Flexible conduit connector

Claim 1

A coupling assembly including two sections of flexible electrical conduit, a tubular double-female connector which is open at both ends to receive the ends of both sections of conduit, said connector having a radially inwardly projecting circular rib midway between its ends, the inner surfaces of said connector adjacent said rib on both sides thereof being tapered radially inwardly in directions toward said rib, said connector having external threading on both ends and an external formation between said threading to which a wrench may be applied to turn said connector, tubular ferrules each having an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion, said inner and outer sleeve portions being connected by a fold, the wall portions of said inner and outer sleeve portions of each ferrule adjacent to said fold being cylindrical in the free state condition thereof, said ferrules being assembled with said respective conduit sections by having the inner sleeve portion of each ferrule fitted into an end of the associated conduit section and the outer sleeve portion thereof extending along the outer surface of said conduit section with said fold extending across the end edge of said conduit section, said ends of said conduit sections with said ferrules assembled therewith as aforesaid being inserted respectively in the ends of said connector, and nuts threaded on the threading on the ends of said connector and engaging said outer sleeve portions of said ferrules to clamp said ends of said conduit sections within said ends of said connector under sufficient pressure to cause said folds of said ferrules to abut said rib and said wall portions thereof to be compressed and deformed radially inwardly to frusto-conical form by the tapered inner surfaces of said connector and form a seal therewith.