Conduit connector assembly with end stop grommet for attachment of conduit to junction box

• US 5,731,543 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/654,067
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 174/65 R, 174/65 G, 174/151, 174/152 G, 174/153 G, 174/153 R, 174/152 R, 16/2.1, 16/2.2, 248/56, 285/194, 285/162
• US Class Current: 174/661
• 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

A conduit connector assembly for attachment of a conduit carrying electrical wires to an electrical junction box includes a fitting body, an end stop grommet, and a spring clip. The fitting body has open first and second opposite ends and an interior bore for receiving therein an end portion of a conduit. The end stop grommet includes a grommet body having an interior cavity with open first and second end portions, the grommet body being inserted within the interior bore of the fitting body. The conduit is received and held within the interior bore of the fitting body and within the interior cavity of the grommet body. The fitting body is inserted through an opening in the junction box and is connected thereto. The grommet body is secured within the interior bore of the fitting body and has an outer flange making contact with the fitting body for preventing the grommet body from being inserted into the fitting body beyond a predetermined position therein. The grommet body also has an end wall having a round passage therethrough to prevent the conduit from entering farther into the junction box but permits wiring from the conduit to pass into the junction box. The spring clip retains the conduit within the fitting body and cooperates with the fitting body for connection of the assembly to the junction box.

Claims

1. A conduit connector assembly for attachment of a conduit carrying electrical wires to an electrical junction box, said assembly comprising:

(a) a fitting body having open first and second opposite ends and an interior bore extending between said first and second opposite ends for receiving therein from said first opposite end an end portion of a conduit carrying electrical wiring which emanates from the end portion of the conduit, said fitting body at said second opposite end being insertable through an opening in an electrical junction box;

(b) an end stop grommet interfitted with said fitting body, said end stop grommet including

(i) a grommet body having open first and second end portions and defining an interior cavity extending between said first and second end portions, said first end portion of said grommet body being inserted within said interior bore of said fitting body from said second opposite end thereof to a predetermined position within said interior bore of said fitting body, said first end portion of said grommet body being of a first diameter size adapted to receive the end portion of the conduit therein,

(ii) outer means on said second end portion of said grommet body defining a first stop element for preventing said grommet body from being inserted into said interior bore of said fitting body beyond said predetermined position, and

(iii) inner means on said second end portion of said grommet body defining a second stop element for blocking extension of the end portion of the conduit through said second end portion of said grommet body, said inner means also defining an aperture of a second diameter size less than said first diameter size for allowing passage of the electrical wiring emanating from the end portion of the conduit through said second end portion of said grommet body;

(c) means for securing said end stop grommet to said fitting body, said means for securing including

(i) wall portions on opposite sides of said fitting body defining a pair of openings and a pair of edges extending along said openings and facing in a first direction toward said first opposite end of said fitting body, and

(ii) a pair of locking tabs disposed on opposite sides of said first end portion of said grommet body and protecting outwardly therefrom, each of said locking tabs having an edge facing in a second direction opposite from said first direction and toward said second opposite end of said fitting body for making locking engagement with one of said edges on said fitting body upon insertion of said first end portion of said grommet body within said interior bore of said fitting body to said predetermined position within Said interior bore of said fitting body;

(d) means on said fitting body for gripping the end portion of the conduit so as to hold the conduit end portion within said interior bore of said fitting body; and

