of multiple parts, and the cover (3) can be connected to the housing (2) by means of at least one locking device (21) or can be at least partly released from the housing (2).