Self-adjustable end cap assembly

• US 6,483,027 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, Carol A., Lutz, David L., Turner, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US09/655,936
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/49, 174/60, 174/65.G, 174/51, 174/152.G, 174/152.R, 174/153.G, 174/54, 174/61, 248/56, 16/21, 16/22, 220/3.7, 439/519, 439/892, 439/410, 439/154, 439/521, 439/934, 439/137-140, 439/145, 439/93, 439/113
• US Class Current: 174/496
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0418 Covers or lids; Their fastenings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0487 with a non-circular cross-section H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/083 Inlets

Abstract

A self-adjusting end cap for capping an object having an opening. The end cap includes a base that has an inner and an outer surface, at least one post connected to the base inner surface, and at least one rib extending outwardly from the post. The rib is adapted to fit in a channel in an opening of an object to be capped. When the end cap and object are aligned for connection, the rib extends beyond an inner wall of the channel. A portion of the rib is sheared off by the inner wall of the channel upon insertion of the post and rib in the channel, thereby positioning the end cap within the object. The posts in combination with the ribs create a precise and tight friction fit between the end cap and the object. Preferably, the end cap has two posts, each with a rib extending outwardly therefrom, and the object has two channels, each having an inner wall. The outer edges of the ribs are separated by a first distance, and the channels are separated by a second distance. The first distance is preferably greater than the second distance. Then, upon insertion of the end cap into the object, the extra width on the ribs is sheared off by the inner walls of the channels, thereby positioning the end cap within the object.

Claims

1. A self-adjusting end cap, comprising:

a base having an inner and an outer surface;

at least one post connected to said base inner surface, said at least one post adapted to fit into a channel in an opening of an object to be capped; and

at least one rib extending outwardly from said at least one post, a portion of said at least one rib adapted to fit into the channel in the opening of the object;

wherein said at least one rib extends beyond an inner wall of the channel, such that said at least one rib is sheared by the inner wall of the channel upon insertion of said at least one post and at least one rib into the channel for positioning said end cap within the object.

2. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said base has a hole for allowing wiring to pass through said end cap.

3. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said base is substantially rectangular.

4. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one post is substantially oblong.

5. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one post is substantially rectangular.

6. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one post has rounded corners.

7. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one post is substantially perpendicular to said base.

8. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one rib is made of plastic.

9. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one rib is tapered at a distal edge for facilitating insertion of said at least one rib into the object to be capped.

10. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said base, said at least one post and said at least one rib are unitarily formed.

11. A self-adjusting end cap, comprising:

a base having an inner and an outer surface;

two posts connected to said base inner surface, each of said posts having a portion of said post adapted to fit in a channel in an opening of an object to be capped; and

a rib extending outwardly from each of said posts, said ribs having distal edges separated by a first distance, and each of said ribs adapted to fit in the channel in the opening of the object, each channel having an inner wall, the inner walls of the channels separated by a second distance;

wherein said first distance is greater than the second distance, such that said ribs are sheared by the inner walls of the channels upon inserting said posts and said ribs into the channels for positioning said end cap within the object.

12. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said base has a hole for allowing wiring to pass through said end cap.

13. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said base is substantially rectangular.

14. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said posts are substantially rectangular.

15. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said posts have corners that are rounded.

16. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said posts are substantially oblong.

17. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said posts are substantially perpendicular to said base.

18. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said ribs are made of plastic.

19. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said ribs are tapered at said distal edges for facilitating insertion of said ribs into the channels of the object.

20. The end cap of claim 11, wherein said base, said posts and said ribs are unitarily formed.

21. A self-adjusting end cap assembly, comprising:

a base having an inner and an outer surface;

at least one post connected to said base inner surface;

at least one rib extending outwardly from said at least one post,

an object to be capped, said object having an opening; and

at least one channel in said opening adapted to receive a portion of said at least one post and said at least one rib, said channel having an inner wall;

wherein said at least one rib extends beyond said inner wall of said channel, such that said at least one rib is sheared by said inner wall of said channel upon insertion of said portion of said at least one post and said at least one rib into said channel for positioning said base within said object.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said base has a hole for allowing wiring to pass through said base.

23. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said base is substantially rectangular.

24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one post is substantially rectangular.

25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein said at least one post has corners that are rounded.

26. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one post is substantially oblong.

27. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one post is substantially perpendicular to said base.

28. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one rib is made of plastic.

29. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said at least one rib is tapered at a distal edge for facilitating insertion of said at least one rib in said at least one channel of said object to be sealed.

30. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said base, said at least one post and said at least one rib are unitarily formed.

31. The assembly of claim 21, wherein said object and said channel are unitarily formed.

32. The assembly of claim 21, further comprising at least one wall connected to said inner surface of said base for further securing said base to said object.

33. A self-adjusting end cap assembly, comprising:

a base having an inner and an outer surface;

two posts connected to said base inner surface;

a rib extending outwardly from each of said posts, said ribs having distal edges separated by a first distance;

an object to be capped, said object having an opening; and

two channels connected to said opening adapted to receive a portion of said posts and said ribs, each of said channels having an inner wall separated by a second distance;

wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance, such that said ribs are sheared by said inner walls of said channels upon inserting said portion of said posts and said ribs into said channels for positioning said base within said object.

34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said base has a hole for allowing wiring to pass through said base.

35. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said base is substantially rectangular.

36. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said posts are substantially rectangular.

37. The assembly of claim 36, wherein said posts have corners that are rounded.

38. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said posts are substantially oblong.

39. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said posts are substantially perpendicular to said base.

40. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said ribs are made of plastic.

41. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said ribs are tapered at a distal end for facilitating insertion of said ribs in said channels of said object to be sealed.

42. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said base, said posts and said ribs are unitarily formed.

43. The assembly of claim 33, wherein said object and said channels are unitarily formed.

44. The assembly of claim 33, further comprising at least one wall connected to said inner surface of said base for further securing said base to said object.