(e) means on said fitting body for connecting said fitting body to the electrical junction box.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer means on said second end portion of said grommet body defining said first stop element is spaced from and faces toward said edges on said locking tabs so as to cooperate therewith for holding said grommet body at said predetermined position within said interior bore of said fitting body.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said outer means on said second end portion of said grommet body defining said first stop element is a flange making flush engagement with said fitting body at said second opposite end thereof.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner means on said second end portion of said grommet body defining said second stop element is an end wall for retaining the end portion of the conduit within said interior cavity and thereby preventing the end portion of the conduit from entering further into the electrical junction box, said end wall of said grommet body also defining said aperture through said second end portion of said grommet body in the form of a round passage for permitting the electrical wiring emanating from the end portion of the conduit to pass into the electrical junction box.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said end wall has a generally annular configuration and said aperture is defined through said end wall in an offset relation relative to a central point on said end wall.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first end portion of said grommet body is substantially annular in shape with a longitudinally extending flat side portion.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said first end portion of said grommet body has a longitudinal slit extending therethrough for allowing said first end portion of said grommet body to transversely deform to allow insertion of said first end portion of said grommet body into said interior bore of said fitting body.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said fitting body is substantially cylindrical in shape with a longitudinally extending flat side portion.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for connecting said fitting body to the electrical junction box includes a pair of first tabs disposed on opposite sides of said fitting body and extending outwardly therefrom so as to contact an exterior side of a wall of the electrical junction box adjacent to the opening in the electrical junction box after insertion of said second opposite end of said fitting body through the opening and into the electrical junction box.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for connecting said fitting body to the electrical junction box further includes a second tab disposed on said fitting body opposite from said flat side portion thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom and in substantially perpendicular relation to said fitting body at said second opposite end thereof, said second tab making flush contact with an interior side of the wall of the electrical junction box adjacent to the opening therein after insertion of said second opposite end of said fitting body through the opening and into the electrical junction box.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said fitting body has a longitudinal slit extending full length through a longitudinal center of said flat side portion thereof for allowing said fitting body to transversely expand and open wide enough across said longitudinal slit for insertion of said first end portion of said grommet body into said interior bore of said fitting body and to contract over and capture said first end portion of said grommet body within said interior bore of said fitting body.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said gripping means includes a grip tab disposed on said fitting body and extending inwardly therefrom opposite from said flat side portion thereof and projecting into said interior bore of said fitting body toward said second opposite end of said fitting body.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said gripping means further includes a spring clip inserted at said first opposite end of said fitting body over said flat side portion thereof, said spring clip having a grip portion disposed at a first end thereof within said interior bore of said fitting body diametrically opposite from said grip tab.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said spring clip further has a pair of opposite ears disposed at a second end thereof, said ears making contact with an interior side of a wall of the electrical junction box adjacent to the opening therein after insertion of said second opposite end of said fitting body through the opening and into the electrical junction box.

15. A conduit connector assembly for attachment of a conduit carrying electrical wires to an electrical junction box, said assembly comprising:

(a) a fitting body having open first and second opposite ends and an interior bore extending between said first and second opposite ends for receiving therein from said first opposite end an end portion of a conduit carrying electrical wiring which emanates from the end portion of the conduit, said fitting body at said second opposite end being insertable through an opening in an electrical junction box;

(b) an end stop grommet interfitted with said fitting body, said end stop grommet including

(i) a grommet body having open first and second end portions, said first end portion of said grommet body being inserted within said interior bore of said fitting body from said second opposite end thereof to a predetermined position within said interior bore of said fitting body, said first end portion of said grommet body being adapted to receive the end portion of the conduit being inserted from said first opposite end of said fitting body,

(ii) a first stop element on said second end portion of said grommet body and extending outwardly from said grommet body for preventing said grommet body from being inserted into said interior bore of said fitting body beyond said predetermined position therein, and

(iii) a second stop element on said second end portion of said grommet body disposed inwardly from said first stop element for blocking extension of the end portion of the conduit beyond said second end portion of said grommet body but allowing passage of the electrical wiring emanating from the end portion of the conduit through said second end portion of said grommet body;

(c) means for securing said end stop grommet to said fitting body;

(d) means on said fitting body for gripping the end portion of the conduit so as to hold the conduit end portion within said interior bore of said fitting body, said gripping means including

(i) a grip tab disposed on a first side portion of said fitting body and projecting inwardly therefrom into said interior bore of said fitting body toward said second opposite end of said fitting body, and

(ii) a spring clip inserted at said first opposite end of said fitting body over a second side portion of said fitting body opposite from said first side portion thereof, said spring clip having a grip portion disposed at a first end thereof within said interior bore of said fitting body substantially opposite from said grip tab; and

(e) means on said fitting body for connecting said fitting body to the electrical junction box.

16. The assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said spring clip further includes a pair of opposite ears disposed at a second end thereof, said ears making contact with an interior side of a wall of the electrical junction box adjacent to the opening therein after insertion of said second opposite end of said fitting body through the opening and into the electrical junction box.

17. The assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said fitting body has a longitudinal slit extending full length through a longitudinal center of said second side portion thereof for allowing said fitting body to transversely expand and open wide enough across said longitudinal slit for insertion of said first end portion of said grommet body into said interior bore of said fitting body and to contract over and capture said first end portion of said grommet body within said interior bore of said fitting body.

18. The assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for connecting said fitting body to the electrical junction box includes a pair of first tabs disposed on opposite sides of said fitting body and extending outwardly therefrom so as to contact an exterior side of a wall of the electrical junction box adjacent to the opening in the electrical junction box after insertion of said second opposite end of said fitting body through the opening and into the electrical junction box.

19. The assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for connecting said fitting body to the electrical junction box further includes a second tab disposed on said fitting body between and spaced from said opposite sides of said fitting body and projecting outwardly therefrom and in substantially perpendicular relation to said fitting body at said second opposite end thereof, said second tab making flush contact with an interior side of the wall of the electrical junction box adjacent to the opening therein after insertion of said second opposite end of said fitting body through the opening and into the electrical junction box.