US1790610A

US1790610A - Thomas f

Info

Publication number: US1790610A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1931-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1948-01-27

Description

WITNESSzW Jan. 27, 1931. T. F. VINDAL 1,790,610

' ELECTRIC FIXTURE ATTACHMENT 4 Filed Jan. 7, 1929 ZVm/AJJ? VIA ga e BY My ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES THOMAS F. V'INDAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y..

nnncTnrc-rrx'rnnn ATTACHMENT Application filed January 7, 1929. Serial No. 330,886.

This invention relates to improvements in electric fixture attachments in general and to cable outlet box connectors in particular.

The primary object of the invention resides in a connector attachment for cable knock-out boxes to which a cable may be firm- 1y connected to assure a positive ground in the event that all of the knock-out openings are occupied by other cables, which eliminates the usual practice of effecting an improvised connection. I

Another object is to provide a connector which may be removably clamped to the rim I of an outlet box regardless of the shape of 1 the rim, and which includes other clamping means for receiving and holding the cable to be connected.

A further object is the provision of a connector attachment for outlet boxes which is accessible without disturbing the surrounding supporting surface, such as the laths, plaster and beams, thus effecting a saving of time and labor when access is required thereto. A still further object is to provide an outlet box connector which is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, easy and quick to apply to an outlet box, and.

highly efficient for thc,purpose, intended.

\Vith these and other objects in View, the

invention resides 1n certain novel construc-- tion and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter ,fully described, are particularly 5 pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, ,in l which Figure l is a vertical sectional view through an'elcctrical fixture anchorage showing my cable box connector in use.

Figure 2 is a' perspective view of the con-' hector per se. 4

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view 011 the line 44 of Figure 3. v

Figure 5' is a detail perspective view of the body of the connector". Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of .the flexible clamping jaw per se.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates my improved cable 'box connector in its entirety, which includes a body 11 of U-shape in cross section, one side wall or flange 12 being straight while the opposite side wall-13 is slightly higher and is curved or bowed lengthwise for a purpose to be presently ex plained. Extending outward from the bowed wall 13 is an ear or boss 1% having a bore or opening 15 extending therethrough. i clamping set screw 16 is threaded in the boss at right angle to the axis of the bore 15 and enters the bore to clamp the wire to be held therein.

Threaded in the side wall 13 adjacent opposite endsare set screws 1? and 18, while disposed within the space between the side walls of. the body is a'fiexible clamping jaw 19 which is normally straight but capable of being flexed for clamping engagement with the curved rim of a round outlet box. Une end of the jaw bent beyond one end of the body into a tongue 20 which has a slot 21. therein for the passage of the set screw 17. The screws 17 and 18 act as clamping screws to forcethe flexible jaw tightly against the rim of' a cable box which seats between the flexible jaw and the side wall 12. The screw '17 also acts as a means for connecting the flexible jaw with the body to prevent accidental separation of these parts.-

In Figure 1 of the drawingsJ have shown. my invention in use upon an installed cable knock-out or outlet box A which may be of any'configuration such as square or round, and into which B. X. cables B enter through the usual knock-out openings provided therein. The tubular stud C from which the electric fixture is suspended is threadedly connected to anipple D projecting from the outlet box, while a canopy E held upon the stud fits against the ceiling or supporting structure F, whereby the cablebox is concealed from view. In instances where all of the knock-out openings of a box are occupied by cables, my connector 10 is secured to the rim of the outlet box to receive the additional cable G to be grounded thereon. To attach the connectorto the rim of the box, the U- that the rim lies between the wall 12 and the ilexible clamping jaw 19. The operator merely screws inwardly upon the clamping set screws 17 and 18, causing the jaw to coact with the wall 12 to grip the rim. ,By making the jaw 19 flexible, 1t automatically adapts itself to the general shape of the rim, as for instance, if the box is squareor flat sided, the jaw will remain in its natural flat positon parallel with the side wall 12, but should the outlet box be round, the flexible resilient jaw will adapt itself to the curvature thereof upon tightening of the screws 17 and 18 as shown in dotted lines in F igure' 4 of the drawing. After-the connector has been attached to the outlet box, the cable G is passed through the opening 15 and the set screw 16 tightened to securely hold the cable and effect a positive ground as it will be understood that all the circuits-leading into an outlet box are grounded thereon.

It will be seen that access may be had to the connector without disturbing the plaster, laths or other support, as it is only necessary to uncover the cable box A by lowering the canopy E over the stud C.

Both the body and flexible resilient jaw are constructed of conducting material so that a ivire securely held by the clamping screw 16 may be grounded upon the outlet While I have described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, itis obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What is'claimed as new is 1. A connector for attachment to the exterior of electric cable outlet boxes comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of which constitutes a fixed jaw, an adjustable clamping jaw carried bythe opposite side wall of said body, and clamping means on said body for receiving and securing an elec tric cable thereto.

2'. A connector for attachn'lent to the exterior of electric cable outlet boxes comprising a U-shaped body, one'ot the side walls of which constitutes a fixed jaw, an adustable flexible resilient clan'lpingjaw carried by the opposite side wall of said body, and clamping means on said body for receiving and securing an electric cable thereto.

3. A connector for attachment'to the exterior of electric cable outlet boxes comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of said body constituting a fixed clam-ping jaw, a pair of adjustable clamping screws threaded in the other side wall of said body, a flexible movable jaw coacting with said fixed clamping jaw and adapted to be held'in clamping position by said adjustable screws, and cable clamping means on said body for firmly securing a cable thereto.

4. A connector for attachment to the exterior of electric cable outlet boxes comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of said body constituting a fixed clamping jaw, a pair of adjustable clamping screws threaded in the other side wall of said body, a flexible movable jaw'loosely carried by One of said adjustable clamping screws and co-v actlng with said fixed clamping jaw and adapted to be heldin clamping positon by said adjustable screws, and cable, clamping means on said body for firmly securing a cable thereto. Y

5. An electric cable connector for attachment to the rim of-an outlet box comprising a U-shaped body, one of the side walls of said body constituting a clamping jaw, a pair of clamping screws threaded through the other wall of said body, a flexible resillent jaw within said body and loosely connected to one of said clamping screws for coacting engagement with said second mentioned wall, a boss formed on said body having an opening therethrough, and a set screw threaded in said boss for clamping a cable within said opening when inserted therein.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sig- 9 nature.

THOMAS F. VIN DAL.