Two-Piece Wall Plate System for Splitter Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall plate systems require removal of the entire plate to access or replace a splitter device, making it inconvenient for maintenance or upgrades, as the splitter's input and return ports are not easily accessible without disassembling the wall plate.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece wall plate system with a faceplate and a cover housing that allows easy access to cables, where the cover housing can securely hold a splitter or other connectors, with input and return ports accessible from the back for connection to coaxial cables within the wall opening, and can be easily removed and reattached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the wall plate is made as a single integrated unit, then the aesthetic appearance and structural simplicity are improved, but the ease of maintenance and replacement of the splitter device deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wall plate is divided into two separate components: a faceplate that provides the aesthetic cover and a cover housing that contains the splitter device. These components can be easily attached and detached from each other, allowing the splitter to be accessed for maintenance or replacement without removing the entire wall plate assembly. The faceplate remains mounted on the wall while the cover housing can be removed to access the splitter.
2Shape
If the splitter device is enclosed within the wall plate, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the accessibility of input and return ports deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wall plate system separates the aesthetic function (faceplate) from the functional housing (cover housing). The cover housing contains the splitter device with its input and return ports accessible from the rear side, while the faceplate provides the aesthetic cover with a cable access opening. This segmentation allows ports to remain accessible without compromising the aesthetic appearance of the front faceplate.
Solution Approach 2:
The input and return ports are positioned on the rear surface of the cover housing, accessing the splitter from a different spatial dimension (rear access rather than front access). This allows the front faceplate to maintain its aesthetic appearance while the ports remain easily accessible from the back side of the installation.
3Device complexity
If the entire wall plate must be removed to access the splitter, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the productivity for installation and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wall plate is segmented into a faceplate and a cover housing that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The cover housing can be removed from the faceplate without requiring removal of the entire wall plate assembly from the wall. This segmentation dramatically improves installation and maintenance productivity by allowing technicians to access the splitter device quickly without disturbing the mounted faceplate or wall opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The faceplate is pre-installed on the wall to provide the aesthetic cover and cable access opening. The cover housing containing the splitter can then be separately assembled and attached to the faceplate. This preliminary installation of the faceplate allows for quick replacement of the cover housing during maintenance without requiring removal of the permanently mounted faceplate, thereby improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A faceplate is configured for covering a wall opening providing access to electrical signal cables. The faceplate itself has an opening leading into the wall opening, and a pair of mounting holes above and below the opening. A cover housing is formed to secure an electrical device within a cavity thereof. The faceplate and cover housing are adapted to provide for the latter being removably secured to the front of the faceplate, after the electrical device is connected to at least one of the signal cables. The cover housing is configured to permit a user to connect a signal cable to the electrical device, and signal cables from the wall opening thereto.