One-piece liquid-tight connector
A liquid-tight electrical connector formed by a one-piece, zinc die cast member including a ferrule insertable into a conduit, and a sleeve body surrounding the ferrule to form a conduit receiving channel, the sleeve body having a strap section that can be drawn tight around a conduit to secure it in the channel.
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more specifically to liquid-tight electrical connectors for securing flexible metallic and non-metallic liquid-tight conduit to various devices, such as metal outlet boxes, conduit bodies and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTypical liquid-tight connectors have several components which must be carefully assembled to affect the desired connection. One such assembly includes a compression nut, a bushing, a ferrule, and a body member or bushing having exterior threads. The assembly operation is carried out in the field and involves the steps of telescoping the compression nut over the end of the conduit, placing the bushing over the end of the conduit, inserting the ferrule into the conduit, sliding the nut and bushing toward the end of the conduit, and then threading or tightening the compression nut onto the body. The assembly procedure is time consuming and must be carried out with care to avoid misalignment of the various parts and consequent leakage.
Another multi-part prior art liquid-tight connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,194. The preferred embodiment disclosed in this patent includes a body member or bushing having an integral, rearwardly extending ferrule. A separate sleeve surrounds the ferrule in spaced relation to form a conduit-receiving channel. The sleeve has inwardly bent tangs that bite into the conduit in order to inhibit withdrawal of the conduit. The sleeve is surrounded and held in place by a third cylindrical member or cover that is threaded onto the bushing. All three members require an assembly operation. The forward end of the bushing or body has a threaded neck that receives a washer and snap ring so that the entire connector consists of five separate pieces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece, liquid-tight connector member that avoids the assembly problems associated with the prior art multiple part connectors.
Another object of the invention is to provide a one-piece, liquid-tight connector member having a construction that permits full and proper insertion of the conduit, and provides a strong grip around the conduit to prevent its withdrawal, thereby assuring a reliable, liquid-tight connection.
A further object of the invention is to provide a one-piece liquid-tight connector member having the advantages described above that can be made as a one-piece zinc die casting.
In accordance with a disclosed embodiment of the invention, the new and improved one-piece liquid-tight connector member comprises a ferrule having a free end that is insertable into a conduit and a fixed end, and a sleeve body that surrounds the ferrule to form a conduit-receiving channel, the sleeve body being joined to the fixed end of the ferrule to form a closed end for the channel and having a free end portion adjacent the free end of the ferrule in order to form an open end for the channel. The free end of the sleeve body has a flexible strap section extending partially around the ferrule, the strap section having a fixed end joined to and forming part of the sleeve body and a free end that can be drawn tightly around a conduit in the channel and releasably secured to an adjacent part of the sleeve body. The free end of the strap section and the adjacent part of the sleeve body are formed with confronting ears that receive a threaded fastener that can be tightened to secure the conduit in the channel.
In one embodiment, the connector member has a tubular nose that is coaxial with and extends away from the ferrule. A liquid-tight gasket and a lock nut are engaged on the threaded nose for securing the connector member to an outlet box, a conduit body or other enclosure. In another embodiment, the one-piece connector member includes an integral elbow that forms a continuation of and extends away from the ferrule. The elbow may have a threaded end on which is mounted a lock nut and gasket.
In still other embodiments of the invention, the threaded end of the nose or elbow is replaced by a snap-in finger structure such as disclosed in application Ser. No. 10/669,489, filed Sep. 23, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The unique one-piece construction that includes a flexible strap section that can be tightened around the conduit inserted in the conduit-receiving channel assures a firm connection that prevents inadvertent withdrawal of the conduit from the connector. The channel itself has no obstructions along its length, such as inwardly extending tangs, etc., whereby the conduit can be fully and correctly inserted even though the conduit may have burrs on its end as a result of being cut.
Other advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings,
The ferrule 21 has a free end 25 and a fixed end 26 that is joined to the sleeve body 23 to form a closed end 27 of the channel 24. The free end 25 of the ferrule 21 is radially spaced from the free end portion 28 of the sleeve body 23 so as to define an open end of the channel 24. As shown most clearly in
A semi-circular slot 35 is formed through the side wall of the sleeve body 23 between its ends. The slot 35, which is shown extending approximately half way around the sleeve body 23, forms the side of a flexible strap section 37 which has a free end 38 and a fixed end 39 integral with the sleeve body 23.
The strap section 37 of the sleeve body 23 can be tightened around a conduit 22 seated in the conduit receiving channel 24 as shown in
The one-piece member 20 has an external collar or flange 50. In the embodiment of
In use, the conduit 22 is inserted through the open end of the conduit receiving channel 24 and is wedged against the tapered walls at the closed end 27 of the channel. The seating of the conduit 22 between the tapered walls provides good sealing capacity. The screw 41 is inserted through the ear 42 and is threaded into the ear 43 to draw the ears together, whereby the conduit 22 is firmly clamped in the channel 24 by the strap section 37. The strap section 37 provides a strong and reliable, radially clamping action that prevents withdrawal of the conduit. Since the channel 24 is open from its open end to its closed end, the conduit can be inserted fully and correctly with minimum interference to assure a liquid-tight connection. When mounting the connector member 20 to the wall of an outlet box or the like, the nose 51 is inserted through the hole of the wall with the washer 53 against the outside face. The lock nut 52 is then threaded on the nose against the inside surface in the usual manner.
Many other modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing detailed disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than specifically shown and described.
Claims
1. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member comprising a tubular ferrule having a free end for insertion into a conduit and a fixed end, and a sleeve body surrounding the ferrule to form a conduit-receiving channel, said sleeve body being joined to said fixed end of said ferrule to form a closed end for said channel and having a free end adjacent said free end of said ferrule to form an open end for said channel, a semi-circular slot through the side wall of said sleeve body forming a flexible strap section, said strap section having a fixed end and a free end that can be drawn toward an adjacent part of said sleeve body to clamp a conduit in said channel.
2. A one-piece liquid-tight connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strap section includes a radially inwardly extending rib around at least part of said strap section.
3. A one-piece liquid-tight connector as claimed in claim 1 including confronting ears on said free end of said strap section and an adjacent edge of said sleeve body, and a fastener engaged through said ears for tightening said strap section around a conduit.
4. A one-piece liquid-tight connector as claimed in claim 1 including a tubular nose coaxial with said ferrule and extending from said sleeve body in a direction opposite to said ferrule.
5. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member as claimed in claim 1 including an elbow extending from said sleeve body in a direction opposite to said ferrule.
6. A one-piece, zinc die cast, liquid-tight connector member comprising a tubular ferrule having a free end and a fixed end, a sleeve body surrounding said ferrule in spaced relationship to form a conduit receiving channel, said sleeve body having one end joined to said fixed end of said ferrule to form a closed end for said channel and an opposite end portion adjacent said free end of said ferrule forming an open end for said channel, said sleeve body having a flexible strap section extending partially around said ferrule, said strap section being formed by a semi-circular slot through the side wall of said sleeve body and having a fixed end and a free end that can be drawn toward an adjacent edge of said sleeve body to clamp a conduit in said channel, said strap section including a radially inwardly extending rib around at least a portion of its inner wall, said rib being engageable with the conduit.
7. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member as claimed in claim 6 including confronting ears on said free end of said strap section and an adjacent edge of said sleeve body, and a threaded member engaged through said ears for drawing them together.
8. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member as claimed in claim 7 including a leading end extending away from said sleeve body in a direction opposite to said ferrule.
9. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member as claimed in claim 8 wherein said leading end has two locking fingers spaced 180° apart and tensioning fingers adjacent to and on each side of said locking fingers, said locking fingers and tensioning fingers being separated by notches.
10. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member as claimed in claim 9 wherein said leading end comprises a tubular nose coaxial with said ferrule and extending from said sleeve body.
11. A one-piece liquid-tight connector member as claimed in claim 9 wherein said leading end comprises an elbow extending from said sleeve body.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 22, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 27, 2006
Inventors: Michael Gardner (Hudson, OH), Robert White (Salem, OH), Bettie White (Salem, OH)
Application Number: 10/971,290
International Classification: F16L 33/00 (20060101);