Patent US3890026A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3890026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire-form grounding clip for electrical fixtures
Assignee: Hubbell Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-14
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A reliable grounding path is provided between electrical fixtures and their mounting boxes with a continuous strand of wire which is configured to have upper and lower loops between which the mounting yoke of the electrical fixture is received. The loops are superposingly aligned and cooperate to create a screw receiving means therebetween for engaging the conventional mounting screw which is utilized to secure the electrical fixture within the mounting box. When the mounting screw is tightened in the screw receiving means, the upper and lower loops are forced to converge against the mounting yoke and an electrical interface thereby results between the mounting yoke and the mounting screw.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Albert J Gartland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured into a mounting box with mounting screws through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip comprising: a continuous strand of spring wire, said strand being formed into an upper loop and a lower loop, said upper and lower loops being separated by a gap and being superposingly aligned with said upper loop being configured to provide clearance for threads on the mounting screw and said lower loop being configured to include a screw receiving means for engaging the mounting screw, said upper loop including a first bend of substantially 180* with members extending from each side thereof to a second bend of substantially 180*, said lower loop including symmetrical members with each said symmetrical member extending from one of said second bends to a third bend of substantially 180* and having a spring member extending from said third bend to a point of termination, said symmetrical members being arranged in said lower loop with said spring members cooperating to create said screw receiving means therebetween, each said spring member being terminated with an inclined tip, said inclined tips being disposed to locate iN the slot of the mounting yoke and thereby retain said grounding clip on the electrical fixture, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the electrical fixture with the mounting yoke thereof disposed in said gap and said screw receiving means aligned through one of the slots in the mounting yoke, said upper and lower loops being forcibly convergent aganist the mounting yoke to bear thereagainst when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiving means. affixingly engaging in one
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured into a mounting box with mounting screws through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip comprising: a continuous strand of spring wire, said strand being formed into an upper loop and a lower loop, said upper and lower loops being separated by a gap and being superposingly aligned with said upper loop being configured to provide clearance for threads on the mounting screw and said lower loop being configured to include a screw receiving means for engaging the mounting screw, said upper loop including a first bend of substantially 180* with members extending from each side thereof to a second bend of substantially 180*, said lower loop including symmetrical members with each said symmetrical member extending from one of said second bends to a third bend of substantially 180* and having a spring member extending from said third bend to a point of termination, said symmetrical members being arranged in said lower loop with said spring members cooperating to create said screw receiving means therebetween, each said spring member being terminated with an inclined tip, said inclined tips being disposed to locate iN the slot of the mounting yoke and thereby retain said grounding clip on the electrical fixture, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the electrical fixture with the mounting yoke thereof disposed in said gap and said screw receiving means aligned through one of the slots in the mounting yoke, said upper and lower loops being forcibly convergent aganist the mounting yoke to bear thereagainst when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiving means. affixingly engaging in one
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination, a grounding clip and an electrical fixture; said electrical fixture being of the type having a grounded mounting yoke with mounting slots formed therein whereby the fixture is arranged to be secured in a mounting box by mounting screws which extend through said slots; and said ground clip comprising a continuous strand of spring wire having end terminations, said strand being formed into an upper loop and a lower loop, said upper and lower loops being separated by a gap and being superposingly aligned to create a screw receiving means therebetween for engaging a mounting screw, said terminations affixingly in none mounting yoke slot when said grounding clip is disposed on the electrical fixture with the mounting yoke thereof disposed in said gap and said screw receiving means aligned through the slot, said upper and lower loops being forced to converge against the mounting yoke thereafter when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination, a grounding clip and an electrical fixture; said electrical fixture being of the type having a grounded mounting yoke with mounting slots formed therein whereby the fixture is arranged to be secured in a mounting box by mounting screws which extend through said slots; and said ground clip comprising a continuous strand of spring wire having end terminations, said strand being formed into an upper loop and a lower loop, said upper and lower loops being separated by a gap and being superposingly aligned to create a screw receiving means therebetween for engaging a mounting screw, said terminations affixingly in none mounting yoke slot when said grounding clip is disposed on the electrical fixture with the mounting yoke thereof disposed in said gap and said screw receiving means aligned through the slot, said upper and lower loops being forced to converge against the mounting yoke thereafter when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said gap is of lesser magnitude than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the mounting yoke with said upper and lower loops continually bearing forcibly thereagainst to establish electrical continuity between said grounding clip and the electrical fixture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said upper loop is configured to provide clearance for threads on the mounting screw and said lower loop is configured to include said screw receiving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said upper loop includes a first bend of substantially 180* with members extending from each side thereof to a second bend of substantially 180*, and said lower loop includes symmetrical members with each said symmetrical member extending from one of said second bends to a third bend of substantially 180* and having a spring member extending from said third bend to a point of termination, said symmetrical members being arranged in said lower loop with said spring members cooperating to create said screw receiving means therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said gap is of lesser magnitude than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the mounting yoke with said upper and lower loops continually bearing forcibly thereagainst to establish electrical continuity between said grounding clip and the electrical fixture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said lower loop includes a bend of substantially 180* with spring members extending from each side thereof to separate bends through equal obtuse angles, said spring members being cooperatively arranged in said lower loop to create said screw receiving means therebetween; and said upper loop includes symmetrical members with each said symmetrical member extending in a continuous path from one of said obtuse angled bends to a first bend through an acute angle in the direction of said lower loop, from said first acute angled bend to a second bend through an acute angle away from said lower loop, and from said second acute angled bend to a point of termination; said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the electrical fixture with said symmetrical members extending through the slot in the mounting yoke to bear against the underside thereof and said lower loop interfitting between said symmetrical members when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiVing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said loops are interconnected across said gap by a first bend of substantially 180 degrees, each said loop being a spring member which extends from said first bend to a bend through an obtuse angle at one termination of said strand, said spring members being cooperatively arranged to create said screw receiving means therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said gap is of lesser magnitude than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the mounting yoke with said upper and lower loops continually bearing forcibly thereagainst to establish electrical continuity between said grounding clip and the electrical fixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
249 words
A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured into a mounting box with mounting screws through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip comprising: a continuous strand of spring wire, said strand being formed into an upper loop and a lower loop, said upper loop including a first bend of 180* in a first plane and having members extending from each side of said first bend to a second bend of 180* in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said lower loop including symmetrical members, each said symmetrical member extending from one of said second bends to a third bend of 180* in a third plane parallel to said first plane and having a spring member extending from said third bend to a point of termination, said symmetrical members being arranged in said lower loop with said spring members cooperating to create said screw receiving means therebetween, said upper and lower loops being separated by a gap and being superposingly aligned to pass the mounting screw through said screw receiving means, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the electrical fixture with the mounting yoke thereof disposed in said gap and said screw receiving means aligned through one of the slots in the mounting yoke, said upper and lower loops being forcibly convergent against the mounting yoke to bear thereagainst when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiving means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
249 words
A grounding clip for use with an electrical fixture of the type having a grounded mounting yoke by which the fixture is secured into a mounting box with mounting screws through slots in the mounting yoke, said grounding clip comprising: a continuous strand of spring wire, said strand being formed into an upper loop and a lower loop, said upper loop including a first bend of 180* in a first plane and having members extending from each side of said first bend to a second bend of 180* in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane, said lower loop including symmetrical members, each said symmetrical member extending from one of said second bends to a third bend of 180* in a third plane parallel to said first plane and having a spring member extending from said third bend to a point of termination, said symmetrical members being arranged in said lower loop with said spring members cooperating to create said screw receiving means therebetween, said upper and lower loops being separated by a gap and being superposingly aligned to pass the mounting screw through said screw receiving means, said grounding clip being detachably affixable on the electrical fixture with the mounting yoke thereof disposed in said gap and said screw receiving means aligned through one of the slots in the mounting yoke, said upper and lower loops being forcibly convergent against the mounting yoke to bear thereagainst when the mounting screw is tightened in said screw receiving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The grounding clip of claim 10 wherein said gap is of lesser than the thickness of the mounting yoke, said groundiing clip being detachably affixable on the mounting yoke with upper and lower loops continually bearing forcibly thereagainst to establish electrical continuity between said grounding clip and the electrical fixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The grounding clip of claim 10 wherein each said spring member is terminated with an inclined tip, said inclined tips being disposed to locate in the slot of the mounting yoke and thereby retain said grounding clip on the electrical fixture.
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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |