IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
| 출원번호 |
US-0547059
(2014-11-18)
|
| 등록번호 |
US-9647432
(2017-05-09)
|
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
| 출원인 / 주소 |
|
| 대리인 / 주소 |
|
| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
75 |
초록
▼
A connecting system for quickly securing a hollow tube to a structure or another hollow tube using a connector that has housing with a tapered interior edge that operably engages a tapered locking wedge received therein. When the tube is inserted into the tapered locking wedge, the locking wedge the
A connecting system for quickly securing a hollow tube to a structure or another hollow tube using a connector that has housing with a tapered interior edge that operably engages a tapered locking wedge received therein. When the tube is inserted into the tapered locking wedge, the locking wedge therein holds and locks the tube in place in the connector. A guide ring may be provided within the connector to facilitate proper alignment of the tube within the connector and provide excellent electrical conductivity throughout the entire tube connecting system. One or more roller bearings may be provided within the wedge to facilitate initial tube insertion and then compression locking of the tube by the wedge. The connector can include a variety of structure engaging portions to allow the connector to be operably secured to a variety of structures such as electrical junction boxes, electrical conduits, tubes, armored cables, metal clad cables, flexible metal cables and the like.
대표청구항
▼
1. A hollow-tube connecting system comprising: a hollow tube;a connector for securing the hollow tube to a structure, the connector further comprising; a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller s
1. A hollow-tube connecting system comprising: a hollow tube;a connector for securing the hollow tube to a structure, the connector further comprising; a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller size to a larger size, the interior surface defining an interior chamber, the connector body having an opening into the chamber for receiving the hollow tube, the opening being located at one end of the connector body, the one end corresponding to the smaller size of the interior surface,a locking element having a tapered exterior surface and positioned within the interior chamber, the locking element having an opening for receiving the hollow tube, wherein inserting the hollow tube into the connector body opening and then into the locking element urges the tapered exterior surface of the locking element against the tapered interior surface of the connector body and increases the hollow tube's resistance to being removed from the connector body; and,a structure engaging portion operative to secure the connector to the structure. 2. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, further including a guide ring positioned within the interior chamber, the guide ring having a ring opening for receiving the end of the hollow tube and an outer diameter sized to engage the interior surface of the connector body and operative to hold the guide ring substantially parallel with the connector body opening. 3. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 2, wherein the guide ring includes a plurality of tabs extending toward the center of the ring and angled away from the connector body opening. 4. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein said locking element includes an annular wall, the annular wall including a bearing operably secured within the annular wall, the bearing positioned to engage the hollow tube. 5. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 4, wherein said bearing includes a plurality of rotatable bearings positioned along the circumference of the annular wall. 6. The hollow-tube connection system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is an electrical conduit. 7. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 6, wherein the electrical conduit is selected from the group consisting of Electrical Metallic Tubing, Rigid Metal Conduit, Galvanized Rigid Conduit, Intermediate Metal Conduit, Polyvinyl Chloride conduit, plastic, fiber and fired clay. 8. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the structure engaging portion includes a threaded element and nut for securing the connector to a hole in an electrical junction box. 9. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the structure engaging portion includes two connector engaging portions for operably securing two connectors together. 10. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the tube is selected from the group consisting of a straight section, a T-shape, a U-shape, and an L-shape. 11. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein said locking element is formed of a resilient material. 12. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 11, wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic. 13. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, further including a ring spring having a neutral position and operably secured to the locking element, said ring spring compressing the locking element toward the connector body in its neutral position. 14. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 13, wherein said ring spring is substantially circular and includes an opening to allow the spring to be deflected from its neutral position. 15. A hollow-tube connecting system comprising: a hollow tube;a connector for securing the hollow tube to a structure, the connector further comprising; a connector body having a tapered interior edge and defining an interior chamber, the tapered interior edge having a taper angle between 3 to 25 degrees, inclusive,a connector body opening into the interior chamber for receiving the hollow tube,a locking element having a tapered exterior surface and positioned within the interior chamber, the locking element having a plurality of ball bearings inlaid in apertures of the locking element, the ball bearings having a diameter between 0.5 millimeters (mm) and 10 millimeters (mm), inclusive;a locking element opening for receiving the hollow tube, wherein the locking element is such that inserting the hollow tube into the locking element opening causes the ball bearings to engage the exterior surface of the hollow tube and also urge the ball bearings against the tapered interior edge of the connector body; and,a structure engaging portion for operably securing the connector to the structure. 16. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 15, further including a guide ring positioned within the interior chamber, the guide ring having a ring opening for receiving the end of the hollow tube and an outer diameter operative to engage the interior surface of the body and hold the guide ring substantially parallel with the body opening. 17. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 15, wherein said locking element includes an annular wall, the annular wall including the apertures into which the plurality of ball bearings are inlaid. 18. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 17, wherein said plurality of ball bearings are spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the annular wall and are rotatably secured within the apertures. 19. The hollow-tube connection system of claim 15, wherein the hollow tube is electrical conduit selected from the group consisting of Electrical Metallic Tubing, Rigid Metal Conduit, Galvanized Rigid Conduit, Intermediate Metal Conduit, Polyvinyl Chloride conduit, plastic, fiber and fired clay and armored cable: AC (BX), Metal Clad cable: MC and Flexible Metal cable: FMC. 20. The hollow-tube connection system of claim 15, where the taper angle is between 8 to 12 degrees, inclusive.
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