Electrical connector with spring clip
AssigneeBridgeport Fittings, Inc.
InventorLawrence J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly including a connector body with a spring clip including a first free end for engaging a side wall of an electrical box upon installation. During insertion of the connector body the first free end is deformed so as to permit further insertion. Once the connector body is fully inserted, the spring clip cooperates with a lug on the connector body to hold the connector assembly onto the electrical box.
Claims20
An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical cable to an electrical box comprising:
- a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion and a bore therebetween;
- and
- an insulator retained at the outlet end portion of said connector body, with said connector body including a spring clip secured to said connector body at the inlet end portion and extending away from the inlet end portion toward the insulator, said spring clip including a hook for engaging an inner surface of the electrical box to retain the connector body to the electrical box, and with at least one arm member extending into the connector body for retaining the cable within the connector body.
An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box comprising:
- a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion and a bore therebetween;
- and
- a insulator received into the outlet end portion, with the connector body including a spring clip having a first free end extending away from the inlet end portion and spanning an open portion of the connector body, said spring clip including a hook for engaging an inner surface of the electrical box to retain the connector body to the electrical box, and said spring clip including a pair of inwardly directed arm members extending toward the outlet end portion of the connector body for retaining the electrical conductor within the connector body.
An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box comprising:
- a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion and a bore therebetween;
- and
- a insulator received into the outlet end portion, with the connector body including a spring clip having a first free end extending away from the inlet end portion and spanning an open portion of the connector body, said spring clip including a hook for engaging an inner surface of the electrical box to retain the connector body to the electrical box, said spring clip including a pair of inwardly directed arm members extending toward the outlet end portion of the connector body for retaining the electrical conductor within the connector body, and with the connector body having a pair of curved, cantilevered springs near the outlet end portion of the connector body, said springs adapted to engage an outer surface of the electrical box.
An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box comprising:
- a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion and a bore therebetween, with the connector body including a spring clip having a first free end extending away from the inlet end portion and spanning an open portion of the connector body, said spring clip including a hook for engaging an inner surface of the electrical box to retain the connector body to the electrical box, said spring clip including at least one arm member extending toward the outlet end portion of the connector body for retaining the electrical conductor within the connector body, and said connector body having a pair of curved, cantilevered springs near the outlet end portion of the connector body, said springs adapted to engage an outer surface of the electrical box.
A method of securing a cable to an electrical box using a connector assembly comprising:
- providing a connector assembly having a connector body, an insulator received into the connector body, and a spring clip, said spring clip having a free end and extending across an open portion of the connector body and, said spring clip further including a hook and a pair of tabs at its free end;
- inserting an outlet end portion of the connector assembly into a knock-out hole of the electrical box until a perimeter edge of the knock-out hole engages a lug;
- further inserting the outlet end portion into the knock-out hole while depressing the free end of the spring clip to allow the hook to enter the electrical box;
- and
- releasing the spring clip to allow the hook of the spring clip to engage an inner surface of the electrical box and the pair of tabs to engage an outer surface of the electrical box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.