Nonmetallic conduit fitting with transverse biasing abutments

A conduit fitting for receiving electrical wires therethrough, the combination comprising:

• a first tubular member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion with a first longitudinal axis extending between said first and second end portions;
• a second tubular member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion with a second longitudinal axis extending between said first and second end portions of said second tubular member;
• and
• means, coupled to said first and second tubular members, for rotatably coupling said first end portions of said first and second tubular members together about an axis of rotation extending transversely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said means for rotatably coupling including
• a resilient coupling member extending from said first end portion of said first tubular member for defining a notch, and
• a flange extending from said first end portion of said second tubular member for rotatably engaging said notch of said coupling member to rotatably couple said first and second tubular members together,
• said flange being sized for engaging and transversely biasing said resilient coupling member relative to said axis of rotation during coupling of said first and second tubular members,
• said flange extending inwardly from said first end portion of said second tubular member and having an internal diameter,
• said coupling member including a plurality of spaced apart latching tabs arranged substantially in a circular array and extending outwardly from said first end portion of said first tubular member, said latching tabs being adapted to engage said flange, each of said latching tabs including a resilient wall segment having a distal end, and a tooth being formed on the exterior surface of said wall segment with an inclined wall sloping outwardly away from said distal end of said wall segment and a first surface extending between said inclined wall and said wall segment,
• said first surfaces of said latching tabs forming said notch to receive said inwardly extending flange of said second tubular member,
• each of said latching tabs being spaced from the next adjacent latching tabs by a gap,
• said flange having at least one inwardly extending abutment, with said abutment engaging and projecting into one of said gaps when said first and second tubular members are coupled together for selectively retaining said first and second tubular members in said first position and said plurality of angular positions,
• whereby said first and second tubular members can be rotated relative to each other between a first position where said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to form a substantially straight passageway between said first and second tubular members and a plurality of angular positions where said first and second longitudinal axes are not substantially parallel.

A conduit fitting for receiving electrical wires therethrough, the combination comprising:

• a first tubular member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion with a first longitudinal axis extending between said first and second end portions;
• a second tubular member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion with a second longitudinal axis extending between said first and second end portions of said second tubular member;
• and
• means, coupled to said first and second tubular members, for incrementally and rotatably coupling said first end portions of said first and second tubular members together about an axis of rotation extending transversely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said means for incrementally and rotatably coupling including
• a first surface coupled to said first end portion of said first tubular member,
• a second surface coupled to said first end portion of said second tubular member and facing in a direction opposite to said first surface for slidable engagement with said first surface and for resisting relative translational movement of said first and second tubular members away from one another,
• an abutment member integrally formed as a unitary part of one of said tubular members for engaging a unitary, integrally formed portion of the other of said tubular members to prevent relative rotation between said first and second tubular members until a rotational force is applied to transversely bias said abutment member relative to the other of said tubular members,
• said first and second surfaces defining a plane of rotation which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and
• said first tubular member having means for resiliently coupling said first surface to said first end portion of said first tubular member for permitting transverse biasing of said first surface relative to said second surface during coupling of said first and second tubular members,
• whereby said first and second tubular members can be incrementally rotated relative to each other between a first position where said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to form a substantially straight passageway between said first and second tubular members and a plurality of angular positions where said first and second longitudinal axes are not substantially parallel.

A conduit fitting for receiving electrical wires therethrough, the combination comprising:

• a first tubular member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion with a first longitudinal axis extending between said first and second end portions;
• a second tubular member having a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion with a second longitudinal axis extending between said first and second end portions of said second tubular member;
• and
• means, coupled to said first and second tubular members, for rotatably coupling said first end portions of said first and second tubular members together about an axis of rotation extending transversely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said means for rotatably coupling including
• a resilient coupling member extending from said first end portion of said first tubular member for defining a notch, said notch having a first surface facing in a first direction, and
• a flange extending outwardly from said first end portion of said second tubular member and away from said axis of rotation for rotatably engaging said notch of said coupling member to rotatably couple said first and second tubular members together,
• said flange having a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to said first surface for defining a substantially planar surface of rotation which is perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and an outer diameter sized for engaging and transversely biasing said resilient coupling member relative to said axis of rotation during coupling of said first and second tubular members,
• said resilient coupling member comprising an annular wall extending from said first end portion of said first tubular member to a distal end with a maximum inner diameter greater than the maximum outer diameter of said outwardly extending flange,
• said annular wall including a plurality of latching tabs on its interior surface extending inwardly from said annular wall towards said axis of rotation with each of said latching tabs having an inclined wall sloping inwardly away from said distal end with said first surface extending between said annular wall and said inclined wall,
• said first surface and said annular wall forming said notch for receiving said outwardly extending flange,
• whereby said first and second tubular members can be rotated relative to each other between a first position where said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to form a substantially straight passageway between said first and second tubular members and a plurality of angular positions where said first and second longitudinal axes are not substantially parallel.