Bonding strap for non-metallic electrical enclosure

• US 5,749,740 A
• Filed: 09/20/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Swift, Thomas R., Richter, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/717,506
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 439/92, 439/95, 439/98
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/648 Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices , e.g. anti-static shielding coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/62 Connections between conductors of different materials; Connections between or with aluminium or steel-core aluminium conductors H01R4/68 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

Abstract

A bonding strap for non-metallic electrical enclosures, which is directed to the provision of a metallic bonding strap for non-metallic, back-to-back electrical enclosures. The bonding strap facilitates automatic bonding between the bridge of bridge-mounted electrical devices which are installed in the enclosure and a grounding conductor terminated to the strap so as to provide two locations for attaching grounding conductors.

Claims

1. A bonding strap for at least one electrical device arranged in a non-metallic electrical enclosure, said bonding strap comprising an elongated planar member;

means at opposite ends of said elongated planar member for fastening said bonding strap to an electrical device;

a central aperture in said elongated planar member intermediate the opposite ends thereof;

means extending transversely in a center portion of said elongated planar member for clampingly engaging interior surface structure of said electrical enclosure; and

means on opposite sides of said elongated planar member forming terminations for grounding conductors.

2. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening means at the opposite ends of said elongated planar member comprise angularly bent end portions forming flanges;

and slotted apertures being formed in each of said flanges to facilitate passage therethrough of fasteners for engagement with the electrical device.

3. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flanges extend at right angles from said elongated planar member.

4. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means extending transversely from said center portion of said elongated planar member comprise oppositely located bent portions of said member;

slot means formed in each of said bent portions so as to extend from the free ends thereof, and barbs formed in said slot means for clampingly engaging interior surface structure of said electrical enclosure so as to retain said bonding strap in fixed position in said enclosure.

5. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said bent portion comprises a flat plate element extending at right angles from said elongated planar member in mutually parallel spaced relationship.

6. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said termination forming means comprise bracket structure extending at angularly bent relationships from said elongated planar member in adjacently spaced relationship with each of said clamping means axially offset in opposite directions from the center portion of said member;

each said termination forming means mounting an anti-rotation nut for a termination screw.

7. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bracket structure of each termination forming means includes parallel spaced plates having a tab forming a space therebetween to facilitate binding of electrical conductors in conjunction with said anti-rotation nut.

8. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strap is of a unitary construction constituted of an electrically-conductive metallic material.

9. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 8, wherein said metallic material comprises brass.

10. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 8, wherein said metallic material comprises steel.

11. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 8, wherein said strap is constituted of sheet metal.

12. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical enclosure is a box-shaped molded plastic housing having internal rib structure clampingly engageable by the clamping means of said bonding strap.

13. A bonding strap as claimed in claim 12, wherein said housing is adapted to receive back-to-back bridge-connected electrical devices.