Snap in cable connector

• US 6,335,488 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arlington Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gretz, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US09/603,756
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 174/65.R, 174/65.G, 174/64, 174/135, 174/152.G, 174/153.G, 174/151, 174/31.R, 174/167, 174/153.R, 16/21, 16/22, 439/411, 439/439, 439/460, 439/98, 285/194, 285/921, 285/154.1, 285/140.1
• US Class Current: 174/372
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/083 Inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A snap in locking cable connector is composed of two mating pieces that snap together and provide a connector for armored or metal clad electrical conducts. One piece includes a die cast member including a smooth outer cylindrical section having an inner diameter that may accommodate a spring steel adaptor with flanges to hold the spring steel adaptor in place. The spring steel adaptor is used in conjunction with an electrical junction box to fix the location of the locking cable connector with respect to the junction box. Another piece includes a spring steel locking ring provided to receive an armored cable and lock into the die cast member. The spring steel locking ring has tangs allowing unidirectional insertion into the die cast member and restricting withdrawal motion from the die cast member. The spring steel locking ring also includes oppositely directed tangs to permit reception of the armored cable in one direction and restrict its movement in the reverse direction.

Claims

1. A method for attaching an armored or metal clad electrical cable to a junction box comprising:

providing a junction box having an aperture;

providing a member having a leading end with an external cylindrical surface and a trailing end with an inner diameter;

providing a spring steel adapter surrounding said leading end external cylindrical surface for snap fitting into said aperture;

providing a spring steel loading ring inserted into said trailing end inner diameter;

restricting rearward withdrawal motion of said spring steel locking ring from said member;

receiving an armored or metal clad cable in said spring steel locking ring; and

preventing removal of said armored or metal cable in a rearward direction from said spring steel locking ring.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said restricting rearward withdrawal motion includes:

providing two or more tangs located at one end of said spring steel locking ring, said tangs equally spaced around the circumference of said generally cylindrical spring steel locking ring; and

distributing a force applied for rearward withdrawal of said spring steel locking ring to said points along said locking ring.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said preventing removal includes:

providing three tangs centrally located in said locking ring, said three tangs spaced from each other along the internal circumference of said locking ring; and

distributing a force applied for preventing removal of said armored cable along the three points on said spring steel locking ring.