Abstract:
An electrical ground connector provides attachment to a grounded member. The ground connector includes an elongate bus bar having a first planar surface including a plurality of conductor insertion apertures for accommodating the ends of the electrical conductors therein. A second planar surface generally parallel to the first planar surface includes a plurality of set screw apertures in communication with the conductor insertion apertures for accommodation of the set screw to the ends of the conductors to the bus bar. The bus bar includes a third surface for engagement with the grounded member. The bus bar defines a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart feet for placement in electrical contacting relationship with the grounded member. The grounded member may be either a cylindrical member or a planar grounded member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a ground connector for establishing ground continuity between electrical conductors and a grounded member. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ground connector which may be attached to various configurations of grounded members. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Most electrical systems used in houses, buildings and other structures require an electrical connection between the electrical system and ground potential. Such systems may include electrical power, data and communications. Each system must be separately attached to a source of ground potential. Typically, the source of electrical ground potential is a pipe, panel or bar which is electrically fixed at ground potential. Many electrical codes require that all ground connections be made to a single element attached to common ground potential. 
   The art has seen a wide variety of ground connectors, such as bus bars, which may be attached to the source of ground potential and provide for connection of the ground conductors of the electrical system. In order to assure proper electrical continuity between the bus bar and the source of ground potential, the bus bars are typically configured to attach to a particular source of ground potential. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,166 shows a grounding bracket for attachment to a flat panel. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,761 shows a ground clamp for connection to a grounded pipe, such as a water pipe. 
   However, quite often, the electrical installer prior to arrival at the site does not necessarily know which type of device is going to be used to establish ground connection. Therefore, the installer must carry multiple grounding connectors in order to accommodate the on-site need. Moreover, each of these connectors must be sufficient size to accommodate multiple ground conductors to assure common ground of the electrical systems. 
   As may be appreciated, the need to provide multiple configurations of ground connectors results in supply, inventory and delivery delays. 
   It is, therefore, desirable to provide a universal ground connector which may be applied to a variety of grounded devices. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an electrical ground connector for attachment to a grounded member. The ground connector includes an elongate bus bar having a first planar surface including a plurality of conductor insertion apertures for accommodating the ends of an electrical conductor therein. A second planar surface, generally perpendicular to the first planar surface, includes a plurality of set screw apertures in communication with the conductor insertion apertures for accommodation of a set screw to secure the ends of the conductor in the bus bar in mechanical and electrical engagement. The bus bar includes a third surface for engagement with the grounded member where the bus bar defines a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart feet for placement in electrical contacting relationship with the ground member. 
   The bus bar is designed so it can secure the conductors to a cylindrical pipe or to a flat panel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective showing of one embodiment of the connector of the present invention shown connecting a conductor to a cylindrical pipe. 
       FIG. 2  shows the connector of  FIG. 1  connecting a conductor to a planar panel. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective showing of the connector of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective showing of a further embodiment of a bus bar connector of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a still further embodiment of a bus bar connector of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention provides a ground connector which permits the ground connection of a plurality of conductors to a grounded member which preferably may either be a cylindrically shaped member or a flat panel. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector  10  of the present invention is shown attached to a grounded cylindrical member  12  and a grounded flat panel  14 , shown respectively in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   Referring additionally to  FIG. 3 , connector  10  is an elongate bus bar connector having a generally rectangular configuration and is formed of a suitable electrically conductive metal. In the present illustrative embodiment, connector  10  may be formed of copper, aluminum, stainless steel or any other metal which may effect electrical ground connection. The bus bar connecter  10  includes a pair of opposed generally parallel elongate planar surfaces  20  and  22 . The bus bar connector  10  further includes a plurality of conductor receiving apertures  24  which extend through surfaces  20  and  22 . The apertures  24  are configured so as to accommodate therein a ground conductor  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , four conductor receiving apertures  24  are provided so as to accommodate four conductors in side-by-side parallel orientation. However, as may be appreciated, any number of conductor receiving apertures may be provided. 
   Bus bar connector  10  further includes a pair of opposed elongate surfaces  32  and  34  which are generally perpendicular to surfaces  20  and  22 . Surface  32  includes a plurality of set screw receiving apertures  36  extending into the body of bus bar connector  10  aligned and in a one-to-one correspondence with conductor receiving apertures  24 . Set screw receiving apertures  36  are in communication with conductor receiving apertures  24  and are designed to insertably accommodate set screws  40  so as to engage a conductor  30  inserted through aperture  24 . As is known in the bus bar art, the set screws  40  may be used to positionally secure the conductors  30  within apertures  24 . 
   Elongate surface  34  includes a generally arcuate central portion  42  which defines a pair of spaced apart elongate extending feet  44  and  46  on either side thereof, the purpose of which will be described in further detail hereinbelow. 
   Referring more specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the bus bar connector  10  of the present invention is shown being attached to a grounded cylindrical member  12 . The grounded cylindrical member  12  may be a water pipe or other cylindrical member which is electrically grounded at ground potential so that ground connection may be made thereto. 
