The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 27, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1999
Carol A. Howard, Oxford, CT (US);
Ward E. Strang, Fairfield, CT (US);
John J. Putorti, Seymour, CT (US);
Hubbell Incorporated, Orange, CT (US);
Abstract
A housing for an electrical wiring device includes an adjustable clamping mechanism for retaining electrical conduits therein. The clamping mechanism has a pair of opposing strain relief members on opposite sides of a conduit passageway, set to accept a predetermined conduit width. Each strain relief member has a frangible portion which can be removed by a user. In this manner, if a user desires to retain, by means of an interference fit, a conduit having a diameter larger than the predetermined spacing of the intact strain relief members will allow, one or both frangible portions can be removed to accommodate a larger sized conduit. Alternatively, more than one pair of strain relief members having frangible portions can be alternately arranged to clamp a conduit in an S-shaped configuration, capable of accepting multiple conduit sizes by removing some or all of the frangible portions. Preferably, the strain relief members are integrally formed with the housing, and each frangible portion is integrally formed with the remainder of the strain relief member and the housing.