Quick-connect fitting for electrical junction box

• US 5,266,050 A
• Filed: 09/11/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J., Stark, Thomas S., O'Neil, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US07/943,886
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 285/158, 285/162, 174/65 R, 439/552
• US Class Current: 439/552
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/745 separate from the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0625 with means for preventing disengagement of conductors

Abstract

A spring steel adaptor (20) that improves the ease of use and reduces the time involved in securing electrical connectors to electrical junction boxes (34). Several embodiments are disclosed which require the use of a zinc die-cast connector (26) having a smooth central section (32) to accommodate the spring steel adaptor (20). A separate embodiment employs a spring steel adaptor (20) that is designed to be used in conjunction with any of the standard size threaded electrical connectors that are presently in use in the electrical industry.

Claims

1. A quick connect fitting for an electrical junction box comprising:

a hollow electrical connector through which an electrical conductor may be inserted having a leading end thereof for insertion in a hole in an electrical junction box;

a circular spring metal adaptor surrounding said leading end of said electrical connector which has a leading end, a trailing end, and an intermediate body;

at least two outwardly sprung members carried by said metal adaptor near said trailing end of said adaptor which engage the side walls of the hole in the junction box into which said adaptor is inserted;

at least two spring locking members carried by said metal adaptor that spring inward to a retracted position to permit said adaptor and locking members to be inserted in a hole in an electrical junction box and spring outward to lock said electrical connector form being withdrawn through the hole;

said circular spring metal adaptor being less than a complete circle that is of a relaxed diameter less than the diameter of the hole into which it is to be inserted with said spring locking members extending radially outward beyond the diameter of the hole into which they are to be inserted; and

an arrangement on said connector for limiting the distance said connector can be inserted into the hole in the junction box.

2. The quick connect fitting of claim 1 wherein said spring locking members are integral with and lanced out of said circular spring metal adaptor.

3. The quick connect fitting of claim 2 wherein there are a series of spring locking members spaced longitudinally along said adaptor so as to enable the adaptor to be inserted in a hole in an electrical junction box having different wall thicknesses.

4. The quick connect fitting of claim 2 wherein said connector has a flange and shoulder with an intermediate portion there between with said adaptor carried on said intermediate portion and held in position by said flange and shoulder.

5. The quick connect fitting of claim 1 wherein said connector has a flange and shoulder with intermediate portion there between with said adaptor carried on said intermediate portion and held in position by said flange and shoulder.

6. The quick connect fitting of claim 3 wherein said connector has a flange and shoulder with intermediate portion there between with said adaptor carried on said intermediate portion and held in position by said flange and shoulder.

7. A quick connect fitting for an electrical junction box comprising:

a hollow electrical connector through which an electrical conductor may be inserted having a leading end thereof for insertion in a hole in an electrical junction box;

a circular spring metal adaptor surrounding said leading end of said electrical connector which has a leading end, a trailing end, and an intermediate body;

said connector has a flange and shoulder with an intermediate portion there between with said adaptor carried on said intermediate portion and held in position by said flange and shoulder;

at least two spring locking members carried by said metal adaptor that spring inward to a retracted position to permit said adaptor and locking members to be inserted in a hole in an electrical junction box and spring outward to lock said electrical connector form being withdrawn through the hole; and

an arrangement on said connector for limiting the distance said connector can be inserted into the hole in the junction box.

8. A quick connect fitting for an electrical junction box comprising:

a hollow electrical connector through which an electrical conductor may be inserted having a leading end thereof for insertion in a hole in an electrical junction box;

a circular spring metal adaptor surrounding said leading end of said electrical connector which has a leading end, a trailing end, and an intermediate body;

at least two outwardly sprung members carried by said metal adaptor near said trailing end of said adaptor which engage the side walls of the hole in the junction box into which said adaptor is inserted;

at least two spring locking members carried by said metal adaptor that spring inward to a retracted position to permit said adaptor and locking members to be inserted in a hole in an electrical junction box and spring outward to lock said electrical connector from being withdrawn through the hole; and

an arrangement on said connector for limiting the distance said connector can be inserted into the hole in the junction box.