Grounding clamps and connectors therefor

Claim 2

A clamping device for clamping to ground potential and for connecting equipment to such potential, comprising: a pair of clamping members for fitting around a water pipe or the like; means for clamping said members to the pipe or the like independently of the connection to said clamping device of the equipment to be grounded; means for connecting said equipment to be grounded, including one of said clamping members, which is shaped to receive means for firmly securing said equipment to said clamping device; and further including a threaded bolt or eye stud having an opening therein, said one clamping member including a web and a pair of spaced parallel flanges depending from said web, said web and said flanges together defining a raised arched portion at the crest of which an aperture extends perpendicular to and through said web so that said threaded bolt or eye stud can be disposed in said aperture and a grounding wire can be put through said opening in said bolt or eye stud and secured against said raised arched portion.

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 1, in which the other of said clamping members is provided with screw-receiving holes.

Claim 4

A device as defined in claim 1, in which the other clamping member is a U-shaped bolt, said one clamping member having apertures provided at either end thereof for receiving the ends or shanks of said bolt.

Claim 5

A clamping device as defined in claim 1, in which a slot is provideD in each of said spaced flanges so that said grounding wire can be received therein.

Claim 6

A clamping device as defined in claim 4, including a spaced-segment boss surrounding said aperture at the upper surface of said web, said spaced-segment boss being adapted to receive a variety of connector devices.

Claim 7

A clamping device as defined in claim 5, in which said connector devices include a ribbed member extending longitudinally at opposite sides of an opening provided therein, said ribbed member being adapted to fit into spaces between segments of said boss.

Claim 8

A clamping device for clamping to ground potential and for connecting equipment to such potential, comprising: a pair of clamping members for fitting around a water pipe or the like; means for clamping said members to the pipe or the like independently of the connection to said clamping device of the equipment to be grounded; said equipment to be connected including a grounding wire and an armor shield; a connector device, comprising a lower member having individual recesses spaced along its longitudinal axis in spaced relation to the armor and the grounding wire respectively; a cap or cover, having its longitudinal axis in a single plane and extending parallel to and in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of said lower member, said cap or cover member fitting over said recesses in the lower member and including individual corresponding projections for bearing down within said recesses on the armor and grounding wire respectively; and a pair of screw-receiving openings in said lower member, said openings being located at the sides thereof and intermediately of said recesses along the longitudinal axis of said lower member; a first pair of notches flanking the recess for said armor, and a second pair of notches flanking the recess for said grounding wire, the first pair of notches having a greater depth than the second pair whereby said armor and grounding wire are securely held within said connector device.

Claim 9

A clamping device for clamping to ground potential and for connecting equipment to such potential, comprising: a pair of clamping members for fitting around a water pipe or the like; means for clamping said members to the pipe or the like independently of the connection to said clamping device of the equipment to be grounded; said equipment to be connected including a grounding wire and an armor shield; a connector device, comprising a lower member having individual recesses spaced along its longitudinal axis in spaced relation to the armor and the grounding wire respectively; a cap or cover, having its longitudinal axis in a single plane and extending parallel to and in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal axis of said lower member, said cap or cover member fitting over said recesses in the lower member and including individual corresponding projections for bearing down within said recesses on the armor and grounding wire respectively; and a pair of screw-receiving openings in said lower member, said openings being located at the sides thereof and intermediately of said recesses along the longitudinal axis of said lower member; a first pair of notches flanking the recess for said armor, and a second pair of notches flanking the recess for said grounding wire, the first pair of notches having a greater depth than the second pair whereby said armor and grounding wire are securely held within said connector device.

Claim 10

A clamping device as defined in claim 7, in which said lower member of said connector device is constituted by said one clamping member.