Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FITTING FOR CORRUGATED CONDUIT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a fitting for connecting a
corrugated
conduit to an associated structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Corrugated and non-corrugated thermoplastic tubings are widely
used as
conduits for protecting wiring cables extending between various control boxes,
switch
boxes, and the like. Conventionally, to facilitate the installation and use of
such tubing,
push together or "snap together" type connectors have been used to allow
tubing sections
to be joined to each other or to system components quickly and without
requiring special
tools or adhesives.
[0003] Different connector designs have been proposed for this
purpose. These
prior connector designs have varied from simple one piece type connectors
using resilient
tabs or fingers to more complex multi-component designs using multiple rings
or other
internal connector elements.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,580 (the '580 patent) discloses one such
design. The
'580 patent discloses a connection device for use in securing an end of a
corrugated pipe
to a fitting such as a terminal box connector or to be used as a pipe-to-pipe
coupling. The
connection device of the '580 patent includes an annular ring having an array
of fingers
extending axially therefrom, for insertion into a fitting body. The fitting
body has
apertures therein. In practice, a user first inserts the corrugated pipe into
the annular ring
and then begins to introduce the fingers of the annular ring and the
corrugated pipe into
the fitting body. However, because of the configuration of both the fingers of
the annular
ring and the fitting body, the fingers are concealed to the user when the user
begins to
introduce the fingers of the annular ring into the fitting body, thereby
preventing the user
10 accurately control the alignment of the fingers with the apertures of the
fitting.
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[0005] There is therefore a need in the art for a fitting for easily
connecting a
corrugated tubing to an associated structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to improve at least
some of the
inconveniences present in the prior art.
[0007] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
fitting for
corrugated conduit.
[0008] In one aspect, the present invention provides a fitting for
joining a
= corrugated conduit to a structure associated with the fitting. The
fitting has a generally
cylindrical hollow body having an inner chamber defined therein and at least
two body
resilient tabs extending from an end of the fitting body in an axial direction
of the fitting
body. The at least two body resilient tabs define at least two body gaps
therebetween and
each of the at least two body resilient tabs defines an outwardly extending
detent. The
fitting also has a retaining ring including a flange, and at least two ring
resilient tabs
extending from the flange. The at least two ring resilient tabs define at
least two ring gaps
therebetween. Each of the at least two ring resilient tabs defines an inwardly
extending
detent adapted to engage a corrugation of the corrugated conduit. Each of the
at least two
body resilient tabs is selectively inserted in a corresponding one of the at
least two ring
gaps, and the outwardly extending detents selectively engage an end of the
flange of the
=20 retaining ring.
[0009] In a further aspect, the fitting body includes a radially
inwardly extending
wall adapted to abut an end of the corrugated conduit when the fitting body,
the retaining
ring, and the corrugated conduit are engaged together.
[0010] In a further aspect, the at least two ring resilient tabs
extend from the
flange in an axial direction of the flange.
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[0011] In a further aspect, the at least two body resilient tabs are
arranged in
diametrically opposed sets.
[0012] In a further aspect, the at least two ring resilient tabs are
arranged in
diametrically opposed sets.
[0013] In another aspect, each of the outwardly extending detents of the at
least
two body resilient tabs extends radially outwardly away from its corresponding
body
resilient tab.
[0014] In another aspect, each of the inwardly extending detents of
the at least
two ring resilient tabs extends radially inwardly away from its corresponding
ring
resilient tab.
[0015] In yet another aspect, each of the at least two body resilient
tabs includes
an outwardly extending wall, the retaining ring being selectively disposed
between the
outwardly extending detents and the outwardly extending walls.
[0016] In yet another aspect, each of the outwardly extending walls
extends
radially outwardly away from its corresponding body resilient tab.
[0017] In another aspect, a connecting portion for connection to an
associated
structure extends from an other end of the fitting body in the axial direction
of the fitting
body, the connecting portion defining at least two connecting portion detents
extending
outwardly from the connecting portion.
[0018] In yet another aspect, the associated structure is one of a slab
box, a
control box, and a switch box.
[0019] In another aspect, at least two other body resilient tabs
extend from
another end of the fitting body in the axial direction of the fitting body,
the at least two
other body resilient tabs defining at least two body gaps therebetween, each
of the at least
two other body resilient tabs defining an outwardly extending detent.
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[0020] In another aspect, the retaining ring is a first retaining
ring adapted to
engage a first corrugated conduit. The fitting also has a second retaining
ring. The second
retaining ring includes a flange, and at least two ring resilient tabs
extending from the
flange. The at least two ring resilient tabs define at least two ring gaps
therebetween.
Each of the at least two ring resilient tabs defines an inwardly extending
detent adapted to
engage a corrugation of a second corrugated conduit.
[0021] In another aspect, each of the at least two other body
resilient tabs are
selectively inserted in a corresponding one of the at least two ring gaps of
the second
retaining ring, and the outwardly extending detents of the at least two other
body resilient
tabs selectively engaging an end of the flange of the second retaining ring.
[0022] In yet another aspect, the first and second corrugated
conduits abut the
radially inwardly extending wall disposed in the inner chamber when the
fitting body, the
first and second retaining rings, and the first and second corrugated conduits
are engaged
together.
[0023] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a retaining
ring for
joining a corrugated conduit to a generally cylindrical hollow fitting body.
The retaining
ring has a flange having an axial direction and an inwardly facing surface,
the inwardly
facing surface being inclined with respect to the axial direction, and at
least two ring
resilient tabs extending from the flange. The at least two ring resilient tabs
define at least
two ring gaps therebetween. Each of the at least two ring resilient tabs
defines inwardly
extending detent adapted to engage a corrugation of the corrugated conduit.
[0024] In yet another aspect, the flange has at least two
indentations defined
between the at least two ring resilient tabs.
[0025] In another aspect, the present invention provides a fitting
body for
engaging a retaining ring having a corrugated conduit retained therein. The
fitting body
has a generally cylindrical hollow body having an inner chamber defined
therein, and at
least two body resilient tabs extending from an end of the fitting body in an
axial
direction of the fitting body. The at least two body resilient tabs define at
least two body
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gaps therebetween. Each of the at least two body resilient tabs has an
outwardly
extending detent.
[0026] Embodiments of the present invention each have at least one of
the above-
mentioned objects and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It
should be
understood that some aspects of the present invention that have resulted from
attempting
to attain the above-mentioned objects may not satisfy these objects and/or may
satisfy
other objects not specifically recited herein.
[0027] Additional and/or alternative features, aspects, and
advantages of
embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] For a better understanding of the present invention, as well
as other
aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following
description which
is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fitting body and two retaining
rings in
accordance with the present invention, the two retaining rings being
disconnected from
the fitting body;
[0030] Figure 2 is an end view of one of the retaining rings of Fig.
1;
[0031] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining ring of
Figure 2 taken
along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;
[0032] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining ring of
Figure 2 taken
along the line 4-4 in Figure 2;
[0033] Figure 5 is an end view of the fitting body of Fig. 1;
[0034] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting body of
Figure 5 taken
along the line 6-6 in Figure 5;
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[0035] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of two corrugated conduits
connected
together with the fitting body and the two retaining rings of Fig. 1;
[0036] Figure 8 is a side view thereof;
[0037] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fitting body according to
an alternative
embodiment;
[0038] Figure 10 is an end view of the fitting body of Fig. 9;
[0039] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting body of
Fig. 9 taken along
the line 11-11 in Figure 10;
[0040] Figure 12 is a perspective view of a slab box with fitting
bodies mounted
thereon, retaining rings connected to the fitting bodies and a corrugated pipe
with a
retaining ring inserted thereon connected to one of the fitting bodies;
[0041] Figure 13 is an end view of a retaining ring according to an
alternative
embodiment;
[0042] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the retaining ring of Fig.
13; and
[0043] Figure 15 is an end view of a fitting body with the retaining ring
of Fig. 13
connected thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1-6, a
fitting for joining a
corrugated conduit to a structure associated with the fitting in accordance
with the present
invention will be described. The fitting comprises a generally cylindrical
hollow fitting
body 10 and retaining rings 30.
[0045] The fitting body 10 is made of injection-molded PVC and the
retaining
ring 30 is made of polycarbonate. A fitting body and a retaining ring made of
injection-
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molded ABS plastic or of any other suitable plastic material such as
polycarbonate, and
polypropylene are also contemplated.
[0046] As shown on Figures 1, 5, and 6, the fitting body 10 defines
an inner
chamber 46 therein and comprises body resilient tabs 12 extending from each
end of the
fitting body 10 in an axial direction of the fitting body 10 (i.e. in a
direction parallel to a
central axis 44). The body resilient tabs 12 are arranged in diametrically
opposed sets and
define body gaps 26 therebetween. As best shown on Figure 6, each of the body
resilient
tabs 12 defines an outwardly extending detent 14. Each of the outwardly
extending
detents 14 extends radially outwardly away from its corresponding body
resilient tab 12.
Each of the outwardly extending detent 14 comprises a retaining surface 24 and
an
outwardly facing surface 16. The outwardly facing surface 16 is inclined with
respect to
the axial direction of the fitting body 10 in a manner to provide a radially
inwardly
directed force to the associated body resilient tabs 12 when the fitting body
is inserted in
a retaining ring 30. Each of the body resilient tabs 12 includes an outwardly
extending
wall 20 having a retaining surface 22. The outwardly extending wall 20 extends
radially
outwardly away from its corresponding body resilient tab 12 thereby forming a
space 18
between the retaining surface 24 and the retaining surface 22. The fitting
body 10 further
comprises a radially inwardly exteading wall 28 located in the inner chamber
46 (see
Figures 5 and 6). The radially inwardly extending wall 28 is positioned at the
middle of
the inner chamber 46 so as to be equidistant from the ends of the fitting body
10. The
fitting body is symmetric about the radially inwardly extending wall 28.
[0047] A fitting body including body resilient tabs extending from
one end of the
fitting body only, as shown in Figures 9-11 and 12, a fitting body having two
body
resilient tabs only at each end, a fitting body having more than two body
resilient tabs at
each end, and a fitting body wherein the radially inwardly extending wall is
omitted, are
also contemplated.
[0048] Referring now to Figures 1-4, one retaining ring 30 will be
described. The
other retaining ring 30 is same and therefore will not be described. The
retaining ring 30
comprises a flange 32 having an axial direction of the retaining ring 30 (i.e.
in a direction
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parallel to a central axis 52) and an ,nwardly facing surface 50. The
retaining ring 30 also
includes ring resilient tabs 34 extending from the flange 32 so as to define
ring gaps 48
therebetween. The inwardly facing surface 50 is inclined with respect to the
axial
direction of the flange 32 in a manner to provide a radially outwardly
directed force to the
flange 32 of the retaining ring 30 when the body resilient tabs 12 of the
fitting body 10
are inserted in the retaining ring 30. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the ring
resilient tabs 34 are arranged in diametrically opposed sets. The ring
resilient tabs 34
extend from the flange 32 in the axial direction of the flange 32 and define
indentations
54 therebetween. As best shown on Figure 4, each of the resilient tabs 34
defines an
inwardly extending detent 36. Each of the inwardly extending detents 36
extends radially
inwardly away from its corresponding ring resilient tab 34. Each of the
inwardly
extending detents 36 comprises a retaining surface 40 and an inwardly facing
surface 38.
The inwardly facing surface 38 is inclined in a manner to provide a radially
outwardly
directed force to the associated ring resilient tabs 34 when a corrugated
conduit 42 (see
Figures 7 and 8) is inserted in the retaining ring 30.
[0049] A retaining ring including ring resilient tabs inclined
towards a centerline
of the retaining ring so as to define detents, a retaining ring having two
ring resilient tabs
only, and a retaining ring having more than two ring resilient tabs, are also
contemplated.
[0050] In practice, a user aligns a corrugated conduit 42 having an
outer surface
with the central axis 52 of the flange 32 of the retaining ring 30. Then, the
user inserts an
end of the corrugated conduit 42 into the retaining ring 30. As the tubing is
being
inserted, the outer surface of the corrugated conduit 42 bends the ring
resilient tabs 34
outwardly thereby allowing the user to translate the retaining ring 30 along
the corrugated
conduit 42. The user selects the corrugation of the corrugated conduit 42 on
which the
retaining ring 30 is engaged such that, when the fitting body 10, the
retaining ring 30 and
the corrugated conduit 42 are engaged together, the end of the corrugated
conduit 42
abuts the radially inwardly extending wall 28 of the inner chamber 46. When
the
inwardly extending detents 36 engage a corrugation of the corrugated conduit
42, the
retaining surfaces 40 of the inwardly extending detents 36 prevent the
corrugated conduit
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42 to be translated in a direction opposite to the direction in which the
corrugated conduit
42 has been inserted into the retainntg ring 30.
[0051] Once the retaining ring 30 is positioned on the corrugated
conduit 42, the
user then introduces the end of the corrugated conduit 42 on which the
retaining ring 30
is engaged in the inner chamber 46 of the fitting body 10 until the retaining
ring 30 snaps
the body resilient tabs 12 of the fitting body 10. To do so, the user aligns
the fitting body
and the corrugated conduit 42 on which the retaining ring 30 is engaged, along
the
central axis 44 of the fitting body 10, such that each of the body resilient
tabs 12 of the
fitting body 10 is inserted in a corresponding one of the ring gaps 48. The
user inserts the
10 end of the corrugated conduit 42 into the fitting body and pushes the
retaining ring 30
towards the fitting body 10 along the central axis 44. The inwardly facing
surface 50 of
the flange 32 of the retaining ring 30 pushes against the outwardly facing
surfaces 16 of
the outwardly extending detents 14 of the body resilient tabs 12 causing the
body resilient
tabs 12 to bend inwardly. The user continues to push the retaining ring 30
towards the
fitting body 10 until the body resilient tabs 12 and the flange 32 snap back
such that the
flange 32 is held in place in the space 18 of the fitting body 10, as shown in
Figure 8.
