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US 10,241,134 B2Granted
Meter box grounding clamp
AssigneePpc Broadband, Inc.
InventorsBrian K. Hanson, Andrew M. Haberek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor includes a first clamping member having a first base and a first arm, a second clamping member having a second base and a second arm, and a coupling member configured to adjustably couple the first clamping member with the second clamping member such that the first arm is spaced from the second arm by a desired distance. The coupling member is also configured to prevent decoupling of the first clamping member from the second clamping member.
Claims18
A clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor, the clamping device comprising:
- a first clamping portion having a first base portion and a first arm portion;
- and
- a second clamping portion having a second base portion and a second arm portion;
- and
- a coupling portion configured to operably couple the first clamping portion with the second clamping portion,
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to permit the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to pivot relative to one another between a first orientation, where the first base portion and the second base portion extend parallel to one another along a longitudinal direction, and a second orientation, where the first base portion and the second base portion do not extend parallel to one another along the longitudinal direction,
- wherein, in the first orientation, the coupling portion is configured to prevent relative sliding movement between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in a first direction where the first arm portion and the second arm portion move away from one another and permit relative sliding movement between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in a second direction where the first arm portion and the second arm portion move toward one another, wherein, in the second orientation, the coupling portion is configured to permit relative sliding movement between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in the first direction and the second direction,
- wherein a first portion of the coupling portion is configured to slide with the first clamping portion relative to the second clamping portion, and a second portion of the coupling portion is configured to slide with the second clamping portion relative to the first clamping portion,
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to limit a range of the relative sliding between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in the longitudinal direction,
- wherein the first base portion and the second base portion are configured to overlap one another so that the relative sliding between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion adjusts a distance between the first arm portion and the second arm portion in the longitudinal direction,
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to set the distance between the first arm portion and the second arm portion to one of a predetermined number of distances in the first orientation,
- wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are configured to clamp the conductor there between, and
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to prevent decoupling of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion before operation of the clamping device, during operation of the clamping device, and after operation of the clamping device.
10 more elements
A clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor, the clamping device comprising:
- a first clamping portion having a first base portion and a first arm portion;
- and
- a second clamping portion having a second base portion and a second arm portion;
- and
- a coupling portion configured to operably couple the first clamping portion with the second clamping portion,
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to permit the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion to pivot relative to one another between a first orientation, where the first base portion and the second base portion extend parallel to one another along a longitudinal direction, and a second orientation, where the first base portion and the second base portion do not extend parallel to one another along the longitudinal direction,
- wherein, in the first orientation, the coupling portion is configured to prevent relative sliding movement between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in a direction where the first arm portion and the second arm portion move away from one another,
- wherein, in the second orientation, the coupling portion is configured to permit relative sliding movement between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in the direction where the first arm portion and the second arm portion move away from one another,
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to limit a range of the relative sliding movement between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion in the longitudinal direction,
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to set the distance between the first arm portion and the second arm portion to one of a predetermined number of distances in the first orientation,
- wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are configured to clamp the conductor there between, and
- wherein the coupling portion is configured to prevent decoupling of the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion before operation of the clamping device, during operation of the clamping device, and after operation of the clamping device.
9 more elements
A clamping device for mechanical and electrical connection to sides of a conductor, the clamping device comprising:
- a first clamping portion having a first base portion and a first arm portion;
- and
- a second clamping portion having a second base portion and a second arm portion;
- and
- wherein the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are configured to be operably coupled to one another,
- wherein the first clamping portion is configured to pivot relative to the second clamping portion between a first orientation, where the first base portion and the second base portion extend parallel to one another along a longitudinal direction, and a second orientation, where the first base portion and the second base portion do not extend parallel to one another along the longitudinal direction,
- wherein, in the first orientation, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are prevented from sliding relative to one another in a direction where the first arm portion and the second arm portion move away from one another,
- wherein, in the second orientation, the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are permitted to slide relative to one another in the direction where the first arm portion and the second arm portion move away from one another,
- wherein the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion are configured to set a distance between the first arm portion and the second arm portion to one of a predetermined number of distances in the first orientation, and
- wherein the first arm portion and the second arm portion are configured to clamp the conductor there between.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.