US3663919A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grounding spring for electrical fixtures
Assignee: Hubbell Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-16
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A substantially L-shaped grounding member having a resilient main body, is affixed to the forwardly extending end arm of a substantially U-shaped metallic mounting yoke of an electrical fixture adapted to be mounted in a grounded standard metal outlet box. The resilient main body of the grounding member is operative to be wedgedly clamped between the end arm of the yoke and a juxtaposed portion of the metal box to thereby provide a direct and low resistance grounding path between the grounding circuit of the fixture and the metal box.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank C Jaconette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
An electrical grounding fixture adapted to be mounted in an electrically grounded metal outlet box, comprising: a body of insulating material; a plurality of electrical contacts on said body, at least one of said electrical contacts being a grounding contact; a substantially U-shaped metallic mounting yoke fixed on said body and electrically coupled to said grounding contact, said yoke having an intermediate portion extending lengthwise of said body and a pair of spaced forwardly extending end arms in substantial parallelism with the ends of said body, said arms terminating in angled lateral portions provided with connecting means for securing the fixture to an outlet box; and a metallic grounding member for making direct and low resistance electrical connection between said yoke and the outlet box, said grounding member including a resilient elongated grounding body abutting with low electrical resistance one of said end arms of said yoke and being operative to be compressed between said one of said end arms and a juxtaposed interior wall portion of the outlet box when the fixture is mounted in the former, and mounting means for securing said grounding body to said yoke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
An electrical grounding fixture adapted to be mounted in an electrically grounded metal outlet box, comprising: a body of insulating material; a plurality of electrical contacts on said body, at least one of said electrical contacts being a grounding contact; a substantially U-shaped metallic mounting yoke fixed on said body and electrically coupled to said grounding contact, said yoke having an intermediate portion extending lengthwise of said body and a pair of spaced forwardly extending end arms in substantial parallelism with the ends of said body, said arms terminating in angled lateral portions provided with connecting means for securing the fixture to an outlet box; and a metallic grounding member for making direct and low resistance electrical connection between said yoke and the outlet box, said grounding member including a resilient elongated grounding body abutting with low electrical resistance one of said end arms of said yoke and being operative to be compressed between said one of said end arms and a juxtaposed interior wall portion of the outlet box when the fixture is mounted in the former, and mounting means for securing said grounding body to said yoke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The grounding fixture as defined in claim 1, wherein said grounding body comprises a back portion abutting said one of said end arms of said yoke, and a pair of spaced front portions extending laterally inwardly from said back portion and forming acute angles therewith, said front portions being compressible toward said back portion and being operative to engage the interior wall portion of the outlet box.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The grounding fixture as defined in claim 2, wherein said front portions include inner ends apaced from each other and formed into sharp edges, and wherein said mounting means comprises a clip-shaped member retained by said connecting means on one of said angled lateral portions of said yoke and extending transversely relative to said grounding body and being integral with one end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The grounding fixture as defined in claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a standard steel mounting screw and a screw-receiving slot in said one of said lateral portions, and wherein said clip-shaped member comprises openings axially aligned with said screw-receiving slot for receiving the mounting screw inserted in said slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The grounding fixture as defined in claim 3, wherein said front portions are tapered in the region of the other end of said grounding body, and wherein said back portion comprises extruded holes providing metal edges on said back portion abutting said one of said end arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
For use in effecting a direct low resistance electrical contact between a portion of a conventional substantially U-shaped grounding mounting yoke of an electrical fixture and a surface portion of a grounded mounted wall box, a grounding member comprising: an elongated compressible grounding body of spring sheet metal including straight back portion means for abutting a portion of the U-shaped grounding mounting yoke, said back portion means including a substantially planar surface which abuts a substantially planar surface of the U-shaped mounting yoke, and a pair of spaced front portion means extending laterally inwardly from said back portion means and extending at acute angles thereto for being compressed between an inner surface of the box and said back portion means when the fixture is mounted within the box, said grounding member permitting easy removal of the fixture from the box and being reusable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
For use in effecting a direct low resistance electrical contact between a portion of a conventional substantially U-shaped grounding mounting yoke of an electrical fixture and a surface portion of a grounded mounted wall box, a grounding member comprising: an elongated compressible grounding body of spring sheet metal including straight back portion means for abutting a portion of the U-shaped grounding mounting yoke, said back portion means including a substantially planar surface which abuts a substantially planar surface of the U-shaped mounting yoke, and a pair of spaced front portion means extending laterally inwardly from said back portion means and extending at acute angles thereto for being compressed between an inner surface of the box and said back portion means when the fixture is mounted within the box, said grounding member permitting easy removal of the fixture from the box and being reusable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The grounding member defined in claim 6, which further comprises a clip-shaped mounting member arranged to be retained on a portion of the yoke for securing said grounding body to the yoke, said clip-shaped member being integral with one end of said grounding body and extending at an angle thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The grounding member defined in claim 6, wherein said front portion means include inner ends spaced from each other, formed into sharp edges and arranged on the insertion of the fixture into the box to dig into a wall surface of the box.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The grounding member is defined as claim 6, which further comprises mounting means at one end of said grounding body for securing the latter to the yoke, and said front portion means are tapered in the region of the other end of said grounding body to facilitate mounting of the fixture and grounding body into a wall box.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
For use in effecting a direct low resistance electrical contact between a portion of a conventional substantially U-shaped grounding mounting yoke of an electrical fixture and a surface portion of a grounded mounted wall box, a grounding member comprising: an elongated compressible grounding body of spring sheet metal including a straight back portion arranged to abut a portion of the mounting yoke, said back portion including extruded holes providing metal edges on said back portion arranged to abut a portion of the mounting yoke, and a pair of spaced front portions extending laterally inwardly from said back portion and extending at acute angles thereto, said front portions being arranged to be compressed between an inner surface of the box and said back portion upon insertion of the fixture into the box and permit easy removal of the fixture and reuse of said grounding member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
For use in effecting a direct low resistance electrical contact between a portion of a conventional substantially U-shaped grounding mounting yoke of an electrical fixture and a surface portion of a grounded mounted wall box, a grounding member comprising: an elongated compressible grounding body of spring sheet metal including a straight back portion arranged to abut a portion of the mounting yoke, said back portion including extruded holes providing metal edges on said back portion arranged to abut a portion of the mounting yoke, and a pair of spaced front portions extending laterally inwardly from said back portion and extending at acute angles thereto, said front portions being arranged to be compressed between an inner surface of the box and said back portion upon insertion of the fixture into the box and permit easy removal of the fixture and reuse of said grounding member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |