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US 4,904,193 AGranted
Electrical grounding clamp
AssigneeSouthwestern Bell Telephone Company
InventorThomas F. Graves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable electrical ground clamp is provided that is easily installed on an outside electrical meter or breaker box by establishing pressure contact with the box. An attachment lug is provided on the grounding clamp for connecting a ground wire for use when electrical power is to be brought to a residence or some other outside electrical work or installation. The grounding clamp is designed to eliminate the need for access into an area of a residence or other building to establish a ground connection, provides instant visual inspection; and two grasping arms can be moved along an elongated member, which can be cylindrical, hexagonal, or U-shaped, in order to securely grip the outer surface of the meter or breaker box.
Claims32
An electrical grounding clamp adapted to be removably attached to a fixture, said clamp comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising an electrically-conductive metal, said elongated member having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said arms comprising means for gripping an exterior surface of said fixture, wherein each of said grasping arms is substantially L-shaped said gripping means on each of said arms comprising means for establishing physical and mechanical contact with said exterior surface of said fixture when said clamp is attached to said fixture;
- (c) means for attaching an external grounding wire to at least one of said grasping arms;
- (d) means for attaching said first grasping arm to said first end of said elongated member;
- (e) means for mounting said second grasping arm on said second end of said elongated member;
- and
- (f) spacing adjustment means, located at one of said ends of said elongated member, for varying the spacing between said first grasping arm and said second grasping arm when said grasping arms are positioned on said first and second member ends.
4 more elements
A mechanical grounding clamp adapted to be removably attached to a support, said clamp comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising an electrically-conductive metal and having a threaded first end and a threaded second end;
- (b) a first, generally L-shaped grasping arm which is attached to said first member end, said first grasping arm having an internal recess with threads which are adapted to threadably engage corresponding threads on the first end of said elongated member, said first grasping arm further comprising a gripping surface which is adapted to electrically and mechanically contact an exterior surface of said support;
- (c) a second, generally L-shaped grasping arm which is attached to said second member end, said second grasping arm having a through-bore which is adapted to slidably engage the second end of said elongated member, said second grasping arm further comprising a gripping surface which is adapted to electrically and mechanically contact said exterior surface of said support;
- and
- (d) means for adjustably spacing said first and second grasping arms from each other, said spacing means comprising a nut threadably engaging a portion of said second end of said member which extends outwardly from said second grasping arm.
2 more elements
An electrical grounding clamp adapted to be removably attached to a fixture, said clamp comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising an electrically-conductive metal, said elongated member being an elongated rod having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said arms comprising means for gripping an exterior surface of said fixture;
- (c) means for attaching an external grounding wire to at least one of said grasping arms;
- (d) means for attaching said first grasping arm to said first end of said elongated member;
- (e) means for mounting said second grasping arm on said second end of said elongated member;
- and
- (f) spacing adjustment means, located at one of said ends of said elongated member, for varying the spacing between said first grasping arm and said second grasping arm when said grasping arms are positioned on said first and second member ends.
4 more elements
An electrical grounding clamp adapted to be removably attached to a fixture, said clamp comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising an electrically-conductive metal, said elongated member having a first end and a second end, wherein both said first and second ends are threaded over a predetermined distance;
- (b) a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said arms comprising means for gripping an exterior surface of said fixture;
- (c) means for attaching an external grounding wire to at least one of said grasping arms;
- (d) means for attaching said first grasping arm to said first end of said elongated member;
- (e) means for mounting said second grasping arm on said second end of said elongated member;
- and
- (f) spacing adjustment means, located at one of said ends of said elongated member, for varying the spacing between said first grasping arm and said second grasping arm when said grasping arms are positioned on said first and second member ends.
4 more elements
An electrical grounding clamp adapted to be removably attached to a fixture, said clamp comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising an electrically-conductive metal, said elongated member having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said arms comprising means for gripping an exterior surface of said fixture, wherein said first grasping arm comprises an interior cavity of a predetermined length, said cavity having a threaded interior surface adapted to threadably engage said first member end, wherein said first member end is also threaded;
- (c) means for attaching an external grounding wire to at least one of said grasping arms;
- (d) means for attaching said first grasping arm to said first end of said elongated member;
- (e) means for mounting said second grasping arm on said second end of said elongated member;
- and
- (f) spacing adjustment means, located at one of said ends of said elongated member, for varying the spacing between said first grasping arm and said second grasping arm when said grasping arms are positioned on said first and second member ends.
4 more elements
An electrical grounding clamp adapted to be removably attached to a fixture, said clamp comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising an electrically-conductive metal, said elongated member having a first end and a second end, wherein one of said member ends includes a plurality of frangible sections;
- (b) a first grasping arm and a second grasping arm, each of said arms comprising means for gripping an exterior surface of said fixture;
- (c) means for attaching an external grounding wire to at least one of said grasping arms;
- (d) means for attaching said first grasping arm to said first end of said elongated member;
- (e) means for mounting said second grasping arm on said second end of said elongated member;
- and
- (f) spacing adjustment means, located at one of said ends of said elongated member, for varying the spacing between said first grasping arm and said second grasping arm when said grasping arms are positioned on said first and second member ends.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.