Electrical metallic tube, coupling, and connector apparatus and method

• US 7,005,574 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Maneely Company
• Original Assignee: John Maneely Company
• Inventors: Burnette, David Ruffin
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dhiru R.
• Application Number:
  US10/910,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 174/48, 174/65.R, 174/51, 174/68.3, 174/50, 174/68.1, 174/65.SS, 439/92, 439/95, 439/98, 439/142, 138/177, 138/103, 285/355, 285/81, 285/390
• US Class Current: 174/480
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0683 with bolts operating in a direction transverse to the conductors

Abstract

A labor saving system, method, and apparatus for connecting or coupling lengths of electric metallic tubing (“EMT”). The invention uses couplings/connectors that have barbs that are designed to engage corresponding indentations on EMT to ensure proper installation. In one aspect, the invention is an EMT having: an EMT inner surface forming an EMT cavity; an EMT outer surface; an EMT first end; and at least one indentation in the EMT outer surface at or near the EMT first end, the indentation adapted to receive a corresponding barb from a sleeve device. In another aspect, the invention is a sleeve device comprising; a sleeve inner surface forming a sleeve cavity adapted to receive an end of an EMT; a sleeve outer surface; a first sleeve end; at least one barb on the sleeve inner surface at or near the first sleeve end, the barb adapted to engage a corresponding indentation on the EMT.

Claims

1. A sleeve device comprising;

a sleeve inner surface forming a sleeve cavity;

a sleeve outer surface;

a first sleeve end adapted to receive an end of a first length of EMT;

a second sleeve end which is a mirror image of the first sleeve end adapted to receive an end of a second length of EMT;

at least one barb on the sleeve inner surface at or near the first sleeve end, the barb adapted to engage a corresponding indentation on the first length of EMT; and

at least one barb on the sleeve inner surface at or near the second sleeve end, the barb adapted to engage a corresponding indentation on the second length of EMT;

the sleeve device functioning to couple the first length of EMT and the second length of EMT.

2. The sleeve device of claim 1 further comprising at least one grounding tab.

3. The sleeve device of claim 1 further comprising a set screw hole extending through the sleeve outer surface and the sleeve inner surface.

4. The sleeve device of claim 3 further comprising a set screw threadily engaged and extending through the set screw hole.

5. The sleeve device of claim 1 constructed of spring steel.

6. The sleeve device of claim 1 comprising four of the barbs on the sleeve inner surface at or near the first sleeve end.

7. The sleeve device of claim 1 wherein the second sleeve end has the same barb arrangement as the first sleeve end.

8. The sleeve device of claim 1 having a C-shaped cross sectional profile.

9. The sleeve device of claim 1 further comprising:

a grounding tab;

a set screw threadily engaged and extending through the set screw hole;

wherein the sleeve device is constructed of spring steel;

four of the barbs at or near the first sleeve end;

a second sleeve end having the same barb arrangement as the first sleeve end; and

a middle inner ridge on the sleeve inner surface at or near a center of the sleeve device.

10. An EMT joint assembly comprising:

an EMT having an EMT inner surface forming a cavity, an EMT outer surface;

an EMT first end, and one or more indentations in the EMT outer surface at or near the EMT first end, each of the one or more indentations engaging a corresponding barb from a sleeve device;

the sleeve device having a sleeve inner surface forming a cavity adapted to receive the EMT first end, a sleeve outer surface;

a first sleeve end;

a set screw hole extending through the sleeve outer surface and the sleeve inner surface; and

the each of the one or more corresponding barbs on the sleeve inner surface at or near the first sleeve end.

11. An EMT joint assembly comprising:

an EMT having an EMT inner surface forming a cavity, an EMT outer surface;

an EMT first end, and one or more indentations in the EMT outer surface at or near the EMT first end, each of the one or more indentations engaging a corresponding barb from a sleeve device;

the sleeve device having a sleeve inner surface forming a cavity adapted to receive the EMT first end, a sleeve outer surface;

a first sleeve end;

a middle stop on the sleeve inner surface at or near a center of the sleeve device, and the each of the one or more corresponding barbs on the sleeve inner surface at or near the first sleeve end.