Granted Patent B1

US 12,292,146 · App. 18/123,614 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventor: Christopher L. Moore (Grand Junction, CO)

Assignee: STUART STEEL PROTECTION, LLC

F16L5/00

Abstract

Claims (32)

1. A connector having a first end and a second end, the connector adapted for integration through a wall and configured to secure a wire comprising:

a first half having an outer surface with a first head portion, a first threaded portion extending therefrom, and a first inner surface having a first channel extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first head portion is fixedly secured to the first threaded portion, thereby defining a comprising a unitary structure;

a second half having an outer surface with a second head portion, a second threaded portion extending therefrom, and a second inner surface having a second channel extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second head portion is fixedly secured to the second threaded portion, thereby defining a comprising a unitary structure; and

wherein the connector comprises the first inner surface and the second inner surface that are selectively engaged, which situates the first head portion and the second head portion and the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion on opposite sides of the connector with a head at one end and a threaded portion extending therefrom that is adapted to receive a nut.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first head portion is semi-hexagonal, comprising:

a first surface interconnected to a second surface to define a first lateral edge, wherein parallel lateral edges associated with the first surface and the second surface are associated with third and fourth surfaces, wherein the first surface and the second surface are of equal area, and wherein the third and fourth surfaces are of equal area that are less than the area of the first surface; and

wherein the second head portion is semi-hexagonal, comprising:

a fifth surface interconnected to a sixth surface to define a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, wherein parallel lateral edges associated with the fifth surface and the sixth surface are associated with seventh and eighth surfaces, wherein the fifth surface and the sixth surface are of equal area, wherein the seventh and eighth surfaces are of equal area that are less than the area of the first surface, and wherein the third and seventh surfaces are generally aligned.

3. The connector of claim 1 , the first channel and the second channel comprise first channel portions and second channel portions, wherein outer extents of the first channel portions are greater than outer extents of the second channel portions, and wherein when the first half and the second half are engaged, the first channel portions and second channel portions are aligned and adapted to secure a wire having at least two outer dimensions.

4. A two-part connector comprising:

a first half generally comprised of a bifurcated cylinder defined by an outer surface with a first head portion, a first threaded portion, and an inner planar surface, the inner planar surface having a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the first half, wherein the first head portion is fixedly secured to the first threaded portion, thereby defining a comprising a unitary structure;

a second half generally comprised of a bifurcated cylinder defined by an outer surface with a second head portion, a second threaded portion, and an inner planar surface, the inner planar surface having a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the second half, wherein the second head portion is fixedly secured to the second threaded portion, thereby defining a comprising a unitary structure; and

wherein the two-part connector has a first position of use with the first half and second half separated and a second position of use wherein the inner planar surfaces of the first half and the second half are aligned in a mirrored fashion, and wherein the outer surfaces of the first half and the second half are aligned in a circumferential fashion to define a connector head with a threaded portion extending therefrom.

5. The two-part connector of claim 4 , wherein the channel of the first half and the channel of the second half have a semicircular profile.

6. The two-part connector of claim 4 , wherein the channel of the first and second halves are comprised of a first channel portion with a semicircular profile having a first diameter and a second channel portion having a semicircular profile having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

7. The two-part connector of claim 4 , wherein the first head portion is semi-hexagonal, comprising:

a first surface interconnected to a second surface to define a first lateral edge, wherein parallel lateral edges associated with the first surface and the second surface are associated with third and fourth surfaces, wherein the first surface and the second surface are of equal area, and wherein the third and fourth surfaces are of equal area that are less than the area of the first surface; and

wherein the second head portion is semi-hexagonal, comprising:

a fifth surface interconnected to a sixth surface to define a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, wherein parallel lateral edges associated with the fifth surface and the sixth surface are associated with seventh and eighth surfaces, wherein the fifth surface and the sixth surface are of equal area, wherein the seventh and eighth surfaces are of equal area that are less than the area of the first surface, and wherein the third and seventh surfaces are generally aligned.

8. The two-part connector of claim 4 , wherein the threaded portions are configured to operatively receive a nut.

9. A method of directing a wire through a wall comprising:

forming a hole through the wall;

providing a connector comprising:

a first half generally comprised of a bifurcated cylinder defined by an outer surface with a first head portion, a first threaded portion, and an inner planar surface, the inner planar surface having a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the first half, wherein the first head portion is fixedly secured to the first threaded portion, thereby defining a comprising a unitary structure,

a second half generally comprised of a bifurcated cylinder defined by an outer surface with a second head portion, a second threaded portion, and an inner planar surface, the inner planar surface having a channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the second half, wherein the second head portion is fixedly secured to the second threaded portion, thereby defining a comprising a unitary structure, and

wherein the connector has a first position of use with the first half and second half are separated and a second position of use wherein the inner planar surfaces of the first half and the second half are aligned in a mirrored fashion, and wherein the outer surfaces of the first half and the second half are aligned circumferentially to define a connector head with the threaded portions extending therefrom;

placing the wire within the channels provided in the first and second halves;

placing the connector in the hole, wherein a first end of the connector is positioned on one side of the wall and a second end of the connector is positioned on an opposite side of the wall; and

operatively interconnecting a first nut onto the threaded portion and interconnecting a second nut onto the threaded portion, wherein the first and second nuts are located on opposite sides of the wall, thereby securing the connector to the wall.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the channel of the first half and the channel of the second half have a semicircular profile.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the channel of the first and second halves are comprised of a first channel portion with a semicircular profile having a first diameter and a second channel portion having a semicircular profile having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and wherein the semicircular profile with the first diameter receives an insulated portion of the wire.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connector head comprises six faces, wherein four faces are continuous and two faces are not continuous.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (10)