Conduit connector and methods for making and using the same

Abstract

In one embodiment, the conduit connector can comprise: a body comprising a hollow center capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end, wherein the hollow center extends from the receiving end to the connecting end; a spring disposed within the hollow center and extending out of the connecting end, wherein the spring comprises engagement tangs extending into the hollow center, toward the connection end, and spring tangs extending past the connection end and spaced apart a distance greater than or equal to an opening diameter in a junction box; and an antishort bush located in the connecting end of the body, retaining the spring in the body.

What is claims is: 
     
       1. A conduit connector, comprising:
 a body comprising a hollow center capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end, wherein the hollow center extends from the receiving end to the a connecting end; 
 a spring disposed within the hollow center and extending out of the connecting end body, wherein the spring comprises engagement tangs extending into the hollow center, toward the connection end wherein the engagement tangs are configured to physically contact grooves along an outer surface of a conduit when the conduit is inserted into the body, and spring tangs extending past the connection connecting end and spaced apart a distance greater than or equal to an opening diameter in a junction box; and 
 an antishort bush located in the connecting end of the body, retaining the spring in the body. 
 
     
     
       2. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein each spring tang comprises an aperature aperture that receives a knob on the body. 
     
     
       3. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein each spring tang comprises a center lug extending outward from a spring main portion, away from the spring and toward the receiving end. 
     
     
       4. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein each spring tang comprises side lugs angled toward the receiving end at an angle so that, once the connector is attached to an opening, the lugs avoid disengagement after applying a pulling load. 
     
     
       5. The conduit connector of  claim 4 , wherein the side lugs form wings on opposite sides of each spring tang and have a shape that diverges from near an end of the spring tang toward the receiving end of the antishort bush. 
     
     
       6. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein a spring main portion can have three sides, with the spring tangs extending from two opposite sides, and the engagement tangs extend into the channel from all three sides. 
     
     
       7. The conduit connector of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement tangs angle toward each other to form a generally V-shaped profile that is configured to align a the conduit in the channel center of the connector. 
     
     
       8. The conduit connector of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement tangs comprise a central receiving tang that is angled from the sides into the channel and having a generally V-shaped end, and a first side receiving tang having a diagonal ends end that angles toward the central receiving tang and a second side receiving tang having a diagonal end angled toward the central receiving tang forming a generally V-shaped profile of the engagement tangs. 
     
     
       9. The conduit connector of  claim 6 , wherein each engagement tang extends into the body at a different distance than another engagement tang. 
     
     
       10. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein the antishort bush further comprises a restrictor extending toward the receiving end connecting end of the body, wherein the restrictor restricts movement of the spring. 
     
     
       11. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein the antishort bush comprises projections that extend toward the body and through an opening such that a foot on the projection snapfits the antishort bush onto the body. 
     
     
       12. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein, near the receiving end, the body comprises a slot such that a corner at the receiving end of the spring passes through the slot and a window near the corner engages a jut on the body. 
     
     
       13. The conduit connector of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
       14. A conduit connector, comprising:
 a body comprising a hollow center capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end and a knob, wherein the hollow center extends from the receiving end to the a connecting end; 
 a spring disposed within into the hollow center and extending out of the connecting end body, wherein the spring comprises
 engagement tangs extend into the hollow center, toward the connection connecting end, wherein the engagement tangs angle toward each other to form a generally V-shaped profile that is configured to align a conduit in the channel, 
 spring tangs comprise a center lug extending outward from a spring main portion, away from the spring and toward the receiving end, wherein the spring tangs extend past the connection end and are spaced apart a distance greater than or equal to an opening diameter in a junction box, and wherein each spring tang comprises side lugs angled toward the receiving end at an angle so that, once the connector is attached to an opening, the lugs avoid disengagement after applying a pulling load; and 
 an aperture that received the knob; and  
 
 an antishort bush located in the connecting end of the body, retaining the spring in the body. 
 
     
     
       15. The conduit connector of  claim 14 , wherein the side lugs form wings on opposite sides of each spring tang and have a shape that diverges from near an end of the spring tang toward the receiving end of the antishort bush. 
     
     
       16. The conduit connector of  claim 14 , wherein a spring main portion can have three sides, with the spring tangs extending from two opposite sides, and the engagement tangs extend into the channel from all three sides. 
     
     
       17. The conduit connector of  claim 16 , wherein the engagement tangs comprise a central receiving tang that is angled from the sides into the channel and having a generally V-shaped end, and a first side receiving tang having a diagonal ends that angles toward the central receiving tang and a second side receiving tang having a diagonal end angled toward the central receiving tang forming a generally V-shaped profile of the engagement tangs. 
     
     
       18. The conduit connector of  claim 16 , wherein each engagement tang extends into the body at a different distance than another engagement tang. 
     
     
       19. The conduit connector of  claim 14 , wherein antishort bush further comprises a restrictor extending toward the receiving connecting end of the body, wherein the restrictor restricts movement of the spring, and comprises projections that extend toward the body and through an opening such that a foot on the projection snapfits the antishort bush onto the body. 
     
     
       20. The conduit connector of  claim 14 , wherein, near the receiving end, the body comprises a slot such that a corner at the receiving end of the spring passes through the slot and a window near the corner engages a jut on the body. 
     
     
       21. A conduit connector, comprising:
 a hollow body capable of receiving a conduit in a receiving end, wherein the body has a rectangular body shape, wherein the body extends from the receiving end to a connecting end;   a spring inserted into the body, wherein the spring comprises engagement tangs extending into the body capable of engaging a conduit, and at least two spring tangs capable of engaging an opening in a junction box; and wherein the body is configured to receive the spring; and   an antishort bush located at the connecting end of the body.   
     
     
       22. The conduit connector of claim 21, wherein the spring has a rectangular shape that is complementary to the rectangular body shape. 
     
     
       23. The conduit connector of claim 21, wherein the antishort bush extends into the spring, between the spring tangs. 
     
     
       24. The conduit connector of claim 21, wherein the spring tangs are capable of removably engaging the opening in the junction box. 
     
     
       25. A method of securing a conduit to a junction box, comprising:
 disposing a conduit into a conduit connector and engaging the conduit with engagement tangs that extend into the conduit connector, wherein the conduit connector comprises
 a hollow body having a rectangular body shape, wherein the conduit extends into the body; 
 a spring disposed within the hollow body and comprising the engagement tangs and spring tangs extending out of the hollow body; and 
 an antishort bush, wherein the antishort bush extends through the opening in the junction box; 
   inserting a connecting end of the conduit connector into an opening in a junction box such that the spring tangs engage the opening.