Tape Light Fixture with Arcuate Slots for Wall Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tape light mounting systems for walls and ceilings are inflexible, laborious to install, and often result in undesirable dark spots due to electrical hardware visibility.
Innovation Solution
A fixture with a mounting plate and end cap that includes arcuate slots and holes for secure wall engagement, a housing portion with a groove for wire extension, and a channel structure with a lens for light emission, allowing for easy installation and concealment of electrical connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional lighting fixtures with electrical hardware are installed precisely in the mounting surface, then the tape light can be powered reliably, but the installation becomes laborious and time consuming with substantial construction required
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is divided into separate modular components: a mounting plate for wall installation, an end cap with housing portion, and a channel structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies installation, as components can be assembled step-by-step without requiring precise pre-planning of the entire electrical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate serves as an intermediary component between the wall structure and the electrical system. It provides pre-defined slots and holes that guide wire routing and electrical connector positioning, eliminating the need for precise custom installation while ensuring reliable electrical connections through standardized interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If electrical connectors are exposed to power the tape light, then the tape light can be connected to electrical wires, but dark spots appear at the end of the light which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector is extracted from the visible light path and housed within the housing portion of the end cap. The channel structure then guides the tape light into position where it emerges uniformly without interruption. This separation of electrical connection functions from optical functions eliminates dark spots while maintaining connection ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector is nested within the housing portion, which is itself part of the end cap assembly. The channel structure is nested within the housing portion, and the tape light is nested within the channel. This nested arrangement conceals the electrical connector from view while maintaining accessibility for connection, thus eliminating dark spots without compromising ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise planning is required for installing lighting fixtures, then the electrical connections can be made accurately, but the installation process becomes inflexible and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate incorporates arcuate slots instead of fixed holes, allowing the mounting screws to be positioned at various angles and locations along the slots. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise mounting while maintaining installation flexibility, as the installer can adapt to different wall conditions and orientations without requiring pre-planned precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture design with standardized mounting plate, end cap, and channel structure creates a universal assembly that can be installed in various locations and orientations. The arcuate slots and pre-defined holes provide multi-functional mounting options, allowing the same fixture to be adapted to different installation scenarios without requiring custom planning, thus enhancing both precision and versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixture adapted to be arranged inside a wall for mounting at least one tape light is disclosed. The fixture includes a mounting plate adapted to be mounted inside a wall and defining at least two arcuate slots extending proximate to an edge of the mounting plate to facilitate an engagement of the mounting plate to a mounting structure arranged inside the wall. The mounting plate defines at least one hole extending from a first surface to a second surface. The fixture includes an end cap removably engaged to the mounting plate and having a housing portion defining a chamber to receive an electrical connector and having a base defining a groove arranged aligned with the at least one hole of the mounting plate. The groove and the hole facilitate an extension of a plurality of wires.