Grounding clip for electrical fixtures

Claim 2

A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured to a mounting box with mounting screws extending through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip comprising: a Ushaped spring having a first member and a second member, said members being substantially flat planar members, said members being separated by a gap of lesser magnitude than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said first member including an aperture, said second member including screw-receiving means aligned with said aperture for engaging a mounting screw, said screw-receiving means including a pair of cantilever arms, said grounding clip being mountable on the mounting yoke of the electrical fixture with said members forcibly bearing against the mounting yoke to establish electrical continuity therebetween and with said aperture and said screw-receiving means aligned with one of the mounting yoke slots to receive a mounting screw, said cantilever arms being deflectable to slide over and forcibly abut against the threads of the mounting screw in maintaining electrical continuity therebetween as the mounting screw is axially engaged into said screw-receiving means.

Claim 3

The grounding clip of claim 1 wherein protrusions extend into said gap from one of said members, said protrusions being effective to concentrate the contact pressure exerted against the mounting yoke and thereby decrease the electrical contact resistance therebetween.

Claim 4

The grounding clip of claim 1 wherein rolled tips are disposed on said screw-receiving means, said rolled tips being configured to engage between threads on the mounting screw and effectuate the electrical continuity.

Claim 5

The grounding clip of claim 1 wherein diverging terminations are disposed on said members, said terminations being effective to facilitate the disposition of said grounding clip on the mounting yoke.

Claim 6

The grounding clip of claim 1 wherein protrusions extend into said gap from one of said members, said protrusions being effective to concentrate the contact pressure exerted against the mounting yoke and thereby decrease the electrical contact resistance therebetween; rolled tips are disposed on said screw-receiving means, said rolled tips being configured to engage between threads on the mounting screw and effectuate the electrical continuity; diverging terminations are disposed on said members, said terminations being effective to facilitate the disposition of said grounding clip on the mounting yoke.

Claim 7

In an electrical fixture of the type adapted to be mounted in an electrically grounded metal mounting box, wherein a metallic mounting yoke supports an insulated body and is connected to a grounding contact within said body, said mounting yoke having at least one mounting ear extending therefrom, said mounting ear containing a slot to receive a mounting screw therethrough in securing said electrical fixture into the mounting box, the improvement comprising: a grounding clip detachably affixed to said mounting ear, said grounding clip being a U-shaped spring, said spring having a first member and a second member, said members being substantially flat planAr members, said members being separated by a gap of lesser magnitude than the thickness of said mounting ear, said first member including an aperture, said second member including screw-receiving spring means aligned with said aperture for engaging the mounting screw, said grounding clip being detachably retained on said mounting ear with said members forcibly bearing thereagainst to establish electrical continuity therebetween and with said aperture and said screw-receiving means aligned with said slot, said screw-receiving spring means being deflectable to slide over and forcibly abut against the threads of the mounting screw in maintaining electrical continuity therebetween as the mounting screw is axially engaged thereinto.

Claim 8

In an electrical fixture of the type adapted to be mounted in an electrically grounded metal mounting box, wherein a metallic mounting yoke supports an insulated body and is connected to a grounding contact within said body, said mounting yoke having at least one mounting ear extending therefrom, said mounting ear containing a slot to receive a mounting screw therethrough in securing said electrical fixture into the mounting box, the improvement comprising: a grounding clip detachably affixed to said mounting ear, said grounding clip being a U-shaped spring, said spring having a first member and a second member, said members being substantially flat planAr members, said members being separated by a gap of lesser magnitude than the thickness of said mounting ear, said first member including an aperture, said second member including screw-receiving spring means aligned with said aperture for engaging the mounting screw, said grounding clip being detachably retained on said mounting ear with said members forcibly bearing thereagainst to establish electrical continuity therebetween and with said aperture and said screw-receiving means aligned with said slot, said screw-receiving spring means being deflectable to slide over and forcibly abut against the threads of the mounting screw in maintaining electrical continuity therebetween as the mounting screw is axially engaged thereinto.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein said screw-receiving spring means includes a pair of cantilever arms.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 wherein protrusions extend into said gap from one of said members, said protrusions being effective to concentrate the contact pressure exerted against said mounting yoke and thereby decrease the electrical contact resistance therebetween.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 wherein rolled tips are disposed on said cantilever arms, said rolled tips being configured to engage between threads on the mounting screw and effectuate the electrical continuity.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 wherein diverging terminations are disposed on said members, said terminations being effective to facilitate the disposition of said grounding clip on said mounting yoke.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 7 wherein protrusions extend into said gap from one of said members, said protrusions being effective to concentrate the contact pressure exerted against said mounting yoke and thereby decrease the electrical contact resistance therebetween; rolled tips are disposed on said cantilever arms, said rolled tips being configured to engage between threads on the mounting screw and effectuate the electrical continuity; and diverging terminations are disposed on said members, said terminations being effective to facilitate the disposition of said grounding clip on said mounting yoke.