Wall-Mounted Housing Retaining Mechanism for Shallow Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall-mounted housing apparatuses face challenges in retaining a front cover open at 90° due to the weight of the cover, as existing mechanisms are complex or unsuitable for thin, shallow cases, and cannot be applied to wall-mounted designs with upward-opening covers.
Innovation Solution
A retaining mechanism with a fixed engagement portion and a movable slide bar is used, where the slide bar slides downward due to the cover's weight when opened, and the portion to be supported engages with the fixed engagement portion when closed, maintaining the cover at 90° without additional support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex retaining mechanism (such as gas springs or multi-component structures) is used to hold the front cover open, then the cover can be reliably retained in the open state, but the device complexity increases and the depth dimension becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism is segmented into two distinct functional parts: a fixed engagement portion with a support surface on the rear case, and a movable engagement portion (slide bar) on the front cover. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall structure simple and shallow.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide bar utilizes its own weight to automatically engage with the support surface when the front cover is opened to 90° or more, eliminating the need for external power sources like gas springs or complex actuating mechanisms. The system serves itself by converting the cover's weight from a harmful factor into the retaining force.
2Reliability
If a deep case structure is used to accommodate complex retaining mechanisms, then the cover can be retained open, but the apparatus depth dimension increases which is unsuitable for wall-mounted applications
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining function is achieved not by extending the depth of the case, but by utilizing the vertical dimension and the rotational motion of the cover. The slide bar moves vertically along guide grooves and engages with the support surface through a downward motion that occurs naturally when the cover is opened, transferring the retaining function from the depth dimension to the vertical dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism uses the dynamic motion of opening the cover to trigger the retaining action. As the cover rotates open, the slide bar automatically slides downward due to gravity and engages with the support surface, creating a dynamic retaining system that requires no additional depth space.
3Weight of moving object
If the front cover is made lightweight to reduce apparatus weight, then installation becomes easier, but the cover cannot be reliably retained open against its own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism converts the harmful factor (the cover's weight that causes it to close) into a beneficial force. When the cover is opened to 90° or more, the slide bar moves downward under the influence of gravity and engages with the support surface, using the cover's own weight as the retaining force. This allows even lightweight covers to be reliably held in the open state.
4Ease of manufacture
If a simple retaining mechanism is used to reduce device complexity, then manufacturing becomes easier, but the mechanism may not provide sufficient reliability to hold the cover open
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism merges the functions of guidance and retention into a single integrated structure. The guide grooves that constrain the slide bar's motion also define the engagement path with the support surface, combining multiple functions into simple geometric features that are easy to manufacture while providing reliable retention.
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 simple structure with a shallow depth dimension, effectively retaining the front cover open at 90°, allowing for maintenance without hindering access to the electronic components.
Implementation Method 1
when the front cover is opened upward at the angle larger than 90°, the slide bar slides toward the depth side in the apparatus depth direction due to its weight
Data Source
AI summary
A wall-mounted housing apparatus includes: a rear case (10); a front cover (20); and a retaining mechanism including a fixed engagement portion (41) and a movable engagement portion (46). The movable engagement portion (46) includes a slidable slide bar (462). The slide bar (462) includes a bar main body (462a) slidable in an apparatus height direction (H), which is the direction when the front cover (20) is closed, and a portion (462b) to be supported. When the front cover (20) is opened upward at an angle larger than 90°, the slide bar (462) slides down due to its weight, and then, when the front cover (20) is closed at 90°, the portion (462b) to be supported is supported by a support surface (412b) of the fixed engagement portion (41). In such a way, the front cover (20) is retained in a state of being opened at 90°.