US3814467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector for flexible conduit
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-17
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A connector for flexible conduit of the type which is spirally wound to provide continuous, alternating, helically contoured ribs and grooves thereon. The connector, which is formed from spring sheet metal, includes an apertured socket having a domeshaped web defining at its edge a single helix thread form adjacent the aperture in the socket. The helical edge of the web traverses a path corresponding to that of the helical grooves on the conduit whereby the conduit may be turned into the socket with the edge of the web advancing in the grooves and over the ribs in the manner of a nut thread on a bolt. A fitting joined to the socket carries an apertured disc spaced from the socket which the leading edge of the conduit threaded through the socket ultimately engages to limit the length of the conduit which may be threaded into the connector. The fitting also carries snap acting legs adapted to secure the connector to an apertured support member, e.g., a junction box or an adapter connected to the junction box, when the fitting is inserted into the aperture in said support member. Additionally, the socket element carries a locking tab which both bitingly and tensionally engages the conduit to inhibit reverse rotation of same in a direction which would tend to disconnect the conduit from the connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Buren H Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:44
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
A connector for securing a flexible conduit of the type which is spirally wound to provide continuous, alternating, helically contoured ribs and grooves thereon to an apertured support, said connector comprising a conduit receiving socket, said socket having an annular base element and a radially slotted, domed web projecting outwardly from one surface of said base element, fastening means for effecting a coupling of said connector to the apertured support, said fastening means being joined to said socket at said base element and projecting outwardly therefrom in the opposite direction from said domed web, said web being provided with a generally centrally located conduit receiving opening, the edge of said web defining said opening traversing a helical path commencing at the end of said web adjacent said radial slot, said helical path being in general correspondence with the helical path traversed by the grooves on the conduit, said helical edge having a leading portion axially spaced from said one surface of said base element and a trailing portion disposed substantially in the plane of said one surface, said leading edge being spaced from said surface a distance substantially equal to the width of the ribs on the conduit, whereby the said edge of said web will advance in the grooves and over the ribs of the conduit when the latter is turned into said opening in the manner of a nut thread advancing on a bolt thread and the web will overlappingly grip the ribs on the conduit to securely couple the latter to the connector, and means, joined to said socket and spaced from said base element, for limiting the extent of permissible penetration of the conduit through said socket and into said connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
285 words
A connector for securing a flexible conduit of the type which is spirally wound to provide continuous, alternating, helically contoured ribs and grooves thereon to an apertured support, said connector comprising a conduit receiving socket, said socket having an annular base element and a radially slotted, domed web projecting outwardly from one surface of said base element, fastening means for effecting a coupling of said connector to the apertured support, said fastening means being joined to said socket at said base element and projecting outwardly therefrom in the opposite direction from said domed web, said web being provided with a generally centrally located conduit receiving opening, the edge of said web defining said opening traversing a helical path commencing at the end of said web adjacent said radial slot, said helical path being in general correspondence with the helical path traversed by the grooves on the conduit, said helical edge having a leading portion axially spaced from said one surface of said base element and a trailing portion disposed substantially in the plane of said one surface, said leading edge being spaced from said surface a distance substantially equal to the width of the ribs on the conduit, whereby the said edge of said web will advance in the grooves and over the ribs of the conduit when the latter is turned into said opening in the manner of a nut thread advancing on a bolt thread and the web will overlappingly grip the ribs on the conduit to securely couple the latter to the connector, and means, joined to said socket and spaced from said base element, for limiting the extent of permissible penetration of the conduit through said socket and into said connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A connector according to claim 1 which is formed from spring sheet metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector according to claim 2 wherein said socket includes counter rotation inhibiting means adapted to engage portions of a conduit turned into said socket and thereby resist unintentional disconnection of the conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A connector according to claim 3 wherein said counter rotation inhibiting means comprises a resilient locking tab on said socket disposed between said radial slot and said trailing helical edge of said web, said tab having an inboard edge forming a continuation of said trailing edge of said web and being partially severed from said base element and bent out of the plane of said element and projecting outwardly from said one surface thereof in the direction of said web, the axial distance between said outwardly bent portion of said locking tab and said means for limiting the extent of penetration of the conduit into said connector being predetermined so that when the leading end of the conduit engages said means, said tab will be biased by a rib on the conduit back toward said one surface of said socket base element and apply a locking tension to said conduit which inhibits counter rotation of same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connector according to claim 4 wherein said locking tab has a relatively sharply pointed inboard edge adjacent said radial slot, said edge being adapted to bitingly engage the conduit when the latter is seated in said connector to further inhibit counter rotation of said conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A connector according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means is a snap acting fastening means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A connector according to claim 1 wherein said base element has a concavo-convex configuration with the concave face thereof disposed remote from said one surface thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
199 words
A connector according to claim 1 wherein said means for limiting the extent of permissible penetration of the conduit into said connector comprises a disc disposed in axially spaced, generally parallel relationship to the said surface of said base element remote from said one surface, said disc being connected to said base element by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, relatively rigid legs having one end thereof joined to said base element adjacent said remote surface thereof and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom and other ends thereof joined to the periphery of said disc, said disc having a substantially centralized opening therethrough in axial communication with the opening defined by said web, said opening in said disc being defined by the internal wall of a smooth bored, tubular extension joined to and projecting from said disc toward said base element, the outer diameter of said tubular extension corresponding generally to the inner diameter of the conduit, whereby the leading end of the conduit will bottom on the surface of said disc adjacent said tubular extension when the conduit is fully turned into said connector with the longitudinal axis of the conduit generally axially aligned with the said opening in said disc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A connector according to claim 8 wherein said fastening means comprises a plurality of resilient legs each joined to the periphery of said disc and extending from said juncture toward said base element, said legs being disposed radially outwardly of said relatively rigid legs connecting said disc to said base element, and said resilient legs being adapted to snap seat in an apertured support and having means adapted to engage the surface of the support adjacent the aperture therein to securely retain the connector in assembly with the support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A connector according to claim 9 wherein each of said resilient legs is joined to said disc between adjacent of said relatively rigid legs and each of said resilient legs terminates in a free end lying proximate to but spaced from the surface of said base element remote from said one surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
216 words
A connector for a flexible conduit of the type which is spirally wound to provide continuous, alternating, helically contoured ribs and grooves thereon, the said connector comprising an apertured socket having means traversing a helical path for threadedly receiving and engaging external portions of a conduit turned into said socket, means for engaging the leading end of a conduit turned into said socket to limit the extent of penetration of the conduit into said connector, a resilient conduit engaging and locking tab, said locking tab being formed integral with said first aforementioned means and having a portion thereof axially offset from said helical path In a direction opposite said second mentioned means, said axially offset portion being positioned to be deflected by a conduit rib in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conduit and being spaced from said second mentioned means a predetermined axial distance so as to be biased toward said second mentioned means and tensioned against a rib of the conduit responsive to the turning of the conduit into said socket to the extent that the leading end of the conduit engages said second mentioned means to thereby inhibit counter rotation of the seated conduit relative to the connector, and fastening means for securing said connector to an apertured support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
216 words
A connector for a flexible conduit of the type which is spirally wound to provide continuous, alternating, helically contoured ribs and grooves thereon, the said connector comprising an apertured socket having means traversing a helical path for threadedly receiving and engaging external portions of a conduit turned into said socket, means for engaging the leading end of a conduit turned into said socket to limit the extent of penetration of the conduit into said connector, a resilient conduit engaging and locking tab, said locking tab being formed integral with said first aforementioned means and having a portion thereof axially offset from said helical path In a direction opposite said second mentioned means, said axially offset portion being positioned to be deflected by a conduit rib in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conduit and being spaced from said second mentioned means a predetermined axial distance so as to be biased toward said second mentioned means and tensioned against a rib of the conduit responsive to the turning of the conduit into said socket to the extent that the leading end of the conduit engages said second mentioned means to thereby inhibit counter rotation of the seated conduit relative to the connector, and fastening means for securing said connector to an apertured support.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |