| US 7,358,448 B2 | ||
| Electrical connector assembly with frusto-conical snap fit retaining ring for enhancing electrical grounding of the connector assembly to an electrical box and installation tool therefor | ||
| Delbert Auray, Southport, Conn. (US); and Kenneth M. Kiely, Milford, Conn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Bridgeport Fittings, Inc., Stratford, Conn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 20, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/726,012. | ||
| Application 11/726012 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/364435, filed on Feb. 28, 2006, granted, now 7,205,489. | ||
| Application 11/364435 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/258990, filed on Oct. 26, 2005, granted, now 7,057,107. | ||
| Application 11/258990 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/151374, filed on Jun. 13, 2005, granted, now 7,057,007. | ||
| Application 11/151374 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/100250, filed on Apr. 06, 2005, granted, now 7,064,272. | ||
| Application 11/100250 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/939619, filed on Sep. 13, 2004, granted, now 6,916,988. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0163804 A1, Jul. 19, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. H02G 3/06 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 174—666 [174/650; 174/659; 439/557] | 10 Claims |
| 1. An electric connector assembly comprising:
a connector body having an inlet end portion, and an outlet end portion, said outlet end portion defining an outlet opening,
a radially outward extending stop flange formed about an intermediate portion of said connector body, and a snap fit retaining
ring having a leading end and a trailing end, and having a frustro-conical configuration wherein the diameter of the trailing
end of said frustro-conical configuration is greater than the diameter of said leading end thereof, said frustro-conical retaining
ring having at least one locking tang and grounding tang formed out of the surface of said retaining ring, and means for securing
said retaining ring onto said outlet end portion of said connector body, wherein said grounding tang includes a free end defining
a curvilinear contact area extending over a range of at least 270° to 360° of the circumference of said trailing end.
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