Grounding clip for electrical fixtures
First Claim
1. A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured to a mounting box with mounting screws extending through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip .[.comprising:
- .]. .Iadd.consisting of .Iaddend.a U-shaped spring having a first member and a second member, said members being substantially flat planar members, said members being separated by a gap of lesser magnitude than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said first member including an aperture, said second member including screw-receiving means aligned with said aperture for engaging a mounting screw, said screw-receiving means including a pair of cantilever arms, said grounding clip being mountable on the mounting yoke of the electrical fixture with said members forcibly bearing against the mounting yoke to establish electrical continuity therebetween and with said aperture and said screw-receiving means aligned with one of the mounting yoke slots to receive a mounting screw, said cantilever arms being deflectable .Iadd.and having ends which, in plan, follow straight-line paths at least in the regions where they contact the threads of the mounting screw .Iaddend.to slide over and forcibly abut against the threads of the mounting screw in maintaining electrical continuity therebetween as the mounting screw is axially engaged into said screw-receiving means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for providing a reliable grounding path between electrical fixtures and their mounting boxes, particularly where modifications to the conventional nature of the electrical fixtures are unnecessary. A metal clip is disposed as a conductive interface between the mounting yoke of the electrical fixture and the mounting screw utilized to secure the electrical fixture within the mounting box. Low resistance electrical contacts are maintained by disposing spring members on the clip to exert continual contact pressure against both the mounting yoke and the mounting screw. Sharp protrusions extend from the clip to concentrate the contact pressure exerted against the mounting yoke and the mounting screw is engaged by a screw-receiving means on the clip. A spring means is disposed within the screw receiving means to develop the contact pressure and also provides for self-adjustabliity to pitch variations of the mounting screws or to fixed pitch references of the mounting box.
31 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured to a mounting box with mounting screws extending through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip .[.comprising:
- .]. .Iadd.consisting of .Iaddend.a U-shaped spring having a first member and a second member, said members being substantially flat planar members, said members being separated by a gap of lesser magnitude than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said first member including an aperture, said second member including screw-receiving means aligned with said aperture for engaging a mounting screw, said screw-receiving means including a pair of cantilever arms, said grounding clip being mountable on the mounting yoke of the electrical fixture with said members forcibly bearing against the mounting yoke to establish electrical continuity therebetween and with said aperture and said screw-receiving means aligned with one of the mounting yoke slots to receive a mounting screw, said cantilever arms being deflectable .Iadd.and having ends which, in plan, follow straight-line paths at least in the regions where they contact the threads of the mounting screw .Iaddend.to slide over and forcibly abut against the threads of the mounting screw in maintaining electrical continuity therebetween as the mounting screw is axially engaged into said screw-receiving means.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In an electrical fixture of the type adapted to be mounted in an electrically grounded metal mounting box, wherein a metallic mounting yoke supports an insulated body and is connected to a grounding contact within said body, said mounting yoke having at least one mounting ear extending therefrom, said mounting ear containing a slot to receive a mounting screw therethrough in securing said electrical fixture into the mounting box, the improvement comprising:
a grounding clip detachably affixed to said mounting ear, said grounding clip .[.being.]. .Iadd.consisting of .Iaddend.a U-shaped spring, said spring having a first member and a second member, said members being substantially flat planar members, said members being separated by a gap of lesser magnitude than the thickness of said mounting ear, said first member including an aperture, said second member including screw-receiving spring means aligned with said aperture for engaging the mounting screw, said grounding clip being detachably retained on said mounting ear with said members forcibly bearing thereagainst to establish electrical continuity therebetween and with said aperture and said screw-receiving means aligned with said slot, said screw-receiving spring means being deflectable .Iadd.and having ends which, in plan, follow straight-line paths at least in the regions where they contact the threads of the mounting screw .Iaddend.to slide over and forcibly abut against the threads of the mounting screw in maintaining electrical continuity therebetween as the mounting screw is axially engaged thereinto. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Specification