US1735196A - Conduit fitting - Google Patents

Description

Nv.f12,1929. J. c. BQYTON 1,735,196

CONDUIT FITTING Filed Dec. 2, 192e Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN C. BOYTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO CONDUIT FITTING- Application` fried December This invention relates to a conduit fitting for use in electrical wiring installations, the same being peculiarly suited to the supporting of lighting fixtures, as Will hereinafter appear.

While it is always desirable and often times highly important that lighting fixtures hang perpendicular, it frequently happens that the fixture support or stud which is rigidly attached to an outlet box or fitting of the conduit system is not Vin a vertical position. In some instances this non-vertical positioning` of the fixture support or stud occurs inad vertently, especially in connection with poured concrete constructions where care is not exercised in properly placing and securing the outlet boxes or fittings before the concrete is poured; and in other cases, as in factory buildings of the saw-tooth roof construction, the aforesaid positioning of the fixture support or stud results from the nature of the ceiling formation, the stud or support extending from an inclined portion thereof with its axis substantially normal to the surface of such portion.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a fitting by means of which a lighting fixture may be hung from a fixture stud or other support and adjusted to an absolutely1 vertical position, the connection preferably being loose so that the fixture will naturally and automatically swing of its own weight to a perpendicular position, the loose connection affording the additional advantage that,

in case the fixture is struck by an object, it will yield to the blow, thus avoiding damage to the fixture or connections, and will resume its vertical position.

Further objects are to provide a fitting of the aforesaid nature that is relatively simple of construction, economical of manufacture, convenient of assembly and installation, and that thoroughly encloses the electric wires and offers no obstruction to the running of the wires through the conduits.

These and other objects will appear as I proceed to describe the invention in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

2, 192e. serial No. 152,077.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the fitting; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the same; Fig. 3 is a central transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, and Fig. 5 an elevational view, of the ring for connecting the socket members together; Figs. G and 7 are a plan view and side elevation, respectively, of one of the nuts; and Fig. 8 shows a fixture supported in a vertical position from an inclined wall or ceiling through the medium of the fitting.

According to the present embodiment of the invention, the fitting is comprised of socket members 1 and 2 which, preferably, are identical and interchangeable. They are reversed with respect to each other and are arranged in end to end relation, and their adjacent ends are internally threaded for application to an externally threaded ring 3. So assembled, the members 1 and 2 eect a casing whose opposed ends have openings 4 that are surrounded by internal, tapered seats 5.

Disposed within the respective socket members 1 and 2 are nuts 6 and 7 which are identical and interchangeable. The outer end portions of the nuts are spherical, as indicated at 8, for rocking engagement with the seats 5, while their inner end portions are provided with a circumferential series of groves 9. It will be noted especially from Fig. 2 that the inner ends of the nuts extend into the opening of the ring 3, and ribs 10, that are formed on the interior of the ring, occupy certain of the grooves 9 thereby to restrain the nuts from turning with respect to said ring. The fit of the inner ends of the nuts within the ring 3 is sufficiently loose however as not to interfere with the nuts rocking freely upon the seats 5, and it may be further explained that inward movement of the nuts is limited by the engagement of the bottoms of the grooves 9 with the ends of the ribs 10. lVhile three ribs are shown in the present instance, and as equally spaced apart about the ring 3, the parts may be so designed as to make practical the use of a greater or less number of ribs. rlhe nuts 6 and 7 are tubuiar and the bores thereof are enlarged at their outer ends and internally threaded for the reception of the threaded ends of t-ubes designated 11 and 12. The v former may consist of a iiXture stud, nipple, conduit section, or the like, and the latter the stem of a lighting fixture, or a conduit section. The inner ends of the bores of the nuts 6 and 7 are of substantially the same diameter as the interior of the tubes 11 and 12, and the edges of the nuts surrounding the inner ends of their bores are rounded so as to prevent injury to the insulation of the lectric wires indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 13 in F ig. 2.

In Fig. 8 a fixture 14 is shown as supported from an inclined wall or ceiling 15 (which may be a part of a saw-tooth roof construction) bymeans of my improved fitting, the tubular parts 11 and 12 in the present case constituting, respectively, the iixture support and the fixture stem.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that to assemble the parts the nuts 6 and 7 are deposited in the respective socket members 1 and 2 and these members are then screwed onto the opposite ends of the ring 3, the ribs 10 whereof enter certain of the grooves 9 of the opposed nuts. The assembled unit may then be screwed onto the tube 11 by applying the nut 6 to the tube and turning the unit, all parts of the assembly turning together inasmuch as the nut 6 is keyed to the ring 3 and the ring, in turn, is restrained from rotation by the coaction of the two socket members therewith. The member 12 may then be screwed into the nut 7. It is clear, also, that when a fixture is supported by means of this fitting it will hang in a vertical position and in case it is struck by an object it will yield to a limited extent and thus relievey the parts of the shock that would otherwise be imposed upon them.

While I have described the present embodiment of the invention in detail, I wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the structural details further than is required by the terms of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A itting of the character set forth comprising an externally threaded ring, opposed socket members screwed onto the opposite ends of said ring into engagement with each other so that each acts as a lock nut for the other, said socket members having openings in their outer ends, and a tubular nut occupying each socket member and arranged to rock therein in all directions while bearing on the portion of said member surrounding its opening, said ring having parts common to, and cooperating with parts of, both tubular nuts for holding them against turning.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiiX my singature.

J CHW C. BOYTON.

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