Electrical connectors – With stress relieving means for conductor to terminal joint – Curved conductor path
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-02-27
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With stress relieving means for conductor to terminal joint
Curved conductor path
C439S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193543
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical wiring device that includes an adjustable clamping mechanism for retaining electrical cords or conduits of varying diameters within an electrical housing. More specifically, the invention relates to a cord clamping mechanism, having frangible components, capable of being adapted to retain cords of varying diameters within an electrical housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional means for accommodating a wide range of conduit or cord diameters within an electrical device has been to use a removable or expandable conduit clamp. For example, a conduit clamp capable of accommodating a small diameter conduit can be removed when a larger diameter conduit is desired. The clamp reduces the opening size of the electrical device, thereby allowing the conduit clamp to effectively grip the smaller diameter conduit within the opening.
Such removable clamps have several disadvantages. The electrical devices are manufactured with the clamps installed and ready to receive a predetermined diameter conduit. A user has the option to order electrical devices having clamps capable of retaining conduits of a predetermined diameter. If the user procures electrical devices with clamps that can retain only smaller diameter conduits than required, the user can remove the clamps in order to accommodate a larger conduit. However, if the user does not remove the clamps, and attempts to insert the larger conduit, the conduit can be damaged. Additionally, if the user removes the clamps, there will be no retaining mechanism remaining within the electrical device.
Permanent adjustable clamps have also been utilized, however they require both rotary and translational movement to be effective and are usually complicated and costly to make and assemble. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,389 to MacKay et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,483 to Hoffman.
Thus, a need exists to provide an electrical device with a clamp capable of retaining various sizes of conduit, whereby a user can alter the clamp to retain larger diameter conduit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a conduit clamping mechanism that can be enlarged and therefore usable with various diameter conduit and that is relatively simple and cheap to make and assemble.
Another object of the invention is to provide a conduit clamping mechanism that increases the retainer opening by removing a frangible portion of the conduit clamp.
Another object of the invention is to provide a conduit clamp in which retainer members are located both within the housing and on a cover, resulting in side to side and top to bottom clamping of the conduit.
The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing an electrical wiring device having a housing, the housing having a longitudinal axis, and a passageway for receiving an electrical conduit therein; a clamping means, attached to the housing, for clamping the electrical conduit within the passageway, the clamping means having a first retaining member and a second retaining member, the first and second retaining members located on opposite sides of the passageway, the first retaining member having a first frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, the second retaining member located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, wherein the conduit having a first diameter is retained between the first and second retaining members.
The foregoing objects are also attained by providing an electrical wiring device comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis, and a passageway for receiving an electrical conduit therein; a first clamping means, attached to the housing, for clamping the electrical conduit within the passageway, the first clamping means having a first retaining member and a second retaining member, the first and second retaining members located on opposite sides of the passageway, the first and second retaining members separated by a first predetermined distance, the first retaining member having a first frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, the second retaining member having a second frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis; wherein the conduit having a first diameter is retained between the first and second retaining members; wherein when the first frangible portion is removed from the first retaining member, a second predetermined distance between the first retaining member and the second retaining member greater than the first predetermined distance results, and a second conduit having a second diameter greater than the first diameter can be retained between the first and second retaining members; and wherein when the first and second frangible portions are removed from the first and second retaining members, a third predetermined distance greater than the first predetermined distance results, and a third conduit having a third diameter greater than the first diameter can be retained between the first and second retaining members.
The foregoing objects are also attained by providing an electrical wiring device comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis, and a passageway for receiving an electrical conduit therein; a first clamping means, attached to said housing, for clamping the electrical conduit within said passageway, the first clamping means having a first retaining member and a second retaining member, the first and second retaining members located on opposite sides of the passageway, the first and second retaining members separated by a first predetermined distance, the first retaining member having a first frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, the second retaining member having a second frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, wherein the conduit having a first diameter is retained between the first and second retaining members, wherein when the first frangible portion is removed from the first retaining member, a second predetermined distance between the first retaining member and the second retaining member greater than the first predetermined distance results, and a second conduit having a second diameter greater than the first diameter can be retained between the first and second retaining members, wherein when the first and second frangible portions are removed from the first and second retaining members, a third predetermined distance greater than the first predetermined distance results, and a third conduit having a third diameter greater than the first diameter can be retained between the first and second retaining members; a second clamping means, attached to the housing, for clamping the electrical conduit within the passageway, the second clamping means having a fourth predetermined distance apart from the first clamping means, the second clamping means having a third retaining member and a fourth retaining member, the third and fourth retaining members located on opposite sides of the passageway, the third and fourth retaining members separated by a fifth predetermined distance, the third retaining member having a third frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, the fourth retaining member having a fourth frangible portion located substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis, wherein the conduit having a first diameter is retained between the first and second retaining members and between the third and fourth retaining members, wherein when the third frangible portion is removed from the third retaining member, the second predetermined distance between the first and second retaining members is also between the third and fourth retaining members, and the second conduit can be retained between the first and second retaining members and the third and fourth retaining members, and wherein when the third and fourth frangible portions are removed from the third and fourth retaining members, the third predetermined distance bet
Howard Carol A.
Putorti John J.
Strang Ward E.
'Hubbell Incorporated
Bicks Mark S.
Goodman Alfred N.
Hoffman Tara L.
Hyeon Hae Moon
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