Cable connector and electrical box assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10103479-B2
Application number	US-201815879543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A cable connector is provided for coupling to and mounted within the internal cavity of an electrical box for securing an electrical cable passing through an opening in the electrical box. The cable connector includes a body having a first end positioned next to or adjacent the cable opening in the electrical box and a second end spaced from the first end and the cable opening. At least one and typically two retaining members are spring biased from the first end of the body and extend into a cable passage of the body toward the second end. A front wall is provided at the second end of the body with an opening for receiving the wires and forming a stop member to prevent the armor sheathing from passing through the front wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical box assembly comprising:
an electrical box including a rear wall and a side wall, the side wall including a cable opening configured to receive an electrical cable, the rear wall and side wall at least partially defining an internal cavity;
a cable connector secured to the electrical box, the cable connector including a cable passage aligned with the cable opening of the side wall, the cable passage defining an axis, the cable connector further including a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end positioned adjacent the cable opening on an inner surface of the electrical box, the second end spaced apart from the inner surface and positioned within the internal cavity;
a leg positioned at least partially within the cable passage and extending toward the axis of the cable passage, wherein the leg includes a groove configured to engage an outer surface of the cable and secure the cable against movement along the axis in a direction toward the cable opening.

2. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable connector further comprises a first side wall on a first side of the cable passage and a second side wall on a second side of the cable passage, wherein the leg extends from the first side wall.

3. The electrical box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the leg is integrally formed with the first side wall.

4. The electrical box assembly of claim 2 , wherein the leg is coupled to the first side wall by a U-shaped portion to spring bias the first cable retainer inwardly toward the cable passage.

5. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body has a wall extending between the first end and second end, and wherein the leg is coupled to the wall.

6. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leg is positioned between the a first cable retainer and a second cable retainer, the first cable retainer connected to the body and extending toward the axis, the first cable retainer configured to engage an outer surface of the cable and secure the cable against movement along the axis in a direction toward the cable opening, and the second cable retainer connected to the body and extending toward the axis.

7. The electrical box assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable connector includes a surface positioned adjacent the second end of the body, the surface configured to abut a sheath of the cable to prevent the sheath from passing through the second end of the body.

8. An electrical box assembly comprising:
an electrical box having a cavity, a rear wall and a side wall with at least two cable openings having a dimension for receiving an electrical cable, the side wall having an inner face and an outer face; and
a cable connector mounted within a cavity of the electrical box and forming a cable passage aligned with one of the at least two cable openings in the electrical box, the cable connector coupled to a cable retainer having a flexible first leg having a first length and a flexible second leg having a second length less than the first length, each of the flexible legs being within the electrical box and positioned within the cable passage, each of the flexible legs having a bottom edge for gripping an outer surface of the cable passing through the cable opening, and where the bottom edge of the first leg is spaced from the bottom edge of the second leg.

9. The electrical box of claim 8 , wherein the cable passage is a first cable passage, the electrical cable is a first electrical cable, and the cable retainer is a first cable retainer, the cable connector further including a second cable passage and a second cable retainer coupled to the cable connector, the second cable passage extending between the first end and the second end and laterally spaced apart from the first cable passage, the second cable retainer having a flexible first leg having a first length and a flexible second leg having a second length less than the first length, each leg of the second cable retainer being within the electrical box and positioned within the second cable passage, each leg of the second cable retainer having a bottom edge for gripping an outer surface of a second cable passing through the second cable opening, and where the bottom edge of the first leg is spaced from the bottom edge of the second leg.

10. The electrical box of claim 8 , wherein the second leg overlies the associated first leg, the second leg and the associated first leg both overlying at least a portion of the associated opening, each first leg including an edge aligned with the associated opening and extending toward the rear wall, each second leg including an edge aligned with the associated opening and extending toward the rear wall, the first leg spaced apart from the second leg by a gap such that the first leg and the second leg are bendable independently of each other.

11. The electrical box of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first leg and the second leg includes an arcuate portion for engaging the outer surface of the cable.

12. The electrical box of claim 8 , further comprising a wall secured to the electrical box and spaced apart from the first leg and the second leg, the wall including a pair of holes, each hole aligned with one of the openings of the electrical box.

13. The electrical box of claim 8 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are joined together.

14. A cable connector for securing at least one electrical cable extending through a cable opening in an electrical box, the cable connector comprising:
a body including a first end, a second end, and a cable passage extending between the first end and the second end, the first end configured to be positioned in the electrical box adjacent the cable opening, the second end positioned within the electrical box, the body further including a tab positioned proximate the first end and extending toward the second end of the body, the tab having an arcuate portion biased toward the cable passage;
a first cable retainer connected to the tab and including an end for engaging an outer surface of the electrical cable; and
a second cable retainer coupled to the body and including an end for engaging the outer surface of the electrical cable, the second cable retainer extending toward the cable passage.

15. The cable connector of claim 14 , wherein the body further includes a side wall positioned on an opposite side of the cable passage relative to the tab, the side wall extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the second cable retainer is connected to the side wall.

16. The cable connector of claim 15 , wherein the body is secured relative to the electrical box by a fastener, the fastener engaging the side wall.

17. The cable connector of claim 14 , wherein the first end of the body includes an opening for receiving the electrical cable.

18. The cable connector of claim 14 , wherein the first cable retainer and the second cable retainer are joined together.

19. The cable connector of claim 14 , wherein the cable passage is a first cable passage and the tab is a first tab, the body further including a second cable passage and a second tab, the second cable passage extending between the first end and the second end and laterally spaced apart from the first cable passage, the second tab positioned proximate the first end and extending toward the second end of the body, the tab having an arcuate portion biased toward the second cable passage.

20. The cable connector of claim 14 , the second end of the body

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Korcz Krzysztof W
• Johnson Steven J
• Wagner Richard J

Classifications

• H02G3/086

  Assembled boxes · CPC title

• H02G3/083

  Inlets · CPC title

• H02G3/12

  for flush mounting · CPC title

• H01R13/5816 Primary

  for cables passing through an aperture in a housing wall, the separate part being captured between cable and contour of aperture · CPC title

• H02G15/10

  protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes · CPC title