Connector assembly suited for wet locations

1. A connector assembly including a conduit and a compression ring,

a) the conduit having a conduit inner surface opposing a conduit outer surface, at least a portion of the conduit outer surface being threaded; and

b) the compression ring:

1) extending:

(i) from a first circumferential end to a second circumferential end, wherein the first circumferential end is complementarily interfittable with the second circumferential end; and

(ii) from a compression ring first axial end to a compression ring second axial end; and

2) having:

(i) a circumferential gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, wherein the circumferential gap spaces the first circumferential end from the second circumferential end;

(ii) a compression ring outer surface opposing a compression ring inner surface; and

(iii) a set of teeth extending radially inwardly from the compression ring inner surface;

c) wherein:

1) the compression ring is configured to be compressable when installed in the connector assembly such that the first circumferential end is brought toward the second circumferential end; and

2) the set of teeth of the compression ring is configured to complementarily engage the portion of the conduit outer surface that is threaded.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the compression ring first axial end and the compression ring second axial end is chamfered.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more teeth in the set of teeth extends circumferentially from at least substantially the first circumferential end to at least substantially the second circumferential end.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein:

a) each tooth in the set of teeth includes a tooth first side opposing a tooth second side; and

b) the tooth first side:

1) faces the compression ring first axial end; and

2) makes a first side angle with the compression ring inner surface, the first side angle ranging from at least substantially 45 degrees to at least substantially 135 degrees.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein each tooth terminates in an at least substantially sharp point.

6. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the first side angle is at least substantially 90 degrees.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6 further including a conduit extending through the compression ring, wherein the tooth first side faces away from a direction in which the conduit may be pulled out of the connector assembly.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein the tooth second side:

a) faces the compression ring second axial end; and

b) makes a second side angle with the compression ring inner surface, the second side angle being substantially less than 90 degrees.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein:

a) the compression ring includes a central longitudinal axis extending in a direction that is at least substantially perpendicular to a bisecting plane, the bisecting plane axially bisecting the compression ring between the compression ring first axial end and the compression ring second axial end;

b) each tooth in the set of teeth includes a tooth first side opposing a tooth second side,

1) the tooth first side facing the compressing ring first axial end, and

2) the tooth second side facing the compressing ring second axial end; and

c) the first side angle is at least substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the compression ring, the central longitudinal axis being at least substantially perpendicular to the bisecting plane.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1 further including a conduit, wherein:

a) the conduit includes a conduit inner surface opposing a conduit outer surface;

b) at least a portion of the conduit outer surface is at least substantially smooth; and

c) the set of teeth of the compression ring includes sharp teeth configured to engage the portion of the conduit outer surface that is smooth to secure the compression ring to the conduit.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1

a) further including:

1) a compression nut;

2) a connector; and

3) a conduit;

b) wherein:

1) the compression nut includes a compression nut first axial end having a first passage diameter, and a compression nut second axial end having a second passage diameter, the first passage diameter being smaller than the second passage diameter;

2) the connector includes a connector first axial end and a connector second axial end, the connector first axial end having a connector chamfer; and

3) the connector assembly is configured to compress the compression ring when the compression ring is sandwiched between the connector chamfer and the compression nut first axial end.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11 further including an internal sealing gasket positioned within the connector first axial end, wherein the internal sealing gasket is configured seal from moisture.

13. The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein the connector is configured such that the connector second axial end is securable to at least one component selected from the group including:

a) an electrical junction box; and

b) a second conduit.

14. The connector assembly of claim 11 further including a second conduit, wherein the connector assembly is configured to be securable to the conduit and the second conduit, with the second conduit abutting the conduit when both are installed in the connector assembly.

15. A connector assembly including:

a) a compression ring:

1) extending:

(i) from a first circumferential end to a second circumferential end, wherein the first circumferential end is complementarily interfittable with the second circumferential end; and

(ii) from a compression ring first axial end to a compression ring second axial end; and

2) having:

(i) a circumferential gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, wherein the circumferential gap spaces the first circumferential end from the second circumferential end;

(ii) a compression ring outer surface opposing a compression ring inner surface; and

(iii) a set of teeth extending radially inwardly from the compression ring inner surface;

b) a compression nut;

c) a connector;

d) a conduit; and

e) an external sealing gasket;

wherein:

I. the compression ring is configured to be compressable when installed in the connector assembly such that the first circumferential end is brought toward the second circumferential end;

II. the compression nut includes a compression nut first axial end having a first passage diameter, and a compression nut second axial end having a second passage diameter, the first passage diameter being smaller than the second passage diameter;

III. the connector includes a connector first axial end and a connector second axial end, the connector first axial end having a connector chamfer; and

IV. the connector assembly is configured to compress the compression ring when the compression ring is sandwiched between the connector chamfer and the compression nut first axial end;

V. the external sealing gasket is positioned about the connector second axial end; and

VI. the external sealing gasket is configured to seal from moisture.

16. A connector assembly including:

a) a compression ring:

1) extending:

(i) from a first circumferential end to a second circumferential end, wherein the first circumferential end is complementarily interfittable with the second circumferential end; and

(ii) from a compression ring first axial end to a compression ring second axial end; and

2) having:

(i) a circumferential gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, wherein the circumferential gap spaces the first circumferential end from the second circumferential end;

(ii) a compression ring outer surface opposing a compression ring inner surface; and

(iii) a set of teeth extending radially inwardly from the compression ring inner surface;

b) a compression nut;

c) a connector; and

d) a conduit;

wherein:

I. the compression ring is configured to be compressable when installed in the connector assembly such that the first circumferential end is brought toward the second circumferential end;

II. the compression nut includes a compression nut first axial end having a first passage diameter, and a compression nut second axial end having a second passage diameter, the first passage diameter being smaller than the second passage diameter;

III. the connector includes a connector first axial end and a connector second axial end, the connector first axial end having a connector chamfer; and

IV. the connector assembly is configured to compress the compression ring when the compression ring is sandwiched between the connector chamfer and the compression nut first axial end;

V. the connector first axial end includes a connector first end outer surface opposing a connector first end inner surface, with at least a portion of the connector first end outer surface being threaded;

VI. the compression nut first axial end is chamfered to complementarily engage the compression ring first axial end;

VII. the compression nut second axial end:

A. is sized to receive the compression ring and the conduit therein;

B. includes a compression nut second end outer surface opposing a compression nut second end inner surface, with at least a portion of the compression nut second end inner surface being threaded;

VIII. the conduit includes a conduit inner surface opposing a conduit outer surface; and

IX. the conduit is securable to the connector assembly by having:

A. the connector first end outer surface threading complementarily engage the compression nut second end inner surface threading;

B. the compression ring sandwiched between the compression nut first axial end and the connector first axial end to compress the compression ring; and

C. the set of teeth of the compression ring engage at least a portion of the conduit outer surface.

17. A connector assembly including:

a) a compression ring having:

1) a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end, wherein the first circumferential end is complementarily interfittable with the second circumferential end; and

2) a circumferential gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, wherein the circumferential gap:

(i) spaces the first circumferential end from the second circumferential end; and

(ii) is configured to make the compression ring compressible as the first circumferential end is brought closer to the second circumferential end;

3) a compression ring outer surface opposing a compression ring inner surface; and

4) threading extending radially inwardly from the compression ring inner surface; and

b) a conduit having a conduit outer surface opposing a conduit inner surface, wherein:

1) the conduit is sized to fit through the compression ring;

2) the compression ring is configured to be securable to the conduit by having the compression ring threading engage the conduit outer surface;

c) a compression nut having a compression nut first axial end and a compression nut second axial end, wherein:

1) the compression nut first axial end has a narrower passage than the compression nut second axial end; and

2) the compression nut second axial end is sized to receive the conduit therethrough;

d) a connector having a connector first axial end and a connector second axial end, wherein:

1) the connector first axial end includes a connector chamfer; and

2) the compression ring is compressable when the compression ring is squeezed between the connector chamfer and the compression nut first axial end; and

e) an internal sealing gasket and an external sealing gasket, wherein:

1) the internal sealing gasket is positioned within the connector first axial end;

2) the external sealing gasket is positioned about the connector second axial end; and

3) the internal and external sealing gaskets are configured to seal the connector assembly from moisture.

18. The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the compression ring threading includes one or more teeth extending circumferentially from at least substantially the first circumferential end to at least substantially the second circumferential end.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18 wherein:

a) the compression ring includes a compression ring first axial end and an opposing compression ring second axial end; and

b) at least one of the compression ring first axial end and the compression ring second axial end includes a compression ring chamfer.

20. The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein:

a) the teeth of the compression ring include a tooth first side opposing a tooth second side,

1) the tooth first side facing the compression ring first axial end,

2) the tooth second side facing the compression ring second axial end;

b) the tooth first side makes an angle between at least substantially 75 degrees and at least substantially 105 degrees.

21. A connector assembly including:

a) a compression ring which is at least substantially cylindrical, the compression ring having:

1) a compression ring outer surface opposing a compression ring inner surface;

2) a compression ring first axial end opposing a compression ring second axial end, wherein the compression ring second axial end is chamfered;

3) one or more teeth extending radially inwardly from the compression ring inner surface, wherein each tooth:

(i) circumferentially extends along at least a substantial portion of the compression ring inner surface; and

(ii) includes a tooth first side facing the compression ring first axial end, and a tooth second side facing the compression ring second axial end;

b) a connector having a connector first axial end opposing a connector second axial end, the connector first axial end terminating in a connector chamfer;

c) a compression nut having a compression nut first axial end opposing a compression nut second axial end, wherein:

1) the compression nut first axial end has a first passage diameter and the compression nut second axial end has a second passage diameter,

(i) the first passage diameter being smaller than the second passage diameter;

(ii) the second passage diameter being sized to allow the compression nut second axial end to receive the compression ring and the connector first axial end therein; and

2) when the compression ring is positioned within the compression nut second axial end and the connector first axial end is inserted into the compression nut second axial end, the compression ring is compressed as the compression ring is squeezed between the connector chamfer and the compression nut first axial end; and

d) a conduit, wherein:

1) the conduit includes a conduit inner surface opposing a conduit outer surface;

2) at least a portion of the conduit outer surface is threaded; and

3) the one or more teeth of the compression ring are configured to complementarily engage the portion of the conduit outer surface that is threaded.

22. The connector assembly of claim 21 further including a conduit inserted through the compression nut, the conduit having a conduit outer surface opposing a conduit inner surface, wherein:

a) the one or more teeth of the compression ring terminate in sharp points;

b) the tooth second side of each of the one or more teeth is at least substantially perpendicular to the compression ring inner surface; and

c) the tooth second side faces away from a direction in which the conduit may be pulled out from the connector assembly so that the compression ring resists pullout of the conduit when the one or more teeth of the compression ring contact the conduit outer surface.