Connectors

• US 20060286874A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gallaher Group Limited (Government of Japan)
• Original Assignee: Gallaher Group Limited (Government of Japan)
• Inventors: Ritchie, Thomas Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/762
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/263 Installation, e.g. suspension, of conduit channels or other supports

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector adapted to engage with a support member, preferably being formed with a T-post configuration which provides a plurality of divergent arms. The connector can include a main body adapted to define a central recess and two or more clamping surfaces which extend from the main body. These clamping surfaces are configured to engage with a divergent arm of the support member. The connector when used is engaged with a support member so that at least one divergent arm of the support member is not engaged with a clamping surface.

Claims

1. A connector adapted to engage with a support member, said support member including a plurality of divergent arms, the connector including,

a main body adapted to define a central recess, and

two or more clamping surfaces extending from the main body, said clamping surfaces being configured to engage with at least one divergent arm of the support member, said clamping surfaces being positioned to engage with regions of the support members divergent arm which have a common position across at least two sizes of support member,

wherein in use a divergent arm of the support member is not engaged with a clamping surface when the connector is attached to the support member.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector is configured to engage two arms only of a support member, with these two arms being orientated substantially parallel to one another.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main body is formed from a centre section with a side wing extending from each of two ends of said centre section, wherein the centre section and two side wings at least partially enclose the central recess defined by the main body.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector is configured to engage with a support member formed as a T-post.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector includes an electrically insulative element.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector includes at least four clamping surfaces arranged in paired sets to form two or more jaws, when paired clamping surfaces engage with opposite sides of the same divergent arm of a support member.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein a clamping surface is formed from a projection which extends out from the central section of the connector.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein a clamping surface is formed from a portion of a side wing.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein the two side wings are formed from a resilient material.

10. A connector as claimed in claim 9 which includes at least one user operable pull tab configured to allow a user to pull a side wing away from the central recess of the connector.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 3 which includes at least one slide inhibitor.

12. A connector as claimed in claim 11 wherein a slide inhibitor is formed by a projection extending out from the central section into the central recess.