[0052] As shown in Figure 7, when the fitting body 10, the retaining
ring 30 and
the corrugated conduit 42 are engaged together, the end of the corrugated
conduit 42
preferably abuts the radially inwardly extending wall 28. Alternatively, it is
contemplated
that the end of the corrugated conduit 42 could also be spaced apart from the
radially
inwardly extending wall 28 when the fitting body 10, the retaining ring 30 and
the
corrugated conduit 42 are engaged together.
[0053] As shown in Figure 8, when the fitting body 10, the retaining
ring 30 and
the corrugated conduit 42 are engaged together, the body resilient tabs 12 are
inserted in a
corresponding one of the ring gaps 48 and the ring resilient tabs 34 are
inserted in a
corresponding one of the body gaps 18.
[0054] Also, when the fitting body 10, the retaining ring 30 and the
corrugated
conduit 42 are engaged together, the outwardly extending detents 14 of the
body resilient
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tabs 12 engage an end of the flange 32 of the retaining ring 30. The flange 32
is disposed
between the retaining surfaces 24 of the outwardly extending detents 14 and
the retaining
surfaces 22 of the outwardly extetAng walls 20 of the body resilient tabs 12,
thereby
preventing the retaining ring 30 and the corrugated conduit 42 to be
disconnected from
the fitting body 10.
[0055] As shown in Figures 1, and 5-8, the fitting joins together
first and second
corrugated conduits 42. To do so, the user inserts the second corrugated
conduit 42 in the
other end of the fitting body 10 and engages the second corrugated conduit 42
with the
fitting body 10 by using an other retaining ring 30, in the manner described
above.
[0056] Although the preferred embodiment is directed to a fitting for
joining
together a first and a second corrugated conduits, it should be understood
that a fitting for
joining a corrugated conduit to any associated structure is within the scope
of the present
invention. An example of such alternative embodiment is shown in Figures 9-11.
The
fitting body 100 shown in Figures 9-11 has body resilient tabs 12 similar to
those
described above extending from a first end in an axial direction of the
fitting body 100
(i.e. in a direction parallel to a central axis 44). The fitting body 100 also
comprises a
connecting portion 62 extending from a second end, opposite to the first end,
for
connection to an associated structure. The connecting portion 62 includes
connecting
portion detents 60 extending outwardly therefrom. In practice, the user
inserts the
connecting portion 62 into a receiv: tg aperture in the associated structure.
The user then
pushes the fitting body 100 towards the associated structure until connecting
portion
detents 60 snap back such that the fitting body 100 is held in place in the
aperture in the
associated structure.
[0057] Although a fitting body 100 having a connecting portion 62 is
shown in
Figures 9-11, it is also contemplated that the connecting portion of the
fitting body could
be omitted and that the fitting body could be integrally formed with the
associated
structure.
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[0058] In Figure 12, an associated structure in the form of a slab
box 70 is shown.
The slab box 70 comprises fitting bodies 100 mounted thereon and retaining
rings 30
connected to the fitting bodies 100.4A corrugated pipe 42 with one of the
retaining rings
30 inserted thereon is connected to one of the fitting bodies 100.
[0059] Although a slab box 70 is shown in Figure 12, it is also
contemplated that
the associated structure could be one of a control box, a switch box, and the
like.
[0060] Turning now to Figures 13 to 15, a second embodiment of a
retaining ring,
the retaining ring 300, will be described. For simplicity, features of the
retaining ring 300
which are similar to those of the retaining ring 30 have been labeled with the
same
reference numerals and will not be described again in detail. The flange 32 of
the
retaining ring 300 comprises reinforcements 320 formed by increasing the
thickness of
the flange 32 between the resilient tabs 34. The reinforcements 320 extend
outwardly of
the flange 32 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the
flange 32 and define
grooves 310 therebetween.
[0061] Although four reinforcements 320 are shown in Figures 13 to 15, a
retaining ring having more or less reinforcements is also contemplated.
[0062] Modifications and improvements to the above-described
embodiments of
the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The
foregoing
description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the
present
invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the
appended claims.