Two-piece duplex connector with internal cable retaining ring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9640964-B1
Application number	US-201514726485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 30, 2015
Priority date	May 31, 2014
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A duplex electrical connector constructed of two body portions with internal bores. The body portions easily assemble and disassemble in a sliding manner, the direction of the assembly and disassembly being substantially at right angles to the axes of the internal bores. A front connector body includes a leading end and a trailing end with a lip, a trailing flange, and a bottom periphery. A tab with an aperture therein extends from the top lip. A rear connector body includes a leading end with a front extension, a boss, a trailing end, and two internal bores extending from the trailing end to the leading end. Sliding assembly of the connector bodies enables minimizing the size of the connector bodies for reducing unit production costs while enabling easy disassembly of the two connector body portions for inspection of internal cable connections.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A duplex electrical fitting assembly, comprising:
a front connector body including a leading end and a trailing end with a lip, a trailing flange, and a bottom side;
a tab with an aperture therein extending from said lip;
a rear connector body including a leading end with a front extension, a boss with an aperture therein, two trailing bores, a plurality of cable retaining rings, said cable retaining rings inserted into the trailing bores;
an open channel on said front extension of said rear connector body, said open channel of said rear connector body capable of accepting slide in insertion of said trailing flange of said front connector body to connect said connector bodies; and
a fastener for insertion through said aperture of said tab of said front connector body and into said aperture of said boss of said rear connector body.

2. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising
a nose portion on said front connector body; and
a seat on said nose portion.

3. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a snap ring on said seat of said nose portion.

4. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a locking tang on said snap ring.

5. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein said aperture in said boss is axially aligned at substantially a right angle to the axial alignment of said trailing bores of said rear connector body.

6. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising
an outer periphery on said rear connector body; and
a rim extending outward from said outer periphery at the leading end of said rear connector body.

7. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a semi-circular notch in said front extension of said rear connector body.

8. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 7 , further comprising an outer portion and inner portion on said front extension.

9. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cable retaining tang extending inward of said cable retaining ring.

10. The duplex electrical fitting of claim 9 , further comprising three of said cable retaining tangs on said cable retaining ring, including a center cable retaining tang and two outer cable retaining tangs.

11. A duplex electrical fitting assembly, comprising:
a front connector body including a leading end and a trailing end with a lip, a trailing flange, and a bottom side;
a tab with an aperture therein extending from said lip;
a rear connector body including a leading end with a front extension, a boss with an aperture therein, two trailing bores, a plurality of cable retaining rings, said cable retaining rings inserted into the trailing bores;
an open channel on said front extension of said rear connector body, said open channel of said rear connector body capable of accepting slide in insertion of said trailing flange of said front connector body to connect said connector bodies; and

a fastener for insertion through said aperture of said tab of said front connector body and into said aperture of said boss of said rear connector body;
an outer periphery on said rear connector body; and
a rim extending outward from said outer periphery at the leading end of said rear connector body.

12. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 11 , further comprising
a nose portion on said front connector body; and
a seat on said nose portion.

13. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a snap ring on said seat of said nose portion.

14. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a locking tang on said snap ring.

15. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a cable retaining ring in each of said trailing bores of said rear connector body.

16. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 11 , wherein said aperture in said boss is axially aligned at a right angle to the axial alignment of said trailing bores of said rear connector body.

17. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a semi-circular notch in said front extension of said rear connector body.

18. The duplex electrical fitting assembly of claim 17 , further comprising an outer portion and inner portion on said front extension.

19. A method for securing an electrical cable to an electrical box, the method including:
a. providing a duplex electrical fitting assembly including a front connector body having a leading end, a trailing end including a lip and a trailing flange, and a tab with an aperture therein;
b. providing a rear connector body having a leading end including a front extension, a trailing end, an open channel, a rim, a boss with a bore therein, two trailing bores, a plurality of cable retaining rings, said cable retaining rings inserted into the trailing bores;
c. pressing the trailing end of the front connector body against the leading end of the rear connector body;
d. sliding the trailing end of the front connector body along the leading end of the rear connector body until the trailing flange of the front connector body engages the open channel in the rear connector body and the lip of the front connector body engages the rim of the rear connector body;
e. threading a screw through the aperture in the tab of said front connector body and into the bore of the boss of the rear connector body;
f. connecting said leading end of said duplex electrical fitting assembly to the electrical box; and
g. connecting the electrical cable to the trailing end of said duplex electrical fitting assembly.

Assignees

• Arlington Ind Inc

Inventors

• Gretz Thomas J
• O'Neil Daniel

Classifications

• H02G1/14

  for joining or terminating cables · CPC title

• H02G15/06 Primary

  Cable terminating boxes, frames or other structures · CPC title

• H02G3/06 Primary

  Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing {or channels}, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint · CPC title

• H02G3/0481

  with a circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence) · CPC title