Device for clamping the cable in electrical outlets or plugs

• US 6,149,455 A
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Palazzoli S.p.A. (Blefin SpA)
• Original Assignee: Palazzoli S.p.A. (Blefin SpA)
• Inventors: Levi, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/182,266
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 439/462, 439/461, 439/321
• US Class Current: 439/462
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/59 Threaded ferrule or bolt operating in a direction parallel to the cable or wire

Abstract

An electrical outlet or plug includes a body, which encloses a connecting jack, which can be connected to a cable, and a grip element for clamping the cable. The body and grip element are provided with complementary features, which limit the axial unthreading movement of the latter in relation to the former and for preventing their disconnection once they have been connected. A locking nut is joined to the grip element axially, with the possibility of remaining joined to the said grip element, and through this, to the body when the nut is completely unscrewed and removed. Structure is also provided for preventing the unscrewing rotation of the nut once it has been screwed down.

Claims

1. A device for clamping a cable in an electrical outlet or plug, the device comprising:

a body that encloses a connecting jack that can be connected to the cable to be clamped;

a threaded locking nut;

a grip element which is arranged in said body between said body and said threaded locking nut on an inlet side of the cable, said gripping element including a plurality of flexible jaws;

a conical connection joining said grip element to said body, said grip element being tightened around said cable to be clamped after said locking nut is screwed onto said body, wherein said grip element is provided with two tongues, which are parallel to said jaws and are intended to be inserted and to slide in corresponding indentations on an outside of said body, and in which said tongues have lateral locking teeth, which are intended to intercept opposing teeth on sides of said indentations in order to prevent the detachment of said grip element when said grip element is stopped in relation to said body, said conical connection including a substantially conical seat formed of grooves which are intended to accommodate said flexible jaws of said grip element and to prevent rotation of said grip element with said locking nut.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said grip element includes an annular portion with said flexible jaws of said grip element extending away from said annular portion towards an inside of said body, said conical seat interacting with said jaws, and said nut having a flat seat for supporting said annular portion of said grip element.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said grip element includes an annular portion with said flexible jaws turned towards an outside of said body, said body having a flat seat for supporting said annular portion, and said nut having a conical seat which interacts with said jaws of said grip element.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a seal placed in said body, said seal including a part that is made in one piece with said body proper and acts around the cable, adapting to the cable without a need for intervention.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body has, on said inlet side of the cable, a collar which has an external threaded section, said locking nut being screwed onto said external threaded section, said conical seat being internal and interacting with said grip element for tightening said grip element around said cable when said nut is screwed onto said external threaded section.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said grip element has said flexible jaws extending from an annular portion;

said flexible jaws have at least one conical part turned towards and being joined to said conical seat;

said annular portion is towards and interacts with an annular striking surface inside said locking nut.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said body and said grip element are provided with complementary limiting means to limit axial movement of said body and said grip element and to prevent disconnection of said body and said grip element once they have been connected and said locking nut is unscrewed from said body;

said locking nut and said grip element are joined axially with the possibility for said nut to rotate in relation to said grip element, but to remain joined to said grip element and, through this, to said body when said nut is completely unscrewed and removed; and

said locking nut and said grip element include means which interact to make possible a unidirectional rotation for screwing and to prevent the opposite rotation for unscrewing when said nut is screwed onto said body for clamping said cable with said grip element.

8. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein

one of said tongues is longer than the other;

said indentations on the outside of said body have a length that is adapted to that of said tongues; and

a longer of said tongues protrudes from an opening of said locking nut.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said body and said grip element are provided with complementary means which interact to limit an axial movement in terms of an unthreading of said grip element in relation to said body and to prevent relative disconnection once said body and said grip element have been connected;

said locking nut and said grip element are joined axially with a possibility for said nut to rotate in relation to said grip element and to remain joined to said grip element and, through this, to said body even when said locking nut is completely unscrewed and removed;

said locking nut and said grip element have means which interact to make possible a unidirectional rotation of screwing and to prevent an opposite rotation of unscrewing when said nut is screwed onto said body for clamping the cable through the grip element.

10. The device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said locking nut has an internal collar with an edge that rests in an annular groove, which is present around a protuberance at the end of said grip element for the axial connection between said grip element and said nut.

