# US 10,374,371 B2 · One-piece electrical fitting for snap connection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,371 B2 - Document ID: US10374371B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/991,726 - Filed: 2018-05-29 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-30 - Assignees: Arlington Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Arlington Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas J. Gretz; Daniel J. O'Neil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374371B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/745: {separate from the housing} - H01R 4/64: Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail - H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section} - H01R 13/655: with earth brace - H01R 13/743: {integral with the housing} - H02G 3/0625: {with means for preventing disengagement of conductors} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A one-piece electrical fitting for connecting an electrical cable to a junction box, the electrical fitting formed from a single, flat blank of metal into a cylindrical connector body. The connector body includes a leading end, a trailing end, a cap, an inner bore, and one or more grounding tangs, locking tangs, and flanges extending radially outward from the connector body. According to one embodiment, the flanges extend from the grounding tangs and the locking tangs include free ends. According to a further embodiment, the locking tangs extend from an interior base of the locking tangs. In a further embodiment, a seat extends between the flanges of the grounding tangs and the free end of the locking tangs. One or more cable retaining tangs extend inward from the connector body into the inner bore. The one-piece electrical fitting is stamped and formed from a flat blank of metal. A tab and groove arrangement on the blank facilitates forming the blank into the cylindrical connector body, which is held together by a locking arrangement between the cap and the cylindrical connector body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A one-piece electrical fitting, comprising: a cylindrical connector body having a leading end, a trailing end, and a bore; at least one grounding tang extending outwardly from the cylindrical connector body; at least one locking tang extending outwardly from the cylindrical connector body; at least one cable retaining tang extending inwardly from the cylindrical connector body; a cap forming the leading end; and a locking arrangement, wherein the cap includes a projecting tab and the cylindrical connector body includes a leading edge slot to receive the projecting tab of the cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a hinge extending from the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the cap has a shape that complements a circumference of the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the cap includes an outer periphery that matches a substantial portion of the cylindrical connector body's circumference. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the cap has the shape of a truncated circle with a truncated portion of the cap being connected to the cylindrical connector body through a hinge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 further comprising a locking arrangement, wherein a longitudinal seam runs from the trailing end to the leading end of the cylindrical connector body joining a first and a second edge in a flush, gap-free connection, and wherein the second edge includes at least one projecting tab, and the first edge includes at least one complementary groove to receive and lock the projecting tab. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the cap includes an opening defined by an outwardly-turned lip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the locking tang extends from an interior base of the grounding tang. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 8, wherein the grounding tang extends outward at a first angle and the locking tang extends outward at a second angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 9, wherein the grounding tang and the locking tang each extend in a direction away from the leading end of the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the grounding tang and the locking tang each extend outward in a direction toward the trailing end of the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the grounding tang and the locking tang extend outward in opposing directions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the grounding tang extends outward from the cylindrical connector body at a first angle, and the locking tang extends outward from the cylindrical connector body at a second angle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 further comprising a flange extending from the grounding tang. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 14 further comprising a seat between the flange and the locking tang. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 15, wherein the seat is part of the grounding tang. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 14, wherein the flange extends from the grounding tang at an angle perpendicular to the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 14, wherein the flange further comprises an arcuate outer end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 further comprising a flange extending from the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 19, wherein the flange extends outward in a direction away from the trailing end of the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 19, wherein the flange is radially offset in relation to the grounding tang and the locking tang. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 further comprising a flange extending from the cylindrical connector body and in longitudinal alignment with the locking tang. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the grounding tang and locking tang each further comprises an arcuate outer end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 comprising three grounding tangs and three locking tangs. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 comprising three flanges extending outward from the cylindrical connector body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1 comprising a plurality of cable retaining tangs. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 1, wherein the cable retaining tangs each have an arm extending inward from the cylindrical connector body into the bore. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The one-piece electrical fitting of claim 21, wherein at least two of the cable retaining tangs include angled end portions, wherein the angled end portions of the two cable retaining tangs are further slanted in opposing directions. ### Claim 29 A one-piece electrical fitting, comprising: a cylindrical connector body having a leading end, a trailing end, and a bore; at least one grounding tang extending outwardly from the cylindrical connector body; at least one locking tang extending outwardly from the cylindrical connector body; at least one cable retaining tang extending inwardly from the cylindrical connector body; a cap forming the leading end; and a locking arrangement, wherein the cap includes at least one notch in its outer periphery and the cylindrical connector body includes at least one projecting tab bent over the at least one notch of the cap.