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Electrical connection assembly with unitary sealing and compression ring

Electrical connection assembly with unitary sealing and compression ring description/claims

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/359,847 filed Feb. 22, 2006, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/009,900 filed Dec. 10, 2004, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/639,906 filed Aug. 13, 2003, now abandoned.

This invention is directed to a connection assembly, and more specifically to a connector or coupling assembly having a unitary sealing and compression ring to effect a positively secured, sealed and electrically grounded connection.

Heretofore it was common practice to secure an electric metal conduit that shields electrical conductors, wires or cables by inserting one end of a conduit into an externally threaded inlet end of a connecting body and securing the conduit to the threaded inlet end of the connecting body by a suitable tightening nut. The outlet end of the connecting body in turn was secured to an electrical junction box by inserting the other or outlet end of the connecting body into the knockout hole of the electrical junction box and securing the same by a locking nut or other suitable means, e.g. a snap fit retaining means as disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/283,978 filed Oct. 30, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. It has been noted that such prior known connecting assemblies did not prohibit rain or water from seeking its way through the connection. Also, electrical grounding of conduits was not at all times positive.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coupling or connector assembly which is capable of prohibiting water or rain from seeping through the coupling or connector assembly.

Another object is to provide an improved coupling or connector assembly capable of effecting a positive electrical grounding of a conduit connected thereto.

Another object is to provide an improved electrical coupling or connector assembly that is relatively simple to fabricate, easy to assemble and positive in operation.

Another object is to provide an electrical connection assembly having a unitary or integrally formed sealing and compression ring adapted to be snugly fitted onto an end portion of a conduit that will effectively secure, seal and electrically ground the conduit upon assembly of the connection assembly.

The foregoing objects and other features and advantages are readily obtained by a connector or coupling assembly that includes a connector or coupling body provided with an inlet end having an opening adapted to receive a conduit, and an outlet having an opening through which the electrical conductors, wires, or cables adapted to be inserted through the conduit may extend. The external surface of the inlet end is threaded to receive a connecting nut for securing the conduit to the inlet end. The connector or coupling body is provided with a through bore having a shoulder formed intermediate the length thereof to define a stop to limit the distance a conduit may be inserted thereinto. The internal surface of the inlet end of the connector or coupling body may be optionally provided with a second ridge or stop, disposed between the intermediate shoulder stop and the opening to the inlet end. The internal surface of the inlet end includes a first portion that is generally shaped and sized to snugly receive the outer surface of the conduit, and a second portion wherein the internal surface tapers or diverges outwardly toward the inlet opening.

To secure, seal and to provide a positive electric ground for the conduit, a unitary sealing and compression ring is fitted onto the end of the conduit. The sealing ring portion of the unitary sealing and compression ring is provided with a sloping or tapered outer surface that complements the taper of the outer second portion of the inlet end. The compression ring portion of the unitary sealing and compression ring is provided with an outer camming surface which is sloped in the opposite direction to that of the sealing ring portion, and to a greater degree of slope.

The arrangement is such that as the connecting nut is tightened onto the threaded inlet end of the connector body, the metallic unitary sealing ring portion is urged into a positive sealing relationship between the conduit and the second portion of the inlet end of the connector or coupling as the metallic compression ring portion is being compressed onto the conduit to insure a positive electric grounding of the conduit while imparting a secure frictional holding force sufficient to prohibit the conduit from being pulled out of the connector or coupling body.

Other features and advantages will become readily apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled connector embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an expanded perspective view illustrating the component parts of a connector embodying the invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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