Electrical cable connector

• US 6,444,907 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgeport Fittings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bridgeport Fittings Incorporated (NSI Industries, LLC)
• Inventors: Kiely, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/846,954
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 174/64, 174/65.G, 174/65.R, 174/65.SS, 174/153.G, 174/153.R, 174/152.G, 174/151, 174/31.R, 174/35.GC, 174/35.R, 174/91, 248/56, 16/21, 16/22, 439/471, 439/604
• US Class Current: 174/657
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5804 comprising a separate cable clamping part H01R13/5841 takes precedence
• 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

By providing two integrated components, an outer housing and an inner sleeve member, with the inner sleeve member being securely mounted to the outer housing in a manner which prevents its separation from the housing, an efficient, easily manufactured and assembled cable connector is realized.

In the preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve member is press fitted into the housing in order to provide the desired secure, integrated affixation of these components. Furthermore, the inner sleeve member is constructed in a generally hollow cylindrical shape with at least two arm members integrally formed therewith, each of which angularly slopes inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the sleeve member, and includes a distal end portion which is angularly disposed relative to the arm member in at least one direction and preferably in two directions.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for securely engaging and mounting an electrical cable to a receiving box or plate having an aperture formed therein, said electrical connector comprising:

A. a housing having

a. a generally hollow cylindrical shape defined by an outer wall and an inner wall,

b. at least one flange mounted about the outer wall of the housing, radially extending outwardly therefrom, and comprising a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture formed in the receiving box/plate;

B. a locking member mounted to the outer wall of the housing in cooperating engagement with the radially extending flange thereof for securing the housing in the aperture of the box/plate; and

C. an inner sleeve member comprising;

a. a substantially hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, having any inner surface and an outer surface, dimensioned for mating, fractional engagement with the inner wall of the housing to form a substantially integral construction therewith, and

b. a pair of arm members extending inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve member, with each of said arm members comprising a first, intermediate sloping section extending from the sleeve member and a second, sloping, end section extending from the intermediate section at an angle relative thereto and positioned for mating engagement and securement with an electrical cable when inserted therein;

whereby an electrical connector is achieved which is quickly and easily mounted to any desired box or plate and provides secure, mating, locked engagement with said electrical cable when mounted therewith.

2. The electrical connector defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical cable comprises a curved outer surface and the end section of each of said arm members is further defined as comprising a curved terminating edge constructed for mating, engaged relationship with the surface of the electrical cable.

3. The electrical connector defined in claim 2, wherein the end section of each of said arm members is further defined as being bifurcated to create two separate and independent finger members formed therein.

4. The electrical connector defined in claim 3,wherein each of said separate and independent finger members formed on the end section of each of said arm members comprises different angular relationships relative to an intermediate section.

5. The electrical connector defined in claim 2, wherein each of said arm members is further defined as comprising side edges formed in juxtaposed, spaced, parallel relationship with each other, and the intermediate section is defined as extending inwardly from the sleeve member along a first bend line defining a first angle relative to the inside surface of the inner sleeve member, and the terminating end section is further defined as sloping inwardly along a second bend line defining a second angle relative to the inside surface of the inner sleeve member.

6. The electrical connector defined in claim 5, wherein said second bend line is further defined as being sloped relative to the side edges of each of the arm members.

7. The electrical connector defined in claim 6, wherein said electrical cable is further defined as comprising a metal sheath cable or conduit having a sloping helical groove formed therein, and the slope of the second bend line is further defined as being formed substantially equivalent to the slope of the helical groove for assuring secure, mating, interengagement of the terminating end section with the surface of the cable.

8. The electrical connector defined in claim 5, wherein said second bend line is further defined as being substantially perpendicular to the side edges of each of the arm members.

9. The electrical connector defined in claim 5, wherein said first angle is further defined as ranging between about 15°

and 38°

.

10. The electrical connector defined in claim 5, wherein said second angle is further defined as ranging between about 45°

and 75°

.

11. The electrical connector defined in claim 1, wherein the intermediate section of each of said arm members of the inner sleeve member is further defined as comprising different axial lengths, whereby said arm members engage the electrical cable at different axial positions thereof.

12. The electrical connector defined in claim 1, wherein the intermediate section of each arm member of the inner sleeve member is further defined as comprising substantially equivalent axial lengths, whereby said arm members engage the electrical cable at substantially equivalent, diametrically opposed positions.

13. The electrical cable defined in claim 1, wherein said inner sleeve member comprises a substantially flat wall portion integrally formed therein and longitudinally extending along substantially the entire surface thereof, for use in positioning the inner sleeve member in the desired orientation in the housing.

14. The electrical cable defined in claim 1, wherein each of said arm members are further defined as comprising a tab member formed at the juncture between the intermediate section and the sleeve member, with said tab member extending radially outwardly from the inner sleeve member.

15. The electrical cable defined in claim 14, wherein said housing is further defined as comprising apertures formed therein positioned for cooperative association and engagement with the tab members of the inner sleeve, thereby preventing axial movement of the inner sleeve relative to the housing.

16. The electrical cable defined in claim 14, wherein said tab member is formed as an integral part of the intermediate section and constructed for extending outwardly from the juncture of the intermediate section with the inner sleeve simultaneously with the movement of the intermediate section arcuately inwardly.

17. An electrical connector for securely engaging and mounting an electrical cable to a receiving box or plate having an aperture formed therein, said connector comprising:

A. a housing having

a. a generally hollow cylindrical shape defined by an outer wall and an inner wall,

b. at least one flange mounted about the outer wall of the housing, radially extending outwardly therefrom, and comprising a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture formed in the receiving box/plate;

B. a locking member mounted to the outer wall of the housing in cooperating engagement with the radially extending flange thereof for securing the housing in the aperture of the box/plate; and

C. an inner sleeve member comprising;

a. a substantially hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, having any inner surface and an outer surface, dimensioned for mating, fractional engagement with the inner wall of the housing to form a substantially integral construction therewith, and

b. a pair of arm members extending inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve member, with each of said arm members comprising;

1. a first, intermediate sloping section extending inwardly from the sleeve member along a first bend line defining a first angle relative to the inside surface of the sleeve member,

2. a second, sloping, end section angularly extending from the intermediate section, sloping inwardly along a second bend line defining a second angle relative to the inside surface of the sleeve member, and positioned for mating engagement and securement with an electrical cable when inserted therein, and

3. side edges formed in juxtaposed, spaced relationship with each other;

whereby an electrical connector is achieved which is quickly and easily mounted to any desired box or plate and provides secure, mating, locked engagement with said electrical cable member when mounted therewith.

18. The electrical connector defined in claim 17, wherein the terminating end section of each of said arm members is further defined as comprising a curved terminating edge constructed for mating, engaged relationship with the outer surface of the electrical cable.

19. The electrical connector defined in claim 18, wherein the first angle is further defined as ranging between about 15°

and 38°

.

20. The electrical connector defined in claim 18, wherein the first angle of the intermediate sloping section of each of said arm members comprises a different angle relative to the other arm member, thereby enabling cables of different diameters to be easily inserted and secured therein.

21. The electrical connector defined in claim 20, wherein the second angle is further defined as ranging between about 45°

and 75°

, with the second angle of each of said arm members being different from the other.

22. The electrical connector defined in claim 21, wherein the terminating juncture directly adjacent the side edge of each of said arm members and the arcuately curved terminating edge of each section is further defined as being smoothly rounded.