   The connector  10  further includes a central bore  50  extending through opposed surfaces  20  and  22  between apertures  24 . The bore  50  is configured so as to accommodate a U-clamp assembly  60 . 
   U-clamp assembly  60  includes a U-shaped rod-like member  62  having opposed threaded end extents  64 . A clamp  66  may be adjustably attached to the extents  64  and secured thereto by nuts  66 . The U-shaped member  62  is inserted through bore  50  such that it resides at the base  62   a  of the U-shaped member  62 . Clamp assembly  60  may then be placed about the cylindrical member  12  and the clamp may be secured to the cylindrical  12  in mechanical and electrical engagement. 
   In the position shown in  FIG. 1 , spaced apart feet  42  and  44  stabilize and position the bus bar connector  10  on the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical member  12 . The feet  42  and  44  also establish electrical ground continuity with grounded cylindrical member  12 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , bus bar connector  10  may be used in a manner where it is attached to a flat panel  14 . The flat panel  14  may be a wall of an electrical enclosure where the enclosure itself is grounded. Bus bar connector  10  further includes a plurality of mounting apertures  52  which extend through spaced apart surfaces  32  and  34  thereof. In the present illustrative embodiment, two mounting apertures  52  are shown positioned between set screw apertures  36 . The mounting apertures  52  are used to accommodate mounting screws  54  therethrough. 
   Mounting screws  54  may be any of a wide variety of fasteners such as a sheet metal screws which are inserted through the mounting aperture  52  from surface  32  and through surface  34  and into flat panel  14 . Positioned as shown in  FIG. 2 , the feet  42  and  44  of bus bar connector  10  are positioned against the flat panel establishing electrical continuity therebetween. Thus, once the conductors  30  are inserted into the conductor receiving aperture  24  and fixed with set screw  40 , grounded electrical connection is established between the ground conductor  30  and flat panel  14 . 
   It may be appreciated that the bus bar connector  10  of the present invention provides a grounded connection device for affixing to both a cylindrical member and a flat panel. Thus, an installer attempting to affix the grounded conductor can use the bus bar connector  10  of the present invention to establish ground connection to a wide variety of grounded members. This eliminates the need for the installer to carry different ground connectors for different applications. 
     FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of the ground connector of the present invention. Ground connector  70  is an elongate member which is formed of an electrically conductive metal such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel or any other metal which may effect electrical ground connection. Connector  70  has a central generally elongate rectangular bus bar body  72  having a plurality of conductor receiving apertures  74  extending through opposed planar surfaces  76  and  78 . Set screw apertures  75  extend through an upper perpendicular planar surface  77  and are in communication with conductor receiving aperture  74 . The bus bar body  72  functions in the same manner as bus bar connector  10  described above so as to accommodate ground conductors through aperture  74  in a manner where they are affixed therein by set screws inserted through set screw aperture  75 . 
   Extending from each end of body  72  are lateral wings  80 . Each lateral wings includes a depending arm  82  and an extending foot  84 . The extending feet  84  are generally parallel to the body  72  of bus bar  70 . The configuration of bus bar  70  thus provides a concavity defined by the bus bar body  72  and the depending arms  82 . This concavity allows the connector  70  to be placed about a cylindrical member such as cylindrical member  12  shown in  FIG. 10 . The feet  84  include securement apertures  86  which are designed to accommodate the ends  64  of a U-clamp member  62  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   As with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the ends  64  of the U-clamp member  62  are screw threaded to accommodate nuts  66 . Thus, the connector  70  of the present invention serves as the clamp for the U-shaped member so that the connector  70  may be affixed to a grounded cylindrical member. 
   In addition, the mounting apertures  86  may also be used to accommodate fastening hardware such as sheet metal screws so that the connector  60  may be attached to a grounded flat panel such as flat panel  14  shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the feet  84  rests on the flat panel  14  and the screws may be inserted into apertures  86  to affix the connector  60  thereto. Thus, the connector  70 , shown in  FIG. 4 , also provides the ability to affix the connector to both a grounded cylindrical member, such as cylindrical member  12  shown in  FIG. 1 , and grounded flat panel, such as flat panel  14  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   A still further embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . This embodiment is used with a grounded rod. The connector  90  is generally a rectangular block formed of conductive metal having a plurality of conductor accommodating openings  92  extending through opposed major planar surfaces  94  and  96 . In the present illustrative embodiment, the apertures  92  are arranged in two longitudinally extending rows. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the individual conductor receiving apertures  92  may be marked for a particular purpose. The screw apertures  99  extend from planar side surfaces  98  and  100  and are in communication with conductor receiving apertures  92 . 
   The bottom planar surface  102  of connector  90  may include an internally threaded aperture  104  which threadedly accommodates the upper end  106  of ground rod  108 . Thus, the connector  90  may be screw attached to the ground rod  108 . The appropriate conductors may be inserted through conductor apertures  92  and secured therein by set screws (not shown) inserted through set screw apertures  99 . As with the above embodiments, the connector  90  provides uniform ground attachment of the various types of ground conductors inserted therein. 
   Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.