11. The device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said grip element is provided with two tongues which are parallel to jaws of said grip element intended to be inserted and to slide in corresponding indentations on an outside of a collar of said body, said tongues having lateral locking teeth for intercepting striking steps on sides of said indentations in order to prevent a detachment of said grip element when said grip element is moved back in relation to said body, said locking nut having an internal collar with an edge resting in an annular groove provided around a protuberance at an end of said grip element for an axial connection between said grip element and said nut, said toothing interacting with a stop tooth on said lug that is made in one piece with said body, is parallel to and on the outside of said collar, said stop tooth being shaped to engage with said toothing provided on an outside of said locking nut and to make possible the rotation of said nut only in a direction of screwing and not in a direction of unscrewing.

12. The device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said grip element is provided with two tongues said tongues being parallel to jaws of said grip element, said two tongues being intended to be inserted and to slide in corresponding indentations on an outside of said collar of said body, said tongues having lateral locking teeth for intercepting said striking steps provided on the sides of said indentations for preventing detachment of said grip element when same is moved back in relation to said body.

13. The device in accordance with claim 12, wherein a toothing is provided that interacts with said stop tooth on a lug made in one piece with said body, said toothing being parallel to and on an outside of said collar, said stop tooth being shaped to engage with said toothing and to make possible a rotation of said nut only in a direction of screwing and not in a direction of unscrewing, said toothing being provided on an outside of said locking nut.

14. A device for clamping a cable in an electrical outlet or plug, the device comprising:

a body that encloses a connecting jack that can be connected to the cable to be clamped;

a threaded locking nut;

a grip element which is arranged in said body between said body and said threaded locking nut on an inlet side of the cable;

a conical connection joining said grip element to said body, said grip element being tightened around said cable to be clamped after said locking nut is screwed onto said body;

said body and said grip element are provided with complementary limiting means to limit axial movement of said body and said grip element and to prevent disconnection of said body and said grip element once they have been connected and said locking nut is unscrewed from said body;

said locking nut and said grip element are joined axially with the possibility for said nut to rotate in relation to said grip element, but to remain joined to said grip element and, through this, to said body when said nut is completely unscrewed and removed; and

said locking nut and said grip element include means which interact to make possible a unidirectional rotation for screwing and to prevent the opposite rotation for unscrewing when said nut is screwed onto said body for clamping said cable with said grip element, wherein said grip element is provided with two tongues, which are parallel to a plurality of flexible jaws and are intended to be inserted and to slide in corresponding indentations on an outside of said body, and in which said tongues have lateral locking teeth, which are intended to intercept opposing teeth on sides of said indentations in order to prevent the detachment of said grip element when said grip element is stopped in relation to said body.

15. The device in accordance with the claim 14, wherein said locking nut has an internal collar with an edge resting in an annular groove, said annular groove is provided around a protuberance at a top of said grip element providing an axial connection between said grip element and said nut.

16. The device in accordance with the claim 14, wherein a toothing is provided inside said locking nut close to an opening of said locking nut, said toothing interacting with a stop tooth provided on one of said tongues, said stop tooth being shaped to engage with said toothing and to make possible the rotation of said nut only in a direction of screwing and not in a direction of unscrewing.

17. The device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said stop tooth is on an outside of a longer of said tongues which may be unfastened from said toothing only by pushing said longer tongue inwards with a tool, engaging the wall of the tongue protruding from the nut.

18. A device for clamping a cable in an electrical outlet or plug, the device comprising:

a body that encloses a connecting jack that can be connected to the cable to be clamped;

a threaded locking nut;

a grip element which is arranged in said body between said body and said threaded locking nut on an inlet side of the cable;

a conical connection joining said grip element to said body, said grip element being tightened around said cable to be clamped after said locking nut is screwed onto said body;

a seal placed in said body, said seal including a part that is made in one piece with said body proper and acts around the cable, adapting to the cable without a need for intervention, wherein said grip element is provided with two tongues, which are parallel to a plurality of flexible jaws and are intended to be inserted and to slide in corresponding indentations on an outside of said body, and in which said tongues have lateral locking teeth, which are intended to intercept opposing teeth on sides of said indentations in order to prevent the detachment of said grip element when said grip element is stopped in relation to said body.