Connector / bushing assembly for electrical junction boxes

1. A connector assembly including:

a. a nut having inner and outer nut surfaces extending between a nut junction end and a nut entry end, wherein:

(1) the inner nut surface:

(a) bounds an inner nut passage extending axially between the nut junction end and nut entry end, and

(b) bears inner nut threading;

(2) a series of nut teeth are provided at or adjacent the nut junction end, the nut teeth:

(a) being arrayed about the outer nut surface to extend radially outwardly therefrom, and

(b) extending laterally away from the inner and outer nut surfaces in the axial direction;

b. a liner having inner and outer liner surfaces extending between a liner entry end and a liner floating end, wherein:

(1) the outer liner surface at the liner floating end:

(a) is defined by an at least substantially cylindrical surface, and

(b) has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the inner nut surface;

(2) the liner entry end includes an entry flange:

(a) extending radially outwardly from the liner, and

(b) having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the inner nut surface;

(3) an intermediate threaded portion is situated between the liner floating end and the entry flange, wherein the intermediate threaded portion:

(a) bears external liner threading sized to complementarily engage the inner nut threading of the inner nut surface,

(b) has an outer diameter:

(i) greater than the outer diameter of the liner floating end, and

(ii) less than the outer diameter of the entry flange, and

(c) is spaced away from the liner floating end by at least half of the length of the liner, as measured between the liner entry end and the liner floating end.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer nut surface is defined by a smooth cylindrical surface.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the entry flange is at least substantially equal to the outer diameter of the outer nut surface.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner liner surface is defined by a smooth cylindrical surface between the entry flange and the liner floating end.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner liner surface within the entry flange expands in diameter as it extends away from the intermediate threaded portion toward the liner entry end.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the entry flange bears two or more apertures therein, the apertures extending toward the intermediate threaded portion.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the nut includes:

a. a grounding clamp extending from the outer nut surface, the grounding clamp having a concave mouth defined therein;

b. a pin extending from the grounding clamp into the mouth.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7 wherein the grounding clamp is rotatably connected to the outer nut surface.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the nut includes:

a. a fastener extending from the nut, and

b. a grounding clamp having:

(1) a receiver having a concave mouth opening thereon, and

(2) a lug extending between the fastener and the receiver.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the receiver includes a pin threadably extendable into the mouth.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1 further including a male connector having inner and outer connector surfaces extending between a connector junction end and a connector entry end, wherein

a. the inner connector surface bounds an inner connector passage extending axially between the connector junction end and connector entry end;

b. the outer connector surface at the connector junction end bears connector threading, with the connector junction end being configured to fit within the inner nut passage of the nut at the nut junction end, and with:

(1) the threaded outer connector surface complementarily coupled to the nut threading within the inner nut surface, and

(2) the liner floating end situated within the inner connector passage, with the connector junction end being situated between the liner floating end and the nut junction end.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11 further including a junction box having a series of box walls surrounding a box interior, with a box wall passage being defined in one of the box walls,

a. wherein the connector juncture end of the male connector extends into the box wall passage, and

b. the nut is fit around the connector juncture end of the male connector with the nut teeth engaging the box wall in which the box wall passage is defined.

13. A connector assembly including:

a. a nut having a nut junction end, an opposing nut entry end, and inner and outer nut surfaces extending therebetween, wherein:

(1) the inner nut surface surrounds an inner nut passage extending axially between the nut junction end and nut entry end;

(2) a box wall engagement flange is situated at or adjacent the nut junction end, the box wall engagement flange extending radially from the outer nut surface, with the flange being oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the axis of the inner nut passage;

b. a liner having a liner floating end, an opposing liner entry end, and inner and outer liner surfaces extending therebetween, wherein:

(1) the liner floating end is situated within the inner nut passage with its outer liner surface spaced radially inwardly from the inner nut surface;

(2) the liner entry end is situated outside the inner nut passage adjacent the nut entry end;

(3) a portion of the outer liner surface between the liner floating end and liner entry end is engaged to the inner nut surface between the nut junction end and nut entry end;

c. a male connector having a connector junction end, an opposing connector entry end, and inner and outer connector surfaces extending therebetween, with the connector junction end being situated within the inner nut passage, with the connector junction end being situated between the liner floating end and the nut junction end.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein the box wall engagement flange is defined by a series of circumferentially spaced nut teeth.

15. The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the box wall engagement flange:

a. is inclined in relation to a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of the inner nut passage, and

b. extends laterally away from the outer nut surface.

16. The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein the portion of the outer liner surface engaged to the inner nut surface is threadedly engaged to the inner nut surface.

17. A connector assembly including:

a. a nut having a nut junction end, an opposing nut entry end, and inner and outer nut surfaces extending therebetween, with the inner nut surface bearing nut threading and surrounding an inner nut passage extending axially between the nut junction end and nut entry end;

b. a liner having a liner floating end, an opposing liner entry end, and inner and outer liner surfaces extending therebetween, wherein:

(1) the liner floating end is:

(a) situated within the inner nut passage, and

(b) at least substantially cylindrical, with an outer diameter spaced radially inwardly from the inner nut surface;

(2) the liner entry end is situated outside the inner nut passage adjacent the nut entry end;

(3) the liner includes liner threading on its outer liner surface between the liner floating end and liner entry end, with the liner threading engaging the nut threading on the inner nut surface;

c. a male connector having a connector junction end, an opposing connector entry end, and inner and outer connector surfaces extending therebetween, with the connector junction end:

(1) being situated within the inner nut passage, with the connector junction end being situated between the liner floating end and the nut junction end;

(2) bearing external connector threading, with the connector threading engaging the nut threading within the inner nut passage.

18. The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the nut junction end includes a box wall engagement flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, wherein the box wall engagement flange is oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the axis of the inner nut passage.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18 wherein the box wall engagement flange is defined by a series of circumferentially spaced nut teeth.

20. The connector assembly of claim 19 wherein at least a portion of each nut tooth extends laterally away from the outer nut surface as the nut tooth extends radially away from the nut junction end.