IP Library Granted Patent US 8,803,008
Granted Patent B2
US 8,803,008 · App. 13/409,409 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Conduit connector and methods for making and using the same

Inventors: Vinayak Manohar Chavan (Pune, IN); Yuvraj Totaram Khodape (Pune, IN); Ashok Alilughatta Sathanarayana (Pune, IN)
Assignee: Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corporation
H02G3/0616H02G3/0691H02G3/18H01R13/74
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,803,008
App. No.
13/409,409
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, the conduit connector can comprise: a body comprising a hollow center capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end, wherein the hollow center extends from the receiving end to the connecting end; a spring disposed within the hollow center and extending out of the connecting end, wherein the spring comprises engagement tangs extending into the hollow center, toward the connection end, and spring tangs extending past the connection end and spaced apart a distance greater than or equal to an opening diameter in a junction box; and an antishort bush located in the connecting end of the body, retaining the spring in the body.

Claims (29)

1. A conduit connector, comprising:

a body comprising a hollow center capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end, wherein the hollow center extends from the receiving end to the connecting end;

a spring disposed within the hollow center and extending out of the connecting end, wherein the spring comprises engagement tangs extending into the hollow center, toward the connection end, and spring tangs extending past the connection end and spaced apart a distance greater than or equal to an opening diameter in a junction box; and

an antishort bush located in the connecting end of the body, retaining the spring in the body.

2. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein each spring tang comprises an aperature that receives a knob on the body.

3. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein each spring tang comprises a center lug extending outward from a spring main portion, away from the spring and toward the receiving end.

4. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein each spring tang comprises side lugs angled toward the receiving end at an angle so that, once the connector is attached to an opening, the lugs avoid disengagement after applying a pulling load.

5. The conduit connector of claim 4 , wherein the side lugs form wings on opposite sides of each spring tang and have a shape that diverges from near an end of the spring tang toward the receiving end.

6. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein a spring main portion can have three sides, with the spring tangs extending from two opposite sides, and the engagement tangs extend into the channel from all three sides.

7. The conduit connector of claim 6 , wherein the engagement tangs form a generally V-shaped profile that is configured to align a conduit in the channel.

8. The conduit connector of claim 6 , wherein the engagement tangs comprise a central receiving tang that is angled from the sides into the channel and having a generally V-shaped end, and a first side receiving tang having a diagonal ends that angles toward the central receiving tang and a second side receiving tang having a diagonal end angled toward the central receiving tang forming a generally V-shaped profile of the engagement tangs.

9. The conduit connector of claim 6 , wherein each engagement tang extends into the body at a different distance than another engagement tang.

10. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein the antishort bush further comprises a restrictor extending toward the receiving end, wherein the restrictor restricts movement of the spring.

11. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein the antishort bush comprises projections that extend toward the body and through an opening such that a foot on the projection snapfits the antishort bush onto the body.

12. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein, near the receiving end, the body comprises a slot such that a corner at the receiving end of the spring passes through the slot and a window near the corner engages a jut on the body.

13. The conduit connector of claim 1 , wherein the body has a polygonal shape.

14. A conduit connector, comprising:

a body comprising a hollow center capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end and a knob, wherein the hollow center extends from the receiving end to the connecting end;

a spring disposed within the hollow center and extending out of the connecting end, wherein the spring comprises

engagement tangs extend into the hollow center, toward the connection end, wherein the engagement tangs form a generally V-shaped profile that is configured to align a conduit in the channel,

spring tangs comprise a center lug extending outward from a spring main portion, away from the spring and toward the receiving end, wherein the spring tangs extend past the connection end and spaced apart a distance greater than or equal to an opening diameter in a junction box, and wherein each spring tang comprises side lugs angled toward the receiving end at an angle so that, once the connector is attached to an opening, the lugs avoid disengagement after applying a pulling load; and

an aperture that received the knob;

an antishort bush located in the connecting end of the body, retaining the spring in the body.

15. The conduit connector of claim 14 , wherein the side lugs form wings on opposite sides of each spring tang and have a shape that diverges from near an end of the spring tang toward the receiving end.

16. The conduit connector of claim 14 , wherein a spring main portion can have three sides, with the spring tangs extending from two opposite sides, and the engagement tangs extend into the channel from all three sides.

17. The conduit connector of claim 16 , wherein the engagement tangs comprise a central receiving tang that is angled from the sides into the channel and having a generally V-shaped end, and a first side receiving tang having a diagonal ends that angles toward the central receiving tang and a second side receiving tang having a diagonal end angled toward the central receiving tang forming a generally V-shaped profile of the engagement tangs.

18. The conduit connector of claim 16 , wherein each engagement tang extends into the body at a different distance than another engagement tang.

19. The conduit connector of claim 14 , wherein antishort bush further comprises a restrictor extending toward the receiving end, wherein the restrictor restricts movement of the spring, and comprises projections that extend toward the body and through an opening such that a foot on the projection snapfits the antishort bush onto the body.

20. The conduit connector of claim 14 , wherein, near the receiving end, the body comprises a slot such that a corner at the receiving end of the spring passes through the slot and a window near the corner engages a jut on the body.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044002/0214 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2017
From: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043998/0093 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 040007/0385 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040007/0722 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2014
From: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: BRIGHTWOOD LOAN SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 032883/0349 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2012
From: CHAVAN, VINAYAK MANOHAR; KHODAPE, YUVRAJ TOTARAM; SATHANARAYANA, ASHOK ALILUGHATTA
To: SIGMA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027793/0415 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61448872 · Mar 3, 2011
Related Publication 20130056263A1 · Mar 7, 2013