Snap-in electrical connector with locking cam and method of use

1. An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box comprising:

a connector body having an inlet end portion, and an outlet end portion, and a stop flange;

a locking cam defined on an external surface of said outlet end portion;

a generally cylindrical, split retainer ring secured upon said outlet end portion with at least a portion generally opposite the locking cam, said split retainer ring having a pair of ends;

a closed-ended channel at the outlet end portion for receiving the split retainer ring with each end of the split retainer ring being adjacent an end of the channel; and

a retainer ring centering structure on said external surface of the outlet end portion between the ends of the channel, said retainer ring centering structure engaging the pair of ends of the retainer ring so as to limit substantial rotation of the retainer ring about the outlet end portion, and wherein the locking cam is located upon the retainer ring centering structure.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking cam defines a wedge.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking cam terminates a distance away from said stop flange.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the channel extends approximately 250 degrees around the outlet end portion.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainer ring centering structure cooperates with a lip on the outlet end portion so as to retain the retainer ring on the outlet end portion.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the lip forms a portion of the channel into which the retainer ring is received.

7. A method of using the connector assembly of claim 1 comprising:

tilting the connector body in a first direction, said tilting allowing the locking cam to be passed though a knock-out hole of the electrical box;

locking a wall of the junction box between the locking cam and the stop flange;

tilting the connector body in a direction opposite said first diction, said tilting causing the retaining ring to be drawn into the knock-out hole; and

locking the connector body to the electrical box by engaging an inner wall of the junction box with at least the locking cam and an extending portion of the retaining ring.

8. An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box comprising:

a connector body having an inlet end portion, and an outlet end portion, and a stop flange;

a locking cam defined on an external surface of said outlet end portion, said locking cam extending from near a front end of the connector body toward said stop flange, with said locking cam terminating prior to the stop flange;

a generally cylindrical, split retainer ring having a pair of ends and being secured upon said outlet end portion with at least a portion generally opposite the locking cam;

a closed-ended channel at the outlet end portion for receiving the split retainer ring with each end of the split retainer ring being adjacent an end of the channel; and

a retainer ring centering structure on said external surface of the outlet end portion, said retainer ring centering structure engaging the ends the retainer ring so as to prevent substantial rotation of the retainer ring about the outlet end portion, and wherein the locking cam is located upon the retainer ring centering structure.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the locking cam defines a wedge having an inclined planar face.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the channel width is approximately equal to a width of the retainer ring.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the retainer ring centering structure cooperates with a lip on the outlet end portion so as to retain the retainer ring on the outlet end portion.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the lip forms a portion of the channel structure into which the retainer ring is received.

13. A method of using the connector assembly of claim 8 comprising:

rotating the connector body in a first direction, said rotating allowing the locking cam to be passed though a knock-out hole of the electrical box with substantially no deformation of the retaining ring;

locking a wall of the junction box between the locking cam and the stop flange;

rotating the connector body in an opposite direction, said rotating causing the retaining ring to be drawn into the knock-out hole; and

locking the connector body to the electrical box by engaging an inner wall of the junction box with at least the locking cam and an extending portion of the retaining ring.

14. An electrical connector assembly for securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box comprising:

a connector body having an inlet end portion, and an outlet end portion, and a stop flange;

a locking cam defined on an external surface of said outlet end portion, said locking cam extending from near a front end of the connector body toward said stop flange, with said locking cam terminating prior to the stop flange;

a closed-ended channel at the outlet end portion;

a split retainer ring secured within a channel on said inlet end portion; and

a retainer ring centering structure located between ends of the channel and engaging at least one end of the retainer ring so as to prevent substantial rotation of the retainer ring about the outlet end portion, and wherein the locking cam is located upon the retainer ring centering structure.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the channel has a depth approximately equal to a thickness of the retainer ring.

16. The assembly of claim 14 further comprising a locking tang on the retainer ring, with said locking tang and locking cam cooperating to secure the connector body to the electrical box.

17. A method of using the connector assembly of claim 14 comprising:

providing the connector body in a first orientation whereby the stop flange is angled relative to a wall of the electrical box, said first orientation allowing the locking cam to be passed though a knock-out hole of the electrical box with substantially no deformation of the retaining ring;

locking a wall of the junction box between the locking cam and the stop flange;

rotating the connector body toward a second orientation, said rotating causing the retaining ring to be drawn into the knock-out hole; and

continuing said rotating until the stop flange fully engages the wall of the electrical box.

18. A method using the connector assembly of claim 14 comprising:

angling the connector body relative to the electrical box and inserting the locking cam though a knock-out hole of the electrical box, with a pivot defined between the locking cam, stop flange and a wall portion of the electrical box;

rotating the connector body about the pivot, said rotating causing the retaining ring to be deformed and drawn into the knock-out hole; and

continuing said rotating until the stop flange fully engages the electrical box.

19. A method of securing an electrical conductor to an electrical box using a connector assembly comprising:

providing a connector assembly with connector body having a locking cam defined on an external surface of an outlet end portion, said locking cam extending from near a front end of the connector body toward a stop flange, with said locking cam terminating prior to the stop flange, and a split retainer ring secured within a channel upon said outlet end portion with at least a portion generally opposite the locking cam, and a retainer ring centering structure on said external surface of the outlet end portion between ends of the channel, said retainer ring centering structure engaging at least one end of the retainer ring so as to prevent substantial rotation of the retainer ring about the outlet end portion, and the locking cam is located upon the retainer ring centering structure;

inserting said outlet end portion into a knock-out hole of the electrical box until a perimeter edge of the knock-out hole engages the locking cam;

further inserting the outlet end portion into the knock-out hole whereby an inclined surface of the locking cam causes the retainer ring to deform;

yet further inserting the outlet end portion into the knock-out hole wherein the inclined surface of the locking cam is released from contact with the knock-out hole perimeter; and

locking the connector body into the knock-out hole with a rear portion of the locking cam, said rear portion being spaced from the stop flange by a distance approximating a wall thickness of the electrical box.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said locking includes releasing a locking tang on the retainer ring from contact with the perimeter of the knock-out hole, said locking tang then engaging an inner wall surface of the electrical box.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said inserting includes inserting at least a portion of the retainer ring into the knock-out hole prior to engagement between the locking cam and the knock-out hole perimeter.