Self grounding receptacle

Claim 2

A clip effecting a low-resistance electrical connection between the mounting strap of an electrical wiring device and an outlet box threadedly engageable by a mounting screw whereby the device is mounted in the box, comprising an electrically conductive spring member formed in the shape of a U and disposed astride an edge of the strap, said member having opposed leg portions which resiliently spread into clamping engagement with opposite faces of the strap whereby to establish a low-resistance electrical connection between said member and the strap, at least one of said leg portions comprising a pair of elemenets disposed in side-by-side relation in the same general plane and resiliently spread in said plane so as to be biased apart by, and form a low resistance electrical contact with, a mounting screw extending therebetween into threaded engagement with the outlet box.

Claim 3

A clip as in claim 1, wherein said elements are spaced apart to receive the mounting screw, the space between the elements extending fully from end to end of said one portion of the spring member.

Claim 4

A clip as in claim 2, wherein said one portion has an opening communicating with said space between the elements to accommodate the mounting screw, said elements presenting a series of tongues angularly spaced about said opening, said tongues extending inwardly of the opening so as to be urged into firm electrical contact with the mounting screw when the elements are biased apart by the screw.

Claim 5

A clip as in claim 3, said one portion having a free end, said member including a connecting part extending between and integrally joining said opposed portions thereof, the space between said elements extending fully from the connecting part to, and opening upon, the free end of said one portion of the member, whereby said one portion is wholly divided into said elements.

Claim 6

A clip as in claim 4 wherein said space is continued through the connecting part to the other portion, providing each element with a separate, individual connection to said other portion, each element being movable about said individual connection in said general plane of the elements, away from the other element responsive to the insertion of the mounting screw therebetween.

Claim 7

A clip effecting a low resistance electrical connection between the mounting strap of an electrical wiring device and outlet box threadedly engageable by a mounting screw whereby the device is mounted in the box, comprising a member of flat spring metal material formed to include a pair of side-by-side elements transversely spaced apart and lying in the same general plane, said member including a portion to which both of said elements are separately connected at one end of the elements, under spring tension tending to bias the elements toward said portion in a direction generally normal to said plane, whereby the elements clampably engage the mounting strap between said portion and the elements to effect a low resistance electrical connection between the strap and the member, said elements being further connected to said portion for and yieldingly moved away from each other in said plane in response to the extension of a mounting screw through said space, having a diameter greater than the normal width of the space for effecting a low resistance electrical contact between the screw and the respective elements.

Claim 8

A clip effecting a low resistance electrical connection between the mounting strap of an electrical wiring device and outlet box threadedly engageable by a mounting screw whereby the device is mounted in the box, comprising a member of flat spring metal material formed to include a pair of side-by-side elements transversely spaced apart and lying in the same general plane, said member including a portion to which both of said elements are separately connected at one end of the elements, under spring tension tending to bias the elements toward said portion in a direction generally normal to said plane, whereby the elements clampably engage the mounting strap between said portion and the elements to effect a low resistance electrical connection between the strap and the member, said elements being further connected to said portion for and yieldingly moved away from each other in said plane in response to the extension of a mounting screw through said space, having a diameter greater than the normal width of the space for effecting a low resistance electrical contact between the screw and the respective elements.

Claim 9

A clip as in claim 6, in which said member is formed with an opening constituting an enlargement of the space between the elements, said elements presenting a series of edges angularly spaced about said opening to provide the points of contact between the screw and the respective elements.

Claim 10

A clip as in claim 7 in which said portion is formed with an opening in registration with but larger in size than the opening between the elements, for passage of said screw through the last named opening without engaging said portion.