Grounding clip electric receptacles

Claim 2

An electric wiring device comprising a metal supporting bridge, an insulating body supported on said bridge, a plurality of electric contacts within said body at least one of which is a grounding contact, said bridge having ends for extending across the edges of a grounded wall box, said ends having holes for passage of securing screws for attachment of said bridge to said box, and a separate stamped sheet metal grounding clip member affixed at one end to said bridge and having an edge portion near its opposite end positioned to engage one of said screws, said clip member being resilient and biased in a direction to cause said edge portion constantly to engage said one screw to establish a ground connection from said box through said screw and clip member to said bridge.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bridge is U-shaped and said clip member is Z-shaped.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bridge has a central portion and portions upturned with respect to said central portion at its ends, and plaster ears out-turned from said upturned portions, and wherein said clip member is Z-shaped with one end affixed to said central bridge portion, the central portion of the Z member extending alongside an upturned portion of said bridge and the other end portion of said Z member extending alongside one of the ears of said bridge.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 3 in which said clip member has a rib adjacent the joint between said affixed end and said central portion for self-adjustment to variations in the length of the upturned portions of the bridge.

Claim 6

In an electric wiring device supported by an electrically conductive bridge member for extending across the front of a grounded metal box, the means to establish a low resistance electrical ground connection between said box and bridge member, comprising a stamped resilient sheet metal clip member secured at one end with a low-resistance electrical connection to said bridge member, an aperture in said clip member near its opposite end of greater width than the diameter of a standard mounting screw used for securing said bridge member to said box, said clip member being biased in a direction to press one edge of said aperture constantly against said screw when said screw is inserted through a hole near the end of said bridge member and screwed into a tapped hole in said box.

Claim 7

In an electric wiring device supported by an electrically conductive bridge member for extending across the front of a grounded metal box, the means to establish a low resistance electrical ground connection between said box and bridge member, comprising a stamped resilient sheet metal clip member secured at one end with a low-resistance electrical connection to said bridge member, an aperture in said clip member near its opposite end of greater width than the diameter of a standard mounting screw used for securing said bridge member to said box, said clip member being biased in a direction to press one edge of said aperture constantly against said screw when said screw is inserted through a hole near the end of said bridge member and screwed into a tapped hole in said box.

Claim 8

A device as claimed in claim 5 having a manually engageable lip on said clip member for flexing said clip member against its bias to facilitate insertion of said screw through said hole in said clip member.

Claim 9

A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said bridge member is U-shaped and said clip member is Z-shaped.

Claim 10

A device as claimed in claim 7 in which said clip member has a rib adjacent the joint between its mid-part and said secured end for self-adjustment to variations in the length of the upturned portions of the bridge member.

Claim 11

A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bridge member is U-shaped and said clip member is Z-shaped.

Claim 12

A device as claimed in claim 9 in which said clip member has a rib adjacent the joint between its mid-part and said secured end for self-adjustment to variations in the length of the upturned portions of the bridge.

Claim 13

An electrical connector having an insulation body, a plurality of contact members one of which is a ground contact member mounted within said body and adapted to be engaged by a mating connector member having a like number of contact members, means on said connector supporting said first connector member across an opening in a grounded electrically conductive support member, a grounding clip member for electrically connecting said ground contact member to said grounded support, means electrically connecting said ground contact member at one end to said clip member and fixedly securing said clip member relative to said insulation body, said clip member being formed of a strip of resilient metal and having an out-turned end having an edge adjacent to and permitting passage of a screw shank passing to a tapped hole in said grounded support member, said edge being urged constantly by said resilient member toward engagement with said screw shank.

Claim 14

An electrical connector having an insulation body, a plurality of contact members one of which is a ground contact member mounted within said body and adapted to be engaged by a mating connector member having a like number of contact members, means on said connector supporting said first connector member across an opening in a grounded electrically conductive support member, a grounding clip member for electrically connecting said ground contact member to said grounded support, means electrically connecting said ground contact member at one end to said clip member and fixedly securing said clip member relative to said insulation body, said clip member being formed of a strip of resilient metal and having an out-turned end having an edge adjacent to and permitting passage of a screw shank passing to a tapped hole in said grounded support member, said edge being urged constantly by said resilient member toward engagement with said screw shank.

Claim 15

A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said clip member is Z-shaped.

Claim 16

A device as claimed in cLaim 12 in which said clip member has a rib adjacent the joint between said one end and the mid-portion of the clip for self-adjustment to variations in dimensions.

Claim 17

A device as claimed in claim 11 in which said means for supporting the first connector is an out-turned flange on said insulation body extending outwardly at least at opposite sides of the body.