Non-metallic elbow conduit transition fitting

• US 7,312,407 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2006
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald Case
• Original Assignee: Gerald Case
• Inventors: Case, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US11/341,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 696 Days
• Field of Search: 174/65.R, 174/68.1, 174/68.3, 174/72.A, 174/71.R, 174/95, 174/96, 174/135, 285/179, 285/184, 285/183, 285/119, 285/61, 285/149.1, 248/49, 248/62, 138/172, 138/177, 138/178, 138/111, 403/169, 403/403, 403/205, 403/170, 403/171, 403/180, 403/382, 526/569, 526/551
• US Class Current: 174/650
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/06 Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing or channels, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/383 in floors

Abstract

A Non-metallic Elbow Conduit Transition Fitting is disclosed. The fitting is specifically suited to interconnect vertical electrical conduit runs and horizontal electrical conduit runs in commercial construction environments. The fitting is suitable for immersion within poured concrete floors used in commercial building construction. The fitting is designed to threadedly engage a vertical run of EMT (metallic) conduit with a horizontal run of nonmetallic (e.g. PVC) conduit. A final aspect of the fitting is that it must have a short sweep angle bend so that it is adequately buried within a concrete floor made from 6 inches of concrete.

Claims

1. A fitting for interconnecting electrical conduit sections, comprising:

a base defining a substantially flat bottom face;

a first end extending upwardly from said base, said first end being generally circular in cross-section and defining a first central spacial axis perpendicular to said bottom face;

a curved tubular center section having a bottom portion extending from said first end and terminating in an upper portion;

a second end extending from said upper portion, said second end being generally circular in cross-section and defining a second central spacial axis, said second central spacial axis being at a right angle to said first central spacial axis;

said second spacial axis being separated by a dimension H from said bottom face;

said base bottom face further defining a width that is greater than said first end and a dimension L that is greater than said dimension H; and

a web interconnecting said base and said curved tubular center section.

2. The fitting of claim 1, wherein said base, said first end, said curved tubular center section, said second end and said web are constructed from a single homogeneous piece of non-metallic material.

3. The fitting of claim 2, wherein said dimension L is greater than 1.2 times said dimension H.

4. The fitting of claim 3, further defined by a plurality of fastener apertures formed through a flanged portion of said base.

5. The fitting of claim 4, wherein said first end is defined by said first collar having an internally threaded bore and said second end is defined by a second collar defined by a bore devoid of threads therein.

6. A conduit fitting, comprising:

a one-piece, non-metallic body defining a tubular elbow having a first end defining a base having a substantially flat bottom face defining a length 1 and a width w, and a first cylindrical collar formed therein, and a second end defining a second cylindrical collar, said first cylindrical collar having a threaded bore formed therein, said second cylindrical collar having a smooth-walled bore formed therein, said collars each defining a central axis, said axes at relative right angles with said flat bottom face in spaced relation to said second cylindrical collar central axis by a dimension that is less than said length 1.

7. The fitting of claim 6, further comprising:

a base, said base having a generally flat bottom surface perpendicular to said first collar axis, said threaded bore accessed through an aperture formed in said base;

a curved tubular center section interconnecting said first and second collars; and

a web interconnecting said base and said tubular center section.

8. The fitting of claim 7, further comprising:

a dimension H is defined by a distance between said bottom face of said base and a second collar central axis;

a dimension L is defined by a distance between an end face of said second collar and a first collar central axis; and

whereby said dimension H is less than said dimension L.

9. The fitting of claim 8, wherein said dimension L is greater than 1.2 times said dimension H.

10. The fitting of claim 9, wherein said base is defined by a first side and a a second side, said first side being adjacent to said first collar and transitioning into said second side adjacent to said web, said first side defining a semicircular outer periphery, said second side having a non-semicircular outer periphery.

11. The fitting of claim 10, wherein said second side of said base terminates in a substantially flat end, said second side further defined by a pair of non-parallel side edges emanating at said semicircular outer periphery of said first end and terminating at said substantially flat end.

12. A conduit elbow, comprising:

a first elbow end defined by a base having a substantially flat bottom face, said base further having a first cylindrical collar formed therein and at least one fastener aperture formed through said base adjacent to said first cylindrical collar, said first cylindrical collar further having an outer surface and defining a threaded inner bore penetrating said bottom face;

a non-threaded curved tubular center section defining a generally smooth-walled curved inner bore in fluid communication with said threaded inner bore; and

a second elbow end at a ninety degree angle to said first elbow end, said second elbow end defined by a second cylindrical collar having an outer surface and defining a generally smooth-walled inner bore in fluid communication with said curved inner bore and said threaded inner bore.

13. The elbow of claim 12, wherein said base further defines a flat base in a spacial plane defined by a lower face of said first cylindrical collar, said flat base having a flanged portion encircling a portion of said first cylindrical collar and a tapered elongate portion in spaced relation with said second elbow end.

14. The elbow of claim 13, farther comprising a stiffening web interconnecting said tapered elongate portion of said base and said curved tubular center section adjacent to said second elbow end.

15. The elbow of claim 14, further comprising:

a dimension H defined by a distance between a bottom surface of said base and said a central axis defined by said second collar;

a dimension L is defined by a distance between an end face of said second collar and a first collar central axis; and

whereby said dimension H is less than said dimension L.

16. The elbow of claim 15, wherein said dimension L is greater than 1.2 times said dimension H.

17. The elbow of claim 16, further defined by a plurality of fastener apertures formed through said flanged portion of said base.