Connector for flexible electrical conduit
AssigneeIBC Corporation
InventorGeoffrey Blake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one piece connector is provided for coupling a flexible conduit to junction boxes having different wall thicknesses. The connector includes a bottom defining an aperture for passing electrical conductor therethrough. The connector further includes a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a member projecting inwardly from the sidewall for engaging the flexible conduit. The connector also includes a locking tab member having an outwardly extending tab, an outwardly angled locking protrusion, and a locking arm having an outwardly angled region and an inwardly angled region for retaining the connector within an opening in a junction box.
Claims20
A connector for flexible conduit comprising:
- a bottom defining an aperture;
- a sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom, said sidewall defining a frusto-conical shape;
- at least one member projecting inwardly from said sidewall;
- and
- at least one locking tab member extending upwardly from said bottom, said at least one locking tab member comprising a wall portion and an outwardly extending tab extending from said wall portion, a first and at least a second outwardly angled locking protrusion angled outwardly from said wall portion and extending towards and spaced from said outwardly extending tab, and at least one locking arm located between said first and said at least a second outwardly angled locking protrusion comprising an outwardly angled region adjacent said bottom and extending generally away from said bottom and outwardly relative to said wall portion and an inwardly angled region extending generally from said outwardly angled region away from said bottom and generally inwardly relative to said outwardly angled region and towards said outwardly extending tab.
A connector for securing a flexible conduit to a junction box comprising:
- a bottom defining an aperture;
- a sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom, said sidewall including at least one member projecting inwardly generally toward said bottom configured to engage at least a portion of a sheath of said flexible conduit and retain said flexible conduit in said connector;
- and
- at least one locking tab member extending upwardly from said bottom, said at least one locking tab member comprising:
- a wall portion that, in conjunction with said sidewall, defines a frusto-conical shape of said connector;
- an outwardly extending tab extending generally outwardly from a distal end of said wall portion and configured to engage at least a portion of a periphery of an opening of said junction box to prevent over insertion of the connector;
- a first and a second outwardly angled locking protrusion angled outwardly from said wall portion and extending towards and spaced from said outwardly extending tab, said first and said second outwardly angled locking protrusions configured to resiliently deflect inwardly toward said at least one locking tab member;
- and
- at least one resilient locking arm centrally located between said first and said second outwardly angled locking protrusion, said at least one resilient locking arm comprising an outwardly angled region adjacent said bottom and extending generally away from said bottom and outwardly relative to said wall portion and an inwardly angled region extending generally from said outwardly angled region away from said bottom and generally inwardly relative to said outwardly angled region and towards said outwardly extending tab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.