IP Library Granted Patent US 7,854,627
Granted Patent B1
US 7,854,627 · App. 12/387,125 · Granted Dec 21, 2010

Electrical fitting with internal cable retainer

Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,854,627
App. No.
12/387,125
Granted
Dec 21, 2010
Kind
B1
Abstract

An electrical fitting for rapid connection of an electrical cable to a panel or a junction box. The electrical fitting includes an improved arrangement on the trailing end for securing electrical cables thereto. A connector body having a cavity in the trailing end includes a cable retainer secured therein. The cable retainer includes a substantially tubular body and is constructed of spring steel. The tubular body includes a flat portion and an arcuate portion. A single cable retaining tang extends inwardly from the flat portion. A substantial portion of the single tang is split by a notch thereby creating two fingers on the tang. The two-fingered tang enables the fitting to accommodate a wide range of electrical cables.

Claims (66)

1. An electrical fitting for securing an electrical cable to a panel or junction box comprising:

a connector body including a leading end and a trailing end;

a fastening arrangement on said leading end for securing said leading end of said connector body to said panel or said junction box;

a cavity in said trailing end of said connector body, said cavity including a wall;

a substantially tubular cable retainer secured within said cavity, said cable retainer including a leading end and a trailing end;

a securing arrangement for locking said cable retainer within said cavity of said trailing end of said connector body;

a cable retaining tang projecting inward from said tubular body and angled toward said leading end of said cable retainer;

said cable retaining tang including a base portion, an end, and a first finger and a second finger defined by a notch extending from said end of said cable retaining tang; and

said notch extends at least half of the length of said cable retaining tang.

2. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein

said first finger and said second finger include end portions thereon; and

said end portions of said fingers angled away from said base portion of said cable retaining tang and toward said trailing end of said cable retainer.

3. The electrical fitting of claim 2 wherein

said end portion of said first finger is arcuate in shape; and

said end portion of said second finger is planar in shape.

4. The electrical fitting of claim 2 wherein

said arcuate end portion of said first finger includes a radius of between 0.16 and 0.19 inch; and

said planar end portion of said second finger is at an angle of between 20 and 40 degrees from said base portion.

5. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein said first finger extends a lesser distance from said tubular cable retainer than said second finger.

6. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein said notch is at the center of said cable retaining tang.

7. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein

said cavity is of a smaller diameter than said cable retainer;

said cable retainer includes an unbiased state; and

said cable retainer in said unbiased state is of a larger diameter than said diameter of said cavity.

8. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein said securing arrangement for said cable retainer includes

an opening in said wall in said trailing end of said connector body;

a locking tang projecting outward from said cable retainer, said locking tang in alignment with said opening in said wall of said connector body; and

an outward bias of said cable retainer against said wall of said cavity, whereby said locking tang projects through said opening of said connector body and locks said cable retainer within said cavity of said connector body.

9. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein

said cable retainer is formed from a flat blank of spring steel having two ends; a first of said ends of said blank includes a tab;

a second of said ends of said blank includes a groove therein; and

said tab extends into said groove after said blank is formed into said cable retainer.

10. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein said connector body includes

a central flange between said trailing end and said leading end; and

an end flange on said leading end of said connector body.

11. The electrical fitting of claim 1 including

a partial closure on said leading end of said connector body;

an opening in said partial closure; edges on said partial closure surrounding said opening; and

an insert in said opening, said insert substantially covering said edges of said partial closure.

12. The electrical fitting of claim 11 wherein

said connector body is constructed of metal; and

said insert is constructed of plastic.

13. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein said fastening arrangement includes a cylindrical snap ring on said leading end of said connector body.

14. The electrical fitting of claim 1 wherein said fastening arrangement includes

threads on said leading end of said connector body; and

a nut for engaging said threads on said leading portion.

15. An electrical fitting for securing an electrical cable to a panel or junction box comprising:

a connector body including a leading end and a trailing end;

a fastening arrangement on said leading end for securing said leading end of said connector body to said panel or said junction box;

a cavity in said trailing end of said connector body, said cavity including a wall;

a substantially tubular cable retainer secured within said cavity, said cable retainer including a leading end and a trailing end;

a securing arrangement for locking said cable retainer within said cavity of said trailing end of said connector body;

a cable retaining tang projecting inward from said tubular body and angled toward said leading end of said cable retainer;

said cable retaining tang including a base portion, an end, and a first finger and a second finger at said end of said cable retaining tang;

said fingers of said cable retaining tang each include an outer side, an inner side, and distal edges extending from said outer side to said inner side; and

said distal edges include a flat portion along said outer side of said fingers and an arcuate portion along said inner side of said fingers.

16. An electrical fitting for securing an electrical cable to a panel or junction box comprising:

a connector body including a leading end and a trailing end;

a fastening arrangement on said leading end for securing said leading end of said connector body to said panel or said junction box;

a cavity in said trailing end of said connector body, said cavity including a wall;

a substantially tubular cable retainer secured within said cavity, said cable retainer including a leading end and a trailing end;

a securing arrangement for locking said cable retainer within said cavity of said trailing end of said connector body;

a cable retaining tang projecting inward from said tubular body and angled toward said leading end of said cable retainer;

said cable retaining tang including a base portion, an end, and a first finger and a second finger at said end of said cable retaining tang;

said cable retainer includes a cylindrical portion and a flat portion; and

said cable retaining tang projects inward from said flat portion of said cable retainer.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2026
From: ARLINGTON INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 075416/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2009
From: GRETZ, THOMAS J.
To: ARLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 022651/0294 →