Bonding washer

• US 9,500,220 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• 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:
  US14/723,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20150267736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 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 element to electrically connect first and second electrically conductive members, the combination comprising:

a one-piece electrically conductive clip having a first, substantially planar section located substantially in a first plane and connected to a first end of a connecting section, and a second, substantially planar section connected to a second end of said connecting section and located substantially in a second plane spaced in a first direction from and substantially parallel to said first section;

a first set of teeth located in said first section and extending outwardly from said first section only in a second direction substantially opposite from said a first direction; and

a second tooth located in said second section and extending outwardly from said second section only in said second direction, said first planar section, connecting section and second planar section forming a conductive path between said the first set of teeth and the first electrically conductive member and said second tooth and the second electrically conductive member.

2. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

each of said teeth in said first set of teeth is substantially tubular having a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said first substantially planar section.

3. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said second tooth is substantially tubular with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said second substantially planar section.

4. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

each of said teeth in said first set of teeth is substantially tubular, and

said second tooth is substantially tubular.

5. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

each of said teeth in said first set of teeth is substantially frustoconical and tapers upwardly and inwardly,

said second tooth is substantially frustoconical and tapers upwardly and inwardly.

6. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

each of said teeth in said first set of teeth extends outwardly from said first section at substantially right angles to said first section.

7. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said second tooth extends outwardly from said second section at substantially a right angle to said second section.

8. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said first section and second section are spaced apart a distance to receive the first electrically conductive member and where said first substantially planar section has a dimension and said first set of teeth are oriented to engage the second electrically conductive member.

9. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said clip is made of flexible metal material.

10. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said second tooth is aligned with one of said teeth in said first set of teeth.

11. The bonding element of claim 1, wherein said connecting section includes a first U-shaped connecting portion extending between said first substantially planar section and second substantially planar section, and a second U-shaped connecting portion extending between said first substantially planar section and said second substantially planar section.

12. The bonding element of claim 1, wherein said connecting section has a substantially U-shape, and where said second tooth extends only in said second direction.

13. The bonding element of claim 1, wherein said first set of teeth defines projections for making electrical contact with the first electrically conducting member, and said second tooth defines a projection for making electrical contact with the second electrically conducting member.

14. The bonding element of claim 1, wherein said first substantially planar section has a U-shape defining an elliptical opening, and said second substantially planar section has a U-shape defining an elliptical opening.

15. A bonding element to electrically connect first and second electrically conductive members, the combination comprising:

a one-piece electrically conductive clip having a first, substantially planar section connected to a first end of a first connecting section and located substantially in a first plane and a second, substantially planar section connected to a second end of said first connecting section and located substantially in a second plane spaced in a first direction from and substantially parallel to said first section;

a first set of teeth located in said first section and extending outwardly from said first section in a second direction substantially opposite from said first direction and oriented for contacting the first electrically conductive member; and

a second tooth located in said second section and extending outwardly from said second section in said second direction and oriented for contacting the second electrically conducting member positioned between said first substantially planar section and said second substantially planar section,

each of said teeth in said first set of teeth is substantially tubular with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first substantially planar section and said second substantially planar section.

16. A bonding element according to claim 15, wherein

said second tooth is substantially tubular with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said second substantially planar section.

17. A bonding element according to claim 15, wherein

each of said teeth in said first set of teeth is substantially frustoconical with a center axis substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first substantially planar section and tapers upwardly and inwardly,

said second tooth is substantially frustoconical with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said second substantially planar section and tapers upwardly and inwardly.

18. A bonding element according to claim 15, wherein

said clip is made of flexible metal.

19. A bonding element according to claim 15, wherein

said second tooth is aligned with one of said teeth in said first set of teeth.

20. The bonding element of claim 15, wherein said first substantially planar section is connected to a first end of a second connecting section.

21. The bonding element of claim 20, wherein a second end of said second connecting section is connected to said second substantially planar section.

22. The bonding element of claim 21, wherein said first connection section has a U-shape and said second connecting section has a U-shape.

23. A bonding washer for use with a first metal piece and a second metal piece, and a fastener for coupling said bonding washer to the first metal piece and the second metal piece, said bonding washer comprising:

a substantially planar body having a first side edge and a second side edge;

a first leg extending from said first side edge of said body in a first direction and having at least one first tooth extending in a second direction opposite said first direction; and

a second leg extending from said second side edge of said body in said first direction substantially parallel to said first leg, said second leg having at least one second tooth extending in said second direction opposite said first direction.

24. The bonding washer of claim 23, wherein

said at least one first tooth is spaced outwardly from said first leg and extends in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of said first leg, and

said at least one second tooth is spaced outwardly from said second leg and extends in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of said second leg.

25. The bonding washer of claim 24, wherein

said first leg has a distal end with a substantially U-shaped portion, and where said at least one first tooth extends from an end of said U-shaped portion;

and

said second leg has a distal end with a substantially U-shaped portion, and where said at least one second tooth extends from an end of said U-shaped portion.