Conduit connector providing dual diameter end stops

• US 6,262,369 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Cole, J. Lawrence, Marik, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/400,751
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 174/64, 174/77.R, 174/93, 174/65.R, 174/65.G, 174/152.G, 174/151, 174/153.G, 248/56, 285/195, 285/194, 220/4.09, 439/472
• US Class Current: 174/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0691 Fixing tubing to casing by auxiliary means co-operating with indentations of the tubing, e.g. with tubing-convolutions

Abstract

A conduit connector providing two end stop diameters. The connector includes a removable annular insulator located at the conductor egressing end of the connector. The removable annular insulator provides the smaller of the two end stop diameters when positioned therein. When the removable annular insulator is removed, the greater of the two end stop diameters is provided at the conductor egressing end of the connector.

Claims

1. A connection device for terminating electrical conduit having at least one electrical conductor therein with a knockout opening in an electrical junction box, said device comprising:

an elongate connector housing having a conduit receiving end, an opposed conductor egressing end and a conduit-supporting passage extending therebetween, said conduit-supporting passage defining an axial direction, said conductor egressing end including an aperture therethrough to allow said conductor to extend through said housing and into said junction box;

conduit engaging means carried by said housing for retentively engaging said electrical conduit within said conduit-supporting passage;

a first annular insulator positioned in said aperture to both insulate said conductor extending therethrough from said aperture and provide a first conduit end stop defining a first diameter; and

a second annular insulator removably positioned within said first diameter of said first annular insulator to provide a second conduit end stop defining a second diameter, and wherein said second diameter is less than said first diameter.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first insulator includes a lip which allows said first insulator to be snap-fit within said aperture.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second insulator is press-fit within said first diameter of said first insulator.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first diameter ranges from about 0.200 to about 0.622 inches and said second diameter ranges from about 0.319 to about 0.375 inches.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said insulators are formed from a non-abrasive plastic.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes upper and lower connector halves relatively moveable with respect to one another in clam-shell fashion about said conduit receiving end between a first position which allows said conductor egressing end to be inserted into said knockout opening and a second position which fixedly secures said conductor egressing end in said knockout opening of said electrical junction box.

7. The device according to claim 1, which said housing is formed from a single metal stamping.