Non-metallic liquid-tight conduit engaging connector

Claim 1

A connector for forming a liquid-tight and mechanically strong connection with a non-metallic, flexible, liquid-tight electrical conduit comprising the combination of a generally tubular metal body having a substantially flat end face and external threads adjacent said end face; a plastic ferrule having a tubular portion and a radially outwardly protruding flange shaped and dimensioned to lie against said flat end face of said body, said ferrule including a radially outwardly protruding rib axially spaced from said flange between said flange and one end of said tubular portion; means on said body for engaging said ferrule to limit rotation of said ferrule relative to said body; a plastic tubular sleeve having a maximum outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of said flange, a cylindrical inner surface, an axial length substantially equal to the axial spacing between said rib and said flange and having an inwardly tapering outer surface portion, said sleeve being positioned around said tubular portion of said ferrule with the smaller end of said tapering surface portion radially spaced from said rib to receive an end of said conduit, said sleeve having a plurality of generally triangular slots extending axially inwardly only from said smaller end; and a metal compression nut having an internally threaded portion at one end dimensioned to threadedly engage said external threads on said body and an inwardly tapering frustoconical inner surface surrounding said tapering outer surface portion of said sleeve, whereby threading said nut onto said body causes said inwardly tapering surface of said nut to contact said tapering outer surface portion of said sleeve and force said outer surface portion radially inwardly in a uniform fashion, closing said triangular slots and reducing the diameter of said smaller end to engage said conduit between said smaller end and said rib.