# US 10,483,734 B2 · Quick lock system for joining and aligning tubes, conduits and junction boxes

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- Number: US 10,483,734 B2
- Document ID: US10483734B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/004,238
- Filed: 2018-06-08
- Published: 2019-09-26
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-19
- Assignees: Fortune Industries International, Inc.
- Applicants: Fortune Industries International, Inc.
- Inventors: David Hong Yeh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483734B2

## CPC

- H02G 3/0616: {Joints for connecting tubing to casing}
- H02G 3/0406: {Details thereof (installation or suspension of conduit channels and other supports H02G3/263)}
- H02G 3/065: {with means biting into the conductor-insulation, e.g. teeth-like elements or gripping fingers (H02G3/0675, H02G3/0683 take precedence)}
- H02G 3/0666: {with means clamping the armour of the conductor (H02G3/0675, H02G3/0683 take precedence)}
- H02G 3/0691: {Fixing tubing to casing by auxiliary means co-operating with indentations of the tubing, e.g. with tubing-convolutions}
- H02G 3/0481: {with a circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence)}
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A connecting system for quickly securing a hollow tube to a structure or to another hollow tube using a connector that has a housing with a tapered interior edge that operably engages a locking element positioned therein. When the tube is inserted into the locking element, the locking element holds and locks the tube in place in the connector. A guide ring may be provided within the connector to facilitate proper alignment of the tube within the connector and provide excellent electrical conductivity throughout the entire tube connecting system. One or more bearings may be provided as part of the locking element to facilitate initial tube insertion and then compression locking of the tube by the locking element. The connector can include a variety of structure engaging portions to allow the connector to be operably secured to a variety of structures such as electrical junction boxes, electrical conduits, tubes, armored cables, metal clad cables, flexible metal cables and the like.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hollow-tube connecting system comprising:
a hollow tube;
a connector for securing the hollow tube to a structure, the connector further comprising;
a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter, the interior surface defining a chamber, the connector body having an opening into the chamber for receiving the hollow tube, the opening being located at one end of the connector body, the one end corresponding to the smaller diameter of the interior of the connector body;
a locking element having a tapered exterior surface and positioned within the chamber of the connector body, the locking element having an opening for receiving the hollow tube and including an annular element in which are included one or more bearings, wherein inserting the hollow tube into the opening of the connector body and then into the locking element urges the one or more bearings to engage the tapered interior surface of the connector body and the exterior surface of the inserted hollow tube, thereby increasing the hollow tube's resistance to being removed from the connector body, and further, wherein when the inserted hollow tube is attempted to be withdrawn from the connector body through the opening, the locking element moves toward the end of the connector body having the smaller diameter of the interior of the connector body and acts to increase a force locking the hollow tube inside the connector body; and
a structure engaging portion operative to secure the connector to the structure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a guide ring positioned within the chamber, the guide ring having an opening for receiving the end of the hollow tube and an outer diameter sized to engage the interior surface of the connector body and operative to hold the guide ring substantially parallel with the connector body opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the guide ring includes a plurality of tabs extending toward the center of the ring and angled away from the connector body opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is an electrical conduit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical conduit is selected from the group consisting of Electrical Metallic Tubing, Rigid Metal Conduit, Galvanized Rigid Conduit, Intermediate Metal Conduit, Polyvinyl Chloride conduit, plastic, fiber and fired clay.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the structure engaging portion includes a threaded element and nut for securing the connector to a hole in an electrical junction box.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the structure engaging portion includes two connector engaging portions for operably securing two connectors together.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tube is selected from the group consisting of a straight section, a T-shape, a U-shape, and an L-shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the locking element is formed of a resilient material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a ring spring having a neutral position and operably secured to the locking element, the ring spring operating to compress the locking element toward the connector body in its neutral position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tapered interior surface of the connector body has a taper angle between 3 to 25 degrees, inclusive.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the annular element includes one or more apertures with a bearing rotatably secured in each aperture.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The connector of claim 13, wherein each bearing is a ball bearing having a diameter between 0.5 millimeter (mm) and 10 millimeters (mm), inclusive.

### Claim 15

A connector for connecting a hollow tube to a structure or to another hollow tube, comprising:
a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter, the interior surface defining a chamber, the connector body having an opening into the chamber for receiving the hollow tube, the opening being located at one end of the connector body, the one end corresponding to the smaller diameter of the interior of the connector body; and
a locking element having a tapered exterior surface and positioned within the chamber of the connector body, the locking element having an opening for receiving the hollow tube and including an annular element in which are included one or more bearings, wherein inserting the hollow tube into the opening of the connector body and then into the locking element urges the one or more bearings to engage the tapered interior surface of the connector body and the exterior surface of the inserted hollow tube, thereby increasing the hollow tube's resistance to being removed from the connector body, and further, wherein when the inserted hollow tube is attempted to be withdrawn from the connector body through the opening, the locking element moves toward the end of the connector body having the smaller diameter of the interior of the connector body and acts to increase a force locking the hollow tube inside the connector body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, further comprising a guide ring positioned within the chamber, the guide ring having an opening for receiving the end of the hollow tube and an outer diameter sized to engage the interior surface of the connector body and operative to hold the guide ring substantially parallel with the connector body opening.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, wherein the guide ring includes a plurality of tabs extending toward the center of the ring and angled away from the connector body opening.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, wherein the hollow tube is an electrical conduit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The connector of claim 18, wherein the electrical conduit is selected from the group consisting of Electrical Metallic Tubing, Rigid Metal Conduit, Galvanized Rigid Conduit, Intermediate Metal Conduit, Polyvinyl Chloride conduit, plastic, fiber and fired clay.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, further comprising a structure engaging portion operative to secure the connector to a structure.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The connector of claim 20, wherein the structure engaging portion includes a threaded element and nut for securing the connector to a hole in an electrical junction box.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The connector of claim 20, wherein the structure engaging portion includes two connector engaging portions for operably securing two connectors together.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, wherein the locking element is formed of a resilient material.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The connector of claim 23, wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

### Claim 25 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, further comprising a ring spring having a neutral position and operably secured to the locking element, the ring spring operating to compress the locking element toward the connector body in its neutral position.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, wherein the tapered interior surface of the connector body has a taper angle between 3 to 25 degrees, inclusive.

### Claim 27 (depends on 15)

The connector of claim 15, wherein the annular element includes one or more apertures with a bearing rotatably secured in each aperture.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The connector of claim 27, wherein each bearing is a ball bearing having a diameter between 0.5 millimeter (mm) and 10 millimeters (mm), inclusive.