Removable push electrical fitting for electrical metallic tubing or emt having improved pullout resistance
AssigneeBridgeport Fittings, Inc.
InventorLawrence J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical fitting having a gripping device with a plurality of gripping tabs forming a helix or spiral. The gripping tabs have a twist creating increased pullout resistance and easier disassembly. The electrical fitting permits electrical metallic tubing or EMT to be quickly attached to and removed from the electrical fitting without disassembling the fitting or cutting the tubing. A body with a locking end having a plurality of griping tabs receives an end of the tubing pushed into the fitting. The gripping tabs securely hold the tubing preventing loosening or removal. The helix or spiral and twist formation of the griping tabs permits easy removal of the tubing by rotating the tubing counter-clockwise.
Claims19
An electrical fitting comprising:
- a body having a first and second end;
- a locking end placed in the first end of said body;
- and
- a plurality of gripping tabs forming a helix held in said locking end, each of said plurality of gripping tabs having a twist;
- whereby a tube can be pushed into said locking end and held by said plurality of gripping tabs and removed by rotating the tube.
An electrical connector for attaching electrical metallic tubing to an electrical box comprising:
- a body;
- a locking end formed on said body;
- a gripping device comprising a plurality of gripping tabs forming a helix with each gripping tab of the plurality of gripping tabs having a twist, said gripping device secured to said locking end;
- a threaded end formed on said body;
- and
- a locknut placed on said threaded end,
- whereby an electrical metallic tubing can be pushed into said locking end and held by the plurality of gripping tabs and removed by rotating the electrical metallic tubing.
An electrical connector for attaching electrical metallic tubing comprising:
- a body having a threaded end with a threaded end bore having a first diameter, a body bore having a second diameter, and a conical portion forming a locking end;
- an intermediate shoulder formed between the threaded end bore and the body bore;
- a plurality of contact ribs formed adjacent said intermediate shoulder and extending longitudinally into said body and radially outward by increasing radial amounts progressing from said intermediate shoulder towards the locking end;
- a shoulder formed on a large diameter end of the conical portion;
- gripping device comprising a circular shaped flat rim abutting said shoulder, a tapered angled portion formed onto the circular shaped flat rim, a flat ramp formed onto the tapered angled portion, and a plurality of gripping tabs formed onto the flat ramp and angled inward towards said body, each of the plurality of gripping tabs having a twist;
- a washer having a circular aperture sized to receive the electrical metallic tubing placed within the conical portion of said body and adjacent the circular shaped flat rim of said gripping device;
- a crimp formed around a circumference of the large diameter end of the conical portion, whereby said crimp holds said gripping device and said washer into the conical portion of said body;
- a plurality of dimples pressed into said crimp forcing said washer and the circular shaped flat rim against said shoulder formed on the large diameter end of the conical portion, whereby said gripping device is prevented from rotating relative to said body;
- and
- a locknut threaded on the threaded end of said body,
- whereby the electrical metallic tubing can be pushed into said gripping device and held by the plurality of gripping tabs and removed by rotating the electrical metallic tubing.
An electrical coupler for coupling two tubes comprising:
- a body having a first and second end;
- a first gripping device comprising a first plurality of gripping tabs forming a helix secured to the first end of said body, each of the first plurality of griping tabs having a twist;
- and
- a second gripping device comprising a second plurality of gripping tabs forming a helix secured to the second end of said body, each of the second plurality of griping tabs having a twist,
- whereby a respective electrical metallic tubing can be pushed into said first and second gripping devices and effectively joined, and removed by rotating the respective electrical metallic tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.