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US 4,990,721 AGranted
Armored cable connector
AssigneeCorecon Corporation
InventorRobert K. Sheehan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an armored cable connector having resilient flanges carried by opposed wings and which flex when the wings are pivoted towards one another to grippingly engage therebetween an armored cable conduit of any size within a range of sizes defined by the connector characteristics. The connector includes snap-acting lock structure on the wings to positively lock the wings closed as they are pivoted together.
Claims35
A connector for mounting an electrical conduit of any size within a range of sizes to a junction box wall, comprising:
- a one piece member having a center support and a pair of wings extending from said center support, said wings being normally urged apart in an open position, said wings being pivotable toward one another into a second position;
- yieldable means normally unflexed and extending from at least a first of said wings and toward a second of said wings for engaging an exterior wall of an electrical conduit situated between said yieldable means and said second wing, said yieldable means flexing towards said first wing after engaging the conduit exterior wall as the wings are pivoted from said open position to said second position, whereby to accommodate an electrical conduit of any size within a range of sizes defined by characteristics of the connector;
- means for retaining said wings in said second position;
- and
- junction box engaging means for mounting the connector to a junction box.
2 more elements
A connector for mounting an electrical conduit of any size within a range of sizes to a junction box wall, comprising:
- a one piece member having a center support and a pair of wings extending from said center support, said wings being normally urged apart in an open position, said wings being pivotable toward one another into a second position;
- a pair of yieldable means each normally unflexed and extending from a respective said wing and towards each other for engaging an exterior wall of an electrical conduit situated between said wings, said yieldable means flexing towards its respective wing after engaging the conduit exterior wall as the wings are pivoted from said open position to said second position, whereby to accommodate an electrical conduit of any size within a range of sizes defined by characteristics of the connector;
- means for retaining said wings in said second position;
- and
- junction box engaging means for mounting the connector to a junction box.
2 more elements
A connector for mounting an electrical conduit for carrying conductors to a junction box, comprising:
- a one-piece member having a center support and a pair of wings extending from said center support, said wings being normally urged apart in an open position, said wings being pivotable toward one another into a closed position;
- normally unflexed, yieldable means between said wings for engaging an exterior wall of an electrical conduit situated between said wings, said yieldable means flexing towards at least one of said wings after engaging the conduit exterior wall as the wings are pivoted from said open position to said closed position;
- snap-acting locking means on said wings for locking said wings together in said closed position with a positive snap-lock action as said wings are pivoted from said open position to said closed position, whereby to retain the electrical conduit in the connector;
- and
- junction box engaging means for mounting the connector to a junction box.
2 more elements
A connector for mounting an electrical conduit of any size within a range of sizes to a junction box wall, comprising:
- a one piece member having a center support and a pair of wings extending from said center support, said wings being normally urged apart in an open position, said wings being pivotable toward one another into a closed position;
- a first L-shaped tab attached at its leg end to a first of said wings and extending therefrom when unflexed at an angle relative said first wing, said first L-shaped tab having a transversely angled bend adjacent its distal end to define a free foot end, said first L-shaped tab flexing as its free foot end bears against a surface;
- a second L-shaped tab attached at its leg end to a second of said wings and extending therefrom when unflexed at an angle relative said second wing, said second L-shaped tab having a transversely angled bend adjacent its distal end to define a free foot end, said second L-shaped tab flexing as its free foot end bears against a surface, said first and second L-shaped tabs extending towards one another when unflexed such that each said tab flexes towards its respective wing after engaging an exterior wall of an electrical conduit therebetween as said wings are pivoted from said open position to said closed position, whereby to accommodate an electrical conduit of any size within a range of sizes defined by characteristics of the connector in a closed position;
- snap-acting locking means on said wings for locking said wings together in said closed position with a positive snap-lock action as said wings are pivoted from said open position to said closed position, whereby to retain the electrical conduit in the connector;
- and
- junction box engaging means for mounting the connector to a junction box.
3 more elements
In combination, an electrical junction box having at least one wall and at least one hole in said wall;
- a connector resiliently secured to said junction box wall and extending through said junction box hole;
- an electrical conduit for carrying electrical conductors, said conduit retained in said connector;
- said connector including:
- a one-piece member having a center support and a pair of wings extending from said center support, said wings being normally urged apart in an open position, said wings being pivotable toward one another into a closed position;
- normally unflexed yieldable means between said wings and flexed against an exterior wall of said electrical conduit, said electrical conduit situated between said wings, said yieldable means being flexed towards at least one of said wings after engaging the conduit exterior wall as the wings were pivoted from said open position to said closed position, whereby said connector accommodates the conduit being of any size within a range of sizes defined by characteristics of said connector;
- snap-acting locking means on said wings for locking said wings together in said second position with a positive snap-lock action as said wings are pivoted from said open position to said closed position, whereby to retain said electrical conduit in said connector;
- and
- junction box engaging means for resiliently securing said connector to said junction box.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.