Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-10-16
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
C174S09400S, C029S873000, C403S271000, C403S391000, C439S880000, CD13S149000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06303861
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector and, more particularly, to a connector for crimping a conductor to a structural member and, still more particularly, to a connector for crimping multiple conductors of different sizes to a structural member.
2. Prior Art
Compression connectors are generally well known in the art. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,164 to Schrader et al. which discloses a compression ground connector for connecting one or more taps from a single connector to an installation requiring grounding. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,423 to Morrison which discloses a grounding connector capable of being clamped to a tapered metallic flange of an I-beam. Still another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,564 to Schrader et al. which discloses an H-shaped compressible connector having a main body and two pairs of opposed legs extending in opposite directions from the main body. The H-shaped connector is designed to require a relatively small amount of compressive force to be applied to a crimping device to completely close the connector and into connective engagement with conductors.
It was with knowledge of the foregoing that the present invention was conceived and has now been reduced to practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a grounding connector which includes a frame with upper and lower arms cantilevered from a center section to form a channel adapted to receive a section of a structural steel member. The frame has a conductor receiving region in each of the cantilevered arms, each conductor receiving region being a slot extending through the frame having a longitudinal axis aligned substantially parallel to the frame. The conductor receiving slot on one side of the frame is sized to receive a conductor of a first size and the conductor receiving slot on the other side is sized to receive a conductor of a different size. The conductor receiving regions are located so that when the upper arm and the lower arm are compressed to grip the section of the structural steel member received in the channel, the conductor is crimped to the frame. In another embodiment, the upper and lower arms of the frame have opposed surfaces for engaging the flange of the structural member and at least one of the opposed surfaces has an elongated protrusion such that when the frame is caused to clasp the flange of the structural member, the protrusion provides a slight interference between the width of the U-shaped frame and the thickness of the flange of the structural member. In other instances, opposed elongated protrusions are substantially coplanar and may be aligned substantially parallel to the frame or substantially transverse of the frame.
The invention allows for the attachment of a conductor to a structural steel member by inserting the conductor into a conductor hole in the leg of the connector and placing the connector onto the structural member. The connector is then compressed onto the structural member. During the compression process, the conductor hole is deformed around the conductor thus securing it in place. One key to the present invention is that the conductor hole diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the conductor, large enough so the conductor is readily received into the hole but not so large it subsequently deforms around the conductor in an inadequate manner. Another key to the present invention is that, previously, all conductor holes in the structural member were sized for one size conductor only whereas the present invention accommodates various sizes of conductors.
Indeed, it can be stated that there are three features embodied by the present invention which improve upon the prior art. These improved characteristics can be described as follows.
In a first instance, the novel connector is formed with one conductor hole which can accept, for example, either a #2 AWG solid conductor (0.257″ dia.) or a #2 AWG stranded conductor (0.320″ dia.) while the other conductor hole can accept either a #6 AWG solid conductor (0.162″ dia.) or a #6 AWG stranded conductor (0.184″ dia.). This is accomplished through the use of two protrusions that are parallel to the front surface of the connector that extend outwardly above the conductor holes. During the compression process, the dies of the compression tool interface with these protrusions first. A concentrated force is produced which collapses the material of the protrusions into any voids of the conductor hole not occupied by the conductor itself. During the remainder of the crimp process, this material, along with other material around the conductor being securely attached to the connector and the connector/conductor assembly being securely fastened to the structural member.
In a second instance, the situation is addressed that when installing structural compression connectors, it is desirable for the connector to have the ability to be placed on the structural member and remain temporarily “tacked” in position before being permanently compressed onto the member. This offers the installer the ability to position the conductors into the connector using both hands instead of holding the connector in place with one hand and positioning the conductor with the other. This construction also holds the connector in place while the installer orientates the tool over the connector/conductor assembly and compresses the assembly in place for permanent attachment. This desirable result is accomplished by the invention. In the groove of the connector that accepts the structural member, a protrusion is provided on both the top and bottom surfaces of the groove. This groove may have several different orientations. These protrusions provide a slight interference between the width of the connector groove and the thickness of the structural member when the connector is placed onto the structural member. Because of the interference fit, the connector may need to be tapped onto the member with the use of a hammer or the like. In this manner, the connector of the invention is temporarily retained in engagement with the structural member before permanent attachment occurs.
In a third instance, the connector of the invention offers the ability of accepting a continuous run conductor and/or a tap conductor. To this end, the continuous run hole of a known connector design has been modified to a U-shaped conductor hole to accommodate a continuous run.
A primary feature, then, of the present invention is the provision of a connector for crimping a conductor to a structural member.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of such a connector capable of crimping multiple conductors of different sizes to a structural member.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of such a connector being a grounding connector having a frame adapted for clamping to a flange of a structural member, the frame having a general U-shape with an upper arm and a lower arm cantilevered from a center section to form opposite sides of the U-shaped frame, the opposite sides of the U-shaped frame being adapted to clasp therebetween the flange of the structural member when the U-shaped frame is clamped to the flange, the U-shaped frame having a pair of conductor receiving regions, each to receive a conductor therein, the conductor receiving regions being located, respectively, in the opposite sides of the U-shaped frame so that when the opposite sides of the U-shaped frame are deformed to clasp the flange of the structural member the conductors located in the conductor receiving regions are crimped to the U-shaped frame.
Other and further features, advantages, and benefits of the invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings which a
Dobrinski Daniel David
Mello Keith Francis
FCI USA Inc.
Nino Adolfo
Perman & Green LLP
Reichard Dean A.
LandOfFree
Connector for connecting a conductor to a structural member does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connector for connecting a conductor to a structural member, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connector for connecting a conductor to a structural member will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2568184