MXPA00007600A - Grounding clip and system - Google Patents

Abstract

A grounding clip (20) has a generally U-shape spring clamp (30) having first and second opposing walls (32,34) extending from a curved base portion (36) thereof. The first and second walls each having a leading edge portion (33,35) opposite the curved base portion (36). The spring clamp (30) fastenable to a panel (10) with the curved base portion (36) disposed over the panel edge (14). The first wall (32) of the spring clamp (30) is adjacent one side (12) of the panel (10) and the second wall is adjacent the other side of the panel (10). A wire fastening member (40), preferably of the crimping type, extends from first wall (32) of the spring clamp (30) between the curved base portion (36) and the leading edge portion (35) thereof. When the spring clamp (30) is fastened to the panel (10), the wire fastening member (40) and a wire (2) fastened thereto are adjacent the corresponding side (12) of the panel (10) and spaced apart from the panel edge (14), whereby, at most, only the curved b ase portion (36) of the grounding clip (20) protrudes beyond the panel edge (14).

Description

. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to fasteners, and more particularly to fasteners and grounding systems of electrical conductors. The grounding fasteners, also known as grounding terminals, are well known and widely used, for example for fastening conductors or electrical cables with panels of conductive fittings and at the same time providing electrical contact between them. Known grounding fasteners generally comprise a U-shaped panel contact section and a wire contact section disposed adjacent a curved portion or loop of the contact section of the panel opposite an open end thereof. In other grounding fasteners, the cable contact section extends axially from the fastener loop. It is also known to provide one or more prongs protruding from internal sides of the panel contact section to provide better electrical contact with the panel. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,609, entitled "Ground terminal", US Pat. No. 4,993,959 entitled "Grounding fastener" and U.S. Patent No. 4,993,959. No. 5,451,167, also entitled "Ground connection fastener".

However, prior art grounding fasteners discussed above have the disadvantage that portions of the fastener and the cable attached to it protrude largely from one edge of the panel when installing the fastener in the panel, since the cable is pressed or otherwise held adjacent or protruding from the fastener loop. This configuration severely limits the range of applications in which the grounding fastener can be used; for example, it is not possible to place a cover or cover over the edge of the panel where the fastener is secured, since the protruding cable and certain portions of the fastener form a large obstruction. Other known grounding fasteners hold the cable between pairs of vertical sheets protruding from the panel contact section, thereby locating the cable away from the loop. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,167 entitled "Grounding bracket". However, with these prior art grounding fasteners, the cable and vertical sheets protrude far from one side of the panel to which the fastener is fastened, and the fact that they protrude is not always desirable, for example in applications where there are space limitations or where obstructions of protruding objects are intolerable. Grounding fasteners with this configuration also require large quantities of raw materials, are heavy, can not always be manufactured in strip form, and are relatively expensive. The present invention is oriented towards advances in the technique of fasteners and grounding systems. An object of the present invention is to provide new systems and fasteners for grounding that solve problems in the art. Another object of the present invention is to provide new fasteners and earthing systems that are reliable and economical. Another object of the present invention is to provide new grounding fasteners that do not protrude too far from a panel edge when fastened to this panel. Another object of the present invention is to provide new fasteners and grounding systems where portions of the fastener and the electrical conductor fastened thereto do not protrude too far from a panel to which the fastener is fastened. Another object of the present invention is to provide new fasteners and grounding systems that require less raw material and are relatively lightweight. Another object of the present invention is to provide new grounding fasteners that can be manufactured in the form of a strip. Another more particular object of the present invention is to supply new fasteners and grounding systems, including grounding fasteners comprising a spring clamp with a generally "U" shape having opposing first and second walls extending from a curved base portion thereof, wherein each of the first and second walls have a front edge portion opposite the curved base portion. The spring clamp can be fastened to a panel, with the curved base portion of the fastener disposed over the edge of the panel, the first wall of the spring clamp adjacent to one side of the panel, and its second wall is adjacent to the other side of the panel. panel. A cable clamping member, preferably of the press type, extends from the first wall of the spring clamp between the curved base portion of the spring clamp and its leading edge portion. When the spring clamp is fastened to the panel, the cable fastening member and the cable fastened thereto are adjacent to the corresponding side of the panel, and spaced from the edge of the panel. These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon careful consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which may be disproportionate to facilitate understanding, and where similar structures and steps are designated in general. with corresponding numbers and indicators. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of a grounding fastener system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of the grounding fastener system of Figure 1, seen on the line I-I. Figure 3 is an end view of a grounding fastener in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a side view of the grounding fastener of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a grounding fastener manufactured in the form of a strip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a grounding fastener system generally comprising a conductive panel 10 and a grounding fastener 20 fastened to the panel, while preferably providing electrical contact between a cable conductor attached to the fastener and the driver panel.

The conductive panel 10 may be part of an accessory or other article, for example in an electrical control application, and comprises opposite sides 11 and 12 and a panel edge 14 therebetween. In the exemplary embodiment, the panel 10 has a notched edge portion 15 with a length on the panel edge 14 greater than, or at least equal to, a length of the fastener 20 to allow all or portions of the fastener 20 to remain hollowed out below the edge of panel 14, as will be discussed later in greater detail. More generally, the panel 10 does not have a notched edge portion, and in those applications or systems only a small portion of the fastener 20 projects above the panel edge 14. In Figure 1, the grounding fastener 20 comprises a spring clamp 30 with a generally "U" shaped fastened to the panel 10, and a cable fastening member 40 extending from the clamp and to which the cable 2 is fastened, as will be discussed later in greater detail. In Figure 2, the spring clamp 30 generally comprises first and second opposed walls 32 and 34 extending from opposite sides of a curved base portion 36, or loop, of the clamp. The first and second walls 32 and 34 respectively have a leading edge portion 33 and 35, forming an open end of the spring clamp opposite the loop thereof.

In Figures 2 and 3, the first and second walls 32 and 34 each comprise opposite inner and outer sides, where the inner side of the first wall is facing the inner side of the second wall. In Figures 1 and 4, the first and second walls each have opposite ends 37 and 38 between the curved base portion 36 and the inner edge portions 33 and 35 thereof, thereby forming opposite ends of the spring clamp 30. In Figures 1 and 2, the spring clamp 30 is attached to the panel 10 with the curved base portion 36 of the spring clamp disposed on the panel edge 14 or 15, depending on the configuration of the panel, where the first wall 32 is adjacent to one side of the panel, and second wall 34 is adjacent to the other side of the panel. In some embodiments, one or both of the leading edge portions of the spring fastener are configured to diverge outwardly, thereby facilitating the initial installation of the open end of the fastener relative to the panel. In addition, in some embodiments, one or both of the first and second side walls of the spring clamp may converge toward each other from the loop to facilitate clamping action when the spring clamp is disposed relative to the panel; for example, the walls may have an asymmetrical arrow shape, so that the separation between portions of. the walls is less than the thickness of the panel. Spring clamp walls with one or more forwardly diverging front portions are particularly desirable in embodiments where the spacing between portions of the opposite walls is less than the thickness of the panel. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, the side walls of the spring clamp 30 are generally parallel to each other, and the leading edge 35 of the second wall 34 diverges outwardly from the other side wall 32 to facilitate installation of the fastener in the panel. The second wall 34 also includes a prong projecting from the inner side thereof, as will be discussed later. In some embodiments, a prong protrudes from the inner side of one of the first and second walls of the spring-loaded fastener to join the panel, thereby improving the electrical contact of the walls. In the exemplary embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, a prong 39 protrudes inwardly only from the second wall 34, preferably on one end thereof, but alternatively from any portion thereof. Placing one or more tines only on the second wall 34 allows the first wall 32 of the spring loaded fastener 30 without barbs and the cable holding member 40 thereof to be mounted directly against one side of the panel 10., thereby minimizing the mounting profile of the grounding fastener and the cable, particularly the protrusion of the cable holding member 40 and the cable 2 from the side of the panel, and maximizing the ground contact between the side of the panel and the wall 32. The cable fastener member generally extends from one end of one of the walls of the snap fastener between the curved base portion and the front edge portion of the fastener. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the cable clamping member 40 extends from the end 38 of the first wall 32 of the spring clamp 30 in the medial portion between the curved base portion 36 and the leading edge portion 33. of the clamp with spring. The same cable clamping member, or alternatively a second clamping member, may extend from the opposite end 37 of the spring clamp. In Figures 1 and 2, the cable 2 is preferably fastened to a cable mounting surface on the outer side of the cable fastening member 40 opposite the panel 30, when the fastener is fastened to the panel, where a portion of the fastening member The cable is immediately adjacent to the panel to reduce the mounting profile between bra and cable. When the grounding fastener is installed on the panel 10, the cable fastening member 40 and the cable 2 fastened thereto are both arranged directly adjacent to the side of the panel 10, and both are spaced apart from the panel edge 14, where only the curved base portion 36 of the grounding fastener protrudes very little over the panel edge 14 or 15. In Figures 4 and 5, the cable fastening member 40 preferably comprises a fastening bevel 42 with a distal end portion 44 extending from the end 38 of the first wall 32. In Figures 1 and 5, the fastening bevel 42 is disposed medially between the curved base portion 36 of the spring clamp 30 and the leading edge portion 33 of the first wall. The fastening bezel 42 includes opposed internal and external sides corresponding to the opposite inner and outer sides of the first wall. In Figure 4, the fastening bezel 42 also comprises a mounting surface 43 on its outer side, on which cable can be attached so that the cable is disposed on the side of the first wall 32 opposite the panel when fastened thereto. the ground connection fastener. The location of the cable holding member 40 remote from the loop 36 of the spring-loaded fastener 30 ensures that the cable 2 attached thereto will not protrude above the edge of the panel, as is commonly the case with prior art grounding fasteners. In addition, the extension of the cable fastening member 40 from the wall 32 of the spring-loaded fastener on the side of the panel, and the mounting of the cable 2 on the fastener opposite the panel minimizes the degree to which the cable protrudes above the fastener. and the panel, thereby reducing the overall profile of the fastener and cable assembly, and thereby reducing space utilization. The cable 2 is preferably fastened to the cable fastening member 40 by curved limbs extending from the cable fastening member and remaining around the cable for crimping. In Figure 1, the limbs 45 and 46 extend from the outer side of the fastening bevel, which is also shown in Figure 3 and partly in Figure 4. In Figure 1, the limbs 45 and 46 are pressed around a conductive portion of the cable 2. Also in Figure 1, the exemplary cable fastening bevel 40 also comprises secondary ends 47 and 48 closest to the distal end portion of the bevel, which is also partially shown in Figure 4, for pressing a portion of electrically insulating outer layer 5 of the cable. Alternatively, the cable fastening member 40 may comprise a more completely formed hollow portion that presses a portion of conductive cable disposed in the cable fastening member. In other embodiments, the cable can be secured to the cable fastening member by any other known structure or device, including welding. As noted above, in the exemplary embodiment the panel edge 14 has a notched portion 15 with a length on the panel edge 14 wide enough to accommodate the fastener 20 when fastened to the panel 10. The depth of the edge with notch 15 from the panel edge 14 preferably has sufficient depth, for example the same depth as the loop 36 of the spring clamp 30, so that no portion of the fastener protrudes above the panel edge 14, on which it can be mounted a lid or cover, not shown, on the panel edge, without obstruction. The portion of the fastener, and particularly its loop, projects so little above the panel edge, that a cover or cover can be mounted on the edge 14 without the fastener making further interference in the absence of the notched edge portion. The ground connection fastener 20 is preferably a unitary metal member comprising, for example, spring steel, stainless steel or any other metallic material. The grounding fastener can be formed in a punching operation. Figure 5 illustrates for example the grounded fastener manufactured in strip form, where initially a strip of metal 60 is punched out to form a repetitive sequence or series of first, second and third members 62, 63 and 64, respectively, which are subsequently formed in the spring clamp and the cable clamping member, respectively. Each sequence of the first, second and third members are separated by a small transport protrusion 66, which can be easily broken to separate the fully formed ground fasteners.

Making the grounding fasteners of the present invention in the form of a strip eliminates the need for costly and unnecessary transport members commonly used in the manufacture of prior art grounding fasteners. While the above written description of the present invention allows the person skilled in the art to manufacture and use what is currently considered the best embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations and equivalents of the specific exemplary modalities. Accordingly, the present invention should be limited not by its exemplary embodiments, but by all modalities that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A grounding fastener comprising: a spring clamp with a generally "U" shape having opposite first and second walls extending from a curved base portion of the clamp; where the first and second walls respectively have a front edge portion opposite the curved base portion, where the first and second walls have respectively opposite internal and external sides, where the inner side of the first wall is facing the inner side of the first wall. second wall, wherein the first and second walls respectively have opposite ends between the curved base portion and their front edge portions; a cable fastener member extending from one end of the first wall between the curved base portion of the spring clamp and the front edge portion thereof. The grounding fastener of claim 1, wherein a cable mounting portion on one side of the cable fastening member corresponds to the outer side of the first wall. 3. The grounding fastener of claim 1, wherein a prong protrudes from the inner side of one of the first and second wall. 4. The grounding fastener of claim 1, which is a unitary member. 5. The grounding fastener of claim 1, wherein the cable fastening member has a fastening bevel with a distal end portion extending from the end of the first wall, wherein the fastening bevel is disposed medially between the base portion curve of the spring clamp and the leading edge portion of the first wall, wherein the clamping bezel has opposite internal and external sides corresponding to the opposite inner and outer sides of the first wall. 6. The grounding fastener of claim 5, wherein the fastening bezel has a cable mounting surface on the outer side. 7. The grounding fastener of claim 5, wherein hollow forming tips extend from the fastening bevel. The grounding fastener of claim 5, wherein a prong protrudes over the inner side of the second wall of the spring clip on one of the ends of the fastener. The grounding fastener of claim 5, wherein the fastener is a metal unitary member, the fastening bezel has a cable mounting surface on its outer side, forming ends of a gap extend from the fastening bevel, and a prong protrudes over the inner side of the second wall of the spring clip on one of the ends of the fastener. 10. A grounding fastener system comprising: a conductive panel having opposing sides and a panel edge therebetween; a grounding fastener comprising a spring clamp with a generally "U" shape having opposite first and second walls extending from a curved base portion, where the first and second walls respectively have an opposite leading edge portion to the curved base portion; the spring clamp secured to the panel, wherein the curved base portion is disposed on the edge of the panel, with the first wall adjacent to one side of the panel, and the second wall adjacent to the other side of the panel; a cable clamping member extending from the first wall of the spring clamp between the curved base portion of the spring clamp and its leading edge portion, with the cable clamping member adjacent the corresponding side of the panel and separated from the edge of the panel; a cable attached to the cable fastening member and separated from the edge of the panel; where only the curved base portion of the grounding fastener protrudes over the edge of the panel.