Variable Depth Electrical Box With Deformable Rear Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical boxes face challenges in accommodating various partition thicknesses, requiring multiple box references (40 and 50 mm) to accommodate different depths, which increases manufacturing and storage costs and makes the work of electricians tedious due to high effort needed to adjust box depth.
Innovation Solution
The electrical box features separate junction elements with a deformable part that allows the rear body to pivot, reducing the effort required to change box depth by interrupting the junction element and incorporating a deformable part specifically designed to facilitate this adjustment, ensuring the front body remains rigid for secure fixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single rigid electrical box structure is used, then manufacturing and storage costs are reduced, but the box cannot adapt to different partition thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical box is divided into separate components: a front body, a rear body, and junction elements that connect them. This segmentation allows the rear body to pivot relative to the front body, enabling adaptation to different partition thicknesses while keeping each component relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical box transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable structure through the introduction of hinges and deformable parts. The rear body can pivot between different positions, allowing the box depth to be adjusted according to the partition thickness, while the front body remains rigid for secure fixing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the junction element is made flexible to allow depth adjustment, then adaptability improves, but the effort required to adjust depth increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The junction element is segmented into multiple separate junction elements rather than a single continuous flexible element. This segmentation, combined with the deformable part, distributes the deformation required and reduces the force needed to adjust the box depth.
Solution Approach 2:
A deformable part is introduced at a specific location in the rear body to concentrate the flexibility where needed. This local deformability allows the rear body to pivot easily during junction element movement, reducing the overall effort required for depth adjustment while maintaining rigidity in other parts of the box.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple box references (40mm and 50mm) are provided, then adaptability to different partition thicknesses improves, but manufacturing and storage costs double
Solution Approach 1:
A single electrical box design serves multiple functions by accommodating both 40mm and 50mm partition thicknesses through the adjustable depth mechanism. The front body, rear body, and junction elements work together to provide a universal solution that replaces the need for multiple specialized box references, thereby reducing manufacturing and storage costs.
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
This solution allows for easier depth adjustment of the electrical box, reducing the effort needed to change from one depth to another, maintaining the rigidity of the front body for secure fixing and reducing manufacturing and storage costs by eliminating the need for multiple box references.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable part which is adapted to deform with a greater amplitude than the rest of the rear body during the pivoting of the junction elements relative to the front body and to the rear body
Implementation Method 2
a junction element connected to the front body and to the rear body by two hinges in such a way that the rear body can assume two stable positions by relative to the front body
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical box (10) for installation in a partition wall, comprising: - a rear body (200) including a base (202), - a front body (100) including means for attaching it (400) to the partition wall, and - at least two connecting elements (301), each connected to the front and rear bodies by two hinges (301A, 301B) such that the rear body can assume two stable positions relative to the front body, including a first stable position and a second stable position in which the electrical box has a greater depth than in the first stable position. According to the invention, the rear body includes, between the two connecting elements, at least one deformable portion (203) adapted to deform with a greater amplitude than the rest of the rear body when the connecting elements pivot relative to the front and rear bodies.