Bonding washer

• US 9,447,813 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Wiley, Brian Thomas, Chan, Palvin Chee Leong
• Primary Examiner(s): Delisle, Roberta
• Application Number:
  US14/820,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20150345537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 411132-133, 411/160
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1054 the pull-mandrel or the like being frangible
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1072 the pull-mandrel or the like comprising a thread and being rotated with respect to the rivet, thereby mechanically expanding and fastening the rivet nuts fastened by riveting F16B37/067
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/187 with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels channel nuts per se F16B37/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/002 Auxiliary arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, may be constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.

Claims

1. A bonding washer comprising:

an electrically conductive body having a hole for receiving a mounting fastener;

an electrically conductive first wall secured to a first side of the body and extending substantially perpendicular to the body, wherein the first wall has at least one tooth on a region of the first wall spaced from the body and facing in a direction of the body;

an electrically conductive second wall secured to a second side of the body and extending substantially perpendicular to the body, wherein the second side of the body is opposite the first side of the body, and wherein the second wall has at least one tooth on a region of the second wall spaced from the body and facing in a direction of the body; and

wherein the first wall, the body and the second wall form an electrically conductive path between the at least one tooth on the first wall and the at least one tooth on the second wall.

2. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the body is substantially planar.

3. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth on the first wall comprises a plurality of teeth.

4. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth on the second wall comprises a plurality of teeth.

5. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the first wall is substantially planar.

6. The bonding washer according to claim 5, wherein the region of the first wall with the at least one tooth is in a different plane than the plane of the first wall.

7. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the second wall is substantially planar.

8. The bonding washer according to claim 7, wherein the region of the second wall with the at least one tooth is in a different plane than the plane of the second wall.

9. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the body is made of electrically conductive metal.

10. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the first wall is made of electrically conductive metal.

11. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the second wall is made of electrically conductive metal.

12. The bonding washer according to claim 1, wherein the body, first wall and second wall are formed as a single unitary structure.

13. A bonding washer comprising:

an electrically conductive substantially planar body having a hole for receiving a mounting fastener;

an electrically conductive first wall having one end secured to a first side of the body such that the first wall is substantially perpendicular to the body, and a second end with a plurality of teeth facing in a direction of the body;

an electrically conductive second wall having one end secured to a second side of the body such that the second wall is substantially perpendicular to the body, and a second end with a plurality of teeth facing in a direction of the body; and

wherein the first wall, the body and the second wall form an electrically conductive path between the plurality of teeth on the first wall and the plurality of teeth on the second wall.

14. The bonding washer according to claim 13, wherein the first end of the first wall is in a different plane than the second end of the first wall.

15. The bonding washer according to claim 14, wherein the second end of the first wall is substantially U-shaped.

16. The bonding washer according to claim 14, wherein the second end of the first wall is substantially J-shaped.

17. The bonding washer according to claim 13, wherein the first end of the second wall is in a different plane than the second end of the second wall.

18. The bonding washer according to claim 17, wherein the second end of the second wall is substantially U-shaped.

19. The bonding washer according to claim 17, wherein the second end of the second wall is substantially J-shaped.

20. The bonding washer according to claim 13, wherein the body is made of electrically conductive metal.

21. The bonding washer according to claim 13, wherein the first wall is made of electrically conductive metal.

22. The bonding washer according to claim 13, wherein the second wall is made of electrically conductive metal.

23. The bonding washer according to claim 13, wherein the body, first wall and second wall are formed as a single unitary structure.

24. A kit for establishing an electrical connection between two metal pieces and a mounting rail, the kit comprising:

a plurality of bonding washers, wherein each bonding washer having;

an electrically conductive body having a hole for receiving a mounting fastener;

an electrically conductive first wall secured to a first side of the body and extending substantially perpendicular to the body, wherein the first wall has at least one tooth on a region of the first wall spaced from the body and facing in a direction of the body;

an electrically conductive second wall secured to a second side of the body and extending substantially perpendicular to the body, wherein the second side of the body is opposite the first side of the body, and wherein the second wall has at least one tooth on a region of the second wall spaced from the body and facing in a direction of the body; and

wherein the first wall, the body and the second wall form an electrically conductive path between the at least one tooth on the first wall and the at least one tooth on the second wall; and

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each is used to secure one of the plurality of bonding washers to a metal rail.

25. A kit for establishing an electrical connection between two metal pieces and a mounting rail, the kit comprising:

a plurality of bonding washers, wherein each bonding washer having;

an electrically conductive substantially planar body having a hole for receiving a mounting fastener;

an electrically conductive first wall having one end secured to a first side of the body such that the first wall is substantially perpendicular to the body, and a second end with a plurality of teeth facing in a direction of the body;

an electrically conductive second wall having one end secured to a second side of the body such that the second wall is substantially perpendicular to the body, and a second end with a plurality of teeth facing in a direction of the body; and

wherein the first wall, the body and the second wall form an electrically conductive path between the plurality of teeth on the first wall and the plurality of teeth on the second wall; and

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each is used to secure one of the plurality of bonding washers to a metal rail.