Grounding clamp

Claim 2

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal shaped to define a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spacedapart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

Claim 3

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal as defined by claim 1, wherein the metal strip is bent upon itself to form substantially identical half sections, and wherein said half sections in their opposed relation provide the wire-grounding portion of the clamping device and the clamping portion thereof.

Claim 4

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal as defined by claim 1, wherein notches are lanced in each edge of the respective arcuate sections to provide inwardly extending sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device.

Claim 5

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means comprising an integral clip formed in said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

Claim 6

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means comprising an integral clip formed in said grounding portion for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

Claim 7

A clamping device as defined by claim 4, wherein notches are lanced in both edges of each of the arcuate sections to provide sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device.

Claim 8

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a U-shaped wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion and comprising a threaded member for positively urging said half sections together and providing means for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

Claim 9

A clamping device formed from a single strip of spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of connected half sections, each half section being further shaped to define in conjunction with the other a U-shaped wire-grounding portion and a clamping portion, said clamping portion being formed by a pair of arcuate sections in opposed relation, said grounding portion interconnecting said arcuate sections, connection means associated with said grounding portion and comprising a threaded member for positively urging said half sections together and providing means for electrically connecting a ground wire to the clamping device, and means integrally formed in at least one of the respective arcuate sections and defined by a plurality of spaced-apart barbs juxtaposed an edge of said strip for effectively grounding the clamping device to the conductive member to which the same may be applied, said barbs comprising sharp teeth having a generally acute angular relationship to the adjacent portion of said arcuate section and extending generally inwardly toward the opposite arcuate section and rearwardly toward said grounding portion to permit push-on assembly of said clamping device on said conductive member and to effectively resist removal of the clamping device from said conductive member.

Claim 10

A clamping device defined by claim 6, wherein notches are lanced in both top and bottom edges of the respective arcuate sections to provide sharp barbs for grounding the clamping device and wherein the threaded member is operable for controlling the clamping pressure applied by the arcuate sections of the clamping device.

Claim 11

A clamping device as defined by claim 6 wherein one of said half sections defines an elongated clearance hole for said threaded member whereby said clamping device will accommodate a wide range of conductive member sizes.