Wire Retaining Device for Drywall Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
During construction, electrical wires intended to protrude through drywall are often inadvertently concealed, leading to labor-intensive and imperfect repairs when 'lost' wire ends are discovered, and incorrect placement of wires through drywall holes is common due to lack of clear indication of protrusion points.
Innovation Solution
A device that attaches to a wall stud with a channel for slidably engaging wires, allowing easy identification and secure positioning of wire protrusions through drywall, using a planar primary face and flange with securing apertures and a longitudinally parallel channel for standard electrical wiring, with optional conduit extensions for thicker walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wires are left dangling during construction, then electrical wiring is completed, but wires are inadvertently concealed behind drywall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical marker device as an intermediary between the wire and the drywall installer. This marker attaches to the wire and protrudes through the drywall, serving as a visual mediator that communicates the wire's intended location to the drywall installer without requiring the wire itself to be visible
Solution Approach 2:
The marker is attached to the wire in advance during the electrical wiring phase, before drywall installation begins. This preliminary action ensures the marker is already in place to guide the drywall installer, preventing wire concealment before it occurs
2Productivity
If drywall is installed to complete the wall, then wall construction progresses, but wire locations are lost or incorrectly identified
Solution Approach 1:
The marker utilizes visual differentiation through color or contrast to indicate wire locations. The marker's distinct appearance against the drywall background enables easy identification of wire protrusion points, preventing loss of wire location information
Solution Approach 2:
The marker serves as an information intermediary that transfers wire location data from the electrical phase to the drywall and finishing phases. It maintains wire location information visible throughout construction, preventing information loss
3Ease of operation
If drywall holes are cut to access wires, then wire access is achieved, but labor time and wall imperfections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The marker indicates the exact wire location in advance, allowing the drywall installer to cut holes precisely at the correct positions on the first attempt. This preliminary location information eliminates the need for subsequent repair work
Solution Approach 2:
The marker prevents the harmful action of cutting drywall in wrong locations by providing clear visual guidance. It anticipates and prevents the need for corrective cutting and patching operations
4Ease of operation
If drywall holes are cut at wrong locations, then wire access is attempted, but wall appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The marker's visual contrast against the drywall provides precise location indication, enabling accurate hole placement. The marker's position directly corresponds to where the wire will protrude, ensuring high placement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The marker acts as a precision intermediary that translates wire position into a visible reference point for hole placement. It ensures accurate correspondence between the marker location and the intended wire protrusion location
Data Source
AI summary
A device retains dangling electrical wire at a desired location during the construction process so subsequently hung drywall doesn't conceal the wire end that is intended to be exposed. The device includes a primary face and flange which are approximately perpendicular, and a channel protruding from the primary face. The primary face and flange hug the corner of a wall stud, and a loose end of electrical wire is threaded through the channel. When drywall is hung, a pre-measured and pre-cut drywall hole is positioned to surround the hole and wire segment so the wire end is available for use in wiring light fixtures